When I came to Jesus, I came desperate. I had tried all the things the world promised would fulfill me to no avail. I had become one of the biggest sinners that I knew. I had done everything I could to obtain the attention I thought I needed to make me important in life, but these things only made me more notorious as a sinner, and truly, no one cared.
I had known Jesus as a child, led by my mother's push into His arms, which I am still grateful for today. But this time, I was coming to Him. I had heard His call and had felt His tug upon my heart. To no credit of my own, desperate times helped me to take the first step. As I lay there in the bed with my husband fast asleep, our marriage and our world falling apart, I fell into the arms of the one who truly loved me unconditionally. He soothed my soul. I went to bed a different person that night. It wasn't long before my husband found himself in those same loving arms. That embrace seems to end all hurt and calm every fear.
My conversion was so real to me that not only did I know Jesus in a way I had not known Him before, but now I knew myself in a way I had never known me before! Little did I know at the time what a great revelation this new reality was and how it would grow. It has become one of the pillars of my life.
Not long after I was born again, I began to see myself in such a different way. I knew that I was no longer the same person. I still had some of the same personality traits and some of the same mannerisms, but I was indeed different. I was no longer the same on the inside. I wanted to do everything I could to please my Maker, and I loved people. Wow! What had happened to me? I don't care what anyone says, but I refuse to believe that the prayer of salvation is just a simple prayer or that Christianity is simply a one time experience that soon wears off and grows stale! No! It is a new life, the beginning of a new existence. What I was only just beginning to know and am now more intimately acquainted with is the revelation that has propelled my Christian walk to what it is today.
The first thing that I learned is so basic, yet so many Christians seem to skip right over it. I knew without a shadow of doubt that I was no longer a sinner. There is a common cliche that says, "We are all just sinners saved by grace." This is one of the deadliest none-truths circulating through the Body of Christ today! If we don't come to the simple realization that we are no longer simply 'sinners saved by grace' we will miss out on the reality of what Christ purchased for us on that cross! If we are indeed 'saved by grace', then we are no longer rotten sinners! Jesus died a sinner's death to make us righteous. He took our place. Now God sees us as righteous, not sinners. If we are righteous in God's sight, then who are we to say or believe otherwise?
I believed this truth to such an extent that I could not understand why people, including my husband, was angry with me for things that I did not do. Indeed the 'old' me had done many evils against many people, but I had "wronged no man" as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:2. I would even say to those who I had wronged, "I didn't do that to you. That was the old me. I have only ever loved and served you. You can't punish me for things I didn't do. I am innocent! The old me is dead, for I have been crucified with Christ. It is the new me that lives. I live, yet not I, but it is Christ who is alive in me, and the life that I live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me! Don't you see that old things are gone and I'm new?" (See 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 2:20.)
Ha! Ha! H! Of course, that doesn't go over so well, at first, with people who have known you so well 'after the flesh', but eventually they catch on. I knew that I was a new creation, and I was not going to let anyone drag me back into that old life and identity. This is the foundation for our new beginning in Christ Jesus. I wasn't aware of it then but this reality has had a great effect on who I am today.
The quicker you began to accept this truth, the quicker your life will begin to change. Don't let anyone convince you that you are a 'low-down, dirty sinner'. No! You are a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, He is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5 goes on to say that not only are 'all things new', but verse 18 says, "And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation..." You are no longer a sinner if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You are the righteousness of God in Christ! (See 2 Corinthians 5:21.)
In my moment of desperation, the Holy Spirit took me by the hand and brought me back into the arms of my loving savior, Jesus Christ, and the realization of God's life in me has truly made all the difference!
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (emphasis added)
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Power of the Blood
I've
been meditating Hebrews 9:14 and love what it is doing in my thinking. It reads," How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Recently I was asked what was the remedy for man's need to perform, and I
can clearly see it in this scripture. We must meditate on the scriptures
and fellowship with Daddy God over them in order to get a true revelation of the power of the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 9:14 makes it clear to us that we can only serve God with a clear conscience. If my conscience is purged from dead works, then I am free to serve God. I am not bound by some law to obey Him. I can just be free to love him because I am not concerned with his expectations. Why? Because He is looking at the blood and His Son in me. Without Him I can do nothing anyway. He is the Vine and I am the branch. If I stay connected to that vine, then it is the sap flowing through that vine (His power in me) that sustains me and causes the production of fruit.
Any work I can do on my own (in my flesh) is a dead work and not worthy of glory. On my own, I can do nothing. I am only capable of dead works, but in Him I can do all things. He is my strength, and His blood is strong enough to wash away even the memory of sin from my consciousness! When I tap into this divine revelation and let it carry me everywhere I go, in everything I do, I am free to truly serve the ONE I love, not with the sense of duty or fleshly pride, but with love and adoration for this God who has so freed me.
I love how it says that Christ offered himself (the Son) through the eternal Spirit (the Holy Spirit, which is Himself) to God (the Father, Himself). This shows his supremacy. He cleansed us and purged our conscience Himself (the Godhead working as ONE). It was not our works, but His! He is all-sufficient!!! Why should I try or need to perform? God is good enough all by Himself!!!!
And we cannot forget the part of the scripture that says that He did it "without spot", that is, without fault or blame. If God is looking at His Son and only examining me in terms of the blood, then I can be sure that He finds no fault in me! I used to stumble at the scripture, Song of Solomon 4:7, that says, "You are all fair, my love; there is no spot in you." I couldn't understand how God could possibly find no spot, not one fault, in me when I could clearly see so many faults when I observed only briefly. As my husband often says, "That fellow in the mirror with the crust in his eyes, yes, God is going to use him." Ha, Ha, Ha! Now I understand that it's not my flesh that He's observing, but He's seeing my spirit purified with the blood of Jesus! Glory to God!!!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness is by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:20-21
Any work I can do on my own (in my flesh) is a dead work and not worthy of glory. On my own, I can do nothing. I am only capable of dead works, but in Him I can do all things. He is my strength, and His blood is strong enough to wash away even the memory of sin from my consciousness! When I tap into this divine revelation and let it carry me everywhere I go, in everything I do, I am free to truly serve the ONE I love, not with the sense of duty or fleshly pride, but with love and adoration for this God who has so freed me.
I love how it says that Christ offered himself (the Son) through the eternal Spirit (the Holy Spirit, which is Himself) to God (the Father, Himself). This shows his supremacy. He cleansed us and purged our conscience Himself (the Godhead working as ONE). It was not our works, but His! He is all-sufficient!!! Why should I try or need to perform? God is good enough all by Himself!!!!
And we cannot forget the part of the scripture that says that He did it "without spot", that is, without fault or blame. If God is looking at His Son and only examining me in terms of the blood, then I can be sure that He finds no fault in me! I used to stumble at the scripture, Song of Solomon 4:7, that says, "You are all fair, my love; there is no spot in you." I couldn't understand how God could possibly find no spot, not one fault, in me when I could clearly see so many faults when I observed only briefly. As my husband often says, "That fellow in the mirror with the crust in his eyes, yes, God is going to use him." Ha, Ha, Ha! Now I understand that it's not my flesh that He's observing, but He's seeing my spirit purified with the blood of Jesus! Glory to God!!!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness is by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:20-21
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
What Love!
For the last few days, I've been thinking a lot about a statement I heard just recently: God knows you best, and He loves you most. It seems to be such a profound revelation, yet it is such a simple truth. "Jesus loves me, this I know," but do we really know it? It was God's heart's cry that called out in the book of Ephesians that we "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge..." (Ephesians 3:18-19). God is the one who created us with this very purpose in mind. He longed to express His perfect, unfailing love to someone. He desperately longed to pour out on you and me His goodness!
I had a friend to bring to my attention the qualification of true love. She noted that love was not love, in its truest sense, unless there was the risk of rejection, as in the case with Jesus loving us. He gave his life knowing that many would still reject his great sacrifice, yet he was willing to take the risk!
Love, in order to be classified as love, must, first of all, be a choice. It can not be forced. Jesus could have at any time chosen not to fulfill the Father's will, but he loved too deeply. Number two: love, if it is to be classified as such, must be unfailing. The Bible tells us that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). No, it never grows old, nor obsolete. It never, ever ends. This is the one thing that causes true love to endure rejection without folding. Finally, it is unconditional and unchanging.
Think about the statement I've been meditating on: God knows you best, and He loves you most. Just close your eyes and let it sink in for a moment. How many of you reading this blog can say that you've actually experienced a love as such? It only takes a little bit of information to deter most people from wanting to have anything to do with us, better yet to know us most. Just imagine, God knows all our weaknesses and shortcomings, all our character flaws, all our spots and wrinkles, yet He continues with passion and zeal to love us continually through it all, every incident, every mistake, every problem! The Bible even expresses the idea that God not only loves us, but is in 'hot pursuit' of us! (1 Corinthians 1:9;Philippians 3:12; James4:5)
Wow, what love! I can't seem to get over it. Just thinking of it brings me to tears. Such a zealous, hot love far outweighs that of any lover. Your pet can't provide such love for you. Only with God's grace can a husband ever begin to think of loving his wife 'as Christ loves the church'. Even the love of a mother or Father pales in comparison. Yes, even parents have forsaken their children (Psalm 27:10), but God's love will never fall short. It can reach us in the deepest depths of utter hopelessness. Never will any be able to separate us from the love of our God (Romans 8:35-39). It is this love that reached into the belly of hell and raised Jesus up from the pit (Ephesians 4:9; Psalm 16:10)! This love is simply indescribable!
Again, take a moment to reflect on this truth. Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply. Let it out slowly and say, "God knows me best, and He loves me most."
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:13-16
I had a friend to bring to my attention the qualification of true love. She noted that love was not love, in its truest sense, unless there was the risk of rejection, as in the case with Jesus loving us. He gave his life knowing that many would still reject his great sacrifice, yet he was willing to take the risk!
Love, in order to be classified as love, must, first of all, be a choice. It can not be forced. Jesus could have at any time chosen not to fulfill the Father's will, but he loved too deeply. Number two: love, if it is to be classified as such, must be unfailing. The Bible tells us that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). No, it never grows old, nor obsolete. It never, ever ends. This is the one thing that causes true love to endure rejection without folding. Finally, it is unconditional and unchanging.
Think about the statement I've been meditating on: God knows you best, and He loves you most. Just close your eyes and let it sink in for a moment. How many of you reading this blog can say that you've actually experienced a love as such? It only takes a little bit of information to deter most people from wanting to have anything to do with us, better yet to know us most. Just imagine, God knows all our weaknesses and shortcomings, all our character flaws, all our spots and wrinkles, yet He continues with passion and zeal to love us continually through it all, every incident, every mistake, every problem! The Bible even expresses the idea that God not only loves us, but is in 'hot pursuit' of us! (1 Corinthians 1:9;Philippians 3:12; James4:5)
Wow, what love! I can't seem to get over it. Just thinking of it brings me to tears. Such a zealous, hot love far outweighs that of any lover. Your pet can't provide such love for you. Only with God's grace can a husband ever begin to think of loving his wife 'as Christ loves the church'. Even the love of a mother or Father pales in comparison. Yes, even parents have forsaken their children (Psalm 27:10), but God's love will never fall short. It can reach us in the deepest depths of utter hopelessness. Never will any be able to separate us from the love of our God (Romans 8:35-39). It is this love that reached into the belly of hell and raised Jesus up from the pit (Ephesians 4:9; Psalm 16:10)! This love is simply indescribable!
Again, take a moment to reflect on this truth. Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply. Let it out slowly and say, "God knows me best, and He loves me most."
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:13-16
Sunday, July 22, 2012
El Shadday
Today, I'm writing in response to a request from a friend. She told me that there were friends in Africa reading the blog and being blessed by it. "Please keep writing!" she said. I smile at the wonder of our great God, that he chooses the simple to confound the wise. Such simple things, such as taking pleasure in writing down our thoughts on paper (typing in this case), can be used by God to bless His own, even in another country.
My heart longs to encourage people, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ. I guess you could say it's sort of an outlet. Sometimes I feel as if I'm just chock full of the love of God and need to pull the release valve in order to get some sort of relief from it. Writing of God and His goodness is an easy way to do that.
When we bask in the presence of our heavenly Daddy, we get so full. Our hearts are filled to capacity. What can we do? We feel as though we would burst if we could not release this great love. I can imagine that this is precisely how our God felt before he created Adam. He needed to release His goodness on someone, so He chose you and me! He chose mankind to love and cherish!
Just think of it! Can you imagine it? The creator of the whole universe could find no better subject on which to pour Himself. He had all of heaven and earth, all the stars and planets, all the animals, sea creatures and flying creatures. He even had all the angels who were partaking of his splendor, but He chose to create man and crown him with His glory.
Understand this: there is nothing wrong with loving plants and animals or embracing nature and technology. After all, it was God who created it all and put it into motion, but we need to keep things in the proper perspective. God in His great wisdom waited to crown His design with the pinnacle of His success, His beloved man. All the heavens and the earth was designed and created for us. We were the very reason for His creation in the first place. If He had only desired someone to worship Him, He would have gladly stuck with the angels. They were already with Him, and His every wish was their command. What other reason could there have been for God to create another? Why man? This is exactly what Job asked (Job 7:17), then the psalmist in Psalm 8. Apparently, He had already planned man out. He had been thinking of us, meditating on how it would be to embrace someone of His very own, His own kind, in His own image.
This sparks a significant thought. One of God's names is El Shaddai or El Shadday. Most people only recognize this word to mean God Almighty, but this Hebrew word means much more than that. It really means 'the all-breasty one' or 'the many breasted one'. This analogy is so fitting. (I have five children, all of which were breastfed. So, I truly understand the concept of being 'full of goodness' for your little ones.)
Have you ever noticed the transformation that occurs in a woman during pregnancy and immediately following childbirth? As the months pass, her breasts and her belly get more and more full. Then once delivery is complete, the baby has his first feeding day, and the race is on! It seems as if the baby cannot eat enough. The mother's breasts produces much more milk than the baby has appetite for. By day two, Mommy has so much milk that all she can think of is the relief that will come from her baby's suckle! The mother is absolutely full of good milk for the nourishment of her baby's body and soul.
Nothing and no one has what she has for that baby. No one can nourish her baby quite like her. Not only is her milk the best source for baby's nourishment, but everything about the breastfeeding process is good for baby (the minerals and vitamins, the immunity developed in baby, the strength required for baby's jaws to draw out the milk, etc.), and the time they spend together is irreplaceable. The bond they have is like no other and all because that baby belongs to her and no amount of crying can make her love him any less.
This is a picture of the Father's love for each of us. He is so full of goodness for you and me. He feels absolutely engorged with mercy and compassion for us. No amount of wrong doing can ever change His mind about us. He thinks good thoughts of us, and He has good plans for us. Everything about our time spent suckling of His goodness is beneficial for us. Our intimate fellowship with him is irreplaceable. No one can quite give us what He can, and our individual bond with Him is like no other. He is El Shadday!
Abraham was known as the friend of God, and God revealed Himself to Abraham as Jehovah Jireh, the God who sees ahead and provides. Moses was also known as the friend of God and God revealed Himself to Moses as well. In Exodus 34:6 it says that as the Lord passed before Moses. He revealed Himself to Moses as "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth..."
Wow! God, the Creator of all the universe, could have revealed any aspect of His character to us through that encounter with Moses. Now think about this in context. Moses had just spent forty days and forty nights in the presence of God, receiving God's law written by God's very own finger just to return to a rebellious group of people. Moses delayed for only forty days. They had just promised to obey Moses and all God's commands brought through Moses, but as soon as Moses goes to find out what those commands are the people hearts are turned after false gods.
Notice the people were so hungry for God, but because they would not draw near to Him for themselves, they are easily deluded. They believe the works of their own hands can suffice for God. They believe their gold and jewels are enough to lead them. How foolish!
When Moses returns, he finds the people naked, dancing around a golden statue in the image of a cow! A cow, a four-footed beast that eats grass was the greatest image they could come up with to call God! Moses in fury and zeal for the one true God breaks the tablets of stone. The law had been broken before the people could even get it into their hands. Moses burns their false god, dumps its ashes into water and makes them drink it. This is their first taste of wrath concerning the broken law of God.
Now Moses is back on this mountaintop with God. God's law will be written again, but this time with Moses' hand, not God's. God reserves his writing for a greater cause. (But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33) Moses is ready to hear God's words, but first, just one plea from Moses. See, Moses was just like you and me. His heart cried out to know God. I mean, afterall, this is the one true and living God who created all things. I'm supposed to obey Him and serve Him and love Him. How can I do that properly if I don't even know Him?
Moses felt the same way. He said, "God, I ask you, please, show me your glory."(Exodus 33:18, author's paraphrase) Now can you imagine having been with your mate for forty days and forty nights without seeing his/her intimate nature? I can't either, but apparently this was the case with Moses and God. They had been together all that time alone on the mountaintop. Moses had received the law, but he had not seen God's glory. Apparently there was more to God than just His law.
God could have revealed Himself to Moses as 'The Lord, The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle, The Lord of Hosts, The one who can kill and make alive'. He could have scared the people into obedience. He could have assured that Moses would never turn away from Him because of His greatness and power, but He did not chose to show His greatness to Moses. Although God knew that He was grand, wise, and powerful, He chose to show Moses, and in turn to show us, the depth of His nature before giving the law the second time. God is Love! He is good, full of mercy, longsuffering, gracious and compassionate!
Oh, how our Daddy God loves us!!! He went to the highest height (heaven's mercy seat by way of Golgotha), the deepest depth (the belly of hell), and paid the greatest price (His very own Son, His very own life) to prove His abundant, chief, supreme love for us! We can dance around our own fleshly works, but they will never be a sufficient God for us. Jesus tasted the bitterness of God's wrath against sin for us. He abolished the need for us to allow our own dead works to rule our lives. He revealed the Father's heart to us. I will dare pay Him back. He gave His life for me. Now I give Him my life to live His life through me! Will you let Him be alive in you?
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:15
My heart longs to encourage people, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ. I guess you could say it's sort of an outlet. Sometimes I feel as if I'm just chock full of the love of God and need to pull the release valve in order to get some sort of relief from it. Writing of God and His goodness is an easy way to do that.
When we bask in the presence of our heavenly Daddy, we get so full. Our hearts are filled to capacity. What can we do? We feel as though we would burst if we could not release this great love. I can imagine that this is precisely how our God felt before he created Adam. He needed to release His goodness on someone, so He chose you and me! He chose mankind to love and cherish!
Just think of it! Can you imagine it? The creator of the whole universe could find no better subject on which to pour Himself. He had all of heaven and earth, all the stars and planets, all the animals, sea creatures and flying creatures. He even had all the angels who were partaking of his splendor, but He chose to create man and crown him with His glory.
Understand this: there is nothing wrong with loving plants and animals or embracing nature and technology. After all, it was God who created it all and put it into motion, but we need to keep things in the proper perspective. God in His great wisdom waited to crown His design with the pinnacle of His success, His beloved man. All the heavens and the earth was designed and created for us. We were the very reason for His creation in the first place. If He had only desired someone to worship Him, He would have gladly stuck with the angels. They were already with Him, and His every wish was their command. What other reason could there have been for God to create another? Why man? This is exactly what Job asked (Job 7:17), then the psalmist in Psalm 8. Apparently, He had already planned man out. He had been thinking of us, meditating on how it would be to embrace someone of His very own, His own kind, in His own image.
This sparks a significant thought. One of God's names is El Shaddai or El Shadday. Most people only recognize this word to mean God Almighty, but this Hebrew word means much more than that. It really means 'the all-breasty one' or 'the many breasted one'. This analogy is so fitting. (I have five children, all of which were breastfed. So, I truly understand the concept of being 'full of goodness' for your little ones.)
Have you ever noticed the transformation that occurs in a woman during pregnancy and immediately following childbirth? As the months pass, her breasts and her belly get more and more full. Then once delivery is complete, the baby has his first feeding day, and the race is on! It seems as if the baby cannot eat enough. The mother's breasts produces much more milk than the baby has appetite for. By day two, Mommy has so much milk that all she can think of is the relief that will come from her baby's suckle! The mother is absolutely full of good milk for the nourishment of her baby's body and soul.
Nothing and no one has what she has for that baby. No one can nourish her baby quite like her. Not only is her milk the best source for baby's nourishment, but everything about the breastfeeding process is good for baby (the minerals and vitamins, the immunity developed in baby, the strength required for baby's jaws to draw out the milk, etc.), and the time they spend together is irreplaceable. The bond they have is like no other and all because that baby belongs to her and no amount of crying can make her love him any less.
This is a picture of the Father's love for each of us. He is so full of goodness for you and me. He feels absolutely engorged with mercy and compassion for us. No amount of wrong doing can ever change His mind about us. He thinks good thoughts of us, and He has good plans for us. Everything about our time spent suckling of His goodness is beneficial for us. Our intimate fellowship with him is irreplaceable. No one can quite give us what He can, and our individual bond with Him is like no other. He is El Shadday!
Abraham was known as the friend of God, and God revealed Himself to Abraham as Jehovah Jireh, the God who sees ahead and provides. Moses was also known as the friend of God and God revealed Himself to Moses as well. In Exodus 34:6 it says that as the Lord passed before Moses. He revealed Himself to Moses as "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth..."
Wow! God, the Creator of all the universe, could have revealed any aspect of His character to us through that encounter with Moses. Now think about this in context. Moses had just spent forty days and forty nights in the presence of God, receiving God's law written by God's very own finger just to return to a rebellious group of people. Moses delayed for only forty days. They had just promised to obey Moses and all God's commands brought through Moses, but as soon as Moses goes to find out what those commands are the people hearts are turned after false gods.
Notice the people were so hungry for God, but because they would not draw near to Him for themselves, they are easily deluded. They believe the works of their own hands can suffice for God. They believe their gold and jewels are enough to lead them. How foolish!
When Moses returns, he finds the people naked, dancing around a golden statue in the image of a cow! A cow, a four-footed beast that eats grass was the greatest image they could come up with to call God! Moses in fury and zeal for the one true God breaks the tablets of stone. The law had been broken before the people could even get it into their hands. Moses burns their false god, dumps its ashes into water and makes them drink it. This is their first taste of wrath concerning the broken law of God.
Now Moses is back on this mountaintop with God. God's law will be written again, but this time with Moses' hand, not God's. God reserves his writing for a greater cause. (But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33) Moses is ready to hear God's words, but first, just one plea from Moses. See, Moses was just like you and me. His heart cried out to know God. I mean, afterall, this is the one true and living God who created all things. I'm supposed to obey Him and serve Him and love Him. How can I do that properly if I don't even know Him?
Moses felt the same way. He said, "God, I ask you, please, show me your glory."(Exodus 33:18, author's paraphrase) Now can you imagine having been with your mate for forty days and forty nights without seeing his/her intimate nature? I can't either, but apparently this was the case with Moses and God. They had been together all that time alone on the mountaintop. Moses had received the law, but he had not seen God's glory. Apparently there was more to God than just His law.
God could have revealed Himself to Moses as 'The Lord, The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle, The Lord of Hosts, The one who can kill and make alive'. He could have scared the people into obedience. He could have assured that Moses would never turn away from Him because of His greatness and power, but He did not chose to show His greatness to Moses. Although God knew that He was grand, wise, and powerful, He chose to show Moses, and in turn to show us, the depth of His nature before giving the law the second time. God is Love! He is good, full of mercy, longsuffering, gracious and compassionate!
Oh, how our Daddy God loves us!!! He went to the highest height (heaven's mercy seat by way of Golgotha), the deepest depth (the belly of hell), and paid the greatest price (His very own Son, His very own life) to prove His abundant, chief, supreme love for us! We can dance around our own fleshly works, but they will never be a sufficient God for us. Jesus tasted the bitterness of God's wrath against sin for us. He abolished the need for us to allow our own dead works to rule our lives. He revealed the Father's heart to us. I will dare pay Him back. He gave His life for me. Now I give Him my life to live His life through me! Will you let Him be alive in you?
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:15
Monday, April 9, 2012
Easter - Picture of Grace
Yesterday was such a great family day as we commemorated the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. My husband worked until 4pm, but in the meanwhile, the children and I sat down to do Bible time from the book of John. I don't think it dawned on me until then just how much Jesus actually went through for me. It was when I began to explain to my children that the beating that Jesus endured was only for our healing, that he still had to go to the cross for our justification that it hit me. Then it was my middle daughter, Cierra, that noted the fact that Jesus also had to be stripped of all his earthly goods and go to the cross naked as a pauper in order to secure our financial security. He had to face everything that you and I face, but on a much greater scale since he would only do it once, and for all. Yes , he even had to face our greatest enemy, the fear of death.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat great drops of blood. He would have to face death. He would have to face hell. He would have to be beaten and ultimately become sin for us. But worst of all, Jesus knew that he would have to face rejection from his father whom he adored and who had always adored him. How could he ever endure it? He would bare the load of the sin of the whole world on himself. Yes, the government was literally on his shoulders. But what was it that actually made him go through with it? What was it that propelled him to yield to the Father's will as opposed to his own? Hebrews 12:2 tells us that it was the joy set before Jesus that enabled him to endure the cross. He knew he would hang there in open shame, yet it says he despised it, counted it as nothing because of this joy that strategically dangled right before his eyes.
Now this is the clincher, this joy was the Father's very own heart for us. He so deeply loved us that he would risk the very life of his only son. Jesus hang there and saw us all as righteous and holy before the Father. Yes, he would become sin! He saw us accepted and held in the Father's arms of love and grace. Yes, he would be forsaken! He saw us not struggling, scrounging for our needs to be met, but prosperous. Yes, he would become poor! He saw you and me free from sickness and disease. Yes, he would take the whooping! He saw us bowing down before the Father clean, coming before his throne of grace boldly without guilt and condemnation. He saw all his children as one! Yeah, he would gladly bare this burden. It was worth it!
As I pondered these things, a great appreciation rose up within me. How could I be a victim of fear when Jesus had endured it all for me? How could I worry about people's acceptance or rejection when the Father has accepted me in his very own beloved family? How could I be anxious about my needs being met when it is according to God's riches in glory by Christ Jesus? And finally, how could I ever question God's will for my healing and health when he already provided it for me?
We must not forget the purpose for our Christian celebration of Easter (Resurrection Day) to remember what Jesus did as our substitution in his life, death, burial and his resurrection from the grave. Many men have died for what they considered worthy causes, but only one man died for our sin against God, and he is the only one who rose from the dead and lives forevermore! He is the mediator between God and man, the Son of God and the Son of man, the man Jesus Christ! We need not even worry about death. There is no need to fear when Jesus has already conquered the grave just for us!
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat great drops of blood. He would have to face death. He would have to face hell. He would have to be beaten and ultimately become sin for us. But worst of all, Jesus knew that he would have to face rejection from his father whom he adored and who had always adored him. How could he ever endure it? He would bare the load of the sin of the whole world on himself. Yes, the government was literally on his shoulders. But what was it that actually made him go through with it? What was it that propelled him to yield to the Father's will as opposed to his own? Hebrews 12:2 tells us that it was the joy set before Jesus that enabled him to endure the cross. He knew he would hang there in open shame, yet it says he despised it, counted it as nothing because of this joy that strategically dangled right before his eyes.
Now this is the clincher, this joy was the Father's very own heart for us. He so deeply loved us that he would risk the very life of his only son. Jesus hang there and saw us all as righteous and holy before the Father. Yes, he would become sin! He saw us accepted and held in the Father's arms of love and grace. Yes, he would be forsaken! He saw us not struggling, scrounging for our needs to be met, but prosperous. Yes, he would become poor! He saw you and me free from sickness and disease. Yes, he would take the whooping! He saw us bowing down before the Father clean, coming before his throne of grace boldly without guilt and condemnation. He saw all his children as one! Yeah, he would gladly bare this burden. It was worth it!
As I pondered these things, a great appreciation rose up within me. How could I be a victim of fear when Jesus had endured it all for me? How could I worry about people's acceptance or rejection when the Father has accepted me in his very own beloved family? How could I be anxious about my needs being met when it is according to God's riches in glory by Christ Jesus? And finally, how could I ever question God's will for my healing and health when he already provided it for me?
We must not forget the purpose for our Christian celebration of Easter (Resurrection Day) to remember what Jesus did as our substitution in his life, death, burial and his resurrection from the grave. Many men have died for what they considered worthy causes, but only one man died for our sin against God, and he is the only one who rose from the dead and lives forevermore! He is the mediator between God and man, the Son of God and the Son of man, the man Jesus Christ! We need not even worry about death. There is no need to fear when Jesus has already conquered the grave just for us!
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
Monday, October 26, 2009
Perfect Timing II
It was a bright and beautiful spring day, and I felt an excitement bubbling up in my soul. What was it? Life was already great. We had just left church. It was Resurrection Sunday. I couldn't shake the feeling that something good was about to happen. One of my biggest dreams was about to take shape.
Gazing into my mother's eyes, I leaned over and said, "God has already brought us together, but for some reason I feel like something even greater is about to happen." My mother and I had been separated for many years. I had been adopted, and both of us had cried many tears. Now we were together all the time, inseparable friends. God had shown Himself faithful, and the ploy that had kept us apart no longer had any power.
Now what could God possibly do to top this magnificent feat? My mom and stepdad left for an afternoon rendez-vous but promised to be back for dinner. The phone rang. It was my uncle with exciting news. "Your father contacted me today. He wants to know where you are. I wanted to call you before I gave him your number. Would it be alright if I gave him your phone number?"
My mind raced, my heart pounded with enthusiasm. Could it be that the man that I had searched for to no avail had actually found me? Could God be so big that he had simply looked down from His holy dwelling and pinpointed the exact location of my father for me? Most of all, could God be so compassionate that He had heard my cry and answered my prayer?
After speaking to my dad twice on the phone when I was twelve years old, We had lost contact. Now it had been ten years. On this lovely day as we remembered the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, God would resurrect a relationship in my life and give me another reason to celebrate.
Of course I said yes to my uncle's request, and by the time my mom had made it back, she walked through the door just in time to witness my father's phone call. Yes, just in time to see God's goodness! I am so grateful to God for His love toward His children. Some time later, I had the privaledge of introducing my earthly dad to our heavenly Daddy who had brought us together once again in His perfect timing. A year later my joy was complete when I saw my dad for the first time that I could remember in person.
My times are in thy hand... Oh how great is thy goodnes, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalm 31:15,19-20
Gazing into my mother's eyes, I leaned over and said, "God has already brought us together, but for some reason I feel like something even greater is about to happen." My mother and I had been separated for many years. I had been adopted, and both of us had cried many tears. Now we were together all the time, inseparable friends. God had shown Himself faithful, and the ploy that had kept us apart no longer had any power.
Now what could God possibly do to top this magnificent feat? My mom and stepdad left for an afternoon rendez-vous but promised to be back for dinner. The phone rang. It was my uncle with exciting news. "Your father contacted me today. He wants to know where you are. I wanted to call you before I gave him your number. Would it be alright if I gave him your phone number?"
My mind raced, my heart pounded with enthusiasm. Could it be that the man that I had searched for to no avail had actually found me? Could God be so big that he had simply looked down from His holy dwelling and pinpointed the exact location of my father for me? Most of all, could God be so compassionate that He had heard my cry and answered my prayer?
After speaking to my dad twice on the phone when I was twelve years old, We had lost contact. Now it had been ten years. On this lovely day as we remembered the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, God would resurrect a relationship in my life and give me another reason to celebrate.
Of course I said yes to my uncle's request, and by the time my mom had made it back, she walked through the door just in time to witness my father's phone call. Yes, just in time to see God's goodness! I am so grateful to God for His love toward His children. Some time later, I had the privaledge of introducing my earthly dad to our heavenly Daddy who had brought us together once again in His perfect timing. A year later my joy was complete when I saw my dad for the first time that I could remember in person.
My times are in thy hand... Oh how great is thy goodnes, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalm 31:15,19-20
Friday, October 9, 2009
Perfect Timing
I was 12 years old, a big turning point in every girl's life (although rarely acknowledged). It was summer time, and I was going back to San diego, CA, my birth town. Sea World, the beach, the zoo, and best of all, a trip to L.A. for Disney Land! What could be more fun? But little did I know, God had bigger, better plans, even greater than I could have expected.
This particular weekend my girl cousins were spending the night at my aunt's house with me. Excitement was in the air, and I could hardly wait. My grandma, Mama as we called her, had just left to return to AL. I was to stay for a while longer, then return alone on the airplane like a big girl. I always loved going to San Diego. There was so much to do, and the weather was always perfect.
My cousins arrived,and we talked and played most the night until we could stay up no longer. The next morning, quite naturally, we were up and ready to go. The sun was shining, and the breeze was cool, then suddenly a change of plans.
"Ring! Ring!" the phone sounded. "Hello," I answered quickly. "May I speak to..." Did I hear right? Was the call for me? The handsome male voice on the other end of the phone began to speak again, "Hello." "Oh, yes... this is she. May I ask whose calling?" I had learned my manners from my 'proper' California uncle and aunt, the parents of the cousins who were there now eagerly listening . " This is your brother," the voice replied. "Excuse me!..." I could hardly believe my ears.
I had heard I had brothers and sisters but had never had any contact with them. They were on my dad's side. I had only ever seen pictures of my dad. Tall and handsome, but I had never even so much as heard his voice. I had dreamed of one day meeting him and my siblings, but it seemed a far off fairytale.
"Yes, this is your brother," the voice responded. This was the answer to the question, 'How could a perfect day get better?'!!! The conversation was far from boring as we pried into one another's lives. Of course, arrangements were made, and that day was like no other day I had ever had in San Diego. I also met my younger sister who lived in San Diego as well and heard my dad's voice over the phone for the first time in life that I could remember on that special day. Dad lived in Philadelphia, but now I could actually believe that my dream of meeting him would come to pass. I will never forget how I screamed when I found out that this young man was really my brother. At twelve years old, who could guess, I realized I could actually someday have nieces and nephews of my very own. I will always remember the way my heart pounded, the way his face looked, and the time we shared together thereafter. Surely, I will always be grateful to God for His perfect timing and His divine plan. Although other people's mistakes may affect our lives, God's goodness and love for us will never fail.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
This particular weekend my girl cousins were spending the night at my aunt's house with me. Excitement was in the air, and I could hardly wait. My grandma, Mama as we called her, had just left to return to AL. I was to stay for a while longer, then return alone on the airplane like a big girl. I always loved going to San Diego. There was so much to do, and the weather was always perfect.
My cousins arrived,and we talked and played most the night until we could stay up no longer. The next morning, quite naturally, we were up and ready to go. The sun was shining, and the breeze was cool, then suddenly a change of plans.
"Ring! Ring!" the phone sounded. "Hello," I answered quickly. "May I speak to..." Did I hear right? Was the call for me? The handsome male voice on the other end of the phone began to speak again, "Hello." "Oh, yes... this is she. May I ask whose calling?" I had learned my manners from my 'proper' California uncle and aunt, the parents of the cousins who were there now eagerly listening . " This is your brother," the voice replied. "Excuse me!..." I could hardly believe my ears.
I had heard I had brothers and sisters but had never had any contact with them. They were on my dad's side. I had only ever seen pictures of my dad. Tall and handsome, but I had never even so much as heard his voice. I had dreamed of one day meeting him and my siblings, but it seemed a far off fairytale.
"Yes, this is your brother," the voice responded. This was the answer to the question, 'How could a perfect day get better?'!!! The conversation was far from boring as we pried into one another's lives. Of course, arrangements were made, and that day was like no other day I had ever had in San Diego. I also met my younger sister who lived in San Diego as well and heard my dad's voice over the phone for the first time in life that I could remember on that special day. Dad lived in Philadelphia, but now I could actually believe that my dream of meeting him would come to pass. I will never forget how I screamed when I found out that this young man was really my brother. At twelve years old, who could guess, I realized I could actually someday have nieces and nephews of my very own. I will always remember the way my heart pounded, the way his face looked, and the time we shared together thereafter. Surely, I will always be grateful to God for His perfect timing and His divine plan. Although other people's mistakes may affect our lives, God's goodness and love for us will never fail.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)