Ever buy something and feel like you are just getting 'nickeled and dimed' to death with all the hidden costs.
God's kingdom isn't like that.
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." - Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV
Sure mercies. No hidden costs. There is always meat and drink and that table and God wants us to partake of what He has given freely.
--
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
Turning A Curse Into A Blessing
Yesterday, the phrase 'turned a curse into a blessing' came up in conversation so I decided to look up the phrase in the scriptures. I will never see that phrase the same way again.
In our conversation, we agreed that God is the only one who can 'turn a curse into a blessing'. People can't do that. People can make the best of something but they don't have the transforming power.
The two places this phrase is used are here...
"No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever, because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you." - Deuteronomy 23:3-5 ESV
"On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them - yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent." - Nehemiah 13:1-3 ESV
Balaam is a mysterious person. He is not involved with Israel but he speaks to God and hears from Him also.
Numbers chapter 22 to 24 outlines the account. Israel's enemies come to Balaam seeking to hire him to curse Israel. He lets these people stay in his home and brings the request to God again and again hoping God will 'change His mind' and say 'Yes'. Balaam is seduced by the money and the challenge and tries to curse Israel but Balak brings him to three places to curse Israel but each time Balaam utters a blessing and even gives prophetic utterance about the Messiah.
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" - Numbers 24:17-19 ESV
The talk about a 'star' and 'scepter' point to Christ and they are unique references given nowhere else quite this way. People can make the best of a situation but only God can reveal His Son to people in the midst of great opposition.
Perhaps folks want to lay low when it comes to their Christian life. They worship in their own way but at work, no one would ever know that 'they name the name of Christ' but a person who has enemies because of the faith also has this dynamic working.
"And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said,
'The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.'
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, 'I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.' " - Numbers 24:2-10 ESV
Yes. Sorry, Balak. God isn't ever going to curse Israel. He will deal with them but never ever curse them. You tried to curse Israel only to discover some interesting facts about the future of Israel's enemies.
"Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, 'Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.' And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, 'Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock. Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.' And he took up his discourse and said, 'Alas, who shall live when God does this? But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.' Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way." - Numbers 24:20-25 ESV
Say God's name. Use words like 'Jesus', 'The Cross', 'Heaven' and 'Hell'. If you do some will conspire against you but the curse will become a blessing and you will have special insight into Messiah and the favor of God or you can live spouting bland generalities to fit in and miss seeing how intensely God loves and favors you.
I will never see this phrase the same way again. God does turn situations and give us an advantage when it looked like we were at a disadvantage but that is not quite the blessing outlined here. The blessing is a glimpse into grace and the person of Jesus Christ.
Amazing.
--
In our conversation, we agreed that God is the only one who can 'turn a curse into a blessing'. People can't do that. People can make the best of something but they don't have the transforming power.
The two places this phrase is used are here...
"No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever, because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you." - Deuteronomy 23:3-5 ESV
"On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them - yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent." - Nehemiah 13:1-3 ESV
Balaam is a mysterious person. He is not involved with Israel but he speaks to God and hears from Him also.
Numbers chapter 22 to 24 outlines the account. Israel's enemies come to Balaam seeking to hire him to curse Israel. He lets these people stay in his home and brings the request to God again and again hoping God will 'change His mind' and say 'Yes'. Balaam is seduced by the money and the challenge and tries to curse Israel but Balak brings him to three places to curse Israel but each time Balaam utters a blessing and even gives prophetic utterance about the Messiah.
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" - Numbers 24:17-19 ESV
The talk about a 'star' and 'scepter' point to Christ and they are unique references given nowhere else quite this way. People can make the best of a situation but only God can reveal His Son to people in the midst of great opposition.
Perhaps folks want to lay low when it comes to their Christian life. They worship in their own way but at work, no one would ever know that 'they name the name of Christ' but a person who has enemies because of the faith also has this dynamic working.
"And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said,
'The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.'
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, 'I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.' " - Numbers 24:2-10 ESV
Yes. Sorry, Balak. God isn't ever going to curse Israel. He will deal with them but never ever curse them. You tried to curse Israel only to discover some interesting facts about the future of Israel's enemies.
"Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, 'Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.' And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, 'Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock. Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.' And he took up his discourse and said, 'Alas, who shall live when God does this? But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.' Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way." - Numbers 24:20-25 ESV
Say God's name. Use words like 'Jesus', 'The Cross', 'Heaven' and 'Hell'. If you do some will conspire against you but the curse will become a blessing and you will have special insight into Messiah and the favor of God or you can live spouting bland generalities to fit in and miss seeing how intensely God loves and favors you.
I will never see this phrase the same way again. God does turn situations and give us an advantage when it looked like we were at a disadvantage but that is not quite the blessing outlined here. The blessing is a glimpse into grace and the person of Jesus Christ.
Amazing.
--
Friday, September 8, 2017
The Theory Of Universals
The next passage reveals something interesting about Jesus' incarnation.
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" - Philippians 2:7 KJV
The Apostle Paul undoubtedly knew something about Aristotle. Paul was a Roman citizen and a scholar. Aristotle promoted an interesting idea about 'forms' that we call the 'theory of universals'. I am going to oversimplify it to explain it quickly but here is the gist of it...
There is a perfect version of every idea that exists in a nonphysical realm but there are multiple imperfect reflections of it in the world we see and touch. Our mind touches this immaterial world and thinks about perfection but our body lives in the physical one. Let's use a horse as an example. There are millions of horses of all shapes and sizes but Aristotle would say that the ideal 'form' (or in Greek Eidos) of all horses exists somewhere in the immaterial realm of ideas. This universal horse is represented in all the physical horses we see and touch in the material world.
I am not promoting this philosophy. I see Greek thought as flawed in many ways and dangerous but the incarnation is mysterious and Paul seems to pluck this one concept out because it can be used as a mirror for our understanding.
God made men in His image and yet Jesus is born into the world as a man. He Is the 'ideal' man who is 'the form' of a servant. The servant who existed before time in the realm of the immaterial now being born as a person of flesh and blood like you and I but without sin. Perfect.
This concept can be taken further into angelology and demonology. In the scriptures, we see angels with animal attributes.
"As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle." - Ezekiel 1:10 ESV
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made... The LORD God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.' " - Genesis 3:1a, 14-15 ESV
"The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?' " - Job 26:11-14 NKJV
Adam didn't name this serpent. He named all the beasts and birds in the garden but this is 'the serpent'. He was and is an 'ideal' entity that spoke ideas out of his deceptive nature. He snuck into the garden from somewhere else. He deceived Eve but God pierced him.
These angels don't look like animals. The animals look a little like angels. God doesn't look like us. Our bodies look a little like Him and once we believe in the servant of all servants we are born again having an eternal spirit made alive that quickens our soul in life.
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2 ESV
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," - Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV
Please notice that we are 'raised' and 'seated' already. The ideal version of who you are is now in Heaven outside of time. God placed us in His Son and now we have a perfection that can't be seen fully. It will be seen later but it is partially hidden at the moment.
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV
Today, I am not looking into the Greek realm of forms and ideas. I focus my mind on Heaven and Heavenly things. I want to dwell where God has placed me. I purpose to ponder Christ and all His many perfections. My feet can be firmly on the ground if my head is in these clouds.
--
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" - Philippians 2:7 KJV
The Apostle Paul undoubtedly knew something about Aristotle. Paul was a Roman citizen and a scholar. Aristotle promoted an interesting idea about 'forms' that we call the 'theory of universals'. I am going to oversimplify it to explain it quickly but here is the gist of it...
There is a perfect version of every idea that exists in a nonphysical realm but there are multiple imperfect reflections of it in the world we see and touch. Our mind touches this immaterial world and thinks about perfection but our body lives in the physical one. Let's use a horse as an example. There are millions of horses of all shapes and sizes but Aristotle would say that the ideal 'form' (or in Greek Eidos) of all horses exists somewhere in the immaterial realm of ideas. This universal horse is represented in all the physical horses we see and touch in the material world.
I am not promoting this philosophy. I see Greek thought as flawed in many ways and dangerous but the incarnation is mysterious and Paul seems to pluck this one concept out because it can be used as a mirror for our understanding.
God made men in His image and yet Jesus is born into the world as a man. He Is the 'ideal' man who is 'the form' of a servant. The servant who existed before time in the realm of the immaterial now being born as a person of flesh and blood like you and I but without sin. Perfect.
This concept can be taken further into angelology and demonology. In the scriptures, we see angels with animal attributes.
"As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle." - Ezekiel 1:10 ESV
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made... The LORD God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.' " - Genesis 3:1a, 14-15 ESV
"The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?' " - Job 26:11-14 NKJV
Adam didn't name this serpent. He named all the beasts and birds in the garden but this is 'the serpent'. He was and is an 'ideal' entity that spoke ideas out of his deceptive nature. He snuck into the garden from somewhere else. He deceived Eve but God pierced him.
These angels don't look like animals. The animals look a little like angels. God doesn't look like us. Our bodies look a little like Him and once we believe in the servant of all servants we are born again having an eternal spirit made alive that quickens our soul in life.
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2 ESV
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," - Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV
Please notice that we are 'raised' and 'seated' already. The ideal version of who you are is now in Heaven outside of time. God placed us in His Son and now we have a perfection that can't be seen fully. It will be seen later but it is partially hidden at the moment.
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV
Today, I am not looking into the Greek realm of forms and ideas. I focus my mind on Heaven and Heavenly things. I want to dwell where God has placed me. I purpose to ponder Christ and all His many perfections. My feet can be firmly on the ground if my head is in these clouds.
--
Thursday, September 7, 2017
The Perception Gap
I'm reading 1 John chapter 3 over and over again and wondering at humanity's perception gap.
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2 ESV
The chapter really links personal sin to a lack of perception. Mankind acts in lawlessness because God's nature and character is not in view.
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him... No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." - 1 John 3:1, 6-9 ESV
Many go through life in lawlessness in the way that a person who knows nothing about cars deals with their broken down vehicle. If they can figure out how to open the hood they do but they still have very little idea what they are looking at much less how to begin fixing the problem so they get in and turn the key, again and again, hoping the problem will just go away.
"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." - 1 John 3:21-24 ESV
God commands us to 'believe in the name of His Son' and see the pattern of love in Christ. Seeing Him activates us in love. We have access to the maker of all things and He shows us how people are made. Instead of 'ungoverned' patterns of self-destruction, we have other options. Revenge, hatred, envy, lying and taking become obsolete practices.
What we are isn't seen yet.
"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." - 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 ESV
What we will be hinges on what we have seen. Have we seen Jesus? If we see Him there is a transformation that happens inside that eventually is made manifest outside in love.
--
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2 ESV
The chapter really links personal sin to a lack of perception. Mankind acts in lawlessness because God's nature and character is not in view.
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him... No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." - 1 John 3:1, 6-9 ESV
Many go through life in lawlessness in the way that a person who knows nothing about cars deals with their broken down vehicle. If they can figure out how to open the hood they do but they still have very little idea what they are looking at much less how to begin fixing the problem so they get in and turn the key, again and again, hoping the problem will just go away.
"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." - 1 John 3:21-24 ESV
God commands us to 'believe in the name of His Son' and see the pattern of love in Christ. Seeing Him activates us in love. We have access to the maker of all things and He shows us how people are made. Instead of 'ungoverned' patterns of self-destruction, we have other options. Revenge, hatred, envy, lying and taking become obsolete practices.
What we are isn't seen yet.
"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." - 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 ESV
What we will be hinges on what we have seen. Have we seen Jesus? If we see Him there is a transformation that happens inside that eventually is made manifest outside in love.
--
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Stumbling Blocks
Offenses. Stumbling blocks. What happens when you or i are caught off balance? There is that momentary jolt isn't there? If we catch ourselves mid fall and recover it is one thing but if we fall hard there is often injury of some kind which takes time to heal.
A couple of passages I was looking at as I considered this subject.
"SHIN. Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You." - Psalm 119:161-168 NKJV
The KJV translates verse 165 this way...
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." - Psalm 119:165 KJV
Each section of this Psalm is distinct. There is one for each letter in the Hebrew alphabet and has a theme. This one is 'SHIN' (the first letter in the Hebrew word for 'Princes' (Sar - Strong's H8269)
Jesus said this next passage to John's disciples. John's life was difficult. He was in jail and would later be executed for speaking truth to power.
"And he answered them, 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.' " - Luke 7:22-23 ESV
Has a 'prince', a person with power or influence, offended you? Has God's plan offended you?
You or i can only be offended if we stumble.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105 ESV
The lamp shows us our next steps. The light shows us a strategy for the journey.
We may have already stumbled. Maybe it is a loved one that has fallen. The pain of wound recovery is real. Instead of being bitter we can keep God's precepts (spiritual principles and dynamics) and testimonies (stories about past deliverances) in front of our faces. Grace can teach us how to walk in love and forgiveness.
Jesus is doing miracles today. I want that to be my testimony.
--
A couple of passages I was looking at as I considered this subject.
"SHIN. Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You." - Psalm 119:161-168 NKJV
The KJV translates verse 165 this way...
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." - Psalm 119:165 KJV
Each section of this Psalm is distinct. There is one for each letter in the Hebrew alphabet and has a theme. This one is 'SHIN' (the first letter in the Hebrew word for 'Princes' (Sar - Strong's H8269)
Jesus said this next passage to John's disciples. John's life was difficult. He was in jail and would later be executed for speaking truth to power.
"And he answered them, 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.' " - Luke 7:22-23 ESV
Has a 'prince', a person with power or influence, offended you? Has God's plan offended you?
You or i can only be offended if we stumble.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105 ESV
The lamp shows us our next steps. The light shows us a strategy for the journey.
We may have already stumbled. Maybe it is a loved one that has fallen. The pain of wound recovery is real. Instead of being bitter we can keep God's precepts (spiritual principles and dynamics) and testimonies (stories about past deliverances) in front of our faces. Grace can teach us how to walk in love and forgiveness.
Jesus is doing miracles today. I want that to be my testimony.
--
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Circulating Movement
Many thoughts this morning.
There is one conversation I participated in on outreach this weekend that sticks out in my mind. We were talking briefly about the human lymphatic system. Our heart pumps red blood cells throughout our body but our lymphatic system has no pump. It works primarily on muscle movement bringing white blood cells to where they are needed in the body.
"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
God has accomplished a great salvation for mankind.
At rest, my heart will still keep pumping oxygen and nutrients all through my body but my body wasn't made to be idle. We need to keep moving by faith in a purpose. That walking movement is needed.
Perhaps we tend to focus on goals and results and that has a place in our life but what about just moving by faith in the moment?
I need outreach. I am there for others but at the same time outreach provides a focused area to operate by faith in God's declared will.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." - Luke 19:10 ESV
It might be a neighborhood or even this generation of young people that are being raised up in front of our faces that become our focus but we can move with God and all that we have is circulating in our proactive endeavors.
"As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:4-7 ESV
I plan to keep moving this week. I don't want to do it in vanity. I want to have God move me as I move by faith.
God, Please stir us up in love and motivate us to move in a redemptive vision. No striving but we want to progress in a progression that blesses You as we walk by faith.
--
There is one conversation I participated in on outreach this weekend that sticks out in my mind. We were talking briefly about the human lymphatic system. Our heart pumps red blood cells throughout our body but our lymphatic system has no pump. It works primarily on muscle movement bringing white blood cells to where they are needed in the body.
"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
God has accomplished a great salvation for mankind.
At rest, my heart will still keep pumping oxygen and nutrients all through my body but my body wasn't made to be idle. We need to keep moving by faith in a purpose. That walking movement is needed.
Perhaps we tend to focus on goals and results and that has a place in our life but what about just moving by faith in the moment?
I need outreach. I am there for others but at the same time outreach provides a focused area to operate by faith in God's declared will.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." - Luke 19:10 ESV
It might be a neighborhood or even this generation of young people that are being raised up in front of our faces that become our focus but we can move with God and all that we have is circulating in our proactive endeavors.
"As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:4-7 ESV
I plan to keep moving this week. I don't want to do it in vanity. I want to have God move me as I move by faith.
God, Please stir us up in love and motivate us to move in a redemptive vision. No striving but we want to progress in a progression that blesses You as we walk by faith.
--
Friday, September 1, 2017
Rock Hard
This morning I am thinking of the heavy boot of oppression on different kinds of soil.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Wet soil - A big sloppy imprint
Dry loose soil - An imprint that can be seen and tracked by those experienced at looking for patterns
Solid rock - Barely a scuff if anything at all
Transformation of the mind hardens us from caving under and being changed by external pressure. Water washes us but does not wash us away.
--
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Wet soil - A big sloppy imprint
Dry loose soil - An imprint that can be seen and tracked by those experienced at looking for patterns
Solid rock - Barely a scuff if anything at all
Transformation of the mind hardens us from caving under and being changed by external pressure. Water washes us but does not wash us away.
--
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