Rewards and Gifts

To reward is to give to a person in response to a particular action that person has undertaken. This is opposed to a gift which is something given in response to no particular action on the part of the receiver. Our salvation is a free gift from God and is in no way a reward, but it is interesting that God does promise rewards in response to certain actions. These rewards from a review of the below scriptures appear to be primarily associated with our time in heaven, although some verses pertain to our time on earth and with some examples time periods of reward are unclear. It is important to remember that Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." This is not to say God doesn't bless us in wonderful ways here on earth. He said also, "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly(John 10:10)." This pertains to our life here, I believe, as well as our future lives. But our home is in heaven.

Rewards in Heaven:
-in response to persecution Matt 5:12; Like 6:23
-treasures in heaven implied in Matt 6:19 (after preceding verses on giving, praying, fasting in secret)
-works for Christ result in reward 1 Cor 3:14
-verse implies rewards in future 2 John 8
-future reward for perseverance Heb 10:35; James 1:12; Rev 2:10
-Moses looked ahead to future reward abandoning earthly treasures and taking on humiliation Heb 11:26
-inheritance as reward Col 3:24
-saints reward at end last day Rev 11:18
-eternal life as reward for obedience John 8:51
-parable implies reward at coming of master for faithful servant Matt 25:20-23; Luke 19:12-19
-for shepherding the flock 1 Pe 5:4
-reward for longing for Christ's appearing 2 Tim 4:8
-for overcoming-no second death Rev 2:11
-for overcoming-eat from tree of life Rev 2:7
-for overcoming-eat from hidden manna, recieve stone w/ new name on it Rev 2:17
-for overcoming-authority over nations Rev 2:26,27
-for overcoming-dressed in white, name not blotted out from the Book of Life, acknowledged by Christ Rev 3:4,5
-for overcoming-made a pillar in the temple, names of God, Jesus and city of God written on him Rev 3:12
-for overcoming-a seat gifted on Christ's throne. Rev 3:21
-Christ bring's his reward with him at his second coming Rev 22:12, Isa 62:11, Isa 40:10
-for good deeds done while in the body 2 Cor 5:10

Rewards on Earth:
-honor among men for giving to needy obviously Matt 6:2
-honor among mend for praying obviously Matt 6:5
-honor among men for fasting obviously Matt 6:16
-humility, fear of the Lord lead to reward apparently on earth Prov 22:4
-righteousness rewarded with good (on earth implied) Prov 13:21

Rewards for:
-persecution for Christ Matt 5:12
-giving to poor secretly Matt 6:2
-praying in private Matt 6:5
-fasting in secret Matt 6:18
-receiving a prophet or righteous man Matt 10:41
-giving a cup of water in Christ's name to a child/disciple Matt 10:42; Mk 9:41
-loving enemies Luke 6:35; Matt 5:46; Prov 25:22
-voluntarily preaching the gospel 1 Cor 9:17
-earnestly seeking God Heb 11:6
-good conduct Jer 32:19; 2 Cor 5:10
-keeping the Lord's ordinances Ps 19:9-11; Prov 13:13; John 8:51
-righteousness, faithfulness 1 Sam 26:23; Prov 11:18

I Am Righteous!

I am righteous! That is a profound statement. A statement that when taken out of context is really ridiculous (Rom 3:10)....especially if you know me. I just spent an hour in anger and sinful response to an occurance in my life, and I am struck with amazement at the thought of being considered righteous. I am so far from righteousness in my actions at times it sickens me. But there is good news for me and for you if you feel like I do (John 3:16). For Christ atoned for my sins on the cross 2000 years ago. First, Jesus came in the form of man and through active obedience to the law he fulfilled what you and I could never do...he lived a sinless life (Heb 4:15, 1Pe 2:22). He was and is righteous. Then he bore the sins of all who believe in him in his body on the cross (1 Pe 2:24). He paid the ransom for our sins (1 Tim 2:6; Rev 5:9). The entire cup of God's wrath against my sin was poured out on Christ. His wrath is spent for my past and my future sin. The sin I committed in anger today was upon Christ, and the sin I commit tomorrow was on Christ. So through his passive obedience unto death on the cross the penalty required for my sin was paid in full. I am redeemed. I am justified before God (Rom 5:1), Christ having served vicariously for me my sentence. But that's not all. Christ's righteousness for his obedient perfect life is then imputed or credited to me (2 Cor 5:21). Through this, I am reconciled in my relationship to God. He sees me as having the righeousness of Christ. All this through faith in God's person, his Word and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing grace.

Silence

Where do we have the best opportunity to meet God? A place of silence. Why do I not seek God there? I am lazy...I would rather sleep in. I am foolish....a poor steward of my time. Unbelief....I do not believe it matters. Distrust....I do not trust God to protect and provide for me without my help.

See http://theresurgence.com/silence

Fix Your Eyes On Jesus

I was in Hawaii over the last two weeks for a time of celebration with my wife of twenty years. In spite of the surroundings and company, I had a three day period of deep despair for reasons that weren't completely clear in my mind. I felt as if God had left me...as if he had hidden himself from me. I looked and called to him but just felt alone. I remember sitting on the couch on the verge of tears thinking-- where are you? What has caused this? My wife, being extremely wise, knows to just leave my alone to think if I am in a funk. And so, in spite of the beach and sunshine, I sat pondering things in sadness. Fortunately, God lifted me out of the miry clay, and I am experiencing him again. After the fact, I think a number of things may have been contributing to my situation. I had been over the two weeks prior to my episode wallowing in discontent over difficulties in personal family relationships. I have been praying for the situation for a long time without much change and I became frustrated. I also had spent too much time meditating on theological questions about God that are unanswerable (Arminianism, Calvinism) instead of spending time listening and worshiping. Finally, I was struggling with feelings of guilt and sadness with my failures as a christian.

So, what did I learn from this experience? The most important thing in my relationship with God is spending time with him listening and worshiping...not necessarily knowing more theology. Discontentment in life is discontentment with God and is a manifestation of me taking my eye off of him. Guilt is a manifestation of unbelief except in cases of ongoing purposeful sin. Believe what God says! He says he will never leave or forsake me. He says my sins are payed for, and I am righteous in his sight.

God's Love For Believers

OBSERVATIONS:
1. God desires to possess believers as his own. Ps 4:3: Mal 3:16-17;
2. God loves believers before we believe. Rom 5:8, 1 John 4:10
3. God is patient and merciful in his love: Isa 30:18; 2 Peter 3:9
3. God's love for believers is great in quantity. 1 John 3:1; Col 3:12; Eph 2:4-5; Romans 8:32; John 17:23; 2 Thes 2:16; John 16:27; Romans 1:7
4. God loves those who fear him, obey him, serve him., give cheerfully, do the right thing, try to do the right thing, and those who believe and love Jesus Christ. Ps 103:13; Mal 3:16-17; John 14:21-23; 2 Cor 9:7; John 16:27
5. God disciplines the ones he loves. Heb 12:6; Isa 38:17
6. God loves us as his children. 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:32
7. He promises to graciously give us all things in him. Rom 8:32, John 15:7; Matt 7:1
8. God"s love for believers will never fail. Romans 8;38-39

God's Love For All

OBSERVATIONS:
1. God invites the entire world to turn and be saved. Isa 45:22; 55:1
2. God invites sinners to turn and be saved. Eze 18:23,32
3. Salvation will include all of the physical earth. Isa 49:6
4. God loves the whole world. John 3:16,17
5. God desires the whole world to be saved. Eze 18:32; 2 Pe 3:9; 1 Tim 2:4
6. God sent Jesus to be savior of the world. 1 John 4:14
7. God's salvation bringing grace appears to all. Titus 2:11
8. Scripture suggests Christ paid the potential ransom for all. Heb 2:9; 1 Tim 2:6; 1Tim 4:10; 2 Pe 2:1

I Will Lift My Eyes

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in


I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You


God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

Your kindness is what pulls me up
And your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You


‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together
God So hold me now

God, my God
Your beloved needs you now.

--Bebo Norman

The Study

I just read the short pamphlet My Heart, Christ's Home by Robert Munger http://www.hcm2.org/prose/home.htm. It's an interesting discussion of a man's life described as a house with different rooms representing various parts of his existence. Munger describes the process of Jesus slowly being let in to each section of the house to reorganize things as he would have them. For example, the study or library represents the thoughts of our minds and things we read, study and think about. The pictures on the walls of the library represent our thoughts. Christ, in Munger's pamphlet, says "it will be difficult to control" these images. But he says place a large picture of me (Jesus) centrally on the wall and this will help. The pamphlet goes through Jesus' reorganization of every room culminating in the owner signing over the deed of the house to him. An interesting description of the sanctification of a believer.

This description of the study or library really interested me. Jesus says in the pamphlet to replace the books on the shelves with the Bible and to meditate on the scriptures. In other words, study him. The images on the walls are to be dominated by a large, centrally located image of Christ, so our thoughts are constantly drawn back to him. I started to think about thinking. (Did I say that)? Obviously, thoughts pop into our minds uninvited at times. What initiates them? We can initiate thoughts voluntarily, but many come from out of no where. Then once a thought is in our minds, we can choose to dwell on it or willfully push it away (sometimes easier said than done). Scripture tells us to think about good things and to control our thoughts. The easiest of the two is the former.

Some observations on the mind from scripture:

Matt 22:37 --We are to love the Lord with all of our minds.
Romans 8:6 -- Setting are minds on the things of the Spirit brings life and peace.
Romans 12:2-- We are to consistently renew our minds with the help of the Spirit and his word.
Colossians 3:2 -- God calls us to set our minds on him. This is a planned action.
1 Peter 1:13 -- Our minds need to be ready for God's use and ready for temptation.
2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 11:3 -- Satan can blind the minds of unbelievers and can tempt believers' in their thoughts if God allows. (God is the ultimate gatekeeper for temptation 1 Cor 10:13.
Psalm 7:9 -- God tests our minds.

Behold The Living God

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Cor 3:18

To behold the Lord is to be changed. No one can sit at the feet of the Almighty and walk away as the same person. His majesty, love and goodness; his justice and perfection inspire terrifying respect and awe. To behold the Lord is to be changed. The longer we sit with him and marvel at his attributes the more we are shaped into his image. Not by our power, but by his. I want to spend time with God. As much time as possible. To see the hope, glorious inheritance and power provided to us in Christ (Eph 1:17-18). To see it with the eyes of my heart. O to find my satisfaction and joy only in him. I can see how the Psalmist rejoiced in God being his portion forever (Ps 73:26). Most times though God is just out of my grasp. I long to be with him but the time seems so fleeting that I am actually there. The other night in a study that I was involved in we talked about how we can better behold the living God. Some observations:

1. God will be found by those who seek him with all their hearts. Deut 4:29, Jer 29:13; James 4:8; 1Chron 28:9

2. God manifests himself to the obedient, those who know his commands and obey them. John 14:21, 23; Matt 5:8, Isa 59:2

3. We should ask God to commune with us because he says he will when asked. Rev 3:20, Ps 145:18

4. And this from a previous post related to John Owens Communion with a Triune God.....Two things are required of believers to commune completely with the Almighty. Communion consists of giving and receiving. First, we as believers must receive the Father's love. We receive it by believing his love for us is real, unchanging, eternal and significant. That he delights in us and that his love for us is not dependent on our living a sinless life. His love for us is dependent on who God is in his very nature. It is not dependent on who I am. (If his love was dependent on me and my actions, I could earn God's love and his glory would be diminished). To believe God's love is dependent on our actions is to diminish God's magnificent mercy and grace and is a manifestation of unbelief. We must receive God's love for us if we are to commune with him. Link. We can approach his thrown with confidence to receive mercy and grace (Heb 4:15).

5. All this—ALL THIS—emanates directly from the cross where Christ’s glorious, finished work of substitutionary atonement is all-sufficient for my needs as a sinner (1 Peter 3:18). Added by my brother BB.

To truly experience consciously the living God in reality; to know him personally and closely is my desire. O Lord help me to know you. Show me your glory. Send down your presence. I want to see your face.

The Covenant of Grace

Below is a transcript from a Spurgeon sermon where he describes this covenant and then wonders what it would have been like to be to hear this covenant being made.

“Now, in this covenant of grace, we must first of all observe the high contracting parties between whom it was made. The covenant of grace was made before the foundation of the world between God the Father, and God the Son; or to put it in a yet more scriptural light, it was made mutually between the three divine persons of the adorable Trinity. I cannot tell you it in the glorious celestial tongue in which it was written: I am fain to bring it down to the speech which suiteth to the ear of flesh, and to the heart of the mortal. Thus, I say, run the covenant, in ones like these:”

"I, the Most High Jehovah, do hereby give unto my only begotten and well-beloved Son, a people, countless beyond the number of stars, who shall be by him washed from sin, by him preserved, and kept, and led, and by him, at last, presented before my throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. I covenant by oath, and swear by myself, because I can swear by no greater, that these whom I now give to Christ shall be for ever the objects of my eternal love. Them I will forgive through the merit of the blood. To these will I give a perfect righteousness; these will I adopt and make my sons and daughters, and these shall reign with me through Christ eternally."

Thus run that glorious side of the covenant. The Holy Spirit also, as one of the high contracting parties on this side of the covenant, gave his declaration,

"I hereby covenant," saith he, "that all whom the Father giveth to the Son, I will in due time quicken. I will show them their need of redemption; I will cut off from them all groundless hope, and destroy their refuges of lies. I will bring them to the blood of sprinkling; I will give them faith whereby this blood shall be applied to them, I will work in them every grace; I will keep their faith alive; I will cleanse them and drive out all depravity from them, and they shall be presented at last spotless and faultless."

This was the one side of the covenant, which is at this very day being fulfilled and scrupulously kept. As for the other side of the covenant this was the part of it, engaged and covenanted by Christ. He thus declared, and covenanted with his Father:

"My Father, on my part I covenant that in the fullness of time I will become man. I will take upon myself the form and nature of the fallen race. I will live in their wretched world, and for my people I will keep the law perfectly. I will work out a spotless righteousness, which shall be acceptable to the demands of thy just and holy law. In due time I will bear the sins of all my people. Thou shalt exact their debts on me; the chastisement of their peace I will endure, and by my stripes they shall be healed. My Father, I covenant and promise that I will be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I will magnify thy law, and make it honourable. I will suffer all they ought to have suffered. I will endure the curse of thy law, and all the vials of thy wrath shall be emptied and spent upon my head. I will then rise again; I will ascend into heaven; I will intercede for them at thy right hand; and I will make myself responsible for every one of them, that not one of those whom thou hast given me shall ever be lost, but I will bring all my sheep of whom, by thy blood, thou hast constituted me the shepherd—I will bring every one safe to thee at last."

-Charles Spurgeon-

Job

There are difficult times these days in our world. Many people are losing jobs, and the financial markets have tanked. The stress was evident in my discipleship group this morning as many of the men's jobs are at risk. The fact that God has promised to work all for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes (Rom 8:28) was brought up. The next thought that came out was...."what if God wants to move me out of my comfortable house and into a lesser socioeconomic status?" Then do I still believe Romans 8:28? That is part of the question isn't it? Surrender. Do I surrender all to God? Am I willing to look to him for my provision AND accept that which he feels is best for me....even if it isn't what I want? It's easy to not have to deal with the question when things are going well. Although, we remain distant from the Almighty in that position. We grow close to him when we wrestle with our flesh and by the power of the Spirit give our wills over to him. O that wrestling can be hard. Job wrestled with it. He was a godly man who had everything in the temporal world going for him. Wealth, family, respect, health. God allowed it all to be taken away. Job wrestled with his flesh for most of the over 40 chapters in the book. Until he got a vision of God. He then surrendered to the will of his creator and sustainer. In that wrestling Job did not sin. The closing prayer of our group was that we, like Job, would be men who surrender to the will of God whatever happens. That we would trust and obey even in the hard times and seek his presence and favor in all things. That we would recognize the sovereignty, power, goodness and right of control of the King of kings and Lord or lords. O that I might have the faith to say as Job did:



Naked I came into the world and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised. (Job 1:21).

Amen

Thanks to my borther Dave H. for his insite.

Restlessness

Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.



-Augustine, Confessions

Rest

Plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in His immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.



C. H. Spurgeon

The Valley

I just returned from two weeks serving the poor half way around the world. Sounds impressive when I type that in. In reality, I benefited more than they did and my motives were at least partially selfish. I wanted to go to spend time with God. On these trips, I usually awake early and spend an hour or two praying, worshiping, meditating and journaling. It is quiet, and I feel very close to God. There is very little to distract me--no phone, internet, news or work (outside of mission activity). Also, there is great christian fellowship with others of the same mindset. This trip was no exception. I was "up on the mountain" with God, encouraged, strengthened and influenced by His presence. I came home physically tired but on fire for Christ. That was 5 days ago.

Since being home, I feel as if a bulldozer has been laid upon my shoulders, and I am laboring to carry it. Life stresses have pressed in and instead of "pressing on into the presence of God (Tozer)," I am juggling hundreds of worries and concerns that draw my mind back into the world. My daughter is having some difficult times, the economy is a mess, my limited retirement savings is disappearing, I am watching my bank account daily to see if I will have the funds to cover expenses. Pretty sinful in my discontent. I have been reading in Jeremiah and thinking....he probably didn't have a "retirement." When he was thrown down in a cistern, he probably had few funds in the "bank." People were constantly against him. Who sustained Jeremiah? The living God. Who is the provider of everything I have? God almighty. My spirit is wrestling with my flesh to let go of all in this world. Not to be irresponsible but to acknowledge God's sovereign power to provide, protect and control in my life. The general question that is recurrently launched into my head is "What if something bad happens?" Well, something bad probably will happen, but God is over and above whatever the problem. He will only allow that which glorifies him and benefits those "who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28)." But do I believe him? Do I trust him? Or will I take it all back so that I may have some semblance of conscious control in my life (the fallacy that that is)? "The blessed ones who possess the kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing." (Tozer, Pursuit of God). Lord may I love and worship only you. May I let go of myself and the gifts you have given and seek satisfaction, provision, joy and hope only in you.

Easily Pleased

We re half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he can not imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are too easily pleased.
-C. S. Lewis


“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. "

Isa 55:1-2


“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”

1 Cor 2:9

Hindrances

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1.

It struck me last night that this verse tells us to not only throw off sin but also to throw off everything that hinders us in our walk with God. Do I watch too much tv? Pitch it. Striving for success from a worldly standpoint? Put it in the round file. Staying up too late? Cut it out. Surfing the net news? Wasting time. There are so many things I do that are not necessarily sin but that hinder my walk with God. I should get rid of these things. Now, God also calls us to rest, rejoice, celebrate and "fill the earth and subdue it," so whether something is a hindrance or not can really sometimes only be determined through a conversation with God. But, this idea is something I need to keep in mind. Just like Paul says that the soldier for Christ "does not get involved in civilian affairs because he wants to please his commanding officer (God) (2 Tim 2:3-5)." Our lives should be all for God, not compartmentalized. Anything we are involved in that is not a benefit to the kingdom should be reassessed.

Quiet Time

Things that help me pray during morning quiet times:

1-Time. The more time I have to pray, the better the prayer time. I think this is because it is easier to listen rather than talk.
2-Quiet.
3-Coffee.
4-Praying scripture. This is new to me but has been a wonderful help. Verses from the Psalms are currently me diet. (Ps 119:36,37; Ps 119:18; Ps 86:11, Ps 90:14, Ps139:23, 24).
5-Journaling my prayer.
6-Meditating on scripture. Reading a chapter and praying when a verse convicts me to pray.
7-Sitting on the floor.
8-Listening to worship that is personal to me on my ipod.
9-Intercessory prayer last.

Testing.

Psalm 139:23, 24
Search me, and know my heart. Test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

A friend brought her 3 year old daughter in for me to look in her ear. She was complaining of pain, so my friend stopped in at lunch. I got out my otoscope, and we tried to get the little girl to let me take a look. Now having your inner ear looked at might hurt just slightly. But the exam is necessary to find out what is wrong and then administer appropriate treatment. Well, this three year old was having none of it. She squirmed and cried, not willing to let me stick the tip of the ear speculum into her ear's external canal. Obviously, she was afraid the exam would cause pain, and she didn't trust that I had her best interest at heart.

God examines us (1 Thessalonians 2:4,1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalm 17:3). Whether we want him to or not. Our comfort with that exam is dependent on our trust in him and our degree of faithfulness to his commands. God calls us also to examine ourselves (Galatians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Our comfort with this exam is based on our faithfullness to God and his commands and our beliefs about who God is and who he is not. We often neglect this examination, because we know we fail to meet God's standards AND are unwilling to change. But, as in Psalm 139:23,24 above, sanctification occurs if we are submitted to God, willing to change and be obedient to his direction. This maybe painful, but it brings glory to God and is ultimately to our benefit.

O that I would not squirm and fight the examination I need from my loving God; that I would not shy away from the treatment I need to mature in my walk with him.

God Is Enough

Last night I listened to the testimony of a friend who has been down a long road of difficulty in his life lately. The last year has been filled with introspection, and he told the story of contemplating his committment to God as if life was a poker game. He had been witholding some of his "chips," afraid to bet everything on the King. But, during this year, he consciously decided to place all the chips on the table and let go of everything this world has to offer. At first, things were rough. God brought adversity into my friends life....I cannot help but wonder if God was testing my brother. I know in my life, wrestling with myself and God's Spirit takes time and struggle. Just as Christ was "made perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10)," so also we must go through the fire to have the imperfections burned away (1 Peter 1:7). Without suffering, we hold some of our chips in reserve. God knows this. We figure it out only after the trial is over. What we find is that despite all, God is enough.

Annie's Song

John Denver wrote Annie's Song to his wife I believe. It's a beautiful song. I was thinking yesterday that it is a great song to be sung to God.

You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in springtime,
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert,
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses,
Come fill me again.

Come let me love you,
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter,
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you,
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you,
Come love me again.

Martha

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42.

Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to his words, soaking them in, drawn to God. She longed to spend time with her Lord at the expense of everything else. There was a bustle of activity around her as Martha worked at the things of life that needed to be done. Frustrated with the task at hand, she reached out to the Lord in an attempt to bring Mary back to the world, to help with the daily grind of things not necessarily bad. Jesus responded softly rebuking Martha with the above words pointing her to the one thing of importance--time with him. Let all things fall to the side in the sight of the great and glorious Jesus, King of kings and friend of sinners. Paul says we should blot out all else in serving our king (2 Timothy 2:3-5), but we also need to rest at his feet, reallizing his control over all things--his sovereignty over provision for our needs, our reputations, our concerns, our lives. O to rest at the feet of Jesus, secure in his love for us (Rom 8:35), to choOse, as Mary did, the better thing.

Broken Cisterns

Jeremiah 2:12-13
12 Be appalled at this, O heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

I was thinking today as I was praying: what are my "broken cisterns," the things I place before Almighty God. There are some embarassingly trivial things which I am striving to get rid of with the help and power of the Holy Spirit. But, I began to think of the world itself, our earthly life, as the main cistern to abandon (2 Cor 5:14,15). Have I forsaken the world and am I living my life for Christ (John 12:25, 1 John 2:15)? Do I wake up in the morning striving to serve Jesus or running ragged to "succeed" here on earth? Sadly, it is often the latter. Why am I holding on to the broken cistern of worldly life? Why? It is a manifestation of unbelief to hold onto this world. O Lord help me surrender all to you. Not just the easy stuff. Help me surrender my life. Help me in my unbelief.

Jesus Meek and Mild?

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 19:11-16

So, often Jesus is seen as only meek and mild. The name Lamb of God is his because of his sacrifce like a lamb for our sin, not because of his "softness." Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He offered himself for us and offers us salvation, but he never chases people who choose to reject him. He doesn't beg. He is a loving God, but also a great warrior who will one day bring justice to the earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords. May his name be praised and held in awe and may I be there at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Cheap Grace

If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." -C.H. SPURGEON

What Delights God...

Obedience--1 Samuel 15:22
Integrity--1 Chronicles 29:17
His Sons--Proverbs 3:12
Honesty--Proverbs 11:1
Blamlessness--Proverbs 11:20
Telling the truth--Proverbs 12:22
The prayer of the upright--Proverbs 15:8
Doing what is right and just--Proverbs 21:3
Kindness, justice and righteousness--Jeremiah 9:24
Mercy, acknowledgement of God--Hosea 6:6; Micah 7:18
Sacrificial monetary giving--Philippians 4:18
Taking care of one's family--1 Timothy 5:4
An undivided heart--2 Timothy 2:4
Faith--Hebrews 11:6
Doing good, sharing with others--Hebrews 13:16
Suffering for doing good--1 Peter 2:20
God does not delight in burnt offerings--Psalm 51:16
Not in the physical strength of a man--Psalm 147:10
Not in those controlled by the sinful nature--Romans 8:8
Not in those who pass judgement on one another--Romans 14:13-18

Purposeful Sin

When we become believers in Jesus Christ, we are justified by the work of God in the death and resurrection of Christ. Our sins are paid for and the righteous sinless life Christ lived is credited to us. We are sanctified by the Spirit of Christ during our remaining life on earth. This is progressive but not completed until we are with God (Phil 1:6). Because of the flesh, it is impossible to completely cease from our sinning (Rom 3:23, 1 John 1:8,9). However, we are called to be holy, as God is holy (Lev 11:44). Thus sanctification, being conformed to the image of Christ, is empowered by God but requires our cooperation.

Sin in our lives can be of two forms(Num 15:22-31): what I would call accidental sin and what I would call purposeful sin. Accidental sin would be sin done in ignorance (ie not knowing that an action is a violation against God) or sin done without forethought (eg hitting one's thumb with a hammer and uttering an expletive). Purposeful sin would be any sin done with forethought either in passive defiance (an example would be knowing God wants me to do something yet refusing to do it) or open or active defiance to God's will. Our inability to stop sinning because of the flesh pertains to accidental sin and continued purposeful sin in our lives is a manifestation of either blatant disobedience, ignorance or unbelief.

God cannot tolerate sin and hates evil. I have been convicted of late that I have rationalized my sin by categorizing it as less severe and therefore not important and allowable. Things like speeding, having an extra glass of wine, and giving too much importance to exercise and sleep have persisted in my life despite my knowledge of God's hatred for sin. What does this mean? If Christ is my Lord, I should be submitting to him in all things. I should not be persisting in purposeful sin. Sure, I will mess up at times, accidently, but Jesus wants all of me. Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ requires a ruthless pursuit of holiness. We must be killing sin, or it will be killing us (John Owen, Mathew Henry. Rom 8:13). Tolerating purposeful sin in my life as at best a grievous insult to God and at worst a manifestation of unbelief. As James said, even the demons believe, but they don't acknowledge and submit to God as Lord (James 2:19).

The ultimate question posed by Jerry Bridges in The Pursuit of Holiness:

Will you decide to obery God in all areas of life, however insignificant the issue may be?



See also this post http://sm--blog.blogspot.com/2008/07/saving-faith.html

A Prayer

I have been praying through a "prayer schedule" I got from a friend. It has been a great blessing to me, and I think God is beginning to change me in the ways requested. He has a lot of work to do, but I am excited and enthusiastic regarding God and his love for me.

Basically, I have been praying daily the following four verses (IOUS):

Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from worthless things and give me life in your ways. Ps. 119:36,37

Open my eyes that I may behold the wondrous things in your law. Ps. 119:18

Teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. Ps. 90:14

Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days. Ps. 86:11

Encouragement

Psalm 48:14:

For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die.

Psalm 46:1-3:

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters

Psalm 43:5:

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

Psalm 47:1-2:

Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.

Time With God

It's easy for me to get angry at people for their actions. It's not something I am proud to admit. Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit of God and lacking patience says something about me. I have been tired and frustrated with work of late, feeling overwhelmed. Discontentment has been creeping into my attitude and coloring my life and relationships. The seeds of my perspective were sown more than a month ago when I started spending a lot less time with God. Slowly, since then, I have drifted more and more into the world and more and more into dissatisfaction. Funny how that happens. Like it says in Ecclesiastes, life (without God) is meaningless. But, in Christ, I have so much to be grateful for. The last two weeks I have been spending a lot more time in the morning and at night with God. And, I have found the joy, peace and satisfaction in him that can be found no where else. My impatience is beginning to wilt. My worldliness is waning. O Lord, that I may look to you all of my days for my satisfaction. May I turn my eyes away from worthless things. Give me an undivided heart for you that I may reverence your name in all things. Let me guard my time with you ruthlessly that I may not drift away.

Lord of All

Jesus must be Lord of all or he will not be Lord at all in our lives.

A.W. Pink

A Disciple

The words of Jesus regarding the prerequisites of being his disciple:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

Psalm 73:23-26

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

_____________________-

Father thank you!!

βίος

2 Timothy 2:4: No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

Paul describes the believer as one who is a "soldier" for Christ. (Christ is our commanding officer). The soldier doesn't get involved in civilian affairs. He dedicates himself to the commands and wishes of his commander. So, what are civilian affairs? It's interesting that the greek word translated to civilian affairs is bios which means daily life or existence day to day. So, Paul is saying have a weak hold on the things of earthly life. Abandon all that is worldly for the wishes of Jesus. To allow Christ to be my Lord, I must hold loosely to all things temporal and spontaneously respond immediately to all Christ's directives.

I Believe in You

They ask me how I feel
And if my love is real
And how I know I'll make it through
And they, they look at me and frown
They'd like to drive me from this town
They don't want me around
'Cause I believe in you.

They show me to the door
They say don't come back no more
'Cause I don't be like they'd like me to
And I, I walk out on my own
A thousand miles from home
But I don't feel alone
'Cause I believe in you.

I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter
I believe in you even though we be apart
I believe in you even on the morning after
Oh, when the dawn is nearing
Oh, when the night is disappearing
Oh, this feeling is still here in my heart.

Don't let me drift too far
Keep me where you are
Where I will always be renewed
And that which you've given me today
Is worth more than I could pay
And no matter what they say
I believe in you.

I believe in you when winter turn to summer
I believe in you when white turn to black
I believe in you even though I be outnumbered
Oh, though the earth may shake me
Oh, though my friends forsake me
Oh, even that couldn't make me go back.

Don't let me change my heart
Keep me set apart
From all the plans they do pursue
And I, I don't mind the pain
Don't mind the driving rain
I know I will sustain
'Cause I believe in you.

I Believe in You, Bob Dylan

Saving Faith

Saving faith, then is the opposite of damning unbelief. Both issue from the heart: unbelief, from a heart that is alienated from God, which is in a state of rebellion against Him; saving faith, from a heart which is reconciled to Him and so has ceased to fight against Him. Thus, an essential element or ingredient in saving faith is a yielding to the authority of God, a submitting of myself to His rule. It is very much more than my understanding assenting and my will consenting to the fact that Christ is a Savior for sinners, and that He stands ready to receive all who trust in Him. To be received by Christ, I must not only come to Him renouncing all my own righteousness (Romans 10:3), as an empty-handed beggar (Matthew 19:21), but I must also forsake my self-will and rebellion against Him (Psalm 2:11,12; Proverbs 28:13). Should an insurrectionist and seditionist come to an earthly king seeking his sovereign favor and pardon, then, obviously, the very law of his coming to him for forgiveness, requires that he should come on his knees, laying aside his hostility. So it is with a sinner who really comes savingly to Christ for pardon; it is against the law of faith to do otherwise.

Saving faith is a genuine coming to Christ: Matthew 28; John 6:37, etc. But let us take care that we do not miss the clear and inevitable implication of this term. If I say, "I came to the U.S.A.," then I necessarily indicate that I left some other country to get here. Thus it is in "coming" to Christ: something has to be left. Coming to Christ not only involves the abandoning of every false object of confidence, but it also includes and entails the forsaking of all other competitors for my heart. "For ye were ‘as sheep going astray;’ but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25). And what is meant by "ye were (note the past tense—they are no longer so doing) as sheep going astray"? Isaiah 53:6 tells us: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." Ah, that is what must be forsaken before we can truly "come" to Christ—that course of self-will must be abandoned. The prodigal son could not come to his father while he remained in the far country.

Dear reader, if you are still following a course of self-pleasing, you are only deceiving yourself if you think you have come to Christ.
Nor is the brief definition which we have given above, of what it means to really "come" to Christ, any forced or novel one of our own. In his book, Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, John Bunyan wrote: "Coming to Christ is attended with an honest and sincere forsaking all for Him—(here he quotes Luke 14:26,27). By these and like expressions elsewhere, Christ describeth the true comer: he is one that casteth all behind his back. There are a great many pretended comers to Jesus Christ in the world. They are much like the man you read of in Matthew 21:30 that said to his father’s bidding, ‘I go sir, and went not.’ When Christ calls by His Gospel, they say, ‘I come, Sir,’ but they still abide by their pleasures and carnal delights." C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon on John 6:44 said, "Coming to Christ embraces in it repentance, self-abnegation, and faith in the Lord Jesus, and so sums within itself all those things which are the necessary attendants of those great steps of heart, such as the belief of the truth, earnest prayers to God, the submission of the soul to the precepts of His Gospel." In his sermon on John 6:37, he says, "To come to Christ signifies to turn from sin and to trust in Him. Coming to Christ is a leaving of all false confidences, a renouncing of all love to sin, and a looking to Jesus as the solitary pillar of our confidence and hope."

Saving faith consists of the complete surrender of my whole being and life to the claims of God upon me:
"But first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5).

It is the unreserved acceptance of Christ as my absolute Lord, bowing to His will and receiving His yoke. Possibly someone may object, Then why are Christians exhorted as they are in Romans 12:1? We answer, all such exhortations are simply a calling on them to continue as they began:
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6).

Yes, mark it well, that Christ is "received" as LORD. O how far, far below the N.T. standard is this modern way of begging sinners to receive Christ as their own personal "Savior." If the reader will consult his concordance he will find that in every passage where the two titles are found together, it is always "Lord and Savior," and never vice versa: see Luke 1:46, 47; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:18.

Until the ungodly are sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of their vile course of self-will and self-pleasing, until they are genuinely broken down and penitent over it before God, until they are willing to forsake the world for Christ, until they have resolved to come under His government—for such to depend upon Him for pardon and life is not faith, but blatant presumption; it is but to add insult to injury. And for one such to take His holy name upon his polluted lips and profess to be His follower, is the most terrible blasphemy, and comes perilously nigh to committing that sin for which there is no forgiveness. Alas, alas, that modern evangelism is encouraging and producing just such hideous and Christ-dishonoring monstrosities.

Saving faith is a believing on Christ with the heart:
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness" (Romans 10:9,10).

There is no such thing as a saving faith in Christ where there is no real love for Him, and by "real love," we mean a love which is evidenced by obedience. Christ acknowledges none to be His friends save those who do whatsoever He commands them (John 15:14). As unbelief is a species of rebellion, so saving faith is a complete subjection to God: hence we read of "faith obedience" (Romans 16:26). Saving faith is to the soul what health is to the body: it is a mighty principle of operation, full of life, ever working, bringing forth fruit after its own kind.

From Studies on Saving Faith by A. W. Pink
http://www.reformed.org/books/pink/saving_faith/

Thoughts on Justification and Faith

I had a meeting at church this morning that was a discussion on the justification of believers by God through Christ's work in his death and resurrection. Believers are justified by faith. Our sins are paid for, and we are credited with Christ's righteousness...his sinlessness and his complete obedience and faithfulness. God sees us as his children, spotless like Jesus. An amazing thing. I am completely unworthy, as are all human beings. This justification occurs when we believe God, specifically what he says about the substitutionary atonement in Christ's life. Just as Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, so it is with the believer today (Genesis 15). This justification occurs at the ititial acceptance of Jesus as our savior and remains intact for eternity. It is not dependent on our actions. During this discussion, my thinking drifted to the ebb and flow of my faith over time. There are days I struggle and wonder if I really believe. This is very disturbing to me but frequently it is short lived, often replaced through the struggle with a fire in my belly for God. We talked about faith being manifested in our actions just as a 3 year old girl jumps from the pool side to her waiting father's arms, because she believes he will catch her. She is afraid but jumps anyway, because she has faith in her father. Actions relating to God in this way bring us assurance of our faith particularly if done in obedience to a command of God (John 14:21). As I thought about things, it became clear to me that concern over whether I have faith in God is actually a manifestation of having faith in God. In other words, I would not be concerned about my faith if I didn't believe because it wouldn't matter to me. Praise be to all mighty God for reassurance today and for his great gift of justification to those who believe what he says.

Spontaneity

If Jesus Christ is Lord of my life, I must be willing to change my plans at a moments notice for his glory. Anger or dissatisfaction with interuptions to my agenda are often manifestations of my lack of submission to the will of the God.

The Sifting of Peter

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31, Jesus speaking).

Observations:
1) To sift in this instance is to try. Peter being the wheat and Satan shaking the sieve trying to cause that which is false to drop through the screen and become lost. Satan's hope (I speculate) is to show Peter as an apostate or to render him ineffective.
2) Note that, similar to Job's case, Satan must ask God to sift Peter.
3) God in this case allows Peter to be tried by Satan. By inference then there maybe times when God allows us to be sifted.
4) Note Jesus's intercession on Peter's behalf. He in the same way intercedes for us who believe (Heb 7:25, Isa 53:12).
5) Peter in his first letter speaks of the testing of a believers faith (after experiencing Satan's trial.) 1 Peter 1:6,7: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Testing our faith can result in praise, glory and honor and strengthening of those around us.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

The below was written by the prophet Isaiah around 700 B.C. about the coming messiah Jesus.

Chapter 52
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Chapter 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous
servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Observations:
1) Jesus is revealed in the old testament.

2) Jesus is described as:
disfigured, marred, despised, rejected, suffering, a man of sorrows, stricken, smitten, afflicted, crushed, opressed, cut off, pierced, silent in suffering, exalted and satisfied. Not what we might expect.

3) The purpose of Jesus's coming to earth is revealed:
-sprinkle many nations
-take up our infirmities
-carry our sorrows
-heal our wounds
-bring us peace
-carry our iniquities
-be a guilt offering
-justify many
-bear the sin of many and make intercession for the transgressors.

Question:
What difference does this information make to you?


The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Is 53:1-54:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Elijah's Lament.

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraida and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

a Or Elijah saw
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Ki 19:1-18). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Observations:
1) A believer in God (Elijah) can become depressed about his situation on earth.
2) Elijah is frustrated with the lack of evidence of faith in those around him, the lack of evidence of fruit in his ministry and the persecution he is experiencing. We may experience the same frustration.
3) Physical hunger and fatigue exacerbated Elijah's frustration. We should note this.
4) Note God's response to Elijah. He first allows him to rest and to eat. He then reveals himself in a new way to Elijah and finally directs him to his future actions. God is so merciful. He doesn't get angry with Elijah. He doesn't reprimand him. He supplies his physical needs, reveals himself and then gets him thinking by asking him a question.

A bruised reed, he will not break. A smoldering wick, he will not snuff out.

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.

--do your best: spoudazo: to make effort; be diligent; endeavor, labor, study. This implies strenuous persistent action on our part.

--approved: dokimos: acceptable. We are acceptable before God because of the shed blood of Christ, the atonement for the sins of those who believe, but this implies we should strive in our own activity to please God. This means knowing and obeying His commands.

--workman: ergates: toiler, laborer, worker. One who is engaged in the activities God commands.

--correctly handles: rightly divides in KJV: othotomeo: make a straight cut; dissect. Not just reading the word but studying it, understanding it and applying it.

Observations:
1) We are to strive to please God. This is active and energy requiring.
2) We can only please God if we know what he commands and/or delights him.
3) Knowing the scripture is the only way we can understand what God delights in and commands.
4) Rightly dividing scripture requires us to know the scripture as a whole (as each passage should be interpreted in light of all the others) and requires close communion with God (as revelation from the Holy Spirit is necessary for understanding and application).

Resources.

"Many Christians estimate difficulties in light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt. All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on his power and presence being with them."
--Hudson Taylor

Restrictions.

Love God, and do what you want.
--Augustine

Discipleship

Observations Based on Below Study--
1) A disciple of Jesus is a student striving to learn his ways and adhere to his commands. This requires the study of Jesus teachings (scripture) and trust in his commands (faith) manifested in obedience.
2) A disciple of Jesus is willing to give up all things, including life itself, for him.
3) The outside world recognizes a disciple of Jesus by their love for others and by the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
4) We are called to teach people all over to become disciples of Jesus Christ. (Note: the NIV says go and make disciples, but the KJV says go and teach).

Matthew 28:18-20--
Mat 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Mat 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary *
--one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.
--a convinced adherent of a school or individual.

Easton's Dictionary: **
Disciple: A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Mat_9:14), and of the Pharisees (Mat_22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who

(1.) believes His doctrine,
(2.) rests on His sacrifice,
(3.) imbibes His spirit, and
(4.) imitates His example

Strong's Information:
--make disciples=teach in KJV=matheteou (math-ayt-yoo-o) in Greek
--to become a pupil;
--to disciple, that is, enrol as scholar;
--be disciple, instruct, teach
--translated in other nt verses as instructed, teach, disciple in KJV
--mathetes (math-ay-tes): a learner, pupil, disciple. Used in Mat 22:16, Mat 9:14 to describe followers of Pharisees and John the Baptist respectively. See below verses of interest which are all this particular word.

Verses of Interest:
Mat 10:24,25: "A student (disciple, mathetes) is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master..." (also Luke 6:40).

Luke 14:26,27: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

Luke 14:33: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

John 8:31: Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."

John13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:8: This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary
**M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.; Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897.

Suffering.

Because human freedom is necessary for all that is meaningful in life (e.g., love, relationships, and acts of nobility) then God cannot create a meaningful world without letting people exercise their freedom. The same freedom that makes it possible to love makes it possible to hate. The same freedom that can lead to heaven can lead to hell. The heart of the appeal to free will is that freedom is worth the price of evil.

– C.S. Lewis


God is not like a senile old grandfather whose only concern is the temporal gratification of his grandchildren, but more like a skilled, benevolent surgeon who will do whatever it takes to eradicate the cancer of sin from the character of his creature, because he knows that ultimate health and happiness are impossible as long as any trace of the malignancy remains. In a fallen world this type of surgery often requires the scalpel of suffering. It is fortunate for us that God is perfectly willing to hurt us in order to bring about the ultimate healing of our souls.

– Alvin Plantinga

Ultimate God Compass

I came to faith in my late 20s. I had heard the story of Jesus and his death and resurrection. But I felt satisfaction in life would be found elsewhere. I set off on a journey to find fulfillment, peace, happiness....whatever you want to call it. I looked in a lot of different places over the years. Athletics, academics, partying, relationships, success, materialism. I looked for fulfillment in all. And found none. At the end of this journey, like Solomon it seemed to me life was meaningless. After running out of options, God mercifully pointed me toward him. In reality, the "compass" always points to him. We just don't look to see it, because we think we know better what is good for our lives. Jesus Christ has filled the emptiness in my life in ways that are unexplainable. He is the substance that fills the God shaped hole in each of us. Without him there is only disappointment and despair. Only he is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

Things That Strengthen My Faith.

We all have faith in something. I choose to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and the authenticity of the Bible text in revealing him to us. Others believe there is no God. Make no mistake about it, atheism is a belief system. But, I also know that at times all believers if they are honest struggle with doubt. I think the fact that it is a struggle is a manifestation that those in this situation are indeed believers. I also am convinced that faith by definition is NOT the abscence of doubt. In fact, John the Baptist, while in prison, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the "one who is to come." Jesus said John was the greatest man spiritually to walk the earth (obviously other than himself). So, when I struggle with doubt, what are some thoughts that refocus me on God and his truth?

1) God has not proven his existence because doing so would eliminate mans' free will in regards to loving him. (In other words, there is a reason for the lack of proof). --My belief.
2) Believing there is no God requires as much faith as believing there is a God.
2) Creation is unexplained if there is no God. (one must believe in the spontaneous generation of matter from nothing or matter that has eternally existed if there is no God. These positions are unbelievable to me).
3) Conscience points to right and wrong. If there is no God, there is no reason for an inate sense of guilt when wronging others. (In fact, evolutionary theory would suggest wronging others in many circumstances is beneficial to the one doing the wronging).
4) The Bible is approximately 1500 pages long, written over around 2000 years, by 40 different authors, in multiple locations BUT with one theme. (The Koran for example was written by one man).
5) Out of the 12 Apostles present after Jesus death and resurrection (not including Judas who was replaced by Matthias), eleven were martyred for their faith and one died in old age as a believer. (The Apostles died for Jesus even though there was no gain financially, materially or positionally to following him).
6) The tomb Jesus was laid in was and is empty. No reliable explanation exists as to how this happened. The tomb was guarded. Those who crucified Jesus wanted no questions arising regarding the truth of Jesus death. And the disciples would have risked persecution for no benefit in attempting to move Christ's body.
7) The heavens declare the glory of God (Romans 1, Psalm 19). Who can look at the stars on a clear night and deny the existance of the Almighty?
8) The inability to understand God and his working completely does not exclude me or excuse me from believing in him. If I point a gun into the night sky, eliminate friction and gravity where will the bullet end up? I believe in the universe without understanding it.
9) Seeing God is not necessary for belief and not seeing God is not an excuse for disbelief. The wind is invisible, yet I see it move the leaves and feel it on my face. In the same way, if we look we see God's Spirit moving around us in the lives of others.
10) The strongest assurance is the realization of what God has done in me...making me a new creation. I am not the same as I was before. Some can tell. Others may not be able to But, I am a different man.

Edward's 56th Resolution

Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Jonathon Edwards

Hunger.

I frequently am impressed with my inability to do what is right in God's eyes. Even if I try "really, really hard," I find it impossible to lead a righteous life. I am able to see sin in my thoughts, and even in my trivial actions that to others go unnoticed. It makes me sad to think I dishonor God through my sin in so many ways. I long to be a good and faithful servant to my Lord. But in reality, this sadness because of my sin and the longing to honor God point to the condition I will have in eternity. I long for myself fulfilled in purpose to the Almighty. Until I am with him this cannot be fulfilled as sin in me prevents it. Listening to Steve Brown on the radio this week was encouraging as he commented on Jesus' words on the above situation:

Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Observations:
-Those that long (hunger and thirst) for righteousnes are blessed.
-Those that long for righteousness will receive it.

Communion With God

Thoughts from John Owen's Communion with a Triune God:

Communion defined:
-God's communication of himself unto us,
-with our return unto him of that which he requires and accepts,
-flowing from that union which in Jesus Christ we have with him.

Two things are required of believers to commune completely with the Almighty. Communion consists of giving and receiving. First, we as believers must receive the Father's love. We receive it by believing his love for us is real, unchanging, eternal and significant. That he delights in us and that his love for us is not dependent on our living a sinless life. His love for us is dependent on who God is in his very nature. It is not dependent on who I am. (If his love was dependent on me and my actions, I could earn God's love and his glory would be diminished). To believe God's love is dependent on our actions is to diminish God's magnificent mercy and grace and is a manifestation of unbelief. We must receive God's love for us if we are to commune with him.

More to follow.

Link.
Link.

Rekindling The Spirit

Thoughts from my brother Todd Mace:

If you are a Christian and going through rough times of mourning right now, what I have to say regarding stalled enthusiasm is not intended for your benefit. What I want to say to you is that the Christian body of believers cares for you, loves you, and is praying for you. Those of us that are not in mourning will continue marching into the world, waving the Christian flag of God and waiting for your return. Trust in God in the dark until the light returns.

For all those Christians that are not in mourning and your enthusiasm for being a Christian is stalled, perhaps you need to mix up your spiritual routine and experience God in a different way than normal.

First of all, you must read the word of God every day. You need to stay in the word to stay near to God.

Secondly, maintain 100% of your free thinking focused on spiritual things. To rekindle the flame for God you cannot afford 1% of your free thinking to be wasted. What we think about when we are free to think is what we are, or will soon become. Once the flame is blazing again, you will be better suited to balance your free thinking. More than likely, how you got here in the first place is that your balance of thoughts between the spiritual matters and the world is not where it should be. Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Here are a few suggestions to follow for a month that will help fill your mind with spiritual thoughts. Part of the problem may be you have developed a few bad habits. It requires a minimum of 30 days of consistent altered behavior to change a habit.

When you listen to music, listen to only Christian music, and listen to it every chance you get. Music touches your heart and spirit. There is a whole new genre of Christian music out there today. Go online - check it out.

When you read other things than the Word, choose solid Christian authors. It is good to mix up your reading of the word with books by solid Christian authors such as; AW Tozer, CS Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Andrew Murray, Thomas Merton, writings from the Puritans, or Hymns from John Wesley. Just remember this; all the answers are in the word, not in books written by men. The good books written by men point you in the direction of the word. A good rule of thumb for time you have to read might be 70% in the word and 30% other books.

Shut down the influence of the world on your free thoughts for a month. Do not spend any of your free time reading the newspaper, watching TV, reading world, business or entertainment magazines. No need to worry; you will not miss the end of the world if it should come during this time of abstention from these items.

Go be inspired by the awesomeness of God and spend some time alone observing the wonders of his creation. His creation is everywhere, pick some place close your home and marvel at God’s creation for a while.

Experience a glimmer of the willpower required by Christ to endure the physical and mental suffering on the cross, knowing he had the power to stop it at any time. Give up an addictive substance or an addictive behavior, fast, or improve the temple of the spirit -your physical body. It is one thing to endure pain when you cannot control it. Your spirit will strengthen when you drive yourself through pain that you are experiencing for a purpose, all the time knowing you can stop the pain anytime at your own will.

Experience the love of God; share the word with other solid Christians. There is nothing more beautiful than a person filled with the Spirit.

Experience the humility of Christ, serve someone and give God all the Glory
If you can commit to doing these things every day for a month, you perspective on life will change and the flame in your heart for God will surely grow.

Satan will not bother a man who has quit fighting. But the cost of quitting will be one of peaceful stagnation.
AW Tozer

Can't Get No Satisfaction.

All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

C. S. Lewis

Cement.

He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17.

God has created all things, and he has created the laws and rules by which all things hold together. He ordains gravity, the speed by which light can travel and the characteristics of the element carbon. He is the cement that holds creation in place and his word commands the principles of the universe. Science by definition is: The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena (see here). Science is the study and "explanation" of the laws of the universe that have been set in place by God. Science does not exclude faith in God, it discovers and defines his creation. All correct science will eventually reveal the glory of God. Those who believe the Bible to be true have nothing to fear in the science of today. Nothing can be discovered except that which the creator has set in place. Only the fool says in his heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1).

Saved By Grace

We are saved only by the grace of God, through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). This is not of ourselves. God loves us even as sinners (Romans 5:8), he draws us (John 6:44) and he atones for our sin and grants us eternal life if we believe. He does it all. The great exchange-- our sins for his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

If we believe, we have the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). But what is belief? Is it knowing the gospel? I would say that is not enough as even the demons know the gospel and they are doomed to eternal torment (James 2:19).

If we really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives will be changed (2 Corinthians 5:17). This change is reflected in our behavior as we are obedient to God's commands. So James, the Lord's brother, says faith without works is dead. Works are behaviors spurred on by our desire to be obedient to God. Works do not save us. They have nothing to do with our salvation. However, they are evident in all who believe. If we say we believe but are not fruitful in our lives, we have no reason to be assured of our salvation. In Mathew chapter 25 the Lord tells three stories that are particularly convicting. The parable of the ten virgins demonstrates the need for watchful readiness for the Lord's coming. The five virgins that knew the bridegroom was coming but weren't prepared are left out of the wedding banquet. The parable of the talents shows we will be held accountable to produce fruit dependent on the gifts we are given. Fear is not an excuse for lack of fruit. Lastly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Lord separates people based on their behavior. Convicting and compelling words that we should take obedience to the commands of God very seriously.

So, we are saved by faith and works develop out of that faith and bring us assurance that we are Christ's. Faith without works is not a real faith.

Even though our works have nothing to do with our salvation, the Bible says our degree of reward in heaven will depend on our fruitfulness on earth relative to the gifts God has given us. Speaking to believers, Paul says we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.(2 Corintians 5:10). In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Paul talks about our works being tested with fire with resulting reward or loss depending on that testing. Now heaven will be awesome for all who believe, but Jesus was, I think, speaking literally when he said store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (Mark 10:21).

The above is a reminder to me that if I truly believe I will be obedient to God. Disobedience can only come from unbelief. For who could stare at our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and disobey? Who could believe: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13) and not fall on their knees in submission?

O Lord, have mercy on me.

David's Prayer 1 Chronicles 29:10-13.

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
"Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Observations:
-This is a great prayer of praise to our God and King.
-Everything is God's. He is ruler over all.
-Wealth, honor and strength are gifts from God, not of ourselves.

Tozer On Pride and Criticism

After a time of growth and successful labor comes the deadly psychology of self-congratulation. Success itself becomes the cause of later failure. Those who have already entered the state where they can no longer receive admonition are not likely to profit by this warning. After a man has gone over the precipice there is not much we can do for him; but we can place markers along the way to prevent the next traveler from going over. Here are a few:

1. Don’t defend yourself against criticism. If criticism is false, it can do no harm. If it is true, you need to hear it and do something about it.

2. Be concerned not with what you have accomplished but over what you might have accomplished if you had followed the Lord completely.

3. When reproved, pay no attention to the source. Do not ask whether it is a friend or an enemy that reproves you. An enemy is often of greater value to you than a friend because he is not influenced by sympathy.

4. Keep your heart open to correction of the Lord and be ready to receive His chastisement regardless of who holds the whip. The great saints all learned to take a licking gracefully – and that may be one reason why they were great saints.

A.W. Tozer

Band of Brothers

I have been blessed with a group of men that encourage me and hold me accountable. Together we fight the daily spiritual battle that rages around us through the power given by the Holy Spirit. There is a bond that has been formed over the years through trials and laughter that is priceless. This group holds me up and strengthens me. They help me to be faithful in my walk. They are a gift of God. I don't know God's exact purpose in having twelve disciples appointed in leadership of the early church, but I imagine they felt this bond. I think God has made us in a way that flourishes in fellowship and community. I cannot run the race alone. A good friend gave me the DVD of the mini series Band of Brothers, a story about a group of men fighting in world war two. They also developed a bond that still exists to this day, in those yet living, through suffering and helping each other over the duration of their war experience. We today fight a battle against the principalities and powers unseen that would, if able, destroy us. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. God has given us the means to wage the battle as a Band of Brothers. John Eldredge in his book Wild at Heart tells the story of Henry V at Agincourt. His army is weary and greatly out numbered by the French. As they prepare for battle, Henry bolsters the troups by saying (according to William Shakespeare in Henry V 1599):

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother....
And gentlemen in England, now a bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here;
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us.

The Weight

Felt a heavy weight on me last night brought on by difficulties in life. Nothing big. Just life. I found myself ready to have the Lord take me to be with him. It's a good thing to know I have an inheritance in heaven kept for me. Sometimes the toil of life is just such a burden. My inability to stop sinning. The fact that every day there is someone who is dissatisfied with something pertaining to my actions. Rain. I am better today. God always lifts me out of the mire when I get this way. It's a reminder though that my citizeship is in heaven, not here. I shouldn't expect a world without trouble now. Jesus said I shouldn't. I met with my brothers Jack and Kevin this morning and the fellowship reminded me that there are better things to come and that the Lord loves me so much he died on a cross so that I might spend eternity in with him.

Hebrews 10:24,25
1 Peter chapter 1
John 16:33
Psalm 40:2

Creation Groans.

Last night I read with my parents the section of Romans chapter 8 which talks about creation being subjected to decay by the curse of sin through Adam's actions. Creation groans waiting to be released from it's bondage. I was reminded in two ways today at work of this bondage in myself. The bondage of sin and the bondage of decay. First, in utter frustration with my schedule and clients requests, I lashed out it anger and treated a person completely inappropriately. After it was over, I looked at myself with disgust, reminded of my sinfulness and my complete inability to do what is right (even though I want to). Second, I saw a high school friend who was expressing his sadness at the loss of his youthful health and strength which reminded me of my many recent physical weaknesses. We together looked forward to the time when we will have new bodies in the kingdom of heaven. (My friend is a believer). My body groans to be remade as does my spirit, and someday soon, it will happen.

Resolution.

Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

-Jonathon Edwards, August 1723.

You Alone.

I've come to your thrown so cold and alone.
I'm calling on your name.
I lift my hands to the sky...open wide,
and I cry Lord take me away.
Take this heavy heart, this weary soul
and set them free.
Remove myself 'til there's nothing left
but you alone in me.

I'm letting go of all that I know.
I'm holding on to you alone.
I lay it all down, down here at your feet.
I want you alone, you alone.

If I go to the heavens above,
Lord I know you are there.
If I make my bed in the depths,
Lord I know you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
or settle on the far side of the sea,
Even still Lord I know you will, you will always be there with me.

I'm letting go of all that I know.
I'm holding on to you alone.
I lay it all down, down here at your feet.
I want you alone, you alone.

-Casting Pearls

Courage.

I would define courage as the character trait which allows a person to do what is "right" in spite of fear. To encourage someone is to help them to be courageous.

Hebrews 10:24-25:
"And lets us consider how we might spur one another on to love and good deeds. And let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and even more as we see the Day approaching."

The author of Hebrews reveals in these verses the importance of community in the Christian's life. He tells us to spur (encourage) one another on to love and good deeds (right actions), and he tells us to habitually meet together for this encouragement. It is a difficult thing to be courageous. God repeatedly tells Joshua (Joshua chapter 1) to "be strong and courageous" as he prepares to take the Israelites into the promised land. I need to meet with and listen to my God and my Christian brothers and sisters in order to remain strong. When I drift from this fellowship, my courage weakens.

Anxiety.

I usually get anxious when I perceive I am at risk of losing something I treasure. I might have anxiety over an illness, because I treasure my health and "pain" free living. Or, I might become anxious over my financial situation, because I like my economic status and don't want to sell my house and other material things. So, I worry about my worldly treasure. I have noticed that when I am spending more time with God in prayer and reading his word, my worries seem to melt away. I think this is because I begin to treasure the Lord and what he promises me in the future, and I realize that my inheritance through faith in him can never be taken away. Jesus also promises to care for us here on earth when we follow him (Matthew 6:33).

Mat 6:19-21: Jesus said.... "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Lord may I "fix my eyes" on you and may I desire the things you have for me and not the things of this world. May you be my only treasure.

Love God....

Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..." Luke 10:27.

Wow, what does loving God with that passion look like?

The first four commandments give us some insight.
-You shall have no other gods before him (God).
-Do not make an idol out of anything. Worship no one or no thing but God.
-Do not misuse God's name.
-Remember the sabbath and keep it holy.
All from Exodus chapter 20.

Jesus and the New Testament scripture give us more insight on what loving God looks like in the following verses.
-"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me ..."(words of Jesus; John 14:21).
-This is love for God: to obey his commands (1 John 5:3).
-"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me... "(words of Jesus; Matthew 10:37).
-For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

So, we are called to be obedient to all the commands of Christ, to put God above all things (even our families) and to live for Him (not for ourselves).

Love Your Neighbor...

Jesus said......'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Luke 10:27

What does loving my neighbor as myself look like? I believe it has to do with how I treat others, not necessarily how I feel about others. When I interact with someone, do I treat them as I would treat myself under the same circumstances?

The last six of the ten commandments give us a good starting point from which to begin in determining what a life dedicated to the above would look like.
-Honor your father and mother.
-Do not murder.
-Do not commit adultery.
-Do not steal.
-Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
-Do not covet what is your neighbors.

Jesus expands on these in the sermon on the mount in Mattew chapter 5 and following. Some excerpts:
-He compares anger at one's brother to murder (5:21,22).
-He compares lustful imagination to adultery (5:27, 28).
-He tells us not to resist an evil person (turn the other cheek 5:39).
-He tells us to give to those who ask (5:42).
-He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us(5:44).

Not always easy.

No Pain, No Gain

I visited a family member today in the hospital. He has been having pain in his abdomen, recurrently occuring without warning every so often. It has been severe enough for him to seek medical attention, and today he underwent surgery to correct the problem. After the surgery, he was in a lot of pain and probably will have some discomfort for weeks to come. He had to accept an increase in pain over the short term through his surgery in order to alleviate his future discomfort. Sometimes God allows painful situations in our lives for our future benefit. His word says that he disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12:6) meaning he allows or even causes painful situations in our lives in order to mold us into the image of his son (change our behavior and draw us to a closer relationship to him). Like a surgeon he cuts away the damaged and dysfuntional tissue of our flesh to make us more like him. He also uses these difficult circumstanes to "prove our faith genuine (1 Peter 1:7 )." If we believe in Jesus as our Lord and savior, and we love him and are called according to his purpose, God works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). The pain we go through now will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7). Stand fast in the difficult times of life. They are temporary and soon God, if we remain faithful, will lift us up.