Sincere…

Sincere…

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~ Romans 12:8

Today I want us to consider the idea of being sincere. The word “sincere” means to be free of pretense or deceit; not dishonest or hypocritical; proceeding from pure, true, genuine feelings. To be sincere is to be wholehearted; heartfelt; and unfeigned. Does that describe your love for God? Is your love for one another sincere … as the Lord Jesus loves each of us?

When Jesus was tested by the religious rulers, He was questioned: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Quoting Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Quoting Leviticus 19:18) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Observe that Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God! Do you think the genuineness of your love is unknown to Him who created all things? Is He unable to discern the sincerity of your love for Him? Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) Was this a mere suggestion or recommendation? “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9) Consider the implication when Jesus replied to the religious leaders: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.” (John 8:42)

I believe each of us needs to revisit these words: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” (Isaiah 29:13) Jesus said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) And, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Reader, if you truly desire to be sincere in faith and in love, it will require some honest introspection. As Paul urged the believers in Corinth: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) And to the churches in Galatia he admonished, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps whatever he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8) It is my prayer that you and I will wholeheartedly love and serve the Lord Jesus – for He knows the truth! Therefore, let us rid ourselves of all deceit and hypocrisy.

Have a Blessed Day!

Visitation…

Visitation…

Now as Jesus drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”~ Luke 19:41-44

Today we commemorate Palm Sunday – a day we ascribe as the beginning of the Holy Week leading to Easter Sunday when we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior. On this day, we recount the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He rode upon a donkey, and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road while others cut down palm branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the Highest!” (Cf. Matthew 21:1-17)

Yet, it was a solemn time of reflection for Jesus … knowing His impending death at the hands of those who had rejected Him. He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known … the time of your visitation.” Matthew recorded His lament as well: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37)

Indeed, Jerusalem was left desolate … the temple without one stone left upon another. Yes, judgement came to the people and the city because they did not recognize their time of visitation. Their Messiah … their King … sent by Father God to rescue them – but not from Imperial Rome but from their iniquities and sins.  He came as Savior:

John 1:10-13 (NKJV)

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Oh, my friend, have you too missed His visitation? Has Jesus come to you and you did not recognize Him?  Perhaps, like the Jewish people of His day, Jesus was not what you were expecting Him to be. Maybe you missed the Jesus who said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) Or maybe in your life of abundance, you too walked away sorrowful when Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21) As John articulated, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

I believe those who missed His visitation did not receive Jesus because He was not what they wanted Him to be … a Great Warrior King … a 5-Star General … to defeat the oppressive Roman government ruling over them. Although, Jesus did come as a King to usher in the Kingdom of God, He did not fit their ideas of what Messiah ought to be. His Kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36) Rather, Jesus is a ruler of hearts … a mighty warrior who has defeated the oppression of sin in the human heart.

Reader, I encourage you to consider His visitation. Perhaps, Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart right now. Would you invite Him in for a visit? I pray you will not send Him away weeping or lamenting: “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace.”

Have a Blessed Day!

Condemn…

Condemn…

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. ~ John 3:17

I have read the discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus many times in this chapter of the Gospel of John; and the clarity of what Jesus said … the powerful implication of His words … continue to penetrate my soul. The mission and purpose of the Son of Man … the Messiah of God … the One and Only Son of God … is presented with complete translucence, and we would be wise to meditate upon these truths.

John 3:14-21 (CSB)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment: Light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does not come to the light, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

I encourage you to read Numbers 21:4-9, to see the Scripture Jesus referenced with Nicodemus. In this story we see the mercy of God toward those who exercised a simple action of faith to avoid death from the bite of a venomous serpent. Jesus points Nicodemus to Himself and explains that he, too, should believe in Him (the one who would be lifted up on cross) to avoid the penalty of death (condemnation) for rejecting the love and mercy of God. Indeed, this is the message of Jesus and the reason He was hung upon a cross. Those who look to Him … those who believe in His name … are no longer condemned for their rebellion against God. In Jesus, through His blood, atonement has been made. “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Some of the sweetest words ever spoken were those of Jesus to a woman caught in the act of adultery. The account is found in John 8:1-11 when those who accused her of sin were convicted by their own. Jesus asked her, “Where are your accusers. Has no one condemned you?” She answered, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus replied, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” My friend, when you put your faith in Jesus, He will not condemn you; rather, He will set you free! He is the only assurance for eternal life!

In Romans 8:1-4, Paul reminds us: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Paul asked and answered a rhetorical question: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one! Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34) Yes, God sent Jesus to save people from their sins … not to condemn them for their sins. Yet, let us remember that anyone who does not believe in Jesus remains in condemnation and judgment for their sin. Indeed, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

1 John 3:19-24 (NIV)

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.

Have a Blessed Day!

Savior…

Savior…

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. ~ 1 John 4:14

There are many nights that I have pondered this verse … praising God for the Apostles who were faithful witnesses of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And the Beloved John had a special gift of articulating the intensity of all he experienced in the presence of Jesus. John saw the eternal being of Jesus – He who was, and is, and is to come….  

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The Life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you that we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make your joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4)

The Good News … the Gospel … could not be clearer than what John composed for us. The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world! It was His great love that compelled the Father to do so. (John 3:16) Indeed, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) This is so difficult to understand when we consider ourselves and our sinful nature. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Savior. The word resounds with joy! There is a reason for hope! Paul reminds us:

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7)

So, I join with John and proclaim to you – Jesus Our Savior!

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him. Yet He is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)

There was nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. Yet no one ever spoke the way this man does. (John 7:46)

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)


Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Yet God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Surely, He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. Yet for the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Yes, He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. (1 Peter 2:24)

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Yes, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

My friends, we have a perfect Savior! Let us give thanks and praise to Him! Let us proclaim Him to those around us!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sufficient…

Sufficient…

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

One of the more difficult concepts for a believer to grasp is the suffering we are allowed to endure in life. James wrote: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) Likewise, Peter affirmed there is an inheritance reserved in heaven for us “who through faith are shielded by God’s power.” And he encouraged: “In all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:5-7)

Testing. Suffering. Affliction. These come to us to refine and strengthen our faith. When we reach the end of ourselves … when we are emptied of our own strength … then we have the opportunity to see God begin His work within us. And that is precious lesson to be experienced! Jesus foretold His followers that in the world we would have troubles and tribulation; but He also encouraged, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Indeed, as Paul sought through prayer to be relieved of demonic harassment and torment, Jesus reminded him, “My grace is sufficient….”

How blessed it is to know that the resources of the Lord for us are sufficient!

His Word is eternal and it stands firm in the heavens. ~ Psalm 119:89

His Truth is immutable and extends to all generations. ~ Psalm 100:5

His Mercy is abundant and endures forever. ~ Psalm 118

His Blood is fully propitiatory and atones our sins. ~ Romans 3:5

His Resurrection is the boundless power of our living hope. ~ 1 Peter 1:3

His Peace is more than enough to calm our hearts. ~ John 14:27

His Grace is ample to meet every spiritual need. ~ Ephesians 2:7

His Love is inseparable and everlasting. ~ Romans 8:35-39

His Presence is fullness of joy. ~ Psalm 16:11

Oh, my friends, I pray that you will know the complete sufficiency of our Lord Jesus Christ! For out of His fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. (John 1:16) There is nothing you will ever lack in Him. “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10) Yes, Jesus is sufficient, and I encourage you to simply rest in His strength!

Have a Blessed Day!

Will…

Will…

This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.~ Matthew 6:9-10

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray this manner, the focus of prayer was totally on the Father. To hallow the name of God means to greatly respect it; to give reverence to it; to consider it holy. The third commandment affirms: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.” (Exodus 20:7) Indeed, King David instructed: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)

As we pray to our Father and approach Him with holy reverence, Jesus outlines certain prayer points that I believe guide us into effectual prayer … prayer that brings us into agreement with the sovereignty and authority of the Father (His Kingdom) … prayer that brings our wills into alignment with His Will. Jesus affirms that the will of the Father IS done in heaven, and He instructs us to pray that the will of God is done on earth as well. So, one might ask, “What is the will of God?”

The Holy Scriptures reveal God and His existence to us. The Word of God expounds upon His Nature …  His Character … His Thoughts … His Will. We see all these facets of His Being unfold through His interactions with creation; His commandments and ordinances; and the truths He reveals through His prophets. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21) Thus, we need to study the Scriptures which are filled with direct expressions of God’s will.

When they asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” (John 6:28-29) First and foremost, the will of God is for us to believe in Jesus … the Son of God … who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His Being. (Hebrews 1:3) And God has ordained that those who put their faith in Jesus will be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29) Yes, we are to be holy because He is holy! (Leviticus 11:44, 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26, 1 Peter 1:16)

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NIV)

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

My friends, it is clear that God wants His people to be set apart … to be sanctified and consecrated to serve Him and His purposes. Our Lord Jesus prayed to the Father these words: “Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17) Even more, I find great comfort knowing this truth: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13) Indeed, God works to align His will within us so that we will act according to His will. And so, God fulfills our prayer: Your Kingdom come … Your will be done … on earth as it is in heaven!  Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Complete…

Complete…

For in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.~ Colossians 2:9-10

As believers who abide in Christ Jesus, you and I are made complete in Him! We have received all the necessary requisites to inherit everlasting life! We have been filled with His fullness to the greatest extent possible! We have been made whole; even made perfect in Him.  When Jesus spoke His last words on the cross, He said, “It is finished.” And with that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30) His atoning sacrifice was complete. It was total and absolute!

But I wonder, do we truly understand what it means to be complete? First of all, we need to turn our eyes upon Jesus … for He is the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2) Indeed, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ. (Romans 10:17) He is the confidence of what we hope for and the assurance of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) Yes, and I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you and me will complete it! (Philippians 1:6)

This is our confidence in Christ … in Him we are complete! Imperfection has been made perfect through the unblemished Lamb of God. Think about that a moment…. Think about the perspective Paul shared in this regard:

Ephesians 1:3-8a (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.

Yes, in Christ we are complete because He has made us holy and blameless through His own perfect righteousness. He is the One who is able to keep us from falling and to present us before the glorious presence of God without fault. (Jude 1:24) Jesus will present to Himself a radiant Church without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:26-27)

Can we truly fathom the depth or certitude of our redemption and salvation in Christ? Indeed, “May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

My friends, we might live in the brokenness of this fallen world, but we will be made whole as new creations in Christ. The old order of things will pass away! (Revelation 21:4) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53) We may experience profound emptiness in life, be we will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God through Christ. (Ephesians 3:19) Yes, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

Indeed, the journey of faith is life-long. We have not yet arrived at the finish line nor have we yet been perfected; but we must press on and lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of us. Let us press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 3:12-14) For in Him we are complete!

Have a Blessed Day!

Abide…

Abide…

I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  ~ John 15:5

The word ABIDE has several descriptive definitions – none of which is without significance within the context of our verse. Consider these thoughts as you contemplate what it means to abide:

  1. To remain stable or fixed in a state
  2. To continue in a place
  3. To conform to
  4. To accept without objection
  5. To wait for
  6. To endure without yielding
  7. To bear patiently

Jesus affords us a great metaphor on what it means to abide in Him … to remain in closest relationship with Him. Our search for the deepest meaning of life is satisfied in this one word: ABIDE.  For when we abide in Jesus … when we come forth as an extension (branch) of His life-giving being (vine) … we will have a meaningful life that bears fruit in the likeness of Him. Apart from Jesus, we will become lifeless and dead. He said, “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4)

Jesus began His teaching with this: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1-2) So, we understand that the work of God is to promote the growth of each branch in the vine. The Father desires fruit that will bring Him glory! As Paul expounded: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

The question arises: “How do we abide in Jesus? How do we continue to remain in His presence? Well, Jesus Himself provides the answer:

John 14:15-18 (NKJV)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter), that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:23-24 (NKJV)

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

Notice there are branches (plural) in the Vine. All the branches are interconnected to the same life-giving source. Yes, all are dependent upon Jesus to give them true life in Him and with one another.  Indeed, we see John reinforcing this truth:

1 John 3:23-24 (NKJV)

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

My friends, to have a meaningful, purposeful life, we must abide in Jesus. And the grace of abiding in Him requires obedience to His commandment – to love one another as He has loved us.  I will leave us with this thought: Abiding Through Love

1 John 4:12-16 (NKJV)

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

It is my prayer this mediation will encourage you … in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Thoughts…

Thoughts…

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:11-12

Thoughts are mental cognitions – our ideas, opinions, and beliefs. They are framed by what we perceive through our senses and our human experience in this world. And yet, there is a much deeper component found within the spirit God breathed in each of us. (Cf. Genesis 2:7) As the text indicates, our thoughts find their origin within our spirits … the “essence” that animates us and gives us “life”. And through human speech or language, we have the capacity to express our thoughts; and therefore, express what resides within our individual spirits. And it is the expression of thoughts through our words and actions that reveals the nature of our true spirits in relational terms.

When we examine the “sin nature” of man, it is rooted in our spirits. Genesis 6:5 states: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” It is the depravity of our spirits that God calls into account. As Jeremiah noted: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) The Prophet Amos confirmed as well: “He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals His thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is His name.” (Amos 4:13)

I am thankful our merciful God has expressed His thoughts on these matters through His Spirit to the Prophet, Isaiah, and provided this instruction:

Isaiah 55:7-9 (NIV)

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As Paul explained in our text, the thoughts of God reside with His Spirit; and it is through the expression of His Spirit in words and actions that His thoughts are revealed. Indeed, as Paul notes, until we are regenerated (born-again) by the Spirit of God (Cf. John 3:3-8), our spirits will not be joined with His so that we may understand what the Father has freely given us. Indeed, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) And perhaps I should add: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

My friends, the core message here is that as image-bearers of the Triune God, our thoughts reside within our spirits as well. And our thoughts are expressed through words (and actions). But the unfailing love of God has afforded us a solution for our depravity: His Thoughts! Our Creator has revealed His thoughts through His Spirit. It is known to us as the “Word of God.” Yes, when we are born-again of the Spirit, we receive the mind of Christ. We are able to process and understand spiritual thoughts (the words of God) because the Spirit explains spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words! (1 Corinthians 2:13) And Jesus confirms the Word of God is Truth! (John 17:17) Further, Jesus affirmed: “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) I pray we will embrace the Word of God and its power to transform and renew our minds! (Romans 12:2)

Have a Blessed Day!

Deliver…

Deliver…

Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. ~ Psalm 119:153-154

King David penned some wonderful words for those who are suffering in affliction and hardship; and I feel led to share them this morning:

Psalm 34:15-20 (NIV)

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

We can look back through the OT Scriptures and see the hand of God Almighty deliver His people … His treasured possession … from those who would oppress them with hardship and afflict them with injustice.  Yes, the righteous cry out for the tender mercies of God to deliver them from their troubles, and His ear is attentive to their sighs and prayers. Have you ever prayed like David did?

Psalm 31:2-5 (NIV)

Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

Psalm 18:1-2 (NIV)

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my sovereign shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Oh, my friend, do you not know today that the Lord is the Mighty God who delivers you? It is He who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:3) The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3) And Jesus is calling you today to come to Him. For He will deliver you! He will heal you! He will set you free! Jesus asks you to trust Him and to believe. For He is full of compassion and ready to deliver you from all your affliction. Yes, He says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Seek the Lord this morning … while He may be found. He is your refuge and strength; an ever-present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He declares to you: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4) Indeed, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!