Fallen…

Fallen…

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. ~ Revelation 2:4-5

This first of seven letters written to the churches in Asia Minor, recorded in Revelation Chapters 2-3, begins with a commendation of the Church at Ephesus. Jesus affirms their righteous works and faithfulness; and yet, He soon points out a deficit in their relationship with Him:

Revelation 2:1-5 (ESV)

¹ “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. ²“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. ³I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. ⁴But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. ⁵Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Jesus appears to be grieved and wounded by their abandonment of intimacy with Him. The love they had at first – their hearts bonded to Him through the lovingkindness and atonement forged on the cross had begun to diminish. The spiritual blessings of being united to Him seemingly had begun to wane. It was no longer their love of Jesus that inspired and motivated their works of service; rather, their works had become the focus more than the Holy One whom they had been called to worship. The joy of salvation and the blessing of tender communion with Jesus had been overtaken by a sense of duty rather than an expression of love….

Jesus rebukes and calls for repentance. He enjoins us: “Remember therefore from where you have FALLEN! The word itself conjures up images of dropping or coming down from a higher place, level, or position. It evokes a sense of being overtaken or conquered … even to the point of death. It is a strong word used here … and I think for emphasis on the tragic consequences that abandonment brings to a relationship. To abandon our love for Jesus? Who would have ever imagined that could happen? Look at their commendable works and service. And yet, Jesus instructs them to repent and to return to their first love….

Since the time of my heart procedure, I have contemplated at length the condition of my own spiritual heart … and its need for correction as well. After 35 years of following and serving the Lord Jesus, I have found myself as well in a state where spiritual refreshment has languished … where the spring of living water has begun to evaporate in a parched and thirsty land. Although I have been an avid student of the Word; practiced the discipline of prayer; attended church and served on the worship team; held positions of church leadership as a deacon or elder; given tithes and offerings; supported missionaries; and provided to those who are impoverished; I have noticed an empty, hollow space in my heart that has troubled me. If we are honest, I think this might be something many of us experience from time-to-time in our walk with Jesus. I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha during a visitation with Jesus:

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

This was the same Mary who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment (spikenard) a few days before His crucifixion as recorded in John 12:1-8. So, why are these passages and their images important to understand the meaning of our study text? Because sometimes we can become so busy doing things for God, that we lose affection for Him who wrought so great salvation for us. No doubt, Martha was well intentioned in serving Jesus; but Jesus seems to indicate that our works are secondary to worship! His presence supersedes our purpose! We need to be careful that the tremendous wonder and glory of our salvation itself does not begin to dissipate within the busyness of life and service toward others. While works are an appropriate response to our redemption and rebirth, the one thing most needed is an intimate love for God and to dwell in His presence with immeasurable awe and reverence. First and foremost, He is our first love!

1 John 4:9-10 (ESV)

“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Do you see how His love for us is rooted in His mercy and salvation? Our love for Him is simply responsive to His salvific purpose. As King David declared: “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! (Psalm 92:4-5) Yet, somehow this adoration, this worship, this first love can diminish in our lives. I believe Revelation 2:4-5 is a wake-up call to bring our attention to what can happen even to servants who have endeavored to engage in commendable service.

Love is supreme! Love is utmost! Love must come first! Thus, we are reminded to consider from where we have fallen; to repent and to do the first works of love. Love expressed through adoration and worship is what matters most. Everything else stems from and completes His love in us. We love because He first loved us! Yes, God activated His love within us! So let us remember to love Him first because of His merciful atonement … His gracious redemption … His forbearance and longsuffering … His unmerited salvation … His gift of eternal life. These are the inner motivations of praise and thanksgiving … honor and worship. Yes, these are the “first works of love” to which we must return.

My friends, let us meditate on this word from Isaiah 29:13, The Lord says: “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 in vain. It based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Indeed, worship IS our first love … our first work to be expressed. I pray above all else that we will remember WHO we serve and why we serve Him! Yes, remember the purpose of our service is to love others as we have been loved. Indeed, I pray we will renew our hearts once again!

Have a Blessed Day!

Jealous…

Jealous…

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that He made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. ~ Deuteronomy 4:23-24

What does it mean for God to be “jealous”? We see this anthropomorphic attribute given prominence in the Old Testament, and further application of it in the New Testament scriptures. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the emotional term as: “One who is intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; vigilant in guarding a possession.” The use of this term becomes quite appropriate when we consider that God “chose” His people to be His treasured “possession;” and yet, His beloved became idolatrous and worshipped other gods….

Let’s examine some of the scriptures that reference the context of God’s jealousy for His elect:

Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Cf. Deuteronomy 5:8-10)

Exodus 34:14 (NIV)

Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 32:15-19 (NIV)

They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. They made Him jealous with their foreign gods and angered Him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear. You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. The Lord saw this and rejected them because He was angered by His sons and daughters.

Israel made God jealous and angered Him because of their rebellious unfaithfulness. Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. (Joshua 24:19) Asaph the Psalmist, in Psalm 78, reviewed the historical unfaithful relationship of Israel to the Lord after their conquest and settlement of Canaan – the Promised Land. Still, after their judgement and exile, the Prophet Ezekiel would provide this hope:

Ezekiel 16:41-43 (NIV)

“I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry. “‘Because you did not remember the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices?

My friends, what we need to understand is that we have been chosen by the Sovereign God of all creation for an intimate relationship with Him. Our communion with the Father is prefaced on His great love and mercy for us. We have been betrothed to Him. Isaiah declared: “For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54:5) Jeremiah recited: “I Myself said, “‘How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me. But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:19-20) And Hosea prophesied: “In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’” (Hosea 2:16) Yes, “I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you with righteousness and justice; with love and compassion. I will betroth you with faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)

So, let us consider the application for our walk of faith. Paul uses the same analogy regarding the fidelity of our relationship with Christ Jesus. He wrote: “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I have betrothed you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3)

Here Paul is addressing believers and their propensity to follow the idols of their hearts; to not follow the leading of the Holy Spirit within them to pursue holiness and pure devotion to our Savior. I sense that the ease with which we dismiss our sin of self-idolatry under the banner of grace needs to be reexamined. Too often, a believe will excuse their sin and affection of the world as “being human.” I think Paul would answer:

Romans 6:1-7 (NIV)

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

And Peter concurred: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. (1 Peter 4:1-3)

And James reminds us:

James 4:4-5 (NIV)

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in us?

Dear reader, let us seek sincere fidelity within the covenant of love that the Father has ordained for us through His Son, Jesus. I pray you will review these scriptures on your own and examine your own heart. God chose you to believe in His Son! You are His elect! He loves you with an everlasting love. He has given you His precious promises. Therefore, He is most jealous for us! We are called to be faithful to our Maker who is our Husband— the Lord Almighty is His name.

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!

Grieve…

Grieve…

He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so, He became their Savior. In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy, He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet, they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them. (Isaiah 63:8-10)

Our verse provides a woeful commentary on the unfaithfulness of God’s chosen people. Of His treasured possession, God said: “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me.” God had wrought His salvation as He parted the Red Sea before their eyes. He redeemed them from the slavery and oppression of Egypt. He carried them and provided for them through the wilderness journey. Yet, all the while, they rebelled against their Savior and Redeemer; and in doing so … grieved His Holy Spirit! Even after Jesus was sent from heaven to seek and to save the lost sheep of Israel (Cf. Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24; Luke 19:10), He grieved over the unwillingness of His own to recognize the presence of God in their midst. (Cf. Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34)

To grieve is to suffer deep sorrow or feel great anguish or distress such as when a loved one dies. So, when we grieve someone, we afflict them with deep sadness, agony, heartache, and pain. This describes what Holy Spirit feels when a child of God transgresses the will of God or walks in willful rebellion. Notice I said, a child of God … one who has been born of God.

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.

My friends, how unthinkable it is for the children of God, the Body of Christ, to grieve His Holy Spirit! We are children who should be true to Him! He redeemed us by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus … the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world! He has carried us in His unfailing love and mercy! Shall we continue to resist the will of our Savior – who called us to a holy life? O saints, “Do not quench the Spirit!” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) For we are commanded to love another just as Jesus loved us! (John 15:12) Indeed, it is in this context that Paul exhorts us: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

Have a Blessed Day!

Unknown…

Unknown…

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

From the beginning, humans have pondered and wondered about the unknown. It was the desire to know what God had not made known that tempted Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Cf. Genesis 2:15-17) Indeed, what a different world we would live in now had obedience prevailed in their hearts…. Truly there are things unknown that are best left in their mystery. Indeed, it is purposed that we live by faith! Yes, faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the evidence of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

That God will reveal to us the things we need to know has been attested in His Word. God has made known His mercy through the Noahic Covenant with the sign of a rainbow. God has made known His faithfulness through the Abrahamic Covenant with an unchanging promise. God has made known His will through the Mosaic Covenant with tablets of stone. God has made known His mediation through the Davidic Covenant. And God has made known His everlasting love through the New Covenant – with the blood of Christ Jesus.

Isaiah prophesied: Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Paul affirmed: “We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)

My friends, we have been given sufficient knowledge to know the Father and His will for us – through His Word, our Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, I pray we will walk in what we do know and has been revealed. Let us always be mindful to walk in the obedience of faith that we have received through grace because it is unknown when our Lord Jesus will return. We only know that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. And we know as the prophetic signs begin to take place, we should stand up and lift our heads, because our redemption is drawing near. (Cf. Luke 21:5-36)

Have a Blessed Day!

Obedience…

Obedience…

So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)

To walk in obedience has always been the expectation of our Creator from the beginning. Adam and Eve only had one commandment to keep, but they failed to observe it and brought sin upon mankind. Had they known then what we know now, I believe they might have reconsidered their act of disobedience and the consequences that ensued….

What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear Him; to walk in obedience to Him; and to serve Him will all of your heart and soul. (Deuteronomy 10:12) And there is great reward for those who keep the commands of God! I encourage you to read all about the blessings God ordained for obedience written in Deuteronomy 28. The desire of God to bless His people with abundant life is quite evident:

Psalm 128:1-4 (NIV)

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

And there are spiritual blessings for obedience! Jesus said to His disciples: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:15-17) “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21) “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23) Indeed, Jesus affirmed: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:10-12)

Have a Blessed Day!

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.” ~ 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Rejoicing in Obedience…

Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

I have pondered over our Verse of the Day; and I have asked myself if my heart feels the same way as the Psalmist expressed. Do I REJOICE in following the statues and commands of God? If someone were to just give you a billion dollars, would the excitement of receiving those “great riches” compare to how you should feel inside for obeying God? What a provocative metaphor the Psalmist has used to exhort our view of and response to scripture … the Word of God.

Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)⁹How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
¹⁰I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
¹²Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.
¹³With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
¹⁶I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

As we read this particular section of Psalm 119, notice the joy, the exuberance, and the delight of the inspired writer as he considers his inner desire to follow the laws, statutes, precepts, decrees, and commands found in the Word of God. He holds nothing back! But do we? Do we whole heartedly approach obedience with this level of zeal? Or do we begrudge having to exert our own wills to resist disobedience? I think believers certainly endeavor to obey the will of God, but have we ever thought that our attitude should be one of rejoicing like someone who won the Mega Millions Lottery? The question that comes to mind is: “Do we rejoice when we obey God and His Word? Does obedience bring joy to our lives?

I am reminded of this passage from Paul found in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 which reads: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Could it be, perhaps, that the way out is to “rejoice” in obedience? Think about it for a moment. The last time you were tempted, did you delight in His statutes and decrees? Do you meditate on the Word of God and hide it within your heart so that you might not sin against Him? Maybe we need to consider the joy that obedience will bring more than we entertain any thoughts of disobedience … which will only lead to guilt and shame. I think that if we would attain an attitude of delight in following after God, we would be less likely to inhibit fellowship with Him because of sin.

This meditation has challenged me to examine the attitude of my heart. I think the issue here is not so much what I might accomplish by following His statutes – although there are blessings for sure; rather, the focus should really be about my motivation to follow His commands. Do I approach obedience with a cheerful and glad heart? Is obedience something that I wholly and heartily pursue as I would the pursuit of “great riches”? To me the Psalmist is saying, “Obedience is not an afterthought; rather, following the commands of God should be a forethought … a planned strategy that one should take delight in … knowing God will be pleased with every act of obedience. Obedience is not something to begrudge; rather, we should view His perfect law … His royal law … as a source of joy and delight! If we want to experience more joy in our lives, obedience to the Word of God is a great path for us to attain it.

Again, a simple verse with tremendous impact. It has changed my perspective on the inner motivation of my heart and how I should view the will of God. I am reminded of Psalm 1:2 which affirms: “Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law both day and night. And King David wrote: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. (Cf. Psalm 112:1) Indeed, it is one thing to obey God out of a sense of moral duty, obligation, or respect. It is another to rejoice and delight in following His commands. It’s all about the motivation of our hearts. And I remember that Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commands.” (Cf. John 14:15) To me, that is the greatest reason to “rejoice” in following His statutes because I always want Jesus to know that I love Him….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ~ Isaiah 61:10

The Lord is Our King

Isaiah 33:22 (NIV)

For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; it is He who will save us.

As I pondered our Verse of the Day, I decided to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 33 … wanting to gain a sense of the context for our verse. I found the chapter filled with that inner hope each of us have within us … that longing for what we feel is wrong in life to be corrected … that desire for our lives to be made right again. And the Prophet Isaiah leads us to find this hope in the Lord. I prayed Verse 2 out loud as I read it: “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Is that not a perfect prayer point to start each day?

Isaiah takes us through the ebbs of challenge and hardship along with the crests of victory and triumph that we will find in life; but he reminds us that in all these things we are totally dependent upon God … the One who created us and exercises His sovereign will over us: “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is He who will save us.” And while the insight and wisdom Isaiah shares can and should be applied individually; I believe the greater context is one of a community … a people … a nation in view. There is a collective and interdependent need to place our complete trust in the Lord to protect and deliver us:

Isaiah 33:5-6 (NIV)

The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with His justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

So, as we tackle the days ahead, I want us to remember these two verses above. He is exalted! He will be our sure foundation! In Jesus is all the wisdom, knowledge, and salvation for your life. And, most of all, the fear (reverence) of the Lord is the key to finding this treasure for life. Let these thoughts be your guide for today and every day….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. ~ Revelation 5:12-13

Faith…

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

I think most of us are familiar with our Verse of the Day. The inspired writer of the Letter to the Hebrews has provided us with a definition of “faith” for our theology. I have provided some various translations for our consideration in order to get the full impact of this definition; but I encourage you to take time and read the entire Chapter 11 (link here) to have the context of the definition in full view.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (English Standard Version – ESV)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (New King James Version – NKJV)

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. – (New Living Translation – NLT)

What we see in the definition is the relationship between faith and hope … between belief and confidence in the revealed invisible attributes of God. And the whole chapter gives us a glimpse of those who exercised their faith in ways that pleased God. As the writer elaborates: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed His approval of his gifts. (Citing Genesis 4:4) Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying — “he disappeared, because God took him.” (Citing Genesis 5:24) For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

Yes, our relationship with God is rooted in this concept of faith … of believing what we cannot see … of knowing within our inner beings what we cannot necessarily prove. These are the foundations of faith through which God sees the truth and integrity of our hearts toward Him. There is desire for obedience that comes through faith. (Cf. Romans 1:5; 16:26) There is a righteousness that comes by faith. (Cf. Romans 1:17; 4:5; 4:13; 9:30) Indeed, everything in our understanding of God is dependent upon faith. Of great importance is the understanding of this truth:

Romans 3:19-26 (NIV)

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

My friends, I hope you are challenged and encouraged by this look into the depths of faith … what it is and what it means. The Bible is full of scriptures that address our fellowship and intimacy with Father God. But none of these will ever be realized without genuine faith in Him. Yes, “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” (Cf. Hebrews 11:6)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ~ Romans 5:1-5

Hasten To Obey…

Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

I will hasten and not delay to obey Your commands.

Have you ever hesitated to follow through on a prompting of the Holy Spirit that you know was aligned with the Word of God? Regretfully, I know that I have done so. I suspect it happens to all of us…. We hear His voice in our spirit to say or do something that is intended to advance the Kingdom of God; but then we fumble the ball, we doubt the impulse, we make excuses, or we act like we did not hear the voice of God. We might begin to question, “Was that really you speaking to me, God?” How can I know? Show me a sign! Yet, in our inner being, we knew God wanted us to respond to Him and to act upon His command in that moment…. It was another opportunity to be light … to be salt … to show grace … to plant a word from God … to lead someone to the truth … but we did not follow through. I hold my own head down in shame at the opportunities … given and forsaken. I hear Jesus ask me, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Cf. Luke 6:46)

Our Verse of the Day filled me with fresh conviction! Faith asks me to be bold … to be courageous. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Oh, how I need to remember these scriptures when I find myself in a “divine appointment” … when I find myself “asked of God” to do a good work – one that He prepared in advance for me to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) I should say in my heart, “Lord, I will hasten and not delay to obey you!”

When God directs us to act … we need to listen and align with His Word and His timing. And, yes, I believe it is fine to ask God for “the right time” to accomplish His assignment. We should ask for wisdom or discernment regarding the circumstances, if needed. But these types of requests are different than simply procrastinating out of our own doubts or insecurities or just plain slothfulness. If it matters to God to prompt us through His Spirit … it matters for us to be obedient.

And while it is important for us to listen to God and to obey Him as He guides and direct us to be His hands and feet in this world, I think there might be another application much closer to home that we should consider … something that might be overlooked. I want to encourage us to look inward for a moment. What if the “divine appointment” is with yourself? What if the good work God asks of you is to change something within you? Perhaps we should be still and listen for His still small voice a moment. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you in your inner being? What commands have you heard that you have dismissed or delayed to obey? Is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your pursuit of sanctification? Consider this passage from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Or is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your character? Consider this passage from Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

My friends, there is plenty we can hear from God and apply to our lives from His Word. We just need to read it and study it. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:12) Indeed, the indwelling Holy Spirit guides us into ALL truth … including the truth about ourselves. And sometimes when we want to impact the world around us for Christ, we often need to begin with changes within ourselves. Whether God calls us to divine encounters with those around us, or He calls us to submit to His prompts within our own hearts, we would be wise to listen to Him! Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, and they follow me.” (Cf. John 10:27) And so, as we hear His voice, let us hasten and not delay to obey His commands. This is my prayer for each of us. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. ~ Matthew 21:28-32