Tag: Reverence

Worship…

Worship…

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 based on merely human rules they have been taught. ~ Isaiah 29:13

The Prophet Isaiah, moved by the Spirit of God, brings to our attention the deeper issues of our worship of God. As he points out, our fear or reverence for God often comes through the commandment of men which has been taught to us. It takes on the form of traditions and rituals that are learned by repetition without any regard as to the meaning. These forms become memorized and cemented into our theological constructs. Indeed, human rules and doctrines often direct how we worship God, but such worship is in vain if our hearts are far from Him.

Throughout Scripture we see a Holy God revealing Himself to us … His created beings. He manifests Himself as a Father who is devoted to His children through a covenantal relationship rooted in His holiness and deep love. The desire of His heart is for us to respond to Him in genuine love and reverence. Such a responsive, reciprocal love can only come from our inner beings (i.e. our own hearts) in order to be authentic … real … sincere….  God commands us to love Him alone; and His command emanates from His intrinsic love…. (Exodus 20:1-17)


Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2) Indeed, the Lord our God tests us to find out whether we love Him with all our hearts and with all our souls. (Deuteronomy 13:3) King David also prayed, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. (Psalm 26:2-3)

We are informed by Scripture that God initiates how we are to worship Him. We are to hallow His Name. (Exodus 20:7, Matthew 6:9) We are to obey His commands. (Numbers 15:39-40) We are not to worship any other god or idol. We are to offer the sacrifices of a humble and contrite spirit and tremble at His Word. (Isaiah 66:2) As King David prophesied: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened— burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

Worship is the will of God for His created ones. For by His will, we were created and have our being. Yes, and all the angels in heaven worship Him day and night without ceasing saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8-11) And let us consider the instruction of our Lord Jesus in this regard: “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)

My friends, let us consider then how we worship YWHW through our beings. Is it heartfelt and intimate? Are we reverent of the holiness of God? Is our worship covenantal? Indeed, YWHW is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, Joshua 24:19) He will not permit us to worship another. And I pray that we will contemplate practices that will conform our hearts to the will of our Father. As Jesus affirmed: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) And Paul exhorted: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. ~ Revelation 15:3-4

Have a Blessed Day!

Purify…

Purify…

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ~ 1 John 3:2-3

Think about what the Apostle John has posited here for us: “Now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.” In his Gospel account of Jesus, John asserted the following: “Yet to all who did receive Him (Jesus), to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13) And so, it is with this understanding of who we are in Christ, that we are filled with the hope of resurrection and eternal life … the hope of being like Him – as He is. Therefore, John concludes that ALL who have this hope in Jesus … who place their faith in Him … will purify ourselves as we wait for His coming.

The Apostle Paul weighs in on this matter of purity as well:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 through 07:01 (NIV)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Cf. Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27) Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (Cf. Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41) And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8) Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Look at these promises! In Christ, we are the children of God … we are the people of God! As such, we are to separate ourselves from all things impure and unholy. Indeed, purity and holiness are rooted in our separation from the world and its fallenness. John instructed: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:15-16)

In his letter to Titus, Paul concludes that the grace of God through Christ Jesus changes our hearts and the pursuits of our hearts. It is based in the blessed hope of His appearing:

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

As a child of God, are you actively striving to purify yourself? Is the hope you have in Christ Jesus motivating you to pursue holiness in response to the promises you have in Him? Like Paul, I want to encourage all of us to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Yes, “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8) For this is the call of Father God to His children! Indeed, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Have a Blessed Day!

Holiness – Reverence for God

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

In our Verse of the Day, Paul gives us a great and timely message regarding our pursuit of holiness out of reverence for God. To me, the point being made is that our motivation for obedience is to be based in reverence and not merely obligation or duty. Let’s look at our passage in the larger context. Since 2 Corinthians 7 begins with the word “therefore,” we need to understand what it is there for. Thus, we will need to go back to 2 Corinthians 6 to get a better idea:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV)

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Citing Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27)

17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (Citing Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41)

18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (Citing 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8)

Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

As we look at the larger context, we see Paul admonish us regarding the nature of our walk with God. His concern is about our pursuit of holiness as temples of the living God. And from this perspective, we need to look at how to keep our lives clean and righteous. To that end, Paul stresses that believers should NOT seek a “yoked” relationship with unbelievers because there is an inherent spiritual incompatibility that ensues from the relationship. He is saying we should not “bind” ourselves in such arrangements where spiritual conflict is inevitable. He asks what does righteousness and wickedness have in common? What fellowship can light have with darkness? What agreement is there between the worship of God and the worship of idols? The answer, of course, is there can be no harmony between two such opposite or opposing forces. There is a natural separation in this realm. And so, Paul takes us to the higher reality that we (the Church) are the temple of the living God. We are the Body of Christ through His indwelling/abiding Spirit within each of us….

With this view in mind, Paul sets out to address the scriptural promises that God has made with His people; believers whom He has called “out of the world” and who represent His temple. God says, “I will live WITH them and walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” God calls us out of the world and says to be separate … sanctified (holy) and set apart for service to God. And in another place, God says, “I will be a Father to you. You will be my sons and daughters.” How wonderful are His thoughts toward us! How miraculous is it that the Creator of the universe expresses such a passionate desire to have intimate relationship with His people … those who have consecrated themselves to Him?

Although we live IN the world, we are not OF the world. We are the Church … the CALLED-OUT ones.  Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Cf. John 15:19) I think this is the very thing Paul is concerned about in his appeal to the Corinthian Church.  We cannot pursue holiness if we continue to pursue the things of this world. Righteousness and wickedness cannot coexist. Light and darkness are separate. What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? We cannot serve both God and the idols of our affections. We cannot have an intimate relationship with the Father if we do not consecrate ourselves to Him through Christ Jesus. But when we separate ourselves from the things of the world and commit ourselves unto the Father, we prepare ourselves for Him to enter into relationship with us. For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (Cf. Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16) Thus, Paul urges us to purify ourselves from everything that defiles our bodies and our spirits.

The Word of God is clear that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ desire to have intimate relationship with us. The question is: “Do we want to have an intimate relationship with God?” If so, then we need to do those things with separate us from the world. The Apostle John taught: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) These are the three primary avenues of temptation for us, and so we need to consider our spiritual strategies for separation from the world. Our greatest tool (spiritual weapon) is the Word of God! We need to read it, understand it, and put it into practice! I believe the more we engage the Word of God in our lives, the more we will find, feel, and express reverence for God.

My friends, I think the application for our Verse of the Day is self-evident. Our mission is to perfect (or complete) holiness in our lives out of respect … out of reverence … out of love for God. We have been chosen “out of the world” by Jesus Christ to serve in His Kingdom … which is not of this world either. (Cf. John 18:36) Think about the great honor and privilege believers have received to enter into His sanctifying work through the Spirit in order to be separated from the world and enter the Kingdom of Light! And the promise is that God will receive us if we are IN Christ Jesus. God Himself will love us and be a father unto us, and He will dwell among us. (Cf. John 14:23) He will be our God and we will be His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light! (Cf. 1 Peter 2:9) This is why we pursue holiness and righteousness in our lives. Consecration is the expression of our sincere reverence for Father God – the One who sent His Beloved Son to rescue us from darkness … to redeem us from sin … to release us from captivity … to reconcile us to Himself and to grant us everlasting life. Let these promises be our meditation with all thanksgiving for the great mercy shown to us … that we would be CHOSEN to be separated and to have intimate relationship with our Creator. Yes! Let our hearts be stirred up with these thoughts today … with fresh anointing … with fresh fire!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

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. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

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

Husbands – Love Your Wives

Ephesians 5:25-26 (NIV)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word….

Our Verse of the Day should remind us that our roles as fathers began with our roles as husbands. Here, husbands are exhorted to be for our wives what Christ Jesus is for His bride … the Church.  Paul asserts that the intimate relationship that is forged between a man and woman within their marriage covenant is reflective of the intimacy that Jesus desires with each member of His Body. And men, in particular, are responsible to initiate and foster the love that is formed within that union. Let’s review the full passage here:

Ephesians 5:21-33 (NIV)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, having cleansed her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of His body. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (Citing Genesis 2:24) This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Within this larger section of Ephesians 5, we find the broader theological concepts of sacrificial love; putting the needs and interests of our wives above our own; mutual submission to one another out of reverence for Christ; and recognition of the abiding love we are to cultivate with our Lord Jesus … as it can be understood through the covenant relationship of marriage. The insights and instruction Paul affords men and women here are essential not only for their marriages to be vital and healthy, but for their understanding of how to achieve greater intimacy and fulfillment … the purpose of which is to draw each of us into an intimate relationship with Christ! And so, to the men who are married, I encourage us to honestly evaluate our relationships with our wives in light of the truths Paul has presented here. I believe that any area we identify for improvement in our marriages might also present in our relationships with Jesus. Likewise, I would venture to surmise that when we examine ourselves, if we are moved to repentance and a greater submission to Christ, then I believe we will experience a corresponding impact for our marital relationships. I just think that our humble, reverent submission to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is inseparable from our role as head of the marital relationship with our wives; and our relationship with Christ is key to understanding how the “covenant of love” is fulfilled within our marriages.

Fathers, I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children are marriages that emulate the relationship of Christ Jesus with His Bride … His Body … the Church. Through the genuine, faithful efforts of fathers to passionately demonstrate sacrificial love for their mothers, I believe children will develop a better understanding of God’s love through Christ Jesus; and this in turn can cultivate their hearts and plant seeds of faith within them to grow intimate relationships with God as well. Yes, I believe this has been the design of God from the beginning for families: to nurture relationships both reflective of God’s love and expressive of God’s personal relationship with each one of us. The process begins with our covenants of marriage, and it extends with the births of our children. Fathers have a God-ordained role in the leading and fostering of their marriages and households; and our Heavenly Father has equipped us to fulfill this role. As the Church represents the Body of Christ, so our wives and children represent an extension of ourselves. As we have authority over our own bodies, so we have been given authority over our homes as well.  Indeed, it is a tremendous responsibility that we have been delegated; and I feel certain we will be held accountable for how we accepted this responsibility.  So, let us be bold and courageous in both our pursuit of God and in the fulfillment of our duties as husbands and fathers…. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So, the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So, the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. ~ Genesis 2:18-24

Keep His Covenant…

Psalm 103:17-18 (NIV)

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

Psalm 103 is a beautiful meditation of David. In its 22 verses, he explores the foundations and depths upon which intimacy with God is established. Here we find David speaking to his own soul … addressing his inner being with truths about the nature and character of God that can only be understood and appreciated by the soul. As God is Spirit, our relationship with Him must be in the spirit realm … in a transparent form where nothing is hidden and truth abides. Psalm 103 invites us to think deeply and introspectively about the God who created us and His relationship with us:

1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—
3 Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever;
10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
14 For He knows how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 The wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlastingthe Lord’s love is with those who fear Him,and His righteousness with their children’s children—
18 With those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word.
21 Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will.
22 Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.

(Verses 1-6)

I’m really glad that David began this Psalm with praise for the nature of God. He tells his soul, “Praise the Lord.” In my view, David “commands” his soul to praise God as he unfolds the “reasons” for doing so. He says to himself, “Do not forget all the benefits that the Father has bestowed your life.” God forgives ALL your sins and heals ALL your diseases. He redeems your life from the pit … the dark abyss of sin. He crowns you and intentionally places His love and compassion upon you. His favor promotes good things to bless your life. He works righteousness and justice for those who have been oppressed by others…. And that is just the beginning of how God acts on our behalf.

(Verses 7-13)

David now continues to explore how God manifests His character. God revealed His ways to Moses and displayed His works among His covenant people. From what has been reveal and demonstrated, David concludes that the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. David observes the kindness of God in that He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. David senses in his soul that the love of God … the forgiveness of God … the compassion of God surpasses our ability to comprehend.

(Verses 13-18)

David shares that what He experiences in His relationship with God is special. The intimacy he has come to know with the Creator … the benefits of fellowship with God the Father … is for those who fear Him! Indeed, His great love is for those who fear Him. (Verse 11). The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him (Verse 13). Yes, His love is with those who fear Him … with those who keep His covenant … with those who remember to obey His precepts. (Verses 17-18) As David wrote in another Psalm: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge (trusts) in Him.Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” (Cf. Psalm 34:8-10) To fear the Lord is to exalt and reverence Him. Indeed, there are no benefits nor rewards in life except for those who fear the Lord … for those who keep His covenant and obey His command.

(Verses 19-22)

David concludes this meditation within his soul with a declaration of the sovereignty of God. His throne is established in heaven! His Kingdom is the only authority throughout the universe He created. And this conviction ignites praise and worship within David again. David sees that ALL creation is subjected to the Lord God. ALL are commanded to obedience … ALL are enjoined to worship the Almighty God! His Word … His Will … His Works have been revealed to ALL creation. So, David commands his soul, “Praise the Lord!” For the soul of every living being WILL bow before Him; and every tongue will acknowledge Him. (Cf. Isaiah 45:22-24; Romans 14:10-12; Philippians 2:9-11)

Here is the application I have found. I cannot know the blessings or rewards of God apart from an intimate relationship with Him – a covenant relationship that He initiated and conferred upon me through His Son, Christ Jesus. The Apostle John explains, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (Cf. 1 John 4:10) And Paul wrote: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-9) Indeed, there is nothing I have done to earn it or deserve it … but I am compelled in my innermost being to respond to His irresistible grace and love with great reverence. For I am convinced that His desire for relationship with me is knowable, and the thought of such love overwhelms me!

David said the love of God is everlasting with those who fear Him. His compassion is on those who fear Him. So, we need to understand this “fear” … this “reverence” … for God our Creator. To show reverence is an intentional act; and it encompasses how I regard God with the highest honor and deepest respect. Shall we not humble ourselves, and repent, and submit to Him in faith? Shall we not observe His commandments which reveal His will? God said, “Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord.” (Cf. Leviticus 22:31) Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (Cf. John 14:15, 14:21; 15:10) Shall we not worship (love) in the manner that God has ordained? Obedience demonstrates our love. Obedience reveals truth. And obedience is better than sacrifice. (Cf. 1 Samuel 15:22)

My friends, I hope that something said here will resonate with your soul. What King David imparted in his Psalms is prophetic of the intimate relationship God desires with us in Christ Jesus. Indeed, the grace of God we know and experience in Christ Jesus should elicit an overwhelming desire within us to love and adore Him … which is manifested in truth through obedience. Reverence IS obedience … because the New Covenant has not been written on tablets of stone; rather, it has been written on our hearts.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

The Mysteries of God…

Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NIV)

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Our Verse of the Day continues to examine human contemplation of the mysteries of God. King Solomon expresses a couple of examples here to give us a broader perspective of what we do not have the ability to comprehend with our finite minds. Who can see the wind or know the course that it takes through the air? It is invisible … undiscernible; and yet, we can feel its force and know when it is moving. Likewise, we do not know HOW the body is formed in the womb.  Oh, we can see ultrasound images of the human life as it grows from a fertilized egg; but we do not know how or why it develops into a human being. Indeed, who can understand HOW a seed when placed in the ground can germinate and become a tree bearing its own fruit? Yes, such are the things of creation God allows us to experience, examine, and study; and yet, we can only marvel at the intelligent design He spoke into existence….

The inspired writer of the Book of Job shared ancient wisdom about the origins and mysteries of God and His creative power in Chapters 36-39. How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out. (Cf. Job 36:26) Solomon observed: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Cf. Ecclesiastes 3:11) The Prophet Zechariah described God as: “The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person.” (Cf. Zechariah 12:1) And the Prophet Jeremiah affirmed: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can understand it?” (Cf. Jeremiah 17:9) These are just a few of the OT Scriptures that address our inability to fully comprehend what we cannot see; and yet, through faith we know these truths to be evident. Yes, such are the things of faith … the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Cf. Hebrews 11:1)

Still, I like to read the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul to gain his perspective on theological matters. And in the matter of mysteries, Paul had quite the insight to challenge us. I like to ponder the thoughts he shared in this passage:

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 (NIV)

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” (Citing Isaiah 64:4) — the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 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. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 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.

Through the indwelling Spirit of God, we have the mind of Christ. Believers ARE able to discern and to know the truth of those things revealed and declared in the Word of God. The truth about what is incomprehensible for our finite minds does not discourage us at all; rather, it increases our faith in a holy, sovereign, almighty Creator. His love is revealed to us in His creation.  His desire for intimate relationship with each of us is revealed in His creation. Indeed, in the past God spoke to our ancestors through the Prophets at many times and in various ways; but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Cf. Hebrews 1:1-3) To me, all the mysteries only serve to make our Heavenly Father all the more knowable. For we can discern through our Lord Jesus that the Father is worthy of all reverence! He is to be praised and adored! As Paul would conclude:

Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Citing Isaiah 40:13) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Citing Job 41:11) For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:2

Faith That Pleases God…

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Our Verse of the Day has been in our studies on occasion; and I thought we might take a look at it again. What is the inspired writer trying to convey to us? His focus is the subject of faith: believing in Yahweh, the Lord God Almighty, who created all things – and uniquely humans in His own image. The writer asserts that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” So, let’s review the definition of “faith” that the writer provides us in the surrounding context:

Hebrews 11:1-7 (NIV)

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” (Cf. Genesis 5:24) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

In Chapter 11, the writer of the Book of Hebrews helps us understand the components of faith. It is the substance of what we hope for and the evidence of what we do not see. Faith is what gives us the foundation to understand the creation of the universe. And the writer indicates that faith is what drives us to action to pursue relationship with our Creator.  In these first few verses we see the human desire to relate to God; to show Him reverence; and to please Him unfold. Through examples designed to help us move from an abstract concept of faith to a purposeful demonstration of it, we discover that faith is an integral part of our being. We can speak of faith (and the love that flows from it) as a noun; however, ultimately the actions of faith and love are verbs. The reality and sincerity of a faith rooted in love are found in the relational actions which are motivated by them.

To me, our Verse of the Day, explains how faith pleases God. It is clear from the context that faith drives our hearts to seek God with the purpose of having a personal relationship with Him.  In order to “come to Him in faith” we must believe two things: 1) that God exists, and 2) that He rewards those who are earnestly seeking Him. These two beliefs are essential to the formation of a faith that will delight God. Indeed, it brings Father God delight when we acknowledge Him through worship and show Him reverence through obedience. It delights Him for your faith to express itself with confidence and freedom and joy! Yes, nurture your faith to see hope in what is unseen and to trust God with every fiber of your being! God loves you with an everlasting love! Just believe it and He will be pleased and make Himself at home with you…. (Cf. John 14:23)

In my prayer time this morning, I considered that God has need of nothing. I contemplated that He does not need the world or anything or anyone in it. He has an entire universe filled with awesome wonders to delight Him. Yet, God made creatures. He intentionally created living beings. And I believe His purpose was to enjoy dynamic fellowship with them. God is love! And it is His love that God longs to share with His creation! He wants us to experience true love and the joy and peace that will fill our hearts. Indeed, Father God has manifested this deep desire since the creation and throughout the millennia. Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—God’s eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through the things God has made. So, humans are without excuse. (Cf. Romans 1:20) And in these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son. (Cf. Hebrews 1:2)

My friends, what I have discovered on my journey of faith is how much God yearns for people to know Him. For this purpose, Jesus came to earth as a Son of Man to show us the Father; to reveal His compassion; to demonstrate His passionate love; to manifest His desire for intimate relationship with us. Through Jesus, we can know with certainty that God exists because He is the exact representation of His Being. When we believe Jesus, when we place our faith in Him, we please the Father! When we abide in Jesus, and He in us, we are positioned to bear fruit … the action of faith and love. Indeed, through Jesus, we have assurance that we will receive the crown of eternal life as an inheritance and reward. (Cf. James 1:12) So, if you believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him, then I believe you will pursue Jesus with all your heart….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

So, faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ. ~ Romans 10:17

Are You Fooled?

Psalm 14:1 (NIV)

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Our Verse of the Day offers an important lesson on this April Fool’s Day. I think it sheds light on the real issue that we face in sharing the Gospel – UNBELIEF! The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Unbelief stems from the spiritual forces of darkness … and results in the greatest transgression of all – to deny God exists! Scripture has a great deal to say about foolish people; and the consensus of truth presented is that those who are fools, those who act foolishly, separate themselves from God and from His blessings. There are several passages in Scripture that corroborate this message: that reverence for God is the beginning of knowledge, but foolish people despise wisdom and instruction. (Cf. Proverbs 1:7)

Psalm 14 – NIV (See also Psalm 53)

The fool (a morally deficient person) says in his/her heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Proverbs 1:20-33 (NIV)

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Here in Old Testament wisdom literature, we see an emphasis on the knowledge of God – the awareness and understanding that He is real and expresses Himself to us and reveals Himself to us. God has made Himself known through His Creation, through His Word, through His Spirit, and through His Son. But the fool outright rejects the existence of God. The fool walks in unbelief and denial of the truth. Indeed, Solomon observed that the fool hates knowledge and does not CHOOSE to fear the Lord.

The Apostle Paul warned of the darkness and deception of foolishness as well:

Romans 1:18-25 (NIV)

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Any lapse in faithfulness can lead to foolishness. But unbelief in God, His Majesty and Holiness, or the truth of His Word defines the fool! The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” And unbelief separates the fool from God. Fools neither glorify nor worship God nor do fools give thanks to Him. Their hearts are darkened … rebellious … and filled with iniquity. Paul will go on to further explain in Romans 1:28-31 that God gives fools “over to depraved minds so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity.” So, although there is a difference between acting foolish and being a fool; both lead to separation from the love and presence of God in our lives!

But I believe there is hope for both the fool and the foolish! God is still calling out to them through His Spirit and through His Church! The Lord Jesus is reaching out to the prodigals … to those who have become foolish … to those who have turned their hearts away from God. He is crying out to them, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Cf. Matthew 11:28-29) Yes, every person has the opportunity to turn from the darkness that has taken hold and deceived them because the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (Cf. John 1:5)

Indeed, Light has come! And we, the Body of Christ, have been chosen to be witnesses of the light and love of Jesus who brought us out of the darkness! (Cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10) We are to lead out those who have eyes but are blind and those who have ears but are deaf. We have been anointed to preach the good news; sent to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to those who are captive; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Cf. Isaiah 61:1-2) But we must do so with love and gentleness:

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

So how do we avoid foolish and stupid arguments and the quarrels they produce? How can we be gentle to those whom we pray God will grant the gift of repentance? Well, what led you and I to repentance? Was it not the kindness of God? (Cf. Romans 2:4) Indeed, let the redeemed of the Lord tell their stories! (Cf. Psalm 107:1-3) Share how you cried to the Lord in your trouble and how He saved you and filled you with His peace. No doctrinal arguments are needed for your testimony. It cannot be argued or explained; it can only be experienced and shared. Yes, share your own authentic encounter with Jesus Christ, and let the Holy Spirit take it from there….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent out His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy. ~ Psalm 107:17-22

The Wages of Sin…

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our Verse of the Day should be very familiar to us; and I see it as a reminder – a call for repentance and a prompt for all people to understand the gift of God we receive in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus prayed, ““Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (Cf. John 17:1-4) Indeed, salvation and eternal life is given through in no other name under heaven except in Jesus Christ! No longer can the world hear just a message of grace without repentance. The “seeker sensitive” message without repentance is insufficient to bring a person to a knowledge of this Truth.

I just feel impressed that we need to focus ourselves on the fear of the Lord our God today! And this fear is defined as reverence … reverence as in awe and wonder of His mighty power, splendor, and holiness! Perhaps, we are witnessing what the prophet have foretold: God is shaking the earth once more. (Cf. Haggai 2:1-9) I believe God is stirring up His Church … His people … to show forth His glory in this present hour! “And the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house!” There is a message … a message of revival! And revival begins with repentance … and repentance begins with reverence … and reverence manifests as the fear of Lord!

Deuteronomy 10:12-22 (ESV)

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set His heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve Him and hold fast to Him, and by His name you shall take your oaths. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

Psalm 33:6-15 (ESV)

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their starry host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; He puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world stand in awe (revere) of Him! For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage! The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He watches all who live on the earth – He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes everything that they do.

Psalm 36:1-4 (NIV)

I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.

Oh, I could continue with many more Scriptures, but I think the point has been made. Sin is fatal. The final outcome of transgression is death. But we have a merciful and gracious God who has made provision for us! God provided His own atoning sacrifice for us. In His great love for us, the Father sent His only begotten Son to bring us redemption … salvation … eternal life through Him. What God has done … His lovingkindness … is intended to lead every human soul to repentance! (Cf. Romans 2:4) As Paul affirmed: “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness out of reverence for God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 7:1) Yes, we should come as we are to the throne of mercy and grace … but repentance is integral to reverence! We must be broken and filled with godly sorrow. We must be buried with Jesus through baptism … born-again of the Spirit … and raised to a new life in Christ … and walk in the Spirit God gave us:

Romans 6:1-14 (ESV)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Indeed, sin should not have dominion over us. We have been justified … we have been set free … by the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! In all reverence and fear, we are to walk in newness of life. We are to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul, and to obey the commandments and statutes of the Lord. Holiness is not an option … it is a command.  And so I pray that we will hear what the Spirit is telling us … His guidance into these truths that we need to ponder and apply to our hearts. I am convinced that we need to look to God and what He is doing in these latter days we have entered….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us. ~ 1 John 1:8-10