Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.-Psalms 25:7 NIV
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. -Psalm 26:1 NIV
Most of us, like David, are conflicted in our opinions about ourselves. One minute we think we are blameless, the next we are bowed down by the weight of our sins. One minute we are on top of the world, our heads in the clouds, the next minute we see the world as a threatening place.
Where is God in all of this? He is where he has always been, seated on His throne, far above, far, far above our puny considerations of our own self worth. When it is all said and done, we are neither the grossest sinners or the most blameless saints. We are nothing short of redeemed.
In truth, both of our conflicts are not without merit. We were rebellious in our sins and we are blameless. Our sins have been blotted out, we are spotless in His sight. Not because of our own doing. There is no great work that we can perform to cover the depravity of our past. Nothing short of the blood of Jesus can cover our sins. Nothing but the blood.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
John 11: For His Glory
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.-John 11:5 NIV
Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he did not immediately answer the call to heal him. Did that make Mary or Martha think that Jesus no longer loved them? Is that sometimes what we think when we don't get an immediate answer to our prayers? Do we think that God no longer loves us. If he loved us he would answer us in the way we want our answers? Jesus' response is the same today as it was in Lazarus' time.
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here that they may believe that you sent me." - John 11:40-42 NIV
With our limited view, we are inclined to believe that it is all about us, that our needs are paramount. But, God says it is more important that people believe, that people believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and that he was sent by the Father. God's responses to our requests are always centered on his overall plan that his creation would be reconciled to Him. Whenever God delays or fails to answer, you can rest assured that it is all for His glory.
Monday, October 21, 2013
John 6: Real Food and Drink
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” -John 6:53-58 NIV
We see with such earthly eyes, with such limited vision. Even the disciples that surrounded Jesus had limited insight into the true power of God and his son, Jesus Christ. They witnessed the miracles and as a result, followed him, but they didn't follow him because of who he was. Instead, the crowds followed for the food and drink, missing out on the truth.
'My flesh is real food', Jesus said. How can this be unless we are missing an aspect of reality, of life as it truly is. In the other realm, the realm where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit reside there is a different reality. In that sphere, the one who feeds on Jesus will never die. We will never thirst, we will never be hungry. Anything else we might cling to has a limited shelf life. It will rust, it will rot. Any other food will decay, any other means of healing will lose its potency, will expire. But the one who gives life will never die, will never reach the end of his limits. He who is, is. Jesus lives in the living Father, and we live in him. That is the real food and drink.
We see with such earthly eyes, with such limited vision. Even the disciples that surrounded Jesus had limited insight into the true power of God and his son, Jesus Christ. They witnessed the miracles and as a result, followed him, but they didn't follow him because of who he was. Instead, the crowds followed for the food and drink, missing out on the truth.
'My flesh is real food', Jesus said. How can this be unless we are missing an aspect of reality, of life as it truly is. In the other realm, the realm where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit reside there is a different reality. In that sphere, the one who feeds on Jesus will never die. We will never thirst, we will never be hungry. Anything else we might cling to has a limited shelf life. It will rust, it will rot. Any other food will decay, any other means of healing will lose its potency, will expire. But the one who gives life will never die, will never reach the end of his limits. He who is, is. Jesus lives in the living Father, and we live in him. That is the real food and drink.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Psalms 23: The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Psalms 23:4
There are so many ways to walk through the "Valley of the shadow of death" . Sometimes it happens when we're going through a prolonged and possibly fatal illness. It may be as we sit by the bedside of a loved one who is taking their last breath. It may even be when events recall past hurts and we experience the sorrow anew as if it were for the first time. At all of these times, we have God with us and his rod and staff to comfort us.
Shepherds use the staff for guiding the animals or for drawing the sheep to the shepherd with the crook of the staff.. The rod which is made out of a heavier, sturdier piece of wood is useful for training the animal and for defending the animals from any predators.
Even in our darkest valleys, we have God's guidance. We have his rod drawing us to him and his staff correcting us and defending us. If we can learn to truly trust God as David did and look to him when we walk through any dark period, we will fear no evil.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Psalms 10: Where is the Hope?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” - Psalms 10: 2-6 NIV
As Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun." Politics have not changed since there was first a gathering of people that in someone's mind needed governing. Politics has always attracted those who are more concerned about their own well-being, their own reputation, than what happens to those who are less so well endowed or funded. Politics attracts a bunch of idiots as well, who think they know everything when in truth they know nothing. Even those who enter the political realm hoping to help their fellow man become stuck in the morass of the political system and end up being deceived themselves. Where is the hope?
the nations will perish from his land
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry
defending the fatherless and the oppressed
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror. - Psalms 10: 16-18 NIV
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” - Psalms 10: 2-6 NIV
As Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun." Politics have not changed since there was first a gathering of people that in someone's mind needed governing. Politics has always attracted those who are more concerned about their own well-being, their own reputation, than what happens to those who are less so well endowed or funded. Politics attracts a bunch of idiots as well, who think they know everything when in truth they know nothing. Even those who enter the political realm hoping to help their fellow man become stuck in the morass of the political system and end up being deceived themselves. Where is the hope?
The only hope comes from on high.
The Lord is King for ever and ever the nations will perish from his land
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry
defending the fatherless and the oppressed
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror. - Psalms 10: 16-18 NIV
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Psalm 9: He Sees All
The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. - Psalms 9:7-9 NIV
The airwaves and the Ethernet are filled with the same questions: Is anyone really in charge? Does anyone know what is going on?
The answer is yes, but it is not a bunch of politicians. It is not a bunch of world leaders. It is not the media, and the answer is certainly not to be found in any tweets, e-mails, or Facebook posts.
Someone is in charge, someone with more power than the head of the Federal Reserve or the world bank. Someone with more power than Congress, the Supreme Court, the President and the UN combined. Someone with unlimited power. Someone who can always be trusted to work for the good of those that love him. as stated in Roman 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Even now, in these turbulent times, there is nothing that escapes his notice. He still notes when a sparrow falls, He sees the sick. He sees the tired. He sees the dying. He sees those who are in fear that they may not be able to afford insurance supplied by the Affordable Care Act. He sees arrogance and stupidity and injustice. He looks around and sees all we see and more. He sees the solution to all of the worlds problems. He sees the end of time in itself. He sees all.
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. - Psalms 9:7-9 NIV
The airwaves and the Ethernet are filled with the same questions: Is anyone really in charge? Does anyone know what is going on?
The answer is yes, but it is not a bunch of politicians. It is not a bunch of world leaders. It is not the media, and the answer is certainly not to be found in any tweets, e-mails, or Facebook posts.
Someone is in charge, someone with more power than the head of the Federal Reserve or the world bank. Someone with more power than Congress, the Supreme Court, the President and the UN combined. Someone with unlimited power. Someone who can always be trusted to work for the good of those that love him. as stated in Roman 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Even now, in these turbulent times, there is nothing that escapes his notice. He still notes when a sparrow falls, He sees the sick. He sees the tired. He sees the dying. He sees those who are in fear that they may not be able to afford insurance supplied by the Affordable Care Act. He sees arrogance and stupidity and injustice. He looks around and sees all we see and more. He sees the solution to all of the worlds problems. He sees the end of time in itself. He sees all.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
John 4: God is a Spirit
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” -John 4:23 NIV
What does it mean to worship in truth? Webster defines truth as the following:
b : sincerity in action, character, and utterance
2 a (1) : the state of being the case : fact
(2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality
(3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality
b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true <truths of thermodynamics>
So there you have it. The archaic meaning is fidelity or constancy. That is no longer considered relevant even though it is what God wants from us, even what he demands. It is his desire that we remain true to him; that we remain constant. That is how he wants us to worship him, with hearts that continually put him foremost.
He's not concerned with the meter or the notes. He's not concerned with the fidelity of the instruments or voices. He's looking for the fidelity of our hearts. He's looking for, as Webster puts it, sincerity in action, character and utterance. I need to remember this, when I'm concentrating on the right note or the right harmony rather than the truthfulness of the words I am singing.
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