"God of... comfort"

    God is the very author of comfort, it begins and exists in Him. Note that this is not a lazing or loafing comfort of do-nothing indulgence and indifference – it couldn’t be because God is none of those things – this is a comfort that encourages, consoles, and gives solace to the one standing and withstanding (Ephesians 6:10, 13) busy in doing the work (James 1:25, 1 Peter 5:6-10).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV)

    In this passage we see God described as “God of all comfort” – whatever your situation, He has all that you need. Not only does God have all the comfort you need while going through all your tribulations, He comforts us with such a comfort that we, ourselves, can get up and go on, and comfort those around us who are going through any troubles.

    Our God of comfort steadies us and readies us to encourage others in their walk!

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4-6 NKJV)

    God prepared His word (having faithful men write it down) so it could be preserved and provided to future generations – why? So that we, in reading it could gain both patience and comfort while learning from it, and have hope knowing that the God they served then – the God of patience and comfort – is the same God we serve now.

    And again, beyond supplying us encouragement through the Scriptures, our God of comfort wants us to be like-minded – full of patience and comfort – toward our brethren, why? That we may with be as one, with one mind and one mouth, glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! What will eternity in heaven be but joining together as one with the saved from all ages to glorify our God of comfort?

    Our God of comfort steadies us and readies us for our eternal home!   

    Please take time to read and consider 1 Thessalonians 5:1-22 this week. Within this passage you will find comfort and encouragement for yourself and several ways to comfort and encourage your brethren!

    “Be imitators of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1) and share the comfort He comforts you with! God is patient and comforting so remember to be patient and comforting toward your brethren who need help and solace just like you! Allow God’s comfort to steady you and ready you for the work that needs doing, so that you can help others stay the course and together you can look forward, with hope, to glorifying Him for eternity!!

You can do it! So can I!!

"God of... Hosts"

    I would like to take some time now to better understand God, so our faith can flourish, by looking at bible verses that declare/describe God to be the “God of” something. What that something is, or rather what those somethings are, as there are many, is what this study will help you come to know. I hope it will draw attention to aspects of God that you may not have known or focused on and also refresh your heart’s appreciation for the ones you may already be familiar with.

    Let’s begin with “God of hosts” as it is the most used “God of…” phrase in the Bible, appearing 40 times in the Old Testament, 9 of which are found in Amos. It is often written as “LORD God of hosts,” “Lord GOD of hosts,” a few times as “the LORD, the God of hosts,” and twice as “O God of hosts” (in Psalm 80:7, 14).  

Side notes: The term “LORD of hosts” is used 245 times in the Old Testament, but we will limit our study to only the mentions of “God of…” in the Bible. Also, both “God of hosts” and “LORD of hosts” are phrases only found in the Old Testament.

    God declared Himself to be “the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts” (Amos 5:27), so what exactly does it mean? Who are the “hosts”?

    Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance/Hebrew Dictionary shows “hosts” (in every instance we are looking at) to be the Hebrew word: tseba’ah (H6635) This word, tseba’ah, is from the primitive word ‘tsaba’ (H6633*) and means ‘a mass of persons (or figurative things), especially regularly organized for war (an army); by implication a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically hardship, worship): - appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war (-fare).’

*tsaba (H6633) to mass (an army or servants) assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war

    This term draws our attention to God’s power and authority. He is able to do what He has said. He has a host at His command and servants ready and waiting to obey His command. He is almighty and He will accomplish all that He has declared!

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” (Psalm 89:7-8 NKJV)

    We can see the term “God of hosts” and leave it at that, just a term, but let your mind dwell on that for a moment. Considering it is like looking up into the night sky. You look up and see maybe a handful of stars at first, but then as you continue to look and your eyes adjust, more stars seem to come out of nowhere, tiny points of light suddenly fill what was moments ago simply a canopy of darkness and your mind fills with wonder as more and more stars continue to come into view.  

    Grab your Bible and turn to 2 Kings 6:14-17 where the King of Syria was making war against Israel. The prophet, Elisha, had a servant who was quite anxious about the enemy’s army surrounding them and so Elisha prayed that the LORD might open the young man’s eyes to the truth of the matter, then told him, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who with them” (v16). What did he see when the LORD opened his eyes? “…behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v17).

    This is our God, the very God we serve. He is the LORD God of hosts! ‘With God you are the majority’ is not a platitude, but the plain truth. He is the God of hosts. You can trust that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! We have no need to fear any person, for with our God, the God of hosts, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-37, be sure to read this reference – it is SO good!)!!

    God is able. He is the God of hosts, a description of ultimate power, ability, and capability – vast, untold resources and might – this is the God you serve! Do you trust Him? Are your eyes opening to His magnitude? Pray that they might be so that you can confidently put on His armour each day and stand strong in Him and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10-18), knowing without doubt that the very God of hosts surrounds you!

You can do it! So can I!! 

New Theme: Good Works

    Did you know that we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works"? God prepared them, so "we should walk in them" (Ephesians 5:10)!

    What are these good works that God has prepared?

    Let's look at some verses that outline some good works that we, as women, should walk in:

"The older women likewise*, that they be reverent 

in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, 

teachers of good things - that they admonish the 

young women to love their husbands, to love their 

children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, 

obedient to their own husbands, that the word of 

God may not be blasphemed." 

(Titus 3:3-5 NKJV)

*"likewise": indicates that the things listed before (in verse 2) also apply to the older women: be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

    Applying all of these to who we are and what we do will bring glory to God and that is what good works are supposed to result in.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

so that they may see your good works and 

give glory to your Father who is in heaven." 

(Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

    In Ephesians 2:9, we read that salvation is a gift from God, it is "not of works, lest anyone should boast." All of our efforts in doing good are for one purpose only - to bring glory to God! That through them we may be "to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:6,12,14).

    When you shine your light before others, through good works and kindnesses, you are showing God's more perfect way to others! (Romans 12:1) Consider James 2:14-17 where it states that if a brother is in need and we simply say to him, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," and we have done nothing to warm or fill him then our faith, without these works, is dead. God wants us to "not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16)

    We all have differing abilities. We must use our abilities to do what WE are able to do! Please read Romans 12:3-8. Pray for opportunities to use your abilities and your abundance to benefit others and bring glory to God.

    Encourage the young wife. Embrace the young mother. Cheer on your sister. Fortify your husband. If you can create things useful to others, do so to fill the need! If you can help someone monetarily to help them through a hard time or help them achieve a goal (university, college, upgrading their skills), then do it happily!

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, 

that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, 

may have an abundance for every good work." 

(2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV)

    God provides so that we can share - we have no excuse and every reason to obey!

    Magnify God today by eagerly walking in the good works He has prepared for us to walk in! Let your behaviour and your kindness be to the praise of HIS GLORY!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Nature is Consistent, Are We?

     As we conclude our thoughts on the "Nature" theme let's consider Genesis 8:22. In the context of this verse Noah has offered sacrifice to the LORD and God, having received the sweet aroma, declares that He will never again destroy the earth with a flood, God also makes this declaration:

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, 

cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, 

shall not cease.” (NKJV)

    Night follows day, spring follows winter... we come to know these 'patterns' and we expect them. We can count on them because of their constancy. Constancy is a quality of being dependable. A quality of being enduring and unchanging. We, as Christians, should be an example of constancy in our faith and in our walk. 

    Can you be counted on for certain behaviours? Are those behaviours good or are they bad?

    Consider these instructions today:

"...be an example to the believers in word, 

in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 
(1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV)

"...in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, 

in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 

sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one 

who is an opponent may be ashamed, 
having nothing evil to say of you." 
(Titus 2:7-8 NKJV)

    Both of these instructions were included in letters written to young preachers, and yes, preachers must be examples to the church, but they are also members, just like you and me. We all need to exemplify these instructions; there are people watching us all the time, some known to us, some not. We need constancy and consistency in our example!

    Just as we count on the sunshine to follow the rain and the day to follow the night, let us be people whom others can count on to be lights in this world of darkness!

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see 
your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 
(Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Nature Praises God - So Should We!

    Good morning! I hope you're having good days! As we continue in our Nature theme, let's consider how all creation praises the LORD and gives Him all the glory: 

Psalm 148

PRAISE the LORD!

Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him all you stars of light!

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,

And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

For He commanded and they were created.

He also established them forever and ever;

He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,

You great sea creatures and all the depths;

Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl;

Kings of earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

For His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above the earth and heaven.

He has exalted the strength of His people,

The praise of all His saints - Of the children of Israel,

A people near to Him.

Praise the LORD!
(New King James version)

    This psalm covers everything in the heavenly realm and in the earthly realm! "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 150:6)

    Holman Bible Dictionary defines 'praise': 

"Praise comes from a Latin word meaning “value” or “price.” Thus, to give praise to God is to proclaim His merit or worth. Many terms are used to express this in the Bible, including “glory,” “blessing,” “thanksgiving,” and “hallelujah,” the last named being a transliteration of the Hebrew for “Praise the Lord.”

    When we are thankful to God, we are giving Him praise. We are acknowledging His blessings, His majesty, and His dominion.

    We are commanded through the New Testament to be thankful, to give thanks always (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God has blessed us with a new life through His Son, we are to proclaim, in sincere thankfulness and true appreciation, the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)! When we open our eyes to God, His word, and the wonders of His creation our hearts should overflow with reasons to praise God, giving our lips a ready resource for declaring God's goodness to others (Acts 4:20)! 

"I will bless the LORD at all times; 

His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; 

the humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, 

let us exalt His name together."
(Psalm 34:1-3 NKJV)

    Where can you begin? Read the whole of Ephesians 1 and 2 and meditate on the blessings found only in Christ! Take time to read Philippians to learn how to be thankful and full of praise in every circumstance. Step outside (or look out the window) and meditate on the plants, the trees, the animals that God created. Look at your own self, your senses, and your abilities; consider all the time God has blessed you with so far. Show true appreciation by thanking Him for all these things and by using your time, your words, and abilities to His glory!  

Learn to be thankful. Value the blessings God gives you.

Fill yourself up with gratitude for God and praise Him!

Praise the LORD! 

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing and Make Melody - Is It For Me, Dear Saviour?

    As we continue with the "Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart" series, the song I have selected for this week asks us a question:

"Is It For Me, Dear Savior?"

(by Frances R. Havergal, 1871)

Is it for me, dear Savior, Thy glory and Thy rest,

For me, so weak and sinful? Oh, shall I be so blessed?

Chorus:

O Savior, my Redeemer, what can I but adore,

And magnify and praise Thee and love Thee evermore?

Is it for me, Thy welcome, Thy gracious "Enter in."

For me They "Come, ye blessed", for me so full of sin?

(Chorus)

O Savior, precious Savior, My heart is at Thy feet;

I bless Thee, and I love Thee, And Thee I long to meet.

(Chorus)

I'll be with Thee forever, and never grieve Thee more;

Dear Savior, I must praise Thee, and love Thee evermore.

(Chorus)

    This song is written from the perspective of someone who is 'poor in spirit' (Matthew 5:3). They recognize their need for a Saviour ("me, so weak and sinful") and with humble hearts they joyfully praise God for the gracious gift He freely gives ("...what can I but adore and magnify and praise Thee and love Thee evermore," consider Ephesians 2:1-13).

    God wants us to recognize our need for Him. He wants us to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27), and that takes humility on our part! God wants us to humbly submit to His will, acknowledging His love and care shown through His commands. God does not want us to see ourselves as worthless rags, constantly wondering if He hears our prayers or if we are worthy of His time and/or blessings. I have heard true humility defined as, "not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." Humility is not berating ourselves continually, it is thinking more of God and His goodness and giving Him all the glory for the blessings you receive!

    God wants us to joy in Him! He wants us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Does a plant that refuses to lift its head toward the sun grow and flourish as it should? Lift your face to God, trust in His love, trust in His forgiveness when you repent of your sins, trust in His ability to help you and "make all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28).

    I especially like that third stanza of this song: 

"O Savior, precious Savior, My heart is at They feet;

I bless Thee, and I love Thee, And Thee I long to meet"

    What does it mean to "bless" God? We often think of blessed meaning "happy or joyfully content" - and it does mean that when Jesus teaches the beatitudes in Matthew 5, but in this case, when used toward God (ex: Ephesians 1:3), 'bless' means to "eulogize" - 'to speak beautiful words (about).'

    As Christians, we are to bless God. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Focus on the thought repeated in verses 6, 12, and 14: "to the praise and the glory of His grace" (v.6), "to the praise of His glory" (vv.12, 14). Also read and consider 1 Peter 2:9.

    We are to speak beautiful words about Him! We are to give Him praise, we are to give Him the glory! How can we do that if we consider ourselves worthless? How can we declare His greatness and the depths of His love, if we refuse to delve into them ourselves?

    So when you sing this song and you wonder, "Is it for me? Is the dear Saviour's glory and rest for me?" Let your mind and heart answer with a resounding "YES!!! It is for me!!" And let your heart pour out its praise and appreciation for God's love, mercy, and grace!! Let your mind and mouth fill with beautiful words to speak about God and declare His wonderful goodness! 

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to hymn:

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

    Isn’t it crazy that each week we can go from grocery store to grocery store trying to find good food at good prices, lug the bags into the house, put everything away, and then one of our children will wander into the room and say, “I’m hungry.” So we send them to the kitchen and while there, they stare blankly into the fridge, proceed to open every cupboard, and miserably declare to us, “There’s nothing to eat!” As a parent, it is beyond frustrating!

    When it comes to gratitude, or lack thereof, how often have we collapsed into a puddle of misery and declared, “There’s nothing to eat!” The big problem, in this case, is that the “parent” who is providing for us is God - who “daily loads us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19) - and we, when we are blind to those benefits, are saying, “What is there to be thankful for?”

    Can you see now why it is so vital to learn and practice gratitude?

    In order to learn how to FEEL grateful, we need make ourselves aware of what God has done for us, through study and quiet contemplation. Throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms, mentions of thanksgiving are followed by a recollection of what God has done for His people as well as directly for the person writing (ex: Psalm 72, notice vv10-15). This teaches us that to feel grateful and learn gratitude we need to take inventory of our blessings!

    Beginning today, determine to train yourself to take inventory of your many blessings, acknowledging the difference each has made in your life.

    Spend time today by making a physical list of your “inventory”. Purpose to add to that list each morning (or evening) for the next 6 days.

    Each day re-read your list, meditate on your inventory.

• Do you remember praying for/about the things now in your inventory?
• What if you woke up tomorrow without any one of these blessings? How would you feel?

    Let your appreciation for God and His provision grow as your consider each.

    When you are at work, driving, or doing the dishes, try to recall your inventory and thank God for each blessing.

    I have a feeling that over the next few days your prayers will become easier and possibly longer, as your heart spills over with praise and thanksgiving to God for all the good that He has done and continues to do in your life!!

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

    Please feel free to post a comment, listing some of your blessings; it may help others to recall blessings in their own lives!

    Gratitude is the BEST attitude and it is worth using the time we are blessed with to think on and be thankful for all these things!! 

You can do it! So can I!!

"But God... " Will Raise Us In An Incorruptible Body

    Over the past weeks we have taken a closer look at only a few of the life-changing “But God…” verses found in the New Testament. In these texts we see the dismal downward spiral of man-made circumstances and the escape which God supplies that can change everything for us! The words “but God” glow with His marvelous light, drawing our attention to the path that God has provided to all who seek the Light!

    We have learned:

• We were sinners… but God, with great love for us, gave us His Son to die for us! (Romans 5:8)
• Jesus died for us… but God raised Him from the dead! (Acts 13:30, Romans 1:1-4)
• We were dead in trespasses and sins… but God made us alive together with Christ! (Ephesians 2:1-4)
• The world exalts wisdom, wealth, and power… but God chose lowly things to put these things to shame (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
• We may try to justify our motives to fool others, even ourselves… but God knows our hearts! (Luke 16:15)
• We will face temptation… but God faithfully makes the way of escape so we can overcome it! (1 Corinthians 10:13)

    The final “But God…” verse I would like to study in this series is another transformative verse, it’s completely life-altering!

“But God gives it a body as He pleases… The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption… it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. ” (1 Corinthians 15:38, 42, 44 NKJV)

    Ever since the gospel message was first preached, people have likely wondered how we’ll be raised up and what we’ll look like. It is difficult for us to wrap our minds around the spiritual realm when we are in the physical realm but God, through the apostle Paul, gives us a wonderful analogy to help us understand.

    When you plant a seed, you understand that the seed itself will die, and then from within it comes forth a plant abundant with life. God gives this plant its body (which is different in appearance than the original seed, 1 Corinthians 15:37) and He gives it just as He pleases! Consider for a moment a small black and white sunflower seed in comparison to the gorgeous golden flower that grows from it – God provided that!

    We too, will one day die, and from within us will come forth our spirit, abundant in life, to which God will give a body (different in appearance than our original), a body raised in incorruption, glory, and power – a spiritual body suited for the spiritual realm (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5)! 

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 NKJV)

    This great and wonderful life-changing transformation will happen to us all and it will be glorious to all who have hope as children of God!!  

    If you have this hope, continue to purify yourself, just as He pure, always looking forward to seeing God and Jesus as they are for all eternity!!  

You can do it! So can I!!

"But God who is rich in mercy..."

“But God who is rich in mercy, because of the His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NKJV)

    This is the passage that sparked the entire study! What a life-changing statement this is!! It has not only changed my life, but your life as well, and the life of each and every one who believes!

    We grew up and became accountable before God. Even for those of us who were “raised in the church”, there was no bubble wrap for us in regard to sin; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all at some point followed after temptation and sinned (Ephesians 2:2-3), we may have even made a habit out of it, but when we sinned, we died, spiritually.

    BUT GOD, RICH in mercy - absolutely abounding in lovingkindness (Psalm 103:8-18) – because of His GREAT love for us, gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)!

    God gave us hope – He granted us life again – He gave us opportunity to be revived and walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). God, by His grace, gifted us with new life in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9)!

    Because of God’s rich mercy and great love in sending His Son to die for us, we, although lost in darkness, were able to seek God and find Him (Acts 17:27). We could listen to His word and believe it (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6). When we realized our state – our deadness in sin – we could run to God for help, for hope (Acts 2:37) and find both in abundance!

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)

    As a child of God (Romans 8:12-17), made alive by grace (Ephesians 2:1-10), belonging to the body of Christ through baptism (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), we have help, and we have hope not only in this life but in the one beyond as well!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV)   

    Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

    If you have not yet been revived to spiritual life with God through Jesus, if you have not yet been baptized for the remission of your sins, let today be the day! Let this be the day you begin to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-13)!!

Let today be the day!!  

"But God is faithful..."

“No temptation has overtaken you except that which is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

    Everyone can and will be tempted but not always in the same way. What tempts me, may not tempt you; what tempts you, may not tempt me, but we are all vulnerable to temptation. From the garden in Eden and on through time, the devil has been sharpening his tools with which he tries to distract us away from God; he has only three and that has proved enough: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (James 2:16). The devil plied these tools on Eve in the garden (Genesis 3), on Job in the land of Uz (Job 1-2), on Jesus, the very Son of God, in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), and on every person in between and since!

    But God is faithful.

    The devil may think his experience in the field has gained him the upper hand BUT GOD has always had the highest hand and sets boundaries on Satan (consider Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-7) – God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able! The devil has a limit, and believe me, he will take advantage of everything within that limit to turn your attention from God, making it very difficult to resist.  

    But God is faithful.

    God makes the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it – “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (2 Peter 2:9) – we CAN endure, we CAN resist, we CAN overcome – because GOD IS FAITHFUL!

    God is worthy of our trust. He will not fail us. What He has promised He will fulfill (Joshua 23:14, Hebrews 10:23)! The devil with his limited power will try to overtake us but God provides the way of escape so that we are not overcome!

    Keep your focus on Him! Walk carefully and with wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-17, James 1:5) because temptations abound but God is faithful! Let’s remain faithful and loyal to Him, by looking for and taking the way of escape He makes, and continually praising Him for His faithfulness!!

You can do it, so can I – because God is faithful!!    

"But God Knows Your Hearts"

“And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”” (Luke 16:15 NKJV)

    In this passage Jesus was rebuking the Pharisees (religious leaders/teachers) because they loved receiving money and likely sought out ways to gain more of it (see earlier verses, 1-13, in Luke 16). The focus of their hearts had shifted from religion to monetary gain and with that came the temptation to “tweak” the law – a little adjustment here, a wee modification there – to appease people who were willing to pay for a blind eye being turned on their sinful situation.

    The religious world is full of adaptations, modifications, as well as complete disregard of God’s Truth in an effort to appease sinful people who don’t like God’s boundaries and moral rules. How has this come to be? The desire for popularity (“anything to keep ‘em coming through the doors each week”) and for monetary gain (“We need to keep their money in the coffers”) has most likely led the way.  

    These erring religious leaders seek to justify themselves rather than change their focus back to God. Consider televangelist Kenneth Copeland who, back in late 2015, said he needed a luxury private jet to do his job because ‘you can’t “talk to God” while flying commercial.’ Or just a year or so ago, another televangelist, Jesse Duplantis, who tried to justify his need for a fourth private jet, this one with a price tag of $54 million, by stating he needed this addition to his aircraft fleet “to help him efficiently spread the gospel to as many people as possible.”

    We, especially when we know we are wrong but don’t want to change, can and will try most anything to justify ourselves – “I couldn’t help myself”, “I can’t imagine life without it”, “It will help me do ________ better”, “Things happen for a reason, if God didn’t want me to have ________ than He wouldn’t have given it to me.” etc., etc. – especially when we have gained something pleasing to us in the process.

“But God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”    

    Ponder now, if you will, Proverbs 6:16-19, and the seven things that the Lord hates and considers an abomination:

• A proud look
• A lying tongue
• Hands that shed innocent blood
• A heart that devises wicked plans
• Feet that are swift in running to evil
• A false witness who speaks lies
• One who sows discord among brethren

    Unfortunately, many Pharisees in Jesus’ time would come to be guilty of each of these. The steps leading to this may have felt seemingly innocent to them at first – “a little extra money won’t hurt anyone” – but the main problem was that their shift in focus caused them to look to money and away from God, because you cannot serve both (Luke 16:13).

    Let’s not try to justify ourselves in any of our wants and “needs” – we may fool our friends and even ourselves – but God knows our hearts! Let’s learn to be content with what we have, with what God daily provides (Mathew 6:25-34)! Let us, with grateful hearts, thank Him for our daily bread (Matthew 6:9-13, Ephesians 5:20, 1 Timothy 4:4-5) and appreciate the living bread  - His Word - with which our souls can be nourished with all that is good and truly proper in His sight (Matthew 5:6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 12:1-2) and let God and His truth be our only focus as we humbly walk the narrow way that leads home (Matthew 7:13-14)!

You can do it! So can I!!

   

"But God Has Chosen the Foolish Things..." (Part 2)

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…” (1 Corinthians 1:27 NKJV)

    God chose lowly things, “foolish” things so that anyone who believes can be saved. To those of us who do believ,e we see the power and wisdom of God, but to all others, particularly those “who are perishing”, those who mock God and the very idea of God, it is only “foolishness.”

    The message of the cross, the simple way in which Jesus came and conducted Himself (even sacrificing Himself), was contrary to the expectations of the Jews who were looking for a great and powerful Saviour Messiah, so they rejected Jesus and in so doing rejected their hope of salvation (Acts 13:46). The Gentiles on the other hand sought after astonishing wisdom, thoughts that would confound the common people and ideas that would give the great philosophers of the day much to discuss and consider, but Jesus came with simple “stories” about seed sowers and farmers, women who swept their houses, and people who bought small plots of land – to them His teaching was “foolishness”, mere stories to amuse children (1 Corinthians 1:21-23). 

    Let’s not fall prey to that type of thinking. God’s word is not out of reach. Jesus’ humble nature welcomes us all to come near and approach God, the Father, through Him (John 14:6). God has always chosen the simple things He has made and provided to all, so that no one is hindered from seeking and finding Him (Acts 17:26-27).

Consider these “lowly” things in our worship:

• ·       Simple, quiet, respectful gatherings where “all things done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40) so that we may worship God in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). There are no complicated rituals, nor pompous ceremonial processions, but only common men leading our thoughts as we observe the Lord’s Supper, leading us as we sing together, and teaching and preaching a Bible lesson for our benefit, so that our attention is focused on honouring God, not man.
• ·       No ornate clothing worn by the men leading, no robes or cassocks, no special vestments of any sort, simply respectful clothing (even we in attendance are given instruction to keep our clothing simple, see 1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:3-4).  Again, so our focus stays on God and not on people.
• ·        No foreign languages, no Latin, but only what is understandable to the congregation (1 Corinthians 14:10-17). Lessons simply from God’s word, the Bible, from which every man may be made “complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). So that no one elevates himself above the congregation because of his learning or ability, but that God and His word are elevated and held in high esteem.
• ·       No musicians or choir members atop a stage. No man-made instruments required for worship, only what God made, common to all people: our hearts, our spirit, and our voices, as we join together in song “singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Our attention is to be on God, not on a singer or a musician. We are not at a concert to be entertained, we are to humbly gather together before God, approach His throne, and exalt Him with our praise and attention (Philippians 2:1-11).
• ·       No names that raise people above others. No titles like “father”, “reverend”, or “pope” – these are all man-made titles that were made to encourage respect and reverence, but God is to have the respect and reverence, not men. Jesus, Himself, commanded, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, all children of God (Romans 8:15-17, 1 John 3:1-3), and that, I think, is honour enough!
• ·      Unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. Simple, basic elements: flour, water, juice from grapes – all made and provided by God Himself. We know the fruit of the vine was not wine (something invented by man), because there was no leavening to be in the house during the observation of the Passover (Exodus 12:12-15), nothing fermented, only fresh, unleavened ingredients just as God provided them. Why did God choose these simple elements for the Lord’s Supper? So that when we partake of it each week our focus is on Jesus and not on a meal (1 Corinthians 11:22) or highfalutin man-made drink.

·             God chose basic men, not scholars who went to seminaries to learn how to preach, but “uneducated and untrained” fishermen (Acts 4:13) and a tentmaker “untrained in speech” (2 Corinthians 11:6) to preach and teach the gospel message to both Jews and Gentiles (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 26:15-18). Today is no different. The men who preach are just like the rest of the brethren except that they have chosen to spend their lives studying God’s word, and preaching/teaching the gospel. They should be encouraged in their pursuit as they encourage us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)! They do not teach their own ideas and imaginings, they speak only what God has provided through His holy and divine word (1 Peter 4:11, Galatians 1:8-10)!

    God chose the simple things so that all could hear, believe, and obey. God chose the things He made, the things He provided to mankind so that man could not puff himself up and say “Look what I did!” or “Look what I can do!” God simply asks us to come together to think on all that He did and praise Him for all that He continues to do!

    We don’t need to have an expensive education to understand the gospel, only sincere love for God and His word. We don’t need to be wealthy to worship Him, we don’t need to have a musical skill or even ability to sing in tune, we only need our God-made heart and soul, bound together in sincere belief and humble obedience, to join with others in praise and worship of our hallowed Father in heaven!

    God chose the lowly things. God chose us. Let us worship Him and reverence Him as He desires, using only the things He has given us to honour and reverence Him for all He has given us!!

You can do it! So can I!! 

"But God Has Chosen the Foolish Things..." (Part 1)

“For you see your calling brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty…” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NKJV)

    I love these verses because it states that all can find/access God. We don’t have to worry about whether we were born with great knowledge and wisdom, or had wealth with which we could readily attain these through higher education. We needn’t concern ourselves with class or caste systems where birth locks us into a societal category of standing. We don’t have to work ourselves to death in the gym to gain might and strength. No, because God chose simple things so that we would glory in Him – His wisdom, His majesty, His power and might – and not glory in ourselves.

“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, not let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness in the earth. For in these I delight,“ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV)    

    God made mankind so that we might seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27). He calls us through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) out of the darkness of sin and into His marvelous light (Acts 26:17-18, 1 Peter 2:9). The gospel was preached by simple men: fishermen, tentmakers, tax collectors. It was recorded and preserved on papyrus and it is now in something completely common, accessible, and simple: a book – the Bible – most every household may already have one. Side Note: Consider that the New King James Bible is written at about a Grade 7 reading level, making it accessible for reading and comprehension for most everyone aged 12 years and older.

    Our responsibility is simply to submit to His Word and way. To read/listen/hear the gospel message (Romans 10:17), to believe it, and to humbly obey God’s instructions (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, James 1:25) all the days of our life (Matthew 10:22, Revelation 2:10)!

    If the Lord wills, next week we will look closer at the “lowly” things God has chosen and how through them He has provided us all access to hope through Jesus, His Son!!

 

"But God..." - How God Turned Our Lives from Hopeless to Hopeful!

    If the Lord wills, I would like to take a few weeks to look at the amazingly wonderful, hope-stirring bible verses that express how God, because of His great love for us, gave us a Saviour and changed human life forever!!

    Through Jesus our lives can be changed from death to life, from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, from hopeless to hope-filled and glorious!!

    I hope you will join me as we look at the verses that give us all the more reason to be joyful and full of thanksgiving for our great and loving Father!

    Let's begin!

“And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 13:28-30 NKJV)

    “But God raised Him from the dead.”

    That one sentence, that one solitary statement, changed everything for us! That one declaration of fact is the ultimate proof that Jesus was indeed the Son of God because – God raised Him from the dead!

     When God raised Jesus from the dead:

• Jesus was proved to be His Son (Acts 2:32-33, Romans 1:4)!
• Jesus became the firstborn from the dead, never to die again (Colossians 1:18, Acts 13:34-35, Revelation 1:18)
• Jesus’ words, everything He had spoken, were proved true (Luke 9:22, 24:46-47)
• The prophets were proved true (Acts 2:16-32; 13:32-34)
• Jesus became our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5-6), our Advocate (1 John 2:1), and our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), who makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34)!
• We are justified (brought back into favour with God) and have access to forgiveness of our sins (Acts 10:40-43, Romans 4:25; 8:31-33, Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:9-2:2)!
• He proved He has power to raise us up too (1 Corinthians 6:14, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)!

    Consider this beautiful passage:

 “…if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:14-20 NKJV)

    When God raised Jesus from the dead He changed our lives forever! We can have confident faith in every word, command, and instruction spoken by Jesus. We now can have access to God, access to His help (Hebrews 4:16) His forgiveness (1 John 1:9), His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) and His peace (Philippians 4:6-7). Because God raised Jesus from the dead, we can believe it, and have faith to obey Jesus’ commands and have hope to be raised in the final Day to life eternal (John 5:25, 28-29, Romans 10:9-13, Ephesians 1:17-23, 1 Peter 1:20-21)!!

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV)