I do not understand why Jesus had to come to earth to die that I might have life. Why couldn’t God have found an easier way to give us salvation? I do not understand why God’s children on earth suffer pain, and persecution. I cannot understand why I must constantly battle with Satan and his helpers. I have often said things like "why did God allow this" or "if God loves me why did such and such happen?" Job 42:3 gives Job’s answer: "Therefore I have rashly uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
You’ve no doubt seen the quote: "We make plans and Life happens." And here is another one that I just recently heard: "If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans." Proverbs 16:9 states "A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure." And in Proverbs 20:24: "Man’s steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way?" We have no idea what the future holds for us, and God does, so why not trust Him, instead of telling Him we don’t understand so we’d rather do it ourselves.
Here is what God’s Word tells us about understanding the ways of God from Isaiah 55:8,9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." "As the heavens are higher than the earth" Wow! That is a big spread. So what makes me think I can know what God’s reasons are? In Psalm 139:6 it says "Your infinite knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high above me. I cannot reach it."
I may not understand the workings of the Lord, but this one thing I do know: "our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." 2 Cor. 4:17, 18
My Prayer: No, Lord, I do not understand why You had to suffer and die that I might have life; or why we suffer in this life. You could have put a hedge around all Your children, but we would then become weak; we would not have learned how to use Your armor. You say in I Peter 4:13 that our suffering is working for us and will make us rejoice even more when we see Your glory. David said that before he was afflicted, he went astray. I know that all that comes my way is allowed for my good, and I pray I will not waste the trials You allow for me. I also know that nothing touches me that has not gone through You first. You have a design for me, and though I may not understand it, You will use it for my good. You said in John 13:7 "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Thank you Lord for all You do for me, even if I do not understand it now. Amen
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Can We Really Know God?
Can we as mere mortals, really have knowledge of God? Back in ancient times the Children of Israel would not even say His name, Yahweh; they felt it an irreverence to be on such friendly terms as to call Him by name.
But Jesus changed all of that when He died on the Cross in our place, and rose from the grave so that we might have life everlasting. He wants us to know God. Here is what He told His disciples: "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)
With the thought I am writing of today, I am not thinking of finding out what God is like (we covered that a few months ago when I discussed some of God’s attributes). My concern today is that we have some knowledge of thinking rightly about God in our personal association. Jesus says that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father, and we are in Him. If we are so close to God as being one with Him, we should not be afraid of Him. In John 17 verses 20 through 26 Jesus is praying for each of us to know we are loved by God.
In I Corinthians 2 it is made clear that we have been given the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself (God) to us. I like the way verse 10 is written in "The Message" translation: "But you’ve seen and heard it because God by His Spirit has brought it all out into the open for you."
To get to know God, however, we must spend time with Him. You don’t get to know someone if you never speak to him or her. This only comes by being often and long with Him, reading the Word, praying. By doing this we learn to trust His dealings with us. Prayer is not coming to God to ask for favors, it is fellowship with Him until He actually has possession of us. When we actually ‘know’ our God, we will not even ask why, or ask about dark days, or ask for petty material things. We will just know God will bring all out according to His will. In John 14:1 Jesus says "Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on God;"
My Prayer: O Lord, I know of no greater pleasure than to be called Your friend, and to know that I have the Spirit within me to make known to me the things of the Father. May I be open to the Spirit, eager to learn, ready to receive all there is for me. With Paul, "I bow my knees"; yea, I even fall on my face before the Father, asking for an anointing of knowledge from the Spirit, and to know the love of Christ as a fire in my soul. Amen
A quote: "the Christian life is knowing God in a personal love-relationship"
But Jesus changed all of that when He died on the Cross in our place, and rose from the grave so that we might have life everlasting. He wants us to know God. Here is what He told His disciples: "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)
With the thought I am writing of today, I am not thinking of finding out what God is like (we covered that a few months ago when I discussed some of God’s attributes). My concern today is that we have some knowledge of thinking rightly about God in our personal association. Jesus says that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father, and we are in Him. If we are so close to God as being one with Him, we should not be afraid of Him. In John 17 verses 20 through 26 Jesus is praying for each of us to know we are loved by God.
In I Corinthians 2 it is made clear that we have been given the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself (God) to us. I like the way verse 10 is written in "The Message" translation: "But you’ve seen and heard it because God by His Spirit has brought it all out into the open for you."
To get to know God, however, we must spend time with Him. You don’t get to know someone if you never speak to him or her. This only comes by being often and long with Him, reading the Word, praying. By doing this we learn to trust His dealings with us. Prayer is not coming to God to ask for favors, it is fellowship with Him until He actually has possession of us. When we actually ‘know’ our God, we will not even ask why, or ask about dark days, or ask for petty material things. We will just know God will bring all out according to His will. In John 14:1 Jesus says "Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on God;"
My Prayer: O Lord, I know of no greater pleasure than to be called Your friend, and to know that I have the Spirit within me to make known to me the things of the Father. May I be open to the Spirit, eager to learn, ready to receive all there is for me. With Paul, "I bow my knees"; yea, I even fall on my face before the Father, asking for an anointing of knowledge from the Spirit, and to know the love of Christ as a fire in my soul. Amen
A quote: "the Christian life is knowing God in a personal love-relationship"
Monday, June 14, 2010
CROWNS
Man makes a lifetime of running around, trying to lay up for himself riches. Psalm 39:6 states: "…every man walks about like a shadow, he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them."
In Proverbs 27:24 it states "Riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations." Wow! That is a truism. I have just been reading II Kings and very seldom did a kingdom go from father to son, to son. Someone, maybe a Captain of the Guard, or an outside villain would have a ‘coup’ and kill the king, then take over the throne.
We may never receive a crown while here on earth. Some of us may never receive any kind of reward or medal for accomplishments or great leadership; but the Bible says there is a ‘crown’ waiting for each of God’s children when we get to Heaven. Paul states in II Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me the "Crown of Righteousness" which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing." So here we have a "Crown of Righteousness".
Another Crown we will receive is the "Crown of Life". James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the "Crown of Life" which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
In I Thess. 2:19 we hear about the "Crown of Rejoicing." In the KJV it is Crown of Rejoicing, and in the Amplified Version from which I have been studying lately, it is called "a Victor’s wreath of excellent triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming."
Here is one I am really looking forward to, found in I Peter 5:4 (KJV): "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a "Crown of Glory" that fadeth not away…"
The only reason we are able to even claim such crowns is because of the crown our Savior wore while here on earth, namely, the "Crown of Thorns". Matthew 27:29 states: "they plaited a ‘crown of thorns’, they put it on His head."
When I was in Israel we were shown the kind of thorny bush from which they took the branches to make the crown. The thorns were an inch, to an inch and a half long. These they twisted together and put on His head, no doubt forcing it down so the thorns pierced his skin.
When I think of the crown Jesus wore, knowing it was part of the curse He took for me, so that someday I can stand before Him wearing my "Crown of Righteousness", I feel so humbled, so very unworthy. How can anyone refuse to accept Him, knowing what He did for each of us.
My Prayer: The Crowns You give Your children, Lord, are incorruptible, they will last forever and ever. And these Crowns are mine only because of what you did on Calvary. I have done nothing to deserve them. You are so good! You are the Life in me! You are my All and my Salvation. Holy Lord, You are my treasure and it is at Your feet where I will lay down my heart and my crown! Amen
In Proverbs 27:24 it states "Riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations." Wow! That is a truism. I have just been reading II Kings and very seldom did a kingdom go from father to son, to son. Someone, maybe a Captain of the Guard, or an outside villain would have a ‘coup’ and kill the king, then take over the throne.
We may never receive a crown while here on earth. Some of us may never receive any kind of reward or medal for accomplishments or great leadership; but the Bible says there is a ‘crown’ waiting for each of God’s children when we get to Heaven. Paul states in II Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me the "Crown of Righteousness" which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing." So here we have a "Crown of Righteousness".
Another Crown we will receive is the "Crown of Life". James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the "Crown of Life" which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
In I Thess. 2:19 we hear about the "Crown of Rejoicing." In the KJV it is Crown of Rejoicing, and in the Amplified Version from which I have been studying lately, it is called "a Victor’s wreath of excellent triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming."
Here is one I am really looking forward to, found in I Peter 5:4 (KJV): "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a "Crown of Glory" that fadeth not away…"
The only reason we are able to even claim such crowns is because of the crown our Savior wore while here on earth, namely, the "Crown of Thorns". Matthew 27:29 states: "they plaited a ‘crown of thorns’, they put it on His head."
When I was in Israel we were shown the kind of thorny bush from which they took the branches to make the crown. The thorns were an inch, to an inch and a half long. These they twisted together and put on His head, no doubt forcing it down so the thorns pierced his skin.
When I think of the crown Jesus wore, knowing it was part of the curse He took for me, so that someday I can stand before Him wearing my "Crown of Righteousness", I feel so humbled, so very unworthy. How can anyone refuse to accept Him, knowing what He did for each of us.
My Prayer: The Crowns You give Your children, Lord, are incorruptible, they will last forever and ever. And these Crowns are mine only because of what you did on Calvary. I have done nothing to deserve them. You are so good! You are the Life in me! You are my All and my Salvation. Holy Lord, You are my treasure and it is at Your feet where I will lay down my heart and my crown! Amen
Monday, June 7, 2010
What is 'Faith'?
The definition of Faith from Webster's Dictionary is: "(a) unquestionable belief that does not require proof or evidence. (b) Complete trust, confidence, or reliance." Not too many of us can say that we even have this kind of Faith.
The following are some examples of Faith from the Bible.
1. Matthew 9:22 tells of the woman who touched Jesus garment, and He said, "thy faith hath made thee well."
2. Also in Matthew 9, verse 29, two blind men followed Jesus and He touched their eyes and said "according to your faith be it unto you."
3. Matthew 17:20 tells us that all we need is 'faith as a grain of mustard seed' to remove mountains, or the huge difficulties in our lives.
4. Mark 9:24 tells the story of the father whose son had been possessed by an evil spirit. The father cried to Jesus "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief."
5. Hebrews 11:6 says "without faith it is impossible to please Him."
As Christians, we seem to get the idea that if we have enough faith, we will be rewarded, and if things don't work out we didn't have enough faith. (i.e. a friend dying of cancer and having friends tell her she would be healed if she had more faith.) I know I have felt this way, and I have wept and prayed for more faith, saying "Lord, my faith is so weak, help me to have more faith, help my unbelief."
Some time ago I was reading the biography of Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission. He was a great man of God who gave his life to Christ for China, and to help in sending others to China. He was what we call "literally "living by faith." His Mission (CIM) also 'lived by faith'. Yet he never felt he had enough 'faith'. The more he would see the grace of Jesus, the more his helplessness increased. He felt he was burdened by the sin of unbelief in not being able to have faith enough for joy in the Lord. One day he received a letter from a fellow missionary who had been struggling with this same question. The missionary, John McCarthy, wrote of his struggling and what he had been learning. In short, he said he had found how to have his faith increased--by thinking of all that Jesus is and all He is for us, His life, His death, His work, He Himself as revealed to us in the Word, to be the subject of constant thoughts. Not a striving to have faith...but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need; and resting in the Loved One entirely, for time and for eternity. As Mr. Taylor read this he says he saw it all! Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One. If we believe not, he still abides faithful. Jesus has said "I will never leave thee."
This sounded like what I, myself, was looking for, but I still found myself struggling with this simple insight. I thought, "well that was good for Hudson Taylor and John McCarthy, they were both great men of God, and were so learned in the Scripture. I asked: "Lord, how do I have this faith? How do I feel this rest in You?" One morning during my devotions as I was reading and praying and, yes, weeping over this very question, the Lord seemed to give me a flash of a vision, (if I may call it such) but it was just enough for me to understand. I like to write down thoughts and insights that come to me, and this is what I wrote that morning:
"Dear Faithful Lord--It suddenly came to me! I have been trying for
weeks to grasp Hudson Taylor's insight of not struggling with "Faith" but to rest on the Faithful one. Just this morning as I was praying, I saw myself
lean over on Jesus and His arms went around me and I felt Peace. Now I
know, Lord, what he meant! Oh Jesus, thank you! Now I know--I who am
weak in my faith--have only to lean on and rest on You--the ever-faithful
one. This means literally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, just lean on
Jesus." Andrew Murray puts it this way: "Faith will find its strength..in the
changeless faithfulness and love of Christ." Amen
And I have proven this to be the key for me, when I am troubled or find I am fearful or doubting, I just visualize myself leaning over on Jesus--He is then between me and the problem, and I have peace.
This to me is FAITH.
The following are some examples of Faith from the Bible.
1. Matthew 9:22 tells of the woman who touched Jesus garment, and He said, "thy faith hath made thee well."
2. Also in Matthew 9, verse 29, two blind men followed Jesus and He touched their eyes and said "according to your faith be it unto you."
3. Matthew 17:20 tells us that all we need is 'faith as a grain of mustard seed' to remove mountains, or the huge difficulties in our lives.
4. Mark 9:24 tells the story of the father whose son had been possessed by an evil spirit. The father cried to Jesus "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief."
5. Hebrews 11:6 says "without faith it is impossible to please Him."
As Christians, we seem to get the idea that if we have enough faith, we will be rewarded, and if things don't work out we didn't have enough faith. (i.e. a friend dying of cancer and having friends tell her she would be healed if she had more faith.) I know I have felt this way, and I have wept and prayed for more faith, saying "Lord, my faith is so weak, help me to have more faith, help my unbelief."
Some time ago I was reading the biography of Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission. He was a great man of God who gave his life to Christ for China, and to help in sending others to China. He was what we call "literally "living by faith." His Mission (CIM) also 'lived by faith'. Yet he never felt he had enough 'faith'. The more he would see the grace of Jesus, the more his helplessness increased. He felt he was burdened by the sin of unbelief in not being able to have faith enough for joy in the Lord. One day he received a letter from a fellow missionary who had been struggling with this same question. The missionary, John McCarthy, wrote of his struggling and what he had been learning. In short, he said he had found how to have his faith increased--by thinking of all that Jesus is and all He is for us, His life, His death, His work, He Himself as revealed to us in the Word, to be the subject of constant thoughts. Not a striving to have faith...but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need; and resting in the Loved One entirely, for time and for eternity. As Mr. Taylor read this he says he saw it all! Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One. If we believe not, he still abides faithful. Jesus has said "I will never leave thee."
This sounded like what I, myself, was looking for, but I still found myself struggling with this simple insight. I thought, "well that was good for Hudson Taylor and John McCarthy, they were both great men of God, and were so learned in the Scripture. I asked: "Lord, how do I have this faith? How do I feel this rest in You?" One morning during my devotions as I was reading and praying and, yes, weeping over this very question, the Lord seemed to give me a flash of a vision, (if I may call it such) but it was just enough for me to understand. I like to write down thoughts and insights that come to me, and this is what I wrote that morning:
"Dear Faithful Lord--It suddenly came to me! I have been trying for
weeks to grasp Hudson Taylor's insight of not struggling with "Faith" but to rest on the Faithful one. Just this morning as I was praying, I saw myself
lean over on Jesus and His arms went around me and I felt Peace. Now I
know, Lord, what he meant! Oh Jesus, thank you! Now I know--I who am
weak in my faith--have only to lean on and rest on You--the ever-faithful
one. This means literally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, just lean on
Jesus." Andrew Murray puts it this way: "Faith will find its strength..in the
changeless faithfulness and love of Christ." Amen
And I have proven this to be the key for me, when I am troubled or find I am fearful or doubting, I just visualize myself leaning over on Jesus--He is then between me and the problem, and I have peace.
This to me is FAITH.
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