BLESS ME GOD

I will not let you go, if you do not bless me. Lord, take my strength, so that I may have peace, and that you may be at peace with me. For you woman, today I tell you how great your faith is; Then I also tell you to Be with you as you want, because as the Word says "According to your faith be done." But I also say to you, That you ask in faith, do not be anything hesitant. For the one who doubts is like the wave of the sea, which is stretched by the wind and thrown to where another wants. Because if you do not believe, then you will not receive anything from the Lord. Your prayer should be: Lord "I pray thee, if I have found grace in thine eyes, show me now thy way, that I may know thee." Surely the Lord will tell you, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Isaiah 27: 5. Matthew 15:28. Matthew 9:29. James 1: 6,7. Luke 24: 28,29,31,32. Exodus 33:13.

What Is The Real "Mission"?

Last night I was in the lovely home of a business executive and his wife. The furniture was tastefully appointed, expensive cars filled the driveway, maids scurried about. Impressive and enviable.

This attractive couple routinely host Bible studies, conduct all night prayer vigils, go on mission trips, and consistently lead people to Christ. They are generous with their resources beyond measure. Their commitment to Christ and His cause is without question.

These folks have it together, wouldn't you say? Sadly, the answer is "No". How is this possible?

The answer lies in the fact that they are failing in the most basic area of their lives: Their children.

In the home confusion reigns. The children are angry, flustered… disrespectful. There is constant jostling for control between parents and children. The decibel level is deafening.

Guests find it difficult to carry on conversation without being interrupted. Rather than a place of refuge, the home is a center for chaos and discord.

Involvement in God's work does not absolve us of parental responsibility as Eli, the priest discovered: "For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering." (1 Samuel 3:13-14)

Missionary stateswoman Helen Morken has sagaciously observed, "Many Christians have forsaken their children for the mission, living to see their children undo their mission, realizing too late that their children were the mission."

Paul reminds us that an elder "must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his household how will he take care of the church of God?)" (1 Timothy 3:4, 5)

The term "manage well" presents the idea of order, discipline, planning, superintending; of giving direction. Literally of "presiding with beauty or excellence."

The Christian husband and father is to lead his family with dignity. That is, he is to guide them with reverence, respect, gravity and sanctity. It is one thing to control one's family with harshness and cold directives, and quite another to lead with firm compassion.

It has been our observation that chronic behavioral problems are usually an indication of a failure in parenting —generally centering on the father's failure to lead his family in a Biblical manner.

May God help us to not miss it here!

End of the Age

Mat 13:36-46 KJ2000

(36)  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
(37)  He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man;
(38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
(39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
(40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
(41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
(42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
(44)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field;  which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
(45)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking fine pearls:
(46)  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

There is a curiosity here:  The disciples question him on this parable, but not the others.  Why?
It is faintly possible that they did not understand the parable.  But note that no one else followed Jesus to ask;  and the meaning as explained seems simple enough.

More likely it is this:  they wanted to know if he really meant it.  The direct, frightening consequences of this parable are indeed terrifying.  Jesus, in effect, says, "That's what I meant to tell you."

So what was it that so perturbed this disciples?  It was the ultimate reality of Christ himself:
The reality of the bodily resurrection.  It is so easy to "spiritualize" the resurrection into a non-event.  It is a frequent error, but it clearly cannot be derived from the Bible.  The teaching of the Bible and the early church was clear:  the dead shall rise in the body—to face the judgment.

The reality of the Judgment.  The Bible is also perfectly clear on this:  all will face their maker to receive what is due them for what they have done in this life.  They will face him in the body and be rewarded or punished as they deserve.  Mercy will be given to the merciful (Lord, make me the most merciful of men.)

The reality of Hell.  Almost all the teaching on the subject of Hell comes from our Lord himself.  Perhaps we would believe it from no other source.  But what would you have?  The righteousness of God demands the punishment of the unrepentant.  He is patient—but not forever.

The reality of eternal life.  For those who are written in the Book of Life, they shall have life indeed.  The description here is that they will "shine like the sun."  Perhaps this is literal, perhaps not;  whatever it is, it is glorious.

It is interesting to note that the sower is specifically identified to be the Son of Man.  In the humility of his first coming, Jesus has sown the seeds of eternal life for you and me.  But in his second coming, the reaping is done by the angels, for then he shall come in all his power and glory. 
The disciples questioned this.  Jesus made it explicit—to them, and to us.  Are you ready?

What communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14

Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. — Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Darkness hath blinded his eyes. — Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. — Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness

Ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

John 3:19. 1 Thessalonians 5:5. 1 John 2:11. Psalm 119:105. Psalm 74:20. 1 John 4:7,8. Proverbs 4:19,18. John 12:46. Ephesians 5:8.

Thou shall guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Psalm 73:24.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9.

Guide us through life; and when at last

We enter into rest,

Thy tender arms around us cast,

And fold us to Thy breast.

H. F. LYTE.

Go forth to meet the solemnities and to conquer the trials of existence, believing in a Shepherd of your souls. Then faith in Him will support you in duty, and duty firmly done will strengthen faith; till at last, when all is over here, and the noise and strife of the earthly battle fades upon your dying ear, and you hear, instead thereof, the deep and musical sound of the ocean of eternity, and see the lights of heaven shining on its waters still and fair in their radiant rest, your faith will raise the song of conquest, and in its retrospect of the life which has ended, and its forward glance upon the life to come, take up the poetic inspiration of the Hebrew king, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

STOPFORD A. BROOKE.

There shall no evil befall thee

Psalm 91:10.

Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 1:33.

I ask not, "Take away this weight of care;"

No, for that love I pray that all can bear,

And for the faith that whatsoe'er befall

Must needs be good, and for my profit prove,

Since from my Father's heart most rich in love,

And from His bounteous hands it cometh all.

C. J. P. SPITTA.

Be like the promontory, against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm, and tames the fury of the water around it. Unhappy am I, because this has happened to me? Not so, but happy am I, though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present, nor fearing the future. Will then this which has happened prevent thee from being just, magnanimous, temperate, prudent, secure against inconsiderate opinions and falsehood? Remember, too, on every occasion which leads thee to vexation to apply this principle: that this is not a misfortune, but that to bear it nobly is good fortune.

MARCUS ANTONINUS

God is faithful.

1 Corinthians 10:1

God is not a man that he should lie; neither the Son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? — The Lord sware and will not repent.

God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. — Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day — Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. — All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Numbers 23:19. Hebrews 7:21. Hebrews 6:17,18. 1 Peter 4:19. 2 Timothy 1:12. 1 Thessalonians 5:24. 2 Corinthians 1:20.

It All Starts Out So Innocently

---

• An intriguing plot
• A hilariously funny comedy
• A human interest story

So you settle back after a demanding day to take in a delicious experience in entertainment.

And then, almost imperceptibly, the off-color jokes emerge, seductive dress appears; questionable comments began sprinkling the dialogue. Four-letter words surface. Traditional or Biblical values are preempted, ignored, or mocked.

But you're into the story now, and so you rationalize:

• "The plot is so good… "
• "I've got to find out what happens… "
• "It's only a small part of the movie… just one or two brief scenes… "

As one whose life bears the stamp of Christ, how should you handle these situations?

Certainly in our battle for spiritual integrity we must consider such truths as:

"I will set no worthless thing before my eyes." (Psalm 101:3a)

"The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." (1 John 2:6)

We are compelled to ask, "Is this something in which Jesus would engage?"

So… if you tend to waffle when it comes to maintaining Biblical standards in the area of entertainment, why not carefully consider Philippians 4:8 and decide now just where you plan to draw the line the next time you are drawn into a compromising situation

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

The person who has determined to apply Biblically-based values to entertainment, should be prepared to incur the wrath or rejection of friends… especially from some who are professing Christians.

I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people

Psalm 85:8.

There is a voice, "a still, small voice" of love,

Heard from above;

But not amidst the din of earthly sounds,

Which here confounds;

By those withdrawn apart it best is heard,

And peace, sweet peace, breathes in each gentle word.

ANONYMOUS.

He speaketh, but it is with us to hearken or no. It is much, yea, it is everything, not to turn away the ear, to be willing to hearken, not to drown His voice. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." It is a secret, hushed voice, a gentle intercourse of heart to heart, a still, small voice, whispering to the inner ear. How should we hear it, if we fill our ears and our hearts with the din of this world, its empty tumult, its excitement, its fretting vanities, or cares, or passions, or anxieties, or show, or rivalries, and its whirl of emptinesses?

God hath called you unto his kingdom and glory

1 Thessalonians 2:12

My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, ... but now is my kingdom not from hence. — Expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. — Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. — I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; ... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. — Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. — Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Thy kingdom come.

John 18:36. Hebrews 10:13. Revelation 11:15. Revelation 5:10. Revelation 20:4. Matthew 13:43. Luke 12:32. Luke 22:29,30. Matthew 6:10.

He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little

Ecclesiasticus 19:1.

One finger's-breadth at hand will mar

A world of light in heaven afar,

A mote eclipse a glorious star,

An eyelid hide the sky.

J. KEBLE.

A single sin, however apparently trifling, however hidden in some obscure corner of our consciousness,—a sin which we do not intend to renounce,—is enough to render real prayer impracticable. A course of action not wholly upright and honorable, feelings not entirely kind and loving, habits not spotlessly chaste and temperate,—any of these are impassable obstacles. If we know of a kind act which we might, but do not intend to, perform,—if we be aware that our moral health requires the abandonment of some pleasure which yet we do not intend to abandon, here is cause enough for the loss of all spiritual power. F. P. COBBE.

It is astonishing how soon the whole conscience begins to unravel, if a single stitch drops; one little sin indulged makes a hole you could put your head through.CHARLES BUXTON

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die

Revelation 3:2

The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. — Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. — Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life. — The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand.

Blessed are they that keep His testimonies

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.—Matthew 4:10.

Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.—Psalm 119:2.

The comfort of a mind at rest

From every care Thou hast not blest;

A heart from all the world set free,

To worship and to wait on Thee.

A. L. WARING.

Resign every forbidden joy; restrain every wish that is not referred to His will; banish all eager desires, all anxiety. Desire only the will of God; seek Him alone, and you will find peace.

FRANCOIS DE LA MOTHE FENELON.

"I've been a great deal happier since I have given up thinking about what is easy and pleasant, and being discontented because I couldn't have my own will. Our life is determined for us; and it makes the mind very free when we give up wishing, and only think of bearing what is laid upon us, and doing what is given us to do."

GEORGE ELIOT.

The entrance of thy words giveth light

Psalm 119:130

This ... is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. — God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. — The Word was God. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. — If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. — Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. — Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

If you want an antidote for loneliness, here it is

“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 NIV).

There is no place that you can go where God’s love isn’t. You’ll never be separated from God’s love.

Nothing — no circumstance, no situation — can separate you, because God’s love is everywhere: “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 8:39 NIV).

If you want an antidote for loneliness, here it is: You will never be separated from God’s love. The fact is, we do lose loved ones. Even if you’re married, one of you is going to die first, and you will grieve over that.

But if you’re a Christian, God is with you always and forever. You can look to his love for you whenever you feel lonely.  I’m not talking about religion. I’m talking about a relationship with Jesus Christ. His love lasts forever, and his love is everywhere.

Every day you need to give yourself entirely to God.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

— Jeremiah 1:5

Every day you need to give yourself entirely to God. Say, "Lord, I am Yours. I want to be a vessel fit for Your use. I dedicate myself to You: I give You my hands, my mouth, my mind, my body, my money, and my time. Father, here I am. I am Yours; do with me whatever You want to do today."

Once you dedicate yourself to God, then go on about your business. But expect His leading all day long. Listen for His voice to direct you in the way you should go. Accept the challenge to be an instrument for the Lord's use today.

What is your life?

What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James 4:14

My days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. — Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep ... in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up: in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. — Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. — They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. — Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Job 9:25,26. Psalm 90:5,6. Job 14:2. 1 John 2:17. Psalm 102:26,27. Hebrews 13:8.

The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is

Exodus 20:11

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. — By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. — Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 19:1. Psalm 33:6,9. Isaiah 40:15. Hebrews 11:3. Psalm 8:3,4.

Perfect through sufferings

Hebrews 2:10

My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. — And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. — Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. — I looked on my right hand, and behold, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and a acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Matthew 26:38,39. Luke 22:44. Psalm 116:3. Psalm 69:20. Psalm 142:4. Isaiah 53:3.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Forasmuch ... as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. — In Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace. — By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. — He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 2:14. Isaiah 45:22. 1 John 2:1. Ephesians 2:13,14. Hebrews 9:12,15. Hebrews 7:25.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.—Numbers 6:24-26.

O Love, how cheering is Thy ray!

All pain before Thy presence flies;

Care, anguish, sorrow, melt away,

Where'er Thy healing beams arise.

O Father, nothing may I see,

Nothing desire, or seek, but Thee.

P. GERHARDT.

There is a faith in God, and a clear perception of His will and designs, and providence, and glory, which gives to its possessor a confidence and patience and sweet composure, under every varied and troubling aspect of events, such as no man can realize who has not felt its influences in his own heart. There is a communion with God, in which the soul feels the presence of the unseen One, in the profound depths of its being, with a vivid distinctness and a holy reverence, such as no words can describe. There is a state of union with God, I do not say often reached, yet it has been attained in this world, in which all the past and present and future seem reconciled, and eternity is won and enjoyed; and God and man, earth and heaven, with all their mysteries, are apprehended in truth as they lie in the mind of the Infinite.

SAMUEL D. ROBBINS.

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:25,26

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. — The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. — The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies sake. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee. — Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. — Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

John 1:18. Hebrews 1:3 2 Corinthians 4:4. Psalm 31:16,17. Psalm 30:7. Psalm 89:15. Psalm 29:11. Matthew 14:27.

The living God giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; ... then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God: ... for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. — They got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them — There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Deuteronomy 8:11,12,14,18. Psalm 127:1,2. Psalm 44:3. Psalm 4:6.

Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back

Isaiah 38:17

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for- ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with ever-lasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. — I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. — The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Micah 7:18,19. Isaiah 54:7,8. Jeremiah 31:34. Psalm 32:1,2. 1 John 1:7.

My times are in thy hand

Psalm 31:15 

All his saints are in thy hand. — The word of the Lord came unto Elijah, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before JorDaniel And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. And the word of the Lord can unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. — Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.

Deuteronomy 33:3. 1 Kings 17:24,8,9. Matthew 6:25,32. Proverbs 3:5,6. 1 Peter 5:7. —Daily Light on the Daily Path

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Matthew 27:46

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; ... the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all ... For the transgression of my people was he stricken ... It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.

Jesus our Lord ... was delivered for our offences. — Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. — Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

Isaiah 53:5,6,8,10. Romans 4:24,25. 1 Peter 3:18. 1 Peter 2:24. 2 Corinthians 5:21. Galatians 3:13.

He preserveth the way of his saints.

He preserveth the way of his saints.

Proverbs 2:8

The Lord your God ... went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. — As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him. — The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. — Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. — For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. — We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. — With us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy.

Deuteronomy 1:32,33. Deuteronomy 32:11,12. Psalm 37:23,24. Psalm 34:19. Psalm 1:6. Romans 8:28. 2 Chronicles 32:8. Zephaniah 3:17.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

1 John 3:3.

Now, Lord, what wait I for?

On Thee alone

My hope is all rested,—

Lord, seal me Thine own!

Only Thine own to be,

Only to live to Thee.

Thine, with each day begun,

Thine, with each set of sun,

Thine, till my work is done.

ANNA WARNER.

Now, believe me, God hides some ideal in every human soul. At some time in our life we feel a trembling, fearful longing to do some good thing. Life finds its noblest spring of excellence in this hidden impulse to do our best. There is a time when we are not content to be such merchants or doctors or lawyers as we see on the dead level or below it. The woman longs to glorify her womanhood as sister, wife, or mother…Here is God,—God standing silently at the door all day long,—God whispering to the soul, that to be pure and true is to succeed in life, and whatever we get short of that will burn up like stubble, though the whole world try to save it.

ROBERT COLLYER.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.—Hebrews 13:16.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.—1 John 3:11.

Be useful where thou livest, that they may

Both want and wish thy pleasing presence still.

…Find out men's wants and will,

And meet them there. All worldly joys go less

To the one joy of doing kindnesses.

G. HERBERT.

Let the weakest, let the humblest remember, that in his daily course he can, if he will, shed around him almost a heaven. Kindly words, sympathizing attentions, watchfulness against wounding men's sensitiveness,—these cost very little, but they are priceless in their value. Are they not almost the staple of our daily happiness? From hour to hour, from moment to moment, we are supported, blest, by small kindnesses.

F. W. ROBERTSON.

Small kindnesses, small courtesies, small considerations, habitually practised in our social intercourse, give a greater charm to the character than the display of great talents and accomplishments.

M. A. KELTY.

—Daily Strength for Daily Needs

Should I Fight or be Still?

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! (Psalms 119:4)

Do you often find yourself confused, unsure of how to best live according to God’s will? This is a struggle for me. Should I speak or stay silent? Will this action offend or edify? Is this a time for action or inaction? Should I fight? Or should I stay still?

Though every situation is different and every person unique, the Bible paints both stillness and action as pleasing to the LORD, depending on the variables at hand.

One example is when the Israelites were fleeing from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The LORD had fought for them in Egypt by displaying horrors and miracles through Aaron and Moses. Finally their oppressors relented and the Israelites were free – but not for long. Pharaoh changed his mind, and Exodus tells the account of their suspenseful chase after the newly freed slaves. “What have you done to us?” the people cried to Moses (Exodus 14:11). They knew there was nothing they could do to protect themselves from the mighty King of Egypt.

But then God made his will known through Moses. No, the Israelites would not be able to defeat Pharaoh.

But the LORD did not ask them to.

“The LORD will fight for you,” Moses proclaimed. “You need only to be still.”

But there are other times, are there not? Times when we have the choice to stretch out our hands to either right or wrong, and there is no in-between.  Paul writes to Timothy,

“But you, man of God…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11-12).

Sometimes we must fight. And make no mistake; this is not a direct call to fist-fights or military service. It is a direct command to use the Ephesians 6:10. We must fight to keep righteousness in our own lives, refusing choices which lead to sin and death. We must fight for love, which means making really hard choices and overcoming our natural selfish inclinations. We must fight for endurance, keeping promises, covenants, and our integrity in a way worthy of Christ Jesus.

Sometimes God calls us to fight, and sometimes he tells us to be still. How can we decipher it?

Sometimes it will be hard. But from these passages, I would risk saying that God knows when we are facing a foe that’s too big for us. Sometimes we ache and long to fight, but we know the battle is beyond us, out of our hands. It is those times we must remember that God is a God of the weak, the poor, and the broken. The LORD will fight for you. You need only to be still.

Other times we can and must fight. When we are faced with injustice, and we have some measure of control, we must fight for the small ones. When we are faced with personal crises, we must fight for our children, parents, marriages, relationships, churches – not against them. We must use every weapon in our spiritual arsenals to build the Kingdom of God and protect it from the ever-watchful forces of darkness. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance. Fight the good fight.

Intersecting Faith and Life: What are you struggling with now in your life, or your walk with the LORD? Spend some time in prayer to see whether God wants you to fight, or lay down your weapons and give the battle to him.

Futher Reading:

Ephesians 6:10

Exodus 14:1

Hebrews 12:3

by Debbie Holloway, Crosswalk

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/

The Dross Purged

"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." Zech. 13:9

Grace transmutes us into precious metal, and then the fire and the furnace follow as a necessary consequence. Do we start at this? Would we sooner be accounted worthless, that we might enjoy repose, like the stones of the field? This would be to choose the viler part: like Esau, to take the pottage, and give up the covenant portion. No, Lord; we will gladly be cast into the furnace rather than be cast out from thy presence!

The fire only refines, it does not destroy. We are to be brought through the fire, not left in it. The Lord values His people as silver, and therefore He is at pains to purge away their dross. If we are wise, we shall rather welcome the refining process than decline it. Our prayer will be that our alloy may be taken from us rather than that we should be withdrawn from the crucible.

O Lord, thou triest us indeed! We are ready to melt under the fierceness of the flame. Still, this is thy way, and thy way is the best. Sustain us under the trial and complete the process of our purifying, and we will be thine for ever and ever.
—Faith's Checkbook

Return From Backsliding

"If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up Job 22:23

Eliphaz, in this utterance, spoke a great truth, which is the summary of many an inspired Scripture. Reader, has sin pulled you down? Have you become like a ruin? Has the hand of the Lord gone out against you, so that in estate you are impoverished, and in Spirit you are broken down? Was it your own folly which brought upon you all this dilapidation? Then the first thing to be done is to return to the Lord. With deep repentance and sincere faith find your way back from your backsliding. It is your duty, for you have turned away from Him whom you professed to serve. It is your wisdom, for you cannot strive against Him and prosper. It is your immediate necessity, for what He has done is nothing compared to what He may do in the way of chastisement, since He is Almighty to punish.

See what a promise invites you! You shall be "built up." None but the Almighty can set up the fallen pillars, and restore the tottering walls of your condition; but He can and He will do it if you return to Him. Do not delay. Your crushed mind may quite fail you if you go on to rebel; but hearty confession will ease you, and humble faith will console you. Do this, and all will be well.

How Are You Going About The Work Of God?

By:

• Hurried busy activity?
• Inner striving for perfection?
• Fastidious attention to standards of performance?

This is not God's way:

"DON'T BE [MORBIDLY EXACTING AND EXTERNALLY] RIGHTEOUS OVERMUCH, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise – why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?" (Ecclesiastes 7:16 – Amplified)

Someone has said, "Woe to the nervous activity of those of little faith."

Jesus' life was characterized by restful determination in accomplishing the work of God. Never in a hurry, He was poised, natural… purposeful.

And so it should be with us: "There remains… a… rest for the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9)

The real work of God is done behind the scenes during private times of reflection upon His Word, worship, intercession, and pondering His eternal purposes. Then, sensing and moving with the inner prompting of the Spirit.

Gutzon Borglum commented, "When I carve a statue, it is very simple. I merely cut away the pieces that don't belong there and the statue itself presently comes into view. It was there all the time."

The life of Jesus Christ waits within us to find full expression through us in accomplishing His work. We can nervously hammer away at getting Him out… or we can rest as He cuts "away the pieces that don't belong there."

"For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose." (Philippians 2:13 – Phillips Translation)

"When I see the blood, I will pass over you

"When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Exod. 12:13

My own sight of the precious blood is for my comfort; but it is the Lord's sight of it which secures my safety. Even when I am unable to behold it, the Lord looks at it, and passes over me because of it. If I am not so much at ease as I ought to be, because my faith is dim, yet I am equally safe, because the Lord's eye is not dim, and He sees the blood of the great Sacrifice with steady gaze. What a joy is this!

The Lord sees the deep inner meaning, the infinite fullness of all that is meant by the death of His dear Son. He sees it with restful memory of justice satisfied, and all His matchless attributes glorified. He beheld creation in its progress, and said, "It is very good"; but what does He say of redemption in its completeness? What does He say of the obedience even unto death of His Well-beloved Son? None can tell His delight in Jesus, His rest in the sweet savor which Jesus presented when He offered Himself without spot unto God.

Now rest we in calm security. We have God's Sacrifice and God's Word to create in us a sense of perfect security. He will, He must, pass over us, because He spared not our glorious Substitute. Justice joins hands with love to provide everlasting salvation for all the blood-besprinkled ones.

Search me, O God, and know my heart

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.—Psalm 139:23, 24.

Save us from the evil tongue,

From the heart that thinketh wrong,

From the sins, whate'er they be,

That divide the soul from Thee.

ANON.

Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these: for instance, that where a man can live, there he can also live well. But he must live in a palace: well, then, he can also live well in a palace.

MARCUS ANTONINUS.

Who is there that sets himself to the task of steadily watching his thoughts for the space of one hour, with the view of preserving his mind in a simple, humble, healthful condition, but will speedily discern in the multiform, self-reflecting, self-admiring emotions, which, like locusts, are ready to "eat up every green thing in his land," a state as much opposed to simplicity and humility as night is to day?

M. A. KELTY.

Blessed Are the Meek

 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(Mat 5:5 KJ2000)


J. Paul Getty had a rejoinder to this.  "The meek shall inherit the earth," he said, "but not the mineral rights."  Without knowing it, he has given us the key to understanding this passage. 

Getty was once asked how much money was "enough."  His answer was simply, "More."  In this attitude we see the world's view of "who wins."  The winners are the powerful, the strong, those who can take what they want.  The purpose of life is to accumulate more and more possessions.  But then what?

Our Lord gives us a very different view.  He says the meek shall inherit the earth.  But just who are the meek?

The word can also be translated "gentle."  So at the very least these are not those who are the pushy and aggressive so favored by our modern thought.

The word is sometimes rendered "humble."  Remember that the Bible tells us that Moses was a humble man, so humility is not the opposite of greatness.

Humility starts with an honest evaluation of yourself—by the standards of God.  Things look different from that viewpoint.

Because pride does not cloud their view, the meek can discern what is good, and what is evil—and choose wisely.

Meekness carries with it the ability to withstand evil—not with the weapons of the world, but with patient endurance.  The storm may lash the rock, but it remains a rock when the storm is gone.
The meek are those whose actions are governed by a love of God, and their fellow men. 
At the very least these are the kind of people who will enjoy this earth much more while they are here—for they are not concerned with scraping more of it into their back pockets.  Getty was a man who was owned by his mineral rights.

The key to this passage is in the verb—"inherit."  You do not earn an inheritance, it is given to you.  So if you go out to conquer the earth, you cannot inherit it.  But if you remain among the meek, our Lord promises that you shall inherit it.  The day of the New Heaven and New Earth will see new owners evidently—the meek shall then inherit.  It is good to know that they will enjoy this planet much more while they're waiting for it, as well.

Those Who Mourn

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(Mat 5:4 KJ2000)


Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  It sounds like one of the paradoxes of the Bible.  How can mourning be a blessing?

Perhaps it depends upon what you are mourning for:

Most of the scholars of the Bible will quickly point out to you that Christians are commanded to mourn—to have "godly sorrow" - for their sins.  This is a step in the process of repentance.  It is to recognize that you have done wrong, and feel genuinely sorry that you did.  All of us are familiar with the "I'm sorry" of a small child, who is usually sorry that he got caught.  This is the sorrow of one who means it.  It is an art that needs practice!  But consider what happens when you do it.  God, the Almighty, the Just Judge, hears your advocate in heaven, Jesus the Christ, and agrees with his plea for mercy toward you.  Think about it this way:  how do you feel when the traffic cop says, "I'm going to let you off with a warning this time?"  God's comfort is even greater.  In Him you are completely forgiven.

Sometimes we mourn for our circumstances.  We consider our lot in life and say, "Poor me!"  So often when this happens it drives us to our knees in prayer and back to God.  But this is good!  If I could sell you a magic potion that would bring you closer to God, it would be worth a fortune.  But it seems that your troubles already are doing this, at no charge.  Take those troubles to him in prayer, and receive the sweet comfort only God can give.

The word "mourning" is often associated with death.  We say that someone is "in mourning" for the loss of a loved one.  But even here there is comfort from God.  If this loved one trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, you have the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the dead—and what a grand and glorious day that will be!

Mourning has the virtue that it drives out all other emotions, and keeps us from much that is sinful.  It is the starting point of self-denial.  It is also a method of getting clear touch with reality.  As often as we deceive ourselves about sin, circumstance and death, mourning is our friend to bring us back to a clear view of the truth.  To this our Lord adds the blessing of God, that you might know that he works all things together for the good of his children.  

words for the humbling of God's people

"Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?" Ezekiel 15:2

These words are for the humbling of God's people; they are called God's vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God's goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord hath trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to His glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them? O believer, learn to reject pride, seeing that thou hast no ground for it. Whatever thou art, thou hast nothing to make thee proud. The more thou hast, the more thou art in debt to God; and thou shouldst not be proud of that which renders thee a debtor. Consider thine origin; look back to what thou wast. Consider what thou wouldst have been but for divine grace. Look upon thyself as thou art now. Doth not thy conscience reproach thee? Do not thy thousand wanderings stand before thee, and tell thee that thou art unworthy to be called His son? And if He hath made thee anything, art thou not taught thereby that it is grace which hath made thee to differ? Great believer, thou wouldst have been a great sinner if God had not made thee to differ. O thou who art valiant for truth, thou wouldst have been as valiant for error if grace had not laid hold upon thee. Therefore, be not proud, though thou hast a large estate—a wide domain of grace, thou hadst not once a single thing to call thine own except thy sin and misery. Oh! strange infatuation, that thou, who hast borrowed everything, shouldst think of exalting thyself; a poor dependent pensioner upon the bounty of thy Saviour, one who hath a life which dies without fresh streams of life from Jesus, and yet proud! Fie on thee, O silly heart!

Commit thy works unto the Lord

Then said I, Lo, I come.to do Thy will, O God.—Hebrews 10:7.

Commit thy works unto the Lord.—Proverbs 16:3.

Oh, let Thy wisdom be my guide,

Nor take Thy light from me away;

Thy grace be ever at my side,

That from Thy path I may not stray;

But, feeling that Thy hand is o'er me,

In steadfast faith my course fulfill,

And keep Thy word, and do Thy will,

Thy love within, Thy heaven before me!

Wolfgang C. Dessler.

I come to do Thy will, O God." That is what we are here for,—to do God's will. That is the object of your life and mine,—to do God's will. Any of us can tell in a moment whether our lives are right or not. Are we doing God's will? We do not mean, are we doing God's work?—preaching, or teaching, or collecting money,—but God's will. A man may think he is doing God's work when he is not even doing God's will. And a man may be doing God's work and God's will quite as much by hewing stones, or sweeping streets, as by preaching or praying. So the question means just this, are we working out our common every-day life on the great lines of God's will?

Henry Drummond.

A Reason Ignored

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of invalid folk, of blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, who had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been now a long time in that condition, he said unto him, Will you be made whole? The invalid man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me. Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and that same day was the sabbath.
(John 5:1-9. KJ2000)


Some background is necessary to understand the story.  The more modern translations leave out the explanations which do not occur in the oldest manuscripts.  While this is proper handling of the Scriptures, it does leave out something which helps us understand.  The man was waiting for the "stirring of the water."  It was believed, evidently with good cause, that an angel stirred the water.  When this happened, the first person in the pool was healed of whatever diseases he had.

The man is a sweet commentary on the subject of faith.  First, consider how long he has been coming to the pool—thirty eight years.  That is persistence!  It is also evidence of faith in God, and faith in as much action as he can manage.  So we see the value of keeping the faith.


Evidently the man who is healed has no real idea just who Jesus might be.  It is clear that he does not completely understand the one to whom he is speaking.  It is also clear that he doesn't need to, for the power is in Jesus, not in man.  This is a comfort to those who struggle with issues of doctrine.  We should make our doctrine as sound as we can—but the ultimate authority is not our understanding but his holy power.

The man also shows a common characteristic of Christians at prayer today:  he tells God how to solve the problem.  The Great Healer asks him a question—and he doesn't answer it.  He explains instead that the problem is a lack of a porter, or at least a swift one.  How often we tell God just how to solve our problems, instead of  leaving the solution to the one who knows best!

God's response to such is often like this instance.  He does not explain anything;  he commands.  Explanation may come after obedience, but not before.  God is not accountable to us.  He need not negotiate.  But when he commands, the issue becomes entirely clear.  We can obey, or we can refuse.  If we obey, we acknowledge God as the one who knows best and has all power to accomplish his plan.  If we refuse, we tell him that we have a better idea.

This man hears the voice of command.  Note that our Lord gives him a positive action to perform—so that he will know for certain that the matter is settled.  The lame man's response is a model for us.  With no further discussion he picked up his mat and walked.  Perhaps the reason our prayers seem to be unanswered is that we are not willing to pick up the mat—trusting our Lord to deliver what he promises as we do.

Fishers of Men

Mat 4:18-22



And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets, and followed him. And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.




What is the purpose of your life? 

Do you go to work each day, longing for the weekend, and spend the weekend being bored until Monday brings meaning again?  There is no profit in this.  Yet it is the way of life, and eventually death, for most of us.

In that boredom we admire those who have a real purpose in their lives.  We think highly of Mother Theresa—with no wish to follow in her steps.  We want the call to high and holy things, but not the work that attends it.

Christ makes the opposite call to his innermost disciples here.  It is significant here what Christ does not offer:

He shows them no miracles—nothing to dazzle their minds with the promise of magic.

He offers them no promise of reward—nothing to tempt their wallets or their pride.

He offers them only the work—the high, holy calling of hard work, being the fishers of men.

Nothing high, nothing holy, nothing adventurous or glamorous—just the hard work of the kingdom.  He knew his workmen, did Jesus.  Look at their reaction:

They left everything—nets (the tools of the trade), boats (the repository of their wealth) and even their families.

The left all this—at once.  Immediately.  There was no debate, no looking back. 

There is the measure of the men whom Christ called.  Were they really capable of bearing the load?  Not without the Holy Spirit—but they were capable of trying.  The dangers ahead might have chilled their enthusiasm, but their response is one that says that danger does not matter.  All that matters is the call, and their response to it.

There it is.  There are no half measures in the kingdom of God.  You are in, or you are not.  If you are, there is no debate with your Lord and Master over the terms of service.  The terms of service are simple, expressed in two words:  "Follow Me."  Brains, wealth, education, talent, ability—these mean nothing to the Creator of all things.  All that matters is your response to two simple words:  "Follow Me."