Sonsofthesea.org

"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Category: Relationship (Page 17 of 17)

Governed by God. Romans 9:11-12.

January 18, 2020 /
“But before the two sons were born, God told Rebecca, “The older son will serve the younger.” This was before the boys had done anything good or bad. God said this before they were born so that the boy he wanted would be chosen because of God’s own plan. He was chosen because he was the one God wanted to call, not because of anything the boys did.”

“I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite sure that if God had not chosen me I should never have chosen him; and I am sure he chose me before I was born, or else he never would have chosen me afterwards; and he must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why” ~Charles Spurgeon.

According to Strong’s Concordance, one of several meanings or values of the name/title of Israel is, ‘governed by God.’ We see the burgeoning beginnings of what being governed by Him, selected in Him, what His plans and timing might appear as, here in the 9th chapter of the Book of Romans. We hear of Isaac here, again. This child promised Father Abraham, the one in whom the covenant is forever sealed. We learn that he marries Rebekah and from their union, Jacob and Esau are born. Paul uses these two sons to bear out his teaching—confirming for us, God’s freedom of selection. Paul also uses God’s Words to Moses as a statement of surety regarding His fairness in the selection of whom it is He so chooses to enter into a relationship with—reveal the Truth of Himself to…

But what does being selected by God mean? What does this term ‘election’ or being ‘God’s elect’ mean for us today? I’ve heard it defined as, and have come to understand it for myself, as best as my finite mind will allow, this way: Put simply, ‘being one of the elect is the result of an act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved.’ Our election is unconditional, an act of God’s pure mercy—meaning there isn’t one thing we can do, no amount of good works we can perform nor foreseen faith we’ll possess that can ever earn election for us. Our election depends on God’s choosing us in Himself.  That said, Paul makes clear to us however, that even though our election is given us freely, that does not free us of our responsibility to obey God. No license to presume upon His mercy and grace. We should never treat our election casually. More, neither should those who have yet to be called by Him say, as if they know God’s mind, His plans for their life, “Well, I don’t believe that I am one of these, God’s elect, so I don’t have to obey His commands! ” One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will? “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” –Romans 9:19-20.

Saved and unsaved alike have been crafted for His use from the same fallen lump of clay. Election and responsibility exist hand-in-hand in the Word of God. God offers this mercy to everyone; therefore none are free from the knowledge of this mercy, nor the consequence of willfully ignoring it. “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” –Revelation 22:17. And again, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” –Acts 17:30. That’s pretty plain. He also makes this plain for us in this 9th chapter of Romans “So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God’s mercy” –9:16.

In fact, the entirety of Romans chapter 9 steadily breaks down what being governed by God means to God—and for us. In this chapter, we witness Paul pivot, breaking away from the time he has spent methodically convincing us, in the previous 8 chapters, of ‘God’s glorious provision in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.’  Here in this 9th chapter, and continuing on through chapter 11, Paul begins both to pose and answer a variety of questions concerning Israel’s relationship with God and what that means for all believers—Jew and gentile alike. He reminds us that Abraham had many children. Being Abraham’s descendant doesn’t mean you are a child of the covenant—one of those God recognizes as His own. (Has Israel missed Jesus altogether? What does God have to say about Israel and His plan for them? And, finally, what does this say to you and me today about our hope and standing in Christ?) Little by little in this chapter, Paul chips away at any doubts we may hold as to the legitimacy and Sovereignty of God’s ‘sure election’ concerning both Israel and us—His elect.

So now, using the foundation of Romans 9 as our springboard, to say nothing of the various additional scriptures which confirm God’s Sovereign election; John 6:44 or John 1:12-13. Eph. 1:4-5 or 2 Thess. 2:13.  And then there is 2 Timothy 1:9; among numerous others, I could choose to spend the remainder of our time together today attempting to delve into the heady, incomprehensible depths of why it is we either have been or soon will be, selected to receive salvation through God’s sovereign choosing of us. A question which, regardless of which way we might twist or turn it, will come away with no greater depth of understanding than that which God has already provided us in His Word, and through the revelation of His Holy Spirit testifying within us. Unless that is, He so chooses to share His heart with us personally. We must never presume to think we know with certainty, all that God might reveal to us. In addition, I could have also sorted through each of the various scholars’ inputs and explanations in an attempt to eke out some hidden bit of knowledge I have failed to offer you. However, truth be told, I would be attempting to swim in waters that, I humbly confess, are far deeper than my shallow understanding of this mystery of God’s decision to reveal Himself to us would allow me to safely venture into.

Instead, if you’ll indulge me, I will share with you how God, once again, pierced my heart that He might re-mind me of just how personal—how individual and intimate, His selection of us is. How precise His timing…

Allow me to preface what I am about to share in the hope that I might encourage you, be an answer to your questioning, and perhaps, confirm God’s voice speaking to you in a new and unique way. I am not a person who believes that there is some hidden meaning—some sign or deep divine mystery in every blowing of the wind. I consider myself to be a relatively grounded believer. Daily, after I have prayed that I don’t miss anything God has for me that day, I go about my day poised, expectant, wholly trusting God to open my eyes and ears to what it is He’ll have me to see and hear. That said, however, I have also been walking with God long enough to know that He is in fact, enmeshed, inseparably intertwined in everything around me. I am not that one who is so firmly planted in this world that I am not able, when He calls, to leave it behind and follow him up into the high places.

As Elizabeth Barrett Browning so aptly wrote: Earth’s crammed with beauty, and every common bush afire with God. But only he who sees takes off his shoes…

I began noticing the numbers 9:11 on the clock with steady regularity. After several months of this, I knew it was not by chance—the regularity of seeing these particular numbers, again and again, meant something. And since I didn’t want to miss out on whatever that something may be, I began to research. I was led to an article on biblical numbers and it was there, months and months after the first sighting of these numbers, that the reason behind their being repeatedly shown to me was finally realized. They were a confirmation. A road map that would eventually lead me to page 911 in the bible. Once there, I read the closing verses of Romans 9 which then drew me instantly to its beginning titled; “God’s Selection of Israel”. The very chapter in which Paul teaches us about election. My heart soon recognized God had, once again, just passed by me. Confirming His great love and divine providence over my life. This was revealed to me at an hour when I was about to walk out of a time of great testing that has lasted well over a year and a half. I could feel the Lord assuring me that just as He had chosen Israel, and has not failed to keep His promise to them—so too it is with me. I too am one of the many children promised Father Abraham thousands of years ago! This was God, yet again, making His election of me so very personal. I have been awed by His most recent revelation since. In addition, within days of this revelation, I received the fulfillment of a promise I had been waiting well over a year and a half for. God’s timing is perfect beloved. Yet I was not shown these numbers, was not led to this chapter, this teaching for myself alone, no. I was led here for you too beloved. To encourage you and re-mind you that “Sometimes we have to let our dreams go in order to allow God to bring them back to us – in his way and his timing.” …

God is perfect in every way and, He will use whatsoever He chooses to communicate His love and plans for our lives—we need only be open to receiving them—however they may come.

Friend, in an age when Christianity is under attack and faith is seen as something superstitious and foolish—something needed only by the weak and desperate; seek God anyway. Put Him first in your life. Invite Him in—make room for the possibility that He really does exist, does love you and wants to spend time with you. Choose to believe He loves you and has a plan for your life, despite what the naysayers might say. And please, don’t turn away from a relationship with God because religion has failed you. God is not a religion; He is a person who loves you. Here is the assurance He gives you dear friend, if you’ll but ask Him into your life and trust Him to do what you’ve been unable to: “For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” –1 Corinthians 1:27. And again Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” –Revelation 3:20.

And for you, my fellow believers, don’t ignore what very well may be the voice of God calling you to trust Him more completely, follow His leading of you more closely, all because you casually dismiss its un-usual tone as a mere ‘coincidence’. There is no such thing for you and I. God does not randomly waste His time. If it’s showing up in your life repeatedly my brothers’ and sisters, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you whatever the meaning behind ‘it’ is. He is faithful and true and will always confirm His Word. “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” –Isaiah 30:21.

Always On My Mind. Isaiah 43.

November 2, 2019 /
“But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity];
I have called you by name; you are Mine!”

The Lord remembers the bonds which unite us to himself even when we forget them; he recollects his eternal love, and all the deeds of mercy that have flowed from it. Though our memory is treacherous, and our faith is feeble, “yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself;” blessed be his holy name! –Charles Spurgeon

Man’s profession of love has been the impetus behind countless love songs and verses of poetry. Odes have been written and country rivers cried as a result of its birth, and death. But its genesis, its heart, its very Lifeblood is found in God’s love for man from eternity past. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life –Psalm 42:8. Long before He stood over the dark void God knew us, called us His beloved. His was the first love song ever written. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing —Zephaniah 3:17. God’s absolute love for us runs so deep, is so profoundly intimate, complete and everlasting, it ensures we, His beloved, will always possess a place in the Father’s heart. He gave His firstborn, our Lord, as a ransom to ensure that fact. Jesus paid the sin debt we owed that our loving Father might have all of His children gathered about  Him—eternally. Mark Lauterbach describes this radiant beauty of God singing over us like this: He sings over those for whom he has removed his judgments (verse 15). He sings over a rebelling people, who have been restored. He sings over a people who have no righteousness in themselves. He sings over those who have every reason to fear the face of God, not desire it. Scripture resounds with God’s singing His songs of love, deliverance, and redemption over us. Wooing us with a pledge of unfaltering, and endless love. The guarantee of that love sealed, for all eternity, in the shed Blood of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus.

 “Think of the great Jehovah singing! Can you imagine it? Is it possible to conceive of the Deity breaking into a song: Father, Son and Holy Ghost together singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which he bears to his people that he breaks the eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy.” (Spurgeon)

Before Father Abraham saw the smoking firepot and the flaming torch pass between the blood path of the slain carcasses, he’d laid side by side in obedience to Lord, God’s love and providential care of His elect had long been established. In the lifeblood of each of these animals, we witness the prophetic; the Blood of Jesus, yet to be shed. The fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham in the death of His only Son, Jesus, our Messiah. –Genesis 15:7-20.  The only One worthy to be offered once, for all—for the sins of the whole world. In Him is found every tribe and nation

Remember though, that the first glimpse of this Blood—His Blood, is witnessed in the garden. Those animals whose blood was shed that their skins might be used to cover the sin-stained bodies of Adam and Eve. Their blood is our first glimpse of that One whose Blood actually sealed this covenant God made with Abraham. Abraham had done nothing to earn Gods saving grace, His mercy, and promises of protection and provision. God alone chose Abraham, just as He chose each of us. He alone established the covenant promise with Abraham, and, God alone is the only One who can fulfill the terms of His covenant. He alone is God. He alone is able…

Before Jesus stood over the dark void and spoke one Word, His elect had already been sealed in Him – Ephesians 1:4-5. Their love songs of love and deliverance already sung. I don’t know about you, but that is mind-blowing to me! Songs of a love so profound existed in the Father’s heart for you and me long before we were even knit together in our mother’s womb! God knew every sin, every evil thought, every selfish bone in our bodies—our great rebellion and turning away and still, He chooses to sing over us.

We are the heirs of the depth of God’s love for His Son—and of the Son’s complete obedience to His Father. For rarely will anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us –Romans 5: 7-8.

As Christians, we believe that in Jesus, God has accepted us. Yet all too often as the result of abuse, harsh judgments, hurtful words, and actions we also have the propensity to be far more sin conscience than we ought—allowing the heavy-weight of feelings of unworthiness to rob us of the Truth of the song of love God is singing over us. Left unchecked, it will cause us to become callous to the Truth that God delights in us—views us as cherished. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me –Psalm 18:19. I am in no way suggesting that we should allow ourselves to become so lofty and mystical that we lose sight of the need to come before the Holy Spirit in prayer, asking Him to search us, revealing anything in us that is not pleasing to Him, and then repent. I am simply here to remind those that are going through a trial—or are about to, perhaps even the one that has just emerged from some faith-fight that God loves you, delights in you, fights for you, will never leave you or forsake you—regardless of how you may think or feel about yourself. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee –Isaiah 43:2

We can’t fathom God’s incredible love for us. In and of ourselves, there would be nothing to attract him, nothing for him to delight in. But he has made us new creations in Christ, created in the likeness of Jesus, in whom is all his delight. Praise God today that he has made you precious and delightful to himself –Mark Altrogge.

Beloved, Praise Him today, that He has written a song of love specifically for you. Be encouraged as you face this new season, this trial, this heartache, this loss—nothing, not one thing you’re facing can nor ever will, separate you from the love that has called you and sustained from eternity past. He gave the Author of the greatest love song ever sung—just for you. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life –Isaiah 43:3-4.

Friend, if you are here today and want to know this Jesus, this One who is Mighty to save you who will sing songs of love and protection and redemption over you, ask Him to come to you and show Himself real in your heart. Call out to Him, from your heart, and He will answer you. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved –Romans 10:9-10.

In Order To Release. Luke 18:18-30.

October 19, 2019 /
When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

We are nowhere near as altruistic as we imagine ourselves. Scripture asserts that the human heart is deceitful beyond our understanding—it is incurable. In it lives the ability to commit every type of sin. “For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness” –Mark 7:21-22. In our own strength, we are powerless to overcome these evil thoughts and longings. Part of the ‘all things’ Jesus strengthens us to do includes giving us His strength in exchange for our weakness so that we can release into His loving care those things that can harm us or no longer benefit us. Contrary to how we may feel about them…

Much like this rich young ruler, we cannot give back to God any-thing He may ask us to give up or over to Him, minus the power of His Holy Spirit at work within us. It simply isn’t in our nature. Self-love will always so powerfully contend against the love of God that, even in the believer, it is often necessary to stir up our minds, by way of remembrance, the will of God that commands us to give and to sow. Having a knowledge of God, being a ‘good’ person, simply knowing about God, about His Word and will and desire for our lives will never give us the grace needed—the will required to release into God’s hands those things He may ask of us—from us. We see evidence of this in the rich young ruler. Likely a leader in the local synagogue. He knew enough about God to recognize in Jesus a man well-versed in the way and words of God—a true Rabbi. Thus he came to Jesus, sincerely some say, seeking to add more, some-thing else to what was already his. He had no idea that the ‘more’ he sought after would actually require him to leave behind what he valued the most.

With all he owned, all he had been given, he was the very poorest of men. Poor in that he was unwilling to exchange these worldly possessions for the eternal treasure being offered him. Christ in Him. Christ’s Life in Him and with Him—always. Of God living and ruling and leading and guiding and adding and taking away. Matthew Henry says it like this: Can a man lose by doing that with which God is pleased? He is able to make all grace abound towards us, and to abound in us; to give a large increase of spiritual and of temporal good things. He can make us to have enough in all things; and to be content with what we have. God gives not only enough for ourselves, but that also wherewith we may supply the wants of others, and this should be as seed to be sown.

Yet outside of a genuine relationship with Jesus, minus the deposit of the internal treasure of great value, the Holy Spirit in us, willing us to want what God wants, we too are inclined to turn and walk away from the future and promise the Lord has for us; choosing also, only those things which we can see and touch and hold on to. Those things we’ve deemed as beneficial to our overall wellbeing. Saying no thank you to God because we are too busy playing God…

This thought of freely releasing into God’s hands whatever it is He asks us to give up or over to Him, struck me as I was reading 2 Corinthians 9. Why did those believers in Corinth that had long since decided to give, need to be reminded of the commitment they had made? Wouldn’t they simply just give over the monies they had set aside when Titus and the witness arrived to collect it?

In Paul’s stirring words, a great spiritual Truth is revealed. Even the greatest of Christian men are simply that—men. And, as such, are susceptible to both falling and falling short. Fortunately, for those men and women whose lives have been surrendered to God, they, by His grace, through His election of them, are lifted up again and again and again, set aright, never to be left alone in the place they stumbled or fell short. As a result, when they fail God, and they will, by His strength in them, they are able to get up and continue on in Him. To keep fighting, keep giving up and over to. Keep standing in the face of what may feel like a great personal loss because their trust and love and heart and mind are fixed on the Gift they were given in exchange for the life they turned over to God when they heard Him say, “Come, follow me…”

Jesus is a master at revealing our hypocrisy, our humanness. Not to shame us but rather out of a deep and abiding love for us. A love He desires to share with all those who will receive it. With the precision of a gifted surgeon, He will expose our inability to keep the perfect Law of God; just as He did with this rich young ruler. By claiming to have kept all the commandments he revealed that he had in fact, failed to keep them. From the young man’s first words, Jesus begins to challenge his thinking by correcting his basic understanding of what is good. Jesus informs him that only God is good. Thus setting the standard we must use when measuring what we’ve falsely come to believe is good in others. In answering His disciples’ question on which is the greatest commandment, Jesus informs us that the core of—the very heart of all of the commandments is summed up in these two: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets”—Matthew 22:36-40.

For some of us here today, Jesus may be asking us, as He did our young ruler, to release material possessions He’s allowed us use of. For others, maybe it’s a job or a relationship that He’s asking you to let go of? Is God calling you to move to another church home? Maybe He’s calling you to a new city or state? Is He asking you to bless a person, a family, or some organization financially, and you just can’t see how you’ll see your way clear to do it? Is He asking that you entrust Him with your opinions of yourself, who you think you are, that you might see yourself as He sees you? Is He asking you to hand over your vision in exchange for His? Those wounds that have had you bound, are keeping you isolated and joyless, that you may have the joy and freedom that is found only in a relationship with Him?

The rich young ruler wouldn’t do it. He chose the here and now—what he believed he needed instead of what God was offering him. Left to ourselves we will always choose what pleases us. The power essential to give over to God any-thing He may require of us is found only in the person of the Holy Spirit. And it is in our relationship with Christ Jesus that the Spirit is given us, comes and lives within us—enabling us to do those things we simply cannot do on our own. He alone empowers us to obey God and to release into His Providential care every-thing God may desire from us—up to and including our very lives. But, we must accept His free gift. The rich young ruler knew of Jesus, but He did not know Jesus. So when asked to give over something he felt he could not live without—he had no choice but to walk away. He was power-less.

Do you have the power to release into God’s hands whatever it is He may be asking you to let go of?

If you are His, I pray that you turn to the only One who can strengthen you, brothers, and sisters. I am here to remind you and me of the commitment we made long ago—or not so long ago, to God. To have ready what we have pledged to Him when He comes for it…

Friend, if you have felt God calling you don’t turn away as the rich young ruler did. Don’t think you know enough about Jesus to get by when He is here offering you all of Himself right here, right now. Don’t turn away, please. Just ask Him, from your heart, to come into your life and do what only He can for you. He’s right here waiting to give you what you need, Himself, so you will release, into His care, what no longer serves you…

Deliverance. Exodus 14:21-22.

May 19, 2019 /

“Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!”. 

Talk about being delivered in a way you never saw coming! Whoever heard of a sea dividing then standing at attention; allowing folks to walk smack through its middle all night long?

What do you do when your deliverance comes wrapped in risk?

When God asks you to take a leap of faith that looks more like cliff diving at Possum Kingdom Lake than puddle jumping in the summer rain? When it’s tied-off with ribbons of uncertainty and challenge? When you come face-to-face with your deepest truths—your fears. When everything you think you believe about God, have known of Him, your faith in Him, the depth of your relationship with Him—is unexpectedly challenged? Shifts beneath you somehow. When the familiar of it all is suddenly slipping through your fingers like so much sand? How do you survive that walk through the unfamiliar? Through the soul-crushing valley-of-the-shadow-of death and then back, yet again, into the bright newness of your next season?

What did it look like when God moved in your life? When He delivered you from an enemy intent on your destruction? When He said “enough” to your bondage, “no more” to your being held captive. Did your freedom come wrapped the way you hoped it might? Or, did it arrive ragged and banged up? Looking like some barely recognizable version of what you’d imagined it would?

The Israelite’s faced what undoubtedly appeared to be certain death.

Pharaohs army closing in on their left—and on their right an outwardly impassable sea. What do you do then when you’re faced with an impossible situation? How does going from a seemingly bad situation to one that’s worse affect your faith? Does it send you chasing after God? Doing all that you’re able to stay tucked-up tight under His Providential care? Or, does the impossible before you remain just that, the impossible that’s before you?

Faith or flesh? How do you respond? Moses and the Israelite’s had to decide. So will you and I…

As we’ll see, the Israelite’s opted for the flesh. Moses, in contrast—held tight to his faith. On one side you had thousands of people grumbling and faith-less; carping about how they would have been better off to have died in Egypt—remained in bondage—rather than to die in an unknown wilderness. All they saw was the impossible, the unmovable, the outwardly insurmountable that was hemming them in. These same descendants of Father Abraham, hand-picked by God to be saved—had lost that faith. These same souls who had witnessed God bring water from a rock, deliver fresh food to the desert floor each morning, these whose clothes and sandals never got old though they wore them for some 40 years; responded to Gods delivering them from Pharaoh’s savage grip with grumbling and fear. Resentful of His method—they were angry with Moses for the loss of the familiar chains that had bound them. Truth be told—don’t we each have a bit of this same tendency within us? This leaning towards fleshly “living in the moment.” This grumbling and high-mindedness? An initial knee-jerk resentment towards God for pulling us out of the familiar muck that we’d become accustomed to?  Our pride-filled thinking that often says, “if I were the one able to deliver someone, I would do it so much differently—painlessly and swift.

On the other hand, if you’ve been walking with God for any length of time surely, you’ve witnessed His mercy and grace? I can only assume that He has delivered you from one or more, if not perilous situations, then perhaps that near-miss situation. That, how am I going to make it this week—this month—today situation? That, “how did I walk away from that in one-piece” moment? Maybe He’s kept you from losing it when your spouse walked out—or worse, died suddenly. When a parent took ill—or your child. When you went through that season when God went silent and His silence shook you to your core! Or, maybe, God has asked you to take your hands off of something—someone or someplace? And, although what you experienced while immersed in it was painful, it was nonetheless familiar—had become dangerously safe. That’s what it may have felt like to be an Israelite wondering around in the desert. Suddenly set free from years of bondage. Their faith being stretched and tested to its breaking point; they cursed Moses and questioned God rather than seeking after Him.

Though their miracle stood literally before them, expectation blinded them for seeing it. And yet, despite their lack of faith and their grumbling, contrary to their blindness and hard-heartedness, God never left them. To the contrary, He was always one step in front of them, leading them ever closer to Himself. Oh, how He longed for them to just trust Him…

And then there’s Moses. A man whose faith allowed him to look out over this same seemingly impossible situation, with great faith. A man familiar with the unconventional. An Israelite raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in Pharaoh’s palace. A man accustomed to the wilderness. Familiar with Gods placing him in the midst of impossible situations. A bush ablaze that is never consumed. Facing a half-brother who resented him as pitilessly. Moses, a murderer returning to the very scene of his crime. This man with a stammer was told by God that he’d become His mouthpiece; a vessel used to help free His people. A man who, in spite of his own fears determined he’d be faithful to God; regardless of what stood before him. Moses was a leader forged over 40 years of being crushed and reshaped during his Midian exile. He was a shepherd. A man who knew first-hand that God never fails.

As both sides stared down that same seemingly impossible situation; Moses believed not only could God deliver them all—more, He surely would. The Israelites on the other hand wavered. Their faith devoured by their fickle feelings. And yet each of these, be they faith-filled or fickle, had a purpose in Gods redemptive plan. Each is our example. As believers, we must choose however whose example we will follow when faced with our own impossible wilderness. Will we hold tight to our faith? Or will we follow after our feelings?

Because here’s the thing—when you belong to God as the Israelites do and He decides some-thing, some situation, relationship, or habit when even the topography of your life must be changed; it’s going to change. It is simply impossible for Gods will to be thwarted. As surely as His Body was broken for you,  He will split a sea wide open to make a way for you. Not only is God Sovereign, He loves you too much to leave you trapped in bondage. Somehow, if you are His, He is certain to bring your deliverance to pass. The unknown of it—to you and me at least, is His timing.

Moses’ hands are lifted beloved. Your sea is about to open before you…

Be expectant my brothers and sisters. God has heard your cry—deliverance is at hand. Allow me to encourage you to remain pliant, stay wide open to whatever—however, God has chosen for you. Trust Him. Period.  Be ready to move wherever God may be leading you in this season of your deliverance. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God the holy God of Israel, who saves you. I will give up Egypt to set you free. I will give up Ethiopia[a] and Seba. I will give up whole nations to save your life, because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honor” –Isaiah 43:2-4.

And friend, if you’ve found yourself here for the first time, or, if you’re a returning friend know this: There is no such thing as a coincidence. God has led you here today because He wants to deliver you—lead you, into all that He has waiting for you. Won’t you follow Him today? Please ask Him into your heart as Lord and Savior this day. No man is promised tomorrow. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” –Romans 10:9

No-thing. Romans 8:38-39.

April 14, 2019 /

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul is assuring us that contrary to how we may be feeling—whatever we may be experiencing at any given moment, God loves us. More, there is absolutely nothing that will ever change that…

No amount of self-doubt, no failure or deep short-coming, not even our sin can separate us, cause His love to fail us; if we are His.  He knows that in a moment of doubt the strongest of us can be reduced to feelings of insecurity, of weakness. On this journey of death to self one may feel as though God has abandoned them, turned His face away from them. The reassuring warmth of His nearness suddenly cooled in that moment He asks us to lay a thing down. To choose His way over our own. To trust Him when we think we know better—can do better than He can. To give up what we want in exchange for what He has for us. Some part of ourselves, some habit or choice, some possession that does not reflect who He is to the world around us. Instead, it reeks of the flesh—of self-indulgence, greed, entitlement, or lust. It reeks of us.  At one moment or another in our lives, on our walk, we will each be guilty of this…

And, yet, even in this—even in our deep flawed-ness, in the midst of our most sinful, shameful, selfishness, even here—He does not withdraw His love from His children. He does not remove His loving-kindness from us. Verse 3 of Romans Chapter 8 helps, in part, to explain why. “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.” In this one great sacrificial choice, God proved His great love for us by sending Jesus to the Cross in our place. If His love for us is so great that He would not withhold His only Son from us, and it is, is it any wonder than that He would not allow any-thing to ever separate us from Himself? Those He’s chosen in Himself before the foundation of the world? “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father”—Romans 8:15.

Not even death with its apparent finite-ness can separate us from God…

We see the Truth of this early one Sunday morning. Friday has passed. Jesus has borne the shame and torture of the Cross. His Body, broken and bloodied now lays in its borrowed tomb. The night will pass. The following day with its night too. God uses the passing of time to teach us so many lessons; one of those being things are not always as they appear. Sunday morning comes, and what the world though had happened, what evil had intended to happen, did not prevail. People though they had put an end to Jesus. Instead, God used their sin-fullness for His glory, and our good. To bless us and save us. To give us the greatest of Gifts. The only One whose Blood alone is worthy to atone for our sins…

So then, if Gods giving us His most precious possession—His only Son to die in our place that we might be restored to right relationship with Him, how can we allow ourselves to buy into the lie that any-thing could ever separate us from the One who has chosen us in Himself?  How can we allow any-thing, ourselves include,  to condemn us? More, believe that God will not provide for us? He has, after all, already given us His absolute best, all we will ever need, in Jesus! “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies” Romans 8:31-33.

Why then do we struggle still? Why are we so reluctant to believe Him? To simply hand Him whatever it is He may be asking us to give or give up?

Sunday morning sealed every Word God has ever spoken. Paul is assuring us that, contrary to how we may be feeling—whatever we may be experiencing at any given moment, God loves us. More, there is absolutely nothing that will ever change that. So beloved, if you are struggling with doubt today, wrestling with His will for your life, troubled about handing over to Him that thing He may be asking you to let go of—fear not! He alone is faithful to exchange your weakness for His strength. And, once armed with that strength He will re-minded you that He’ll not allow anything, no-thing “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.” Take heart friends, soon and very soon Sunday morning will dawn in your hearts and the stone of doubt, fear, rebellion, hesitation, will be rolled away eternally!  Then, all that we thought we knew of ourselves, our faith, about our God, will be rightly revealed to us by the Truth of His Presence among us. Soon and very soon my friend!

But in the meantime remember this: Just as Jesus struggled with accepting the Fathers will, however briefly, in the garden, you too will struggle. Nonetheless, once you have struggled a little while, you too must come to the place where you say with an obedient heart—seeking His will above your own, His glory above all else; “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” –Luke 22:42.

Take heart my brother, the battle is not yours it’s the Lord. Stand firm, even so, do all that must, are called to do, in Him and then stand back and watch your Daddy do what only He can! Watch, as He brings His will about in your heart and life…

Dear friend, don’t miss yet another opportunity to allow this Jesus to draw in your heart. As we prepare ourselves for Easter morning, for His dawning in our lives afresh, won’t you ask Him to come into yours, too? He’s been waiting for three days for you to ask…

 

 

The Promise… Deuteronomy 4:30-31.

February 3, 2019 /

 “In the distant future, when you are suffering all these things, you will finally return to the Lord your God and listen to what he tells you. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.”

This world  surrounds us with evidence that God is who He says He is. Its inescapable. God is Creator of heaven and earth. Of the sky and sea and everything in, and on, and under them. Without a voice of its own the very wind sings His praises! And, each leaf adds its amen in its rustling. “…Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” –Psalm 19:2-4.

At the base of a mountain called Sinai,  shrouded now in dark clouds, fire, shooting skyward from its peak, God has allowed the Israelite’s to hear Him speak—to know the sound of His voice! How fortunate for these chosen few—this nation who has stolen the very heart of God to have heard Him for themselves! This people, so deeply loved by Him; loved as one loves an only child.  “The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said” –Exodus 19:9. They had endured such privation at the hands of a merciless Pharaoh. Evil is relentless by its very nature. Its only joy is found in torment. Its driving force, its sole hope, to exact death and destruction. And yet through Moses, God reminds His people who He alone delivered them from: “the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make them His very own people and His special possession…” –Deuteronomy 4:20.

And, as God did for each one standing at the base of Sinai, He does for us too. Our Lover pursues us. Hems us in. Still. Because of this joyful Truth it’s here where I say Hallelujah! I too have been delivered from Egypt’s chains. So then, it’s here I join my whispered “thank you Lord” to the deep night. Weaving my gossamer thread into the brilliant tapestry of thank you’s. I join it to the millions who have gone before me—and, with those whispering their thank you, now, still.  We each, trembling, yet certain the Lord catches our offerings with His own hands; pressing them to His heart. Cherished. Its my love song, a heart posturing itself in adoration—in recognition that He first loved me, chose me.  A heart that admits that He alone has opened this one heart to be able to hear His voice calling in the night.

As it was in their wilderness, so it was in my own; yours too I’d imagine. Sin isolates us. Yet, because of His great love for us, we, like the Israelite’s before us, mustn’t take this love we’ve been afforded for granted. We must never forget  He is a jealous lover who will not tolerate our “flirting” with another. After-all, how would you, a mere man, react to your beloved playing the harlot with another? Making room in her heart for someone other than yourself, the one she has vowed to remain faithful to—’til death part you? And yet they did. We do too. Take His great love for us for granted that is. Though forewarned of the consequences of their actions, they allowed their ardor for the One who loved them like no other to wax cold. And, in their luke-warm-ness, they soon found themselves following after the culture of the peoples around them. Cultures filled with foreign gods and moral compromise. A tainted world comprised of second-bests. They had forgotten they were called to come out from them and be separate. They had for gotten they were the chosen of the Lord. They were not created—never intended, to live with second best. After all, they were His beloved. But they forgot that. They allowed themselves to relapse into the “mentality of captivity.” And so do we. At least I have, momentarily…

Let me ask you Christian; after having been freed, have you ever felt the chains of captivity threatening to bind you once again? Felt it’s fetters searching you out? Wanting to bind, once again, what God had freed you from? Moses, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, was allowed to see the future fate of those gathered before him. Those God had instructed him to pronounce liberty over. Yet the Israelite’s freedom was not the result of Moses showing up on the scene, nor of Pharaoh’ agreeing to release them.  Rather, the Israelite’s would gain their freedom because God, through His election of them, and, in His infinite wisdom and great mercy towards, saw fit that they would be His chosen people. “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” –1 Peter 2:9-10. And, though Peter was speaking to us here, the gentile nations, still, all of us, all those “chosen” in Christ, whether Jew or the grafted in gentile, would never have tasted His Truth, known His freedom, had we not first been chosen by Him…

Fidelity and integrity are non-negotiable; they are the very ink with which the covenant between God and man has been written. Sealed by Loves promise, His bond irrevocable!

And still we fall short. Still we rebel. Much like Lots wife we each stop and look back toward the Egypt God has delivered us from. And, though we aren’t instantly turned to a pillar of salt—we do not escape the consequences of our rebellious actions. God is just. We tend to forget that fact. As His children, we sometimes close our eyes to this Truth as it applies to our own lives. Consequences and discipline are for others, we becry, God’s grace covers me! And that’s true.  It does. He is merciful beyond measure. Yet, it is equally true that God disciplines His children; listen: And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father…?” –Hebrews 12:5-7.

Moses foresaw the Israelite’s’ wondering around in a wilderness for 40 years. Many died there. Never to see, touch, nor taste, the fruit of this beautiful promised land God swore to give them. Their dreams dying a barren death. They’d bore no fruit. They had chosen to come away from the True vine, lusting instead after the gods of Asherah poles and the Baals. This jealous Lover of our souls will not be mocked! “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” –Deuteronomy 4:23-24. And, yet, inconceivably, even though God knew His own would reject Him, turn away from Him and towards the gods of money and greed, of pride; even though we’d blindly run after the god of “more”, nonetheless, He loves us still. Died for us. Gave His only begotten Son for us, still. He’s here now. Available to all who will, today. Even when we are Gomers, He remains our Hosea. In their shame and rebellion—and in ours, Moses comforts us each with the words he spoke to those who followed, and follow still, the Pillar of Cloud by day and of Fire by night: “When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath” –Deuteronomy 4:30-31.

My beloved brothers and sisters, consider these words shared by our older brother, Peter, concerning our living in a pagan society, and, as you do, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes that you might reflect on the condition of your life: “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” 1 Peter 2: 11-12. Beloved, as iron sharpens iron, allow me to urge you to seek the Lord today. Asking Him to revel all un-confessed sin before Him. And then, repent, quickly; remembering His mercy and His promise to forgive. And please, tuck His Words of assurance to Joshua into your heart. In today’s world, we need  to hold more tightly than ever to His promise! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6.

Dear friend, if you’re visiting us for the first time, welcome! Know that Jesus has called you here today to confirm what He has been pointing you towards—Himself. He loves you with a love that we’ll never fully be able to take in this side of heaven! Won’t you accept His invitation to share Himself, His time, His love with you today? “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” –Revelation 3:20

“Nontransferable. Matthew 25:1-13.

December 2, 2018 /

 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him..!’

I could start by sharing with you the cultural traditions of the eastern wedding. How it is the groom whom usually assumes full responsibility for the wedding cost in Oriental weddings and not the bride’s father, as in western culture. How it is the bridegroom, and not the bride, who is customarily the center of attention. I could tell you that normally the bridegroom comes for his bride in the early evening—usually around dusk. And, that before him a herald is sent to announce his arrival at the bride’s home where she and her attendants are awaiting his arrival. But I’m not a learned student of eastern customs. And, you might easily obtain this information for yourself—If you’re interested…

I’d rather share what grabbed my attention as I read the opening verses of Matthew 25 entitled, “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” More, I know this is what I’m supposed to share.

Actually, there were several points that jumped out at me. Oil, sleep, and relationship…

Yet it was the first that grabbed hold of me and would not let me go. The oil. The mention of oil was the first of the three things that caught my attention. One of three things that all ten of these virgins had in common. They each had oil—at least a measure of it. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I had started my reading in Matthew, Chapter 24. As I continued reading on it became clear to me in Chapter 25 that a chapter division had been unnecessary. Chapter 25 is a continuation of Jesus’ conversation concerning the Coming of The Kingdom of God found throughout Chapter 24 which closes with Him talking about “The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times” and goes into “The day and hour of the coming of the Son of Man”. Then Jesus continues with this theme of the coming Kingdom straight into the parable of the ten virgins in the opening verses of Chapter 25.

But back to what caught me: the oil. Typically, in Scripture, when we hear about oil being used it is referring to the Holy Spirit. Such as when it was used to anoint prophets, priests, and kings (Exodus 28:41; Leviticus 8:12; 1 Samuel 16:13). So why was oil so prevalent in this parable? What was Jesus trying to get us to see? And what did this oil reference have to do with the Holy Spirit and our ten virgins?

The second thing that caught my attention was that both the wise and foolish virgins had fallen asleep…

So if it isn’t the oil nor their mutual falling asleep that made some wise and the rest foolish, what then is Jesus trying to get us to see?

This led me to the third piece of the parable that had caught my attention; their relationships with the person of the Holy Spirit—the oil. More specifically—evidence of an intimate knowledge of Him, a connectedness. Not all had a reserve of oil. But I digress…

If they each knew Him equally wouldn’t they each be equally wise? Similarly, if they each had an unremarkable knowledge of Him—wouldn’t they each be equally foolish? Again, in my desire to understand why some were foolish and some wise, my focus was drawn to their relationship with Him. One that would either prove itself genuine and lasting or one that would burn out over time.  A gift to each of them for sure, this relationship—this common grace. Yet, in order for this very personal gift to burn brightly throughout unexpected delays, before others, throughout trials and persecution, throughout life’s ups and downs, it will require an unbreakable connection to The Source. It must be held tightly, cherished beyond all else. Never given up. Certainly not shared (Matthew 13:44-45).

The five wise virgins had reserves of oil that the five foolish did not. Each had the Holy Spirit, knew Him but, to varying degrees. Hence—the point of the parable; in order to be invited to the wedding we must be “family”, we must have a personal relationship with the bridegroom. Simply hanging around those that are related will never suffice…

Due to the bridegrooms delay the foolish virgins ran out of oil. They had nothing to rekindle their lamps once the initial oil they had with them had been burned up. They had no reserves of their own to draw from. Nothing with which to replenish their lamps. Nothing to rekindle the sputtering, flickering flame of their dying light. And, as a result, they had to leave their counterparts behind and go out in search of more oil.

Unlike our faith in God, we cannot “give-away” (like some piece of bread, some drink) the portion of the Holy Spirit the Father has entrusted to us. What we have has been apportioned to us exclusively. Again, as with our faith, those we touch may benefit—reap the fruits of this unfathomable gift we’ve been afford—but it is not ours to give them. We did nothing to get it, to earn it, hence, it isn’t ours to give away. As with everything else in our lives He—our inward reserve, is a Gift from God. We may share Him, yes. We must! Give Him away, never! His inexhaustible reserve has been placed within us by the Father. This first deposit we’ve been afforded, is to be prized above all else. It is because of our relationship with Him—in Him, because of His choosing of us, that we have the reserve needed to see us through the long night of His delay.

Those five whose lamps sputtered out—whose light died, symbolize those in this world who have a superficial, shallow knowledge of God. They have the same general touch of His Spirit as the rest of the world—the very same common grace. (Nahum 1:3; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 81:11-12; Matthew 5:45b). They run to Him in times of trouble seeking relief from their trials. They open His Word searching for clues that might help them escape their current circumstance—ease their guilt, sooth their grieving hearts, rescue them from their sense of disconnection and isolation. Yet they are not willing to bow before the Lord in humility—confessing both their sin, as well as their deep need of Him in their lives. They do not wish to drink deeply of persecution—they want no part of sharing in His suffering, of dying to self and the things of this world. They have fallen prey to the lie that a little faith, a casual glance at the Bible, a toe-in-the water of faith, will go a long way. That their knowledge of God, of church protocol, their involvement in a ministry, their gift-giving, will get them into heaven.

After all, they’re good people—church people. They “believe” in God—mostly. These unwise souls are people who want to make a partial commitment to God. They’ll try to compromise any way they can. Believing Him in pieces they can easily swallow but never in full bites that need some serious chewing! They refuse to take God in as a whole—unconditionally. They refuse to allow Him to change their actions, never mind their hearts. Having a bit of Jesus will never suffice. That’s what Jesus is saying in verses 11-12. It’s why he clearly says to the foolish maidens, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.”  We cannot hide who we are or are not, from a God who has numbered the very hairs on our heads.

“…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” –1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” –Matthew 25:13.

To the wise brothers and sisters, I urge you to keep a close watch over your souls. Guard with your very lives this most precious gift that has been entrusted to you. Holding tight to the knowledge that He who began a good work in you is faithful to carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And, to you who have not committed your life to Jesus, now is the time. Today the day. The time of testing the waters is past. A little bit of Jesus will never be enough! I urge you today to ask Christ Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior! We don’t know if we’ll have tomorrow. 

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him” Matthew 25: 6!

 

 

 

 

Three Crosses. Matthew 6:33.

July 29, 2018 /

 “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

The Cross of Christ. There is only One. So why is this teaching entitled, “Three Crosses?” Allow me to explain.

The “three crosses” we’ll explore over the next few weeks are pathways created by God to both draw us into and to refine our relationship with Him. Leading us, ultimately, to our final cross—the Cross of Christ which we are blessed to share in—to carry….

A Cross is formed where the vertical meets the horizontal.

Before we can be used of God outwardly, we must first be called into relationship with Him inwardly…

Over the next three weeks we will be exploring three distinct yet interconnected areas where our vertical relationship with God intersects our horizontal service to produce the fruits of sacrifice and service. The place where our primary relationship with God moves us away from our selfishness, our comfort zones, demanding sacrifice. And calls us into that place where He begins the work of stretching us towards relationship, service, calling. Stretching us ever towards reflecting Christ to a lost and dying world.

At its height, a life lived in absolute surrender— its width, a picture of perfect submission and humility…

A task only One Man is fully able to surrender to—to embrace, as one embraces a lover; Jesus—our Teacher, our Guide, our Lord. Yet, if we’re a believer, then we too are called to follow Jesus’s sacrificial example—even if following that example leads us to our deaths. Not popular I know—but True nonetheless. His Cross stands as the pure Light which tries us, tests us, illuminates our darkest recesses, exposing us for what we are—sinners in need of salvation—in need of restoration—in need of God. Of the vertical relationship that ultimately will stretch us horizontally—enabling us, empowering us, willing within us, the desire to follow His example, His will, His laws…

In order that we might understand both the power and the purpose of The Cross of Christ—we must first understand all that God did to pave the way to the one place – towards the One person, who connects, bridges, advocates between Heaven and earth. God shows us—lays out for us, the way to the Cross. And, one of the ways in which He did this was through the Law. Yet, in giving us these laws God knew not one of His creation could keep them perfectly—wholly, as His Righteousness requires, demands, so, out of His great love for us, He chose to leave behind the glory of heaven and donned human flesh with all its needs and constraints. The Omnipresent One chose to be bound by what He created and sits above. The Bread of Life chose to have to eat bread that He might live. God chose to need what we need: sleep, rest, food, shelter—to feel what we feel: hunger, tiredness, loneliness, rejection, and physical pain. It was, after all, a man’s hands and feet that were nailed to His Cross. His physical body whose side was pierced by the Roman spear. Human Blood was spilled, staining the Cross He was nailed to; it was not stained with the sacrificial blood of bulls, goats, or sheep…

The first three of Gods Laws—His Commandments, are vertical. They point us towards Him. Towards the supremacy of the One True God. Jesus, in Matthew 22:37, confirms this for us as He points us towards the central teaching, the heart of the Law found in Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” –Deut. 6:5. This first Commandment, declares—makes plain, there is only One God.

Everything else we need to know flows down from that Triune foundational Truth. That One Source…

The law then goes on to instruct us how it is we must approach, revere, honor, exalt this Sovereign God of the universe. We are to have no other gods before Him, not make for ourselves graven images. Don’t exalt an image of what was created over the One who created it. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Don’t toss around the Name of the Sovereign God of the universe like it was some common, everyday name—don’t abuse or defame His Holy Name. We’re to remember the sabbath day, keeping it holy. You have six days a week to work, as God did at creation, this sabbath day is intended as a time to be spent with Him, allowing Him to refresh you. The rest of the Law is horizontal in nature—teaching us, pointing us towards our responsibilities towards others, as well as those actions and desires we are to run from—disavow.

We were created in God’s image, to serve and honor Him. He alone sustains us, and, within these three commands He establishes His dominion—His Sovereignty, over our lives. They are a perfect list of our vertical duties—requirements, for serving a Holy God. Yet, even in having these we will still, forever, fall short of their perfect standard.

Enter Christ Jesus the Sinless Sacrifice ready to die for our sins and failures…

Yet Christ never came to abolish these Laws, rather to fulfill them. To do for us what the law couldn’t. Nonetheless, the law will forever have its place in our lives both as guideposts and as a stark reminder; mirrors both that reflect back to us our need for Jesus in our lives…

In Hebrews Chapter 10 Paul assures us that that the laws of Moses were only a dim preview of the good things to come—they weren’t, nor did they contain, the Power of the good things themselves. Under the Law a sacrifice needed to be made repeatedly as the shed blood of bulls and goats couldn’t bring about perfect cleansing. Rather, these very sacrifices reminded the one offering them of their sin and guilt—of their continual need for sacrifice and forgiveness. Paul goes on to assure us that the law’s requirements for the blood of bulls and goats could never, was never intended to be a permanent solution for absolving man of his sin. It was a mere shadow, a ‘first-step” on the path that would eventually lead to the beckoning Cross of Christ that is ever before us…

We witness the Truth of this in the life of Father Abraham. A man made righteous by his faith, by the will of God—not by blood sacrifices or works. How? A mystery. In the Beginning the Word already existed…

The Cross, and the salvation it affords, has always been Gods plan for His creation…

“Therefore, when Christ enters into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But [instead] You have prepared a body for Me [to offer] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no delight. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come To do Your will, O God— [To fulfill] what is written of Me in the scroll of the book.’” –Hebrews 10:5-7

Join us next week when we will examine the effects of our second cross—The Lord’s Prayer. (for a deeper, more complete understanding of Christ and the law reading through Chapters 7-10 found in the Book of Hebrews, Romans Chapters 4 & 7, and Genesis 14:17 through 15:17, among other Scriptures, would help fill in the gaps for you).

And Friend, if you’re here today and have read through this but have not yet asked this Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior, I believe today is your day for salvation to visit you! Stop now and pray, just simply ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior, then trust Him as He begins a good work in you that He alone is faithful to complete… ”because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10

 

Newer posts »

© 2026 Sonsofthesea.org

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑