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

Tag: Restoration (Page 3 of 5)

His Star & His Ambassadors…

December 19, 2020 /
MaryEllen Montville

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” –2  Corinthians 6:1-2.

Paul is referencing the Prophet Isaiah here. More accurately, Isaiah is sharing with us what God has shared with Him directly concerning a future time and Ruler that will be born to His people, to Israel. Isaiah 49:8 is a love note from God, to us. It’s God pointing us towards the coming of His Son, Jesus, towards salvation and grace. Some say God is talking through Jesus, to Isaiah, pointing Him towards His acceptable time, His season of good-will, toward His virgin birth that will usher in God’s New Covenant. One that will be sealed by the Spotless Blood of this same One written about but yet to be born. “Thus said the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;” –Isaiah 49:8.

This Ruler and time would first be announced to the lowly, to a virgin village girl who would soon be overshadowed by His Holy Spirit. Followed then, by those lowly shepherds guarding the Temple flock the very night that same girl gives birth to God’s Son, Jesus. Had there never been a cradle, there would never have been The Cross. Jesus was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem to one day die in our place. But before that, before He dies, He will grow up and challenge the status quo. He will touch and change and revolutionize our understanding of what it means to love God absolutely—and our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus was born, in part, to be our errorless guide, our unswerving Teacher—flawlessly demonstrating what it means to be a genuine co-laborer with the Father. To be the only man born of a woman worthy of taking upon Himself the sins of the whole world. This Godman. That tiny Babe wrapped in swaddling milk rags man’s only way back into right relationship with the Father. An unorthodox telling of the Christmas story for sure, yet True, nonetheless.

Long before the angel appeared to Mary, God had conferred upon man the unfathomable privilege of co-laboring with Him—of being His emissary. “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name” –Genesis 2:19. Even before God’s Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary or that moment, a specific one of His stars pierced the clear night sky while certain shepherds tended their flocks or wise men in a distant land poured over their charts and maps in search of Him. God had chosen us, you and me, Paul, Isaiah, and Mary and Joseph, each to be His. The recipients of His magnificent gift of salvation, of His utterly amazing grace. Paul is admonishing the Church in Corinth never to forget this. We would be wise to take heed as well! To not receive God’s grace in vain. Be it our undeserved saving grace or the daily graces afforded us moment-by-moment that enable us to “live and move and have our being.” Instead, Paul is encouraging us all to follow his example of wringing out the very last drop of this grace afforded him, afforded us daily, in service to His God. He is also reminding us that we are, after all, God’s ambassadors here on earth. Our loyal service the King’s rightful due then. Those shepherds tending their prized Temple sheep, sheep having been set aside solely to be sacrificed for Israel, for its atonement, did precisely that. They lavishly spent every cent of the grace afforded them in service to their newly born Messiah.

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel’” –Matthew 2: 6.

Scripture tells us that no sooner than this preternatural star-emblazoned their otherwise ordinary night sky, an angel appears to them and, “the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them,” informing them that their long-awaited Messiah had just been born. Scripture goes on to tell us that they were terrified! Yet, despite their fear—their awe-struck-ness, they were off to find this Holy Babe. And, once they had seen Him, Scripture tells us they told everyone they came across about Him—about the extra-ordinary events of this very holy night. “And those who heard were astonished.” Grace had been afforded these shepherds. And they spent it all in service to the Babe they found lying in a manger. These were wise servants, indeed. We would do well to model our faith-walk after theirs. “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” –Luke 2:10-12.

It is said that on the evening of December 21, 2020, centuries since the last time what is being hailed as the “Christmas Star,” in 1226, to be precise, the observable conjuncture of the planets Jupiter and Saturn will, some say, light up the night sky. Whether this same conjuncture of planets or a similar one is what the shepherds saw, I’m not qualified to comment on. Yet this I am confident in saying: whatever this celestial event may be, whatever it may end up being labeled as, one thing is sure, this celestial event is no mere coincidence. Those like myself, patiently waiting for our Redeemer to return, have our eyes locked on the horizon, always looking up. We are eagerly awaiting the return of the One born in that manger some 2000 plus years ago. And, yet, while we look and while we wait—we work. Just as Paul instructs us, more, like Jesus commanded us. And we share, too.

We tell of His coming and of the wonders of knowing Him—of serving Him. We speak of His great Love. He is Love personified, after all. We tell of His amazing grace and mercy, of His sweetness, His tenderness. We speak of His correction and reshaping. His great love for us will not allow us to remain wherever He may have found us. We share that He will soon return and how no one can see Him—go with Him unless they are His unless they have a relationship with Him. Like those shepherds before us, those first evangelists, as my dear friend Sam Cordeiro just referred to them in His most recent sermon, we speak as they did, of what we know—have tasted for ourselves. This Christmas season ought to be about more than presents and lights and spending. It ought to be about receiving His great love for you, into your heart, new or newly. Receiving this One, we see asleep in the manger, Christ the Lord. The Savior of mankind. God’s New Covenant.

If you know Him, brothers, and sisters, then please, don’t squander the grace He’s afforded you. And friend, if you have yet to meet Mary’s Son, our Jesus, I encourage you, no, I plead with you to ask Him to show Himself to you this day. I would so look forward to meeting you one day and hearing our Father tell you, “well done, good and faithful servant!“ “Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom” –Matthew 26:27-28.

Create in Me A Pure Heart, O God.

December 12, 2020 /
Stephanie Montilla

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” –Psalm 51:10.

The posture of David’s heart in this Psalm, his simple plea before God for a clean heart is a beautiful, Godly example for us all. A humble, bold example to follow when we go before our God, who is full of grace, recognizing our sins.

That said, have you ever felt morally dirty after having sinned? Have you ever felt increasingly burdened by the shame, guilt, the regret sinning creates within you? Have you ever felt entangled, snared by a habitual sin? Have you ever distanced yourself from God because inflicting yourself with a mental flogging just felt safer than confessing your transgressions to your Holy, heavenly Father?

Being the deeply flawed and imperfect beings that we are, our natural man is bound to sin. Each of us was born with a sinful nature; inheriting the sinful fruit of our corrupt human nature from Adam – “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” –Romans 5:12. Scripture also states that even seemingly innocent children are born with this same sinful nature: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child” –Proverbs 22:15. And David confirms this as well, listen: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” –Psalm 51:5.

In our natural state then, in our flesh, we cannot please God. Hence our desperate need for Him, for His mercy, grace, forgiveness—for His love!

2 Samuel 11:2 tells us, “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful.” David’s lust for this woman drove him to send his messenger to go and bring this woman to him. “She came to him, and he slept with her” –2 Samuel 11: 4. David’s lust (a mental and physical sexual appetite for a person) was the initial seed that moved him to sin. Then, after getting the woman pregnant, (11:5), that seed bloomed when David attempted to cover his original sin by ordering the woman’s husband to return from war—all with the hope that he might sleep with his wife. Making it appear then, that her husband, and not David, had gotten her pregnant. Unfortunately, David’s scheme did not work. So, David then proceeded to have the woman’s husband sent into the thick of a raging battle. Then, while standing on the frontlines of said battle, her husband was killed (11:15). What started as a seed of lust, led to the murder of an honest man. All this to cover-up David’s sin of having had an affair with another man’s wife!

And what happened with David, choosing sin over God, continues to this day. Our sinning begins with a thought—the seed. That thought then flourishes, spreading deeper into the appetites of our flesh. And, if not taken captive immediately, we will ultimately give sin a life of its own by operating outside of the fruit of self-control.

Mastery over our flesh requires mastery over our thought life.

“…What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness” –Mark 7:20-22. There is a reason the Lord reminds us in His word that the heart is deceitful. Also, that we ought to think on those things which are honorable, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy so that we may gratify the Spirit, and not the desires of our flesh (Paraphrased Philippians 4:8).

Like David, I remember giving into the sin of sexual immorality, and, while feeding the flesh provides temporary satisfaction, that same satisfaction has lasting consequences. We must, therefore, put to death those fleshly desires within us, how we used to live; this is a requirement for the born-again believer.

As we learn later on in David’s story, the Lord forgave Him. Yet, because of what he did, his sin, David lost the child born to that adulterous affair –2 Samuel 12:15. In Galatians 5:16-26, the Lord instructs us to walk by the Spirit, avoiding then, keeping far from, the sins of the flesh: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions…” –Galatians 5:16-26.

David penned Psalm 51 aware of his rebellion, of the wickedness in his heart. Then, he did what most would consider being counterintuitive – he knelt humbly before God in prayer with a sincere and contrite heart. At one of the lowest points of David’s life, he pleaded with God to renew a right spirit within him—creating in him a clean heart. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” –Psalm 51: 10-12. I love that within David’s prayer He asks God for newness, for a clean heart—not just for God forgiveness! In other words, David is saying “change my heart, God! Create in me a clean, pure heart because I do desire to live differently. I want to be made new because I want to change and love as you do, Lord!” David’s approach to flat-out run to the very God who he offended appears incongruous. Our initial human response oftentimes is to disconnect and hide from God, much like Adam and Eve did. We come to Jesus with the barest understanding that his grace is greater than any of our sins—yet with the greatest of hope that His forgiveness is transforming.

The enemy wants to keep you burdened, entangled, entrenched in the shame, guilt, and regret of your sin—in the lie of it, that you may keep your sin to yourself—hiding it, supposedly, from an Omniscient God. When the truth is, you cannot hide anything from God. And, in keeping sin to yourself, the burden of carrying it becomes heavier and heavier, and the root of glorifying self-hatred and the shame of your sin, deeper. While it may appear to make more sense to us to hide our sins from God, ultimate freedom and spiritual rest will only come from running toward God instead. Yes, the very same God who you’ve offended is the very same God you need to run to for freedom, in repentance, for newness. I encourage you – don’t allow your mind to get trapped in the perpetual cycle of guilt and shame. Like David, humbly, and wholeheartedly confess your sins before God. Make running towards God your disciplined, default cycle instead.

Oftentimes, we experience our greatest disconnect from God when our sins are left unconfessed.

A strong relationship with the Lord requires that we repent and confess our sins regularly. As Christians, we are being sanctified, made holy even as He is Holy, daily. So then Christian, don’t let your sins stop you from boldly approaching the Throne of God! When you confess and truly repent of your sins, God will give your weary spirit rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” –Matthew 11:28-30. A “sacrifice of the heart” is precious in the sight of God.

God delights in a surrendered, broken, and contrite heart—one that desires to be pure.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord Jesus Christ wants our hearts! I encourage you to neither wallow nor allow yourself to remain entrenched in your sins. Instead, go before The Throne of God, confess, repent, and ask Him for a pure heart, a renewed spirit. What does our confession do? It humbles us. It reminds us of our need for God’s grace, it sustains and renews our faith. Wherever you are, be honest, talk to God. Open Psalm 51, praying it out loud. Might the Holy Spirit expose the ugliness inside your heart? Yes – but only because God loves you, He wants to work on that area within you. His grace is so beautiful. It forgives, renews, transforms, and, further still, it promises this: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” –2 Corinthians 3:12.

Don’t let your sins keep you away from God. Don’t allow them to keep you from knowing or accepting Jesus into your life. The Lord already knows your heart, nothing you’ve ever done—will ever confess can surprise Him. God is, after all, Omniscient; nothing takes Him by surprise. Pray sincerely from your heart then, confess it all, lay it all at his feet. I guarantee you that your Creator will meet there, renewing a right Spirit in you.

The Secret Place.

June 27, 2020 /
Kendra Santilli

When I was in nursing school I spent some time in the operating room observing some brilliant surgeons and nurses. I would say it was one of my favorite rotations. I remember one instance where I was sitting in on a knee replacement surgery. The patient had expressed that they were experiencing incredible knee pain and were more than ready to receive their new and improved hardware. They started counting to ten as they were lulled to sleep by anesthesia. Moments after the anesthesia kicked in, the physician got to work. To spare the graphic details, I’ll just say this: I never really understood just how much healing was actually happening in recovering patients. I realized that with surgery, the doctor sometimes has to cause more trauma, knowing full well that the patient is better off in the end, in order to get to the real problem. You see, the patient’s nerve endings, muscles, and skin all have to mend from the trauma they’ve just experienced. That day as I was standing in the OR watching this patient get torn apart to get stitched back together, I heard the quiet voice of God say to my spirit, “This is what I do.” I realized that, in some ways, God is like that physician.

I don’t know about you, but I have come to realize that many times when I feel burdened, it’s simply a symptom of some deeper issue; something that needs replacement or repairing within my heart. In the Bible, there are several passages where God is referred to as Jehovah-Rapha – the God who heals. I’m specifically reminded of Mark 2:17, where Jesus says “… Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” I find it funny that Jesus makes this clear distinction among a self-righteous culture. A distinction that tells the well-versed religious leaders that they clearly already have it all together (and I say this facetiously). He is looking for those who are humble enough to realize that they need some help. Just as sick people need a doctor, sinners need a savior. I love that He chased “sickness” with “calling sinners”. This tells me that sin causes sickness of the heart, and that heart healing is just as important, if not more important than physical healing. These sicknesses of the soul can only be remediated by the One who made a way. Our heart issues are rooted in sin and God knows that! One thing I learned about surgery is that it takes time before one can apply weight to the area which was operated on. 

A few years back, I experienced the deepest loneliness that I could ever even imagine going through. I was surrounded by people but somehow felt completely invisible. I was in the midst of several new transitions in my life: new husband, a new state, new career, new church community. I didn’t realize it then, but it was a lot. In the midst of all of that, I struggled to make new friends. It felt like the more I tried, the lonelier I became. It was weird. I have never had a problem making friends, it’s just the charismatic extrovert in me! Through prayer, I realized that this loneliness was a result of the sin of idolatry. Let me explain. I realized that being accepted by people and loving people’s company had become of more importance to me than God’s approval and desiring His company. This loneliness was my symptom of the root issue: rejection. I wanted so badly to belong, while God was trying to teach me that, in Him, I already belonged! God knew this about me before I ever knew it about myself, and He had some work to do. Over the next couple of years, He brought me through a process of learning what it means to say, “God, you’re enough for me”. It was a good two years of just me and Him in the secret place. It’s in the secret place where He does His deepest work. The kind of work that makes its way from our hearts to our heads to our hands. This work has tangible outcomes and truly changes a person, and it’s a job only the Great Physician can do. When a person is recovering from surgery, there is a lot of pain involved with their nerves, bones, muscles, and skin. They have to go through therapies and rehab before being able to carry their full weight again. I promise you, though the surgery and healing are painful, the outcome is always worth it in the end. For me, this weight looked like having meaningful relationships. Through this season of solitude, I learned how to have relationships without rooting my identity in them. I also discovered a lot of pride and arrogance in my heart. That weight looked like not being able to be in leadership positions until I could be there without arrogance. For some people, they may have to go through the healing of rejection where the weight is that they can’t handle criticism. Over time, healing allows us to carry the weight without being so deeply impacted: we are made strong enough to overcome obstacles that may come our way.

I invite you to pray and ask God to show you what areas of your heart need healing. You may or may not even be aware of what it may be, but He is so kind as to expose the need and lead us through it. He wants to see us whole. He wants to see us thriving while we are here on earth. In moments of adversity, pray for the strength to lean into Him to carry you. To heal you. To restore you. To strengthen you. Adversity is not time to run away, it is time to press in. Will you trust God to do the work that He needs to do to bring you to your purpose? We cannot carry the weight of our purpose until He does His refining work. 

If you don’t know God as a healer, Jehovah-Rapha, the invitation is available to you. He sees your pain, He knows your symptoms, and He knows your “diagnosis”. But until you bring it to Him, you will not see the healing that He needs to do. Surrender to Jesus and invite Him into your space today and watch what He does.

Restoration…

June 20, 2020 /
MaryEllen Montville

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it”–John 21:6.

A consciousness of our powerlessness should cast us upon Him who has all power. Here then is where a vision and view of God’s sovereignty helps, for it reveals His sufficiency and shows us our insufficiency. Arthur W. Pink

This week, as with last, our focus will be on Jesus and Peter. Their relationship. Will we dig a little deeper into what has happened between them—and within Peter, since Jesus last commanded him to “Follow Me.” –Matthew 4:19.

Peter had met Jesus on the shore once before. His nets chock-full that day too, bursting at the seams. His heart had been pierced through and through—he had been driven to his knees in awe of what Jesus had done. Both divine appointments taking place within three short years. Years that felt like a lifetime ago now. Long before this fitful day filled with angst and anticipation—waiting to see if Jesus would show up. “Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing”. They said to him, “We will go with you”. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. –John 21:3.

It was the dawn of Peter’s great fall. That night in the garden, the night of Jesus’ arrest. The night Peter, in his rash attempt at stopping the soldiers from arresting Jesus sliced off Malchus’ ear with his sword. Before Peter had ever denied the One, he loved three times, He declared during their last meal together that he would never deny Jesus. “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same”–Matthew 26:35. And yet he did –deny Christ that is. As mentioned above, not just once—but three times. Yet as soon as Peter’s eyes locked onto Jesus’ in those early hours before dawn, after His mock trial before Caiaphas—in one fateful nanosecond, Peter felt the overwhelming weight of his betrayal crush him. Felt everything within him implode under its treacherous weight. “…Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times”. And he went outside and wept bitterly. –Matthew26:75.

His heart torn asunder. His once grandiose ego, shattered. His duplicity had just crushed him. Peter knew in that instant he was not the Rock. Peter knew instead that he was a sinner who desperately needed the Savior he had just denied. Whatever he had mistakenly believed of himself, died this fateful morning. Now He was exactly where he needed to be. Moldable. Pliable. Humbled. Was it all for naught? Was it too late for Peter? Having your destiny shaped by the hand of God can be an agonizing process. Death to self and pride usually are. Self-reliance and ego struggle to surrender their grip on us all. They certainly did in Peter’s case. But in the end, God’s plan for Peter’s life was accomplished through his suffering and submission both. We serve a merciful God! There are times nevertheless, God must strip us down to our very foundation that he might sure-up the cracks that have formed within it. Cracks that will inevitably cause us to topple over under the weight of the calling He has placed on our lives. His firmly establishing us then, to withstand the weight of the calling He has on us, is paramount to our growth. Paramount to our ongoing relationship with Him and for the sake of those, He has called us to serve.

We expect our leaders to be flaw-less. Not so with Jesus. Jesus calls those He has chosen to lead exactly as they are—then, He begins their reshaping. A pulling out and a putting in. Drawing out of their brokenness—humility, and an obedience to Him, trust too. All the while removing self-reliance, pride, and ego—and all their other grainy bits…

Peter had experienced some profound, life-changing events during his three-plus-year walk with Jesus. He had a front-row seat for the Sermon on the Mount. He drank in the Beatitudes. The lesson on being Salt and Light, about the law and anger, adultery, and divorce, about vows and revenge, and loving your enemy. Peter heard about giving to the needy and he learned how to pray. He learned about money and possessions, judging others, and who Jesus considers true disciples to be. Peter was an eyewitness to a man being healed from leprosy and the faith of one Roman soldier that was so great, Christ Himself was amazed. It was his walking on water, his divine revelation of Jesus’ being the Messiah, the Son of the living God, his witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration. It was all these instances, and so much more—the private conversations and corrections we are not privy to—that had been poured into establishing Peter’s foundation. Each of these above lessons can be read in their entirety in Matthew Chapters 5-7;14-17.

Now, after the worst days of his life, John’s Gospel tells us Peter is fishing once again. Doing what is familiar, using his reasoning. That is until he hears a voice tell him to cast his nets to the other side of his boat. Did Peter wonder to himself, “Why does that sound so familiar…?”

Once again, his nets were suddenly bursting at the seams! It appears from Scripture that it was at that moment John recognized the man standing at the shore as Jesus. And as soon as he shared that news with Peter, Peter jumped off the boat and headed straight to Him. This is not the first time that Peter has seen Jesus since His resurrection. In Luke’s Gospel, we hear of Peter’s encountering Jesus soon after His resurrection. Those disciples who had encountered Jesus on the Emmaus road returned to Jerusalem—to where the disciples were staying. And after sharing their story of meeting Jesus and breaking bread with Him, the disciples confirmed for them that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead! “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon”. –Luke 24: 33-34.

Now, the fish cooked, the nets washed and put away, once again Jesus directs the conversation to where Jesus had intended it to go from before the foundation of the world. To Peter’s mission and calling. But first, restoration needed to happen. Jesus could have easily done this when He showed Himself to Peter that first time, and perhaps He did? Scripture is silent on this matter. Perhaps that is where Peter’s restoration started? Perhaps that is why Peter’s feelings are hurt the third time Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him? Or perhaps it is because we need to be here as a witness too. Perhaps we need to witness Godly restoration that we might one day extend it just as Jesus did? When a leader falls publicly, as Peter did, for any to follow him again—for others to be able to trust that God has chosen to use him in ministry once again, He must be publicly restored. This is in part what Jesus is doing here in John’s Gospel. Publicly reinstating Peter as the Rock on which His Church will be built—in front of the very ones who witnessed Peter’s fall. Christ is far more interested in our character being right before Him then He is with our title or position being restored to us. Remember that whole shoring-up Peter’s foundation I spoke about earlier? Jesus is doing that here. Godly correction brings about healing and restoration to our relationship with God—above all else. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” –Galatians 6:1-2.

In closing, listen to what one writer shares with us concerning Peter’s restoration: After they were finished eating, Jesus addressed Peter with a question he would ask him three times in a row, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:15, 16, 17). Simon was Peter’s name by birth, Peter (which means “Rocky”) was a nickname Jesus gave him. The first time Jesus asked this question, he asked Peter if he loved him “more than these” (John 21:15). What does Jesus mean by this question? Scholars think Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Jesus more than any of the other disciples loved Jesus. Remember, this is what Peter claimed in Mark 14:29 (and in Matthew 26:33). Before the arrest of Jesus, Peter boldly claimed to love Jesus better than anyone else. Peter’s answer demonstrates that he has been chastened and humbled, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15). Jesus repeats the question two more times, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:16-17). Peter was hurt that Jesus kept asking him the same question. Peter admits that Jesus knows his heart better than he does. Peter answers, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you” (John 21:17). Peter has lost his arrogance. He knows that Jesus knows his true heart. Why did Jesus ask him this question three times? The three questions echo the three denials Peter made of knowing Jesus after his arrest (see John 18:15-18, 25-27). Jesus was reinstating Peter and restoring him to public ministry within view of the other disciples.

Friend, if you are here today and do not know this Jesus who knows you better than you know yourself, who loves you beyond what you could ever imagine possible, then I encourage you, please, ask Him to show Himself real to you now. There is nothing you have done that will prevent His coming. But you not asking Him to come may. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” –Acts 4:12.

Unfaithful. Hosea 1:2.

April 18, 2020 /
When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and have children of [her] prostitution; for the land commits great acts of prostitution by not following the Lord.”

I’ve heard it said that It is important to remember that grace is not merely unmerited favor, but it is favor in spite of merited judgment…

Our Scripture is shocking I know. Not exactly the nice “after Easter message” you may have been expecting. I get it. I do. But if you’ll just extend me a little grace, I promise you the same Jesus we just praised and hailed and exalted last week—will show-up here today. Our Savior will come bursting forth as surely, as plainly and eternally, as He did that first Easter morning!

I recently read a compelling point made by commentator James Montgomery Boice concerning today’s Scripture. It opened my eyes afresh as I took in his reflection. It pointed me, with laser precision, directly toward the whole raw, deep, eternal Truth that is laid bare before us within the Book of Hosea. Boice’s arrow most definitely hitting its intended target: If Hosea’s story cannot be real (because ‘God could not ask a man to marry an unfaithful woman’), then neither is the story of salvation real, because that is precisely what Christ has done for us…

This quote instantly took me straight back to the pure, innocent, devoted, crucified Christ that I’d recently just beheld hanging on a criminal’s tree. In an instant, I found myself staring into His eyes caked with blood yet so soft still, full of a love and compassion, a tenderness, that quite literally brought me to my knees. This Godman, this Christ, was hanging there because of me. I felt the Truth of this in my soul. My sins the nails that had pierced His hands and precious feet. Innocent. And yet the Truth I saw so clearly expressed in those eyes pierced my heart. I couldn’t escape them. I didn’t want to. I never want to not know—live one second that I breathe the very air He created, outside of the Truth I saw in those eyes: “MaryEllen, my love for you is what held me—to that Cross.”

Our God—my God, this Christ that left heaven behind so that He could wrap Himself in the temporary-ness of human flesh that He might feel every thing, everything you and me feel; every need I have, we have, you’ve ever felt. From hunger and pain to cutting betrayal and great love—such inexplicable love. Thirst, hunger, heat, cold, loss too—He felt all of them. Did I mention knowing rejection by its first name? Jesus felt everything. Every hot Israeli day and it’s partner, the cold night. Every hour of deep longing for a people He came into this world specifically to die for—to make a way for, as no other ever could. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” –Matthew 23:37.

If only they’d have welcomed Him. If only they would have accepted the ring He came asking them to slip on. If only they’d have taken His name and remained faithful to Him. It is this God—this Christ, this Bridegroom that comes to Israel in the book of Hosea. That comes to you and me and him and her and says I know you’re a prostitute. I know that you’re unfaithful. I know that while you are still here, wrapped in your sin-full flesh there will always be “others” in your life—standing in between us. In Hosea, God teaches us—however frankly, not only how He feels about us, more the lengths He will go to, to make us His own. You see He knows our frame, our sinful state, as surely and completely as He knew Israel’s sins and idolatry—their whoredom. Strong words I know, but Truth is biting at times. And as we witness in the language of Hosea, God can and will be as frank as He so chooses to be to get our attention…

By the start of Hosea’s first chapter, Israel has already wandered far from God. It’s been chasing after the Baal’s. The gods of this world. Those things they thought would bring them pleasure, would satisfy their deep hunger. Sound familiar? It should. We are each guilty, on some level, of this very sin! “But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen?” –Ezekiel 16:15-16.

Is it any wonder then that at this pivotal moment, Gomer is introduced to us? This woman who, representing Israel, has broken her vows, her covenant to remain faithful to this innocent Prophet of God. In Gomer, we witness the condition of Israel’s heart —a people He has chosen for Himself—a wanton and rebellious people God has chosen as His own. But don’t judge them too harshly, because in Gomer a mirror is also handed to you and me—reflecting back to us our unfaithfulness. And, as painful as it may be to look into, if we, like Israel, like Gomer, are to truly repent of our whoredom—our idolatry and sin-full wonderings, our spiritual adultery, then look into it we must. “So I bought Gomer back for 6 ounces of silver and 9 bushels of barley. Then I told her, “You must stay at home with me for many days. You will not be like a prostitute. You will not have sexual relations with another man. I will be your husband.” In the same way the people of Israel will continue many days without a king or a leader. They will be without a sacrifice or a memorial stone. They will be without an ephod or a household god. After this, the people of Israel will come back and look for the Lord their God and for David their king. In the last days they will come to honor the Lord and his goodness.” Hosea 3:2-5.

Our God is long-suffering and merciful, yes, but let us never forget our Husband is also just—and jealous of His bride…

In this first chapter of Hosea, we witness the not-so-shadowy figure of the Messiah—the Christ that will come, emerging. This Jesus who will come to us while we are yet filthy and wallowing, like some unrestrained beast, in our sins. A God who is not put off by the foul-stench of these, our many sins. In this first chapter of Hosea, we meet this God who sees past all of our stuff —our every sin, our shame, lies, and our hustle, to the person He has created us to be in His Son Jesus. He bids us then to follow after Him.

Just as we are, He calls us to Himself…

Yet, as with Gomer, His great love for us refuses to leave us in the state in which He found us. Even after His bearing witness to every thing we’ve ever said and done, still, He wants us to come to Him. To not let our stuff stop us from accepting His marriage proposal. To just get up and run to Him—leaving our filthy past in the dust! And get up and follow we must! He loves us far too much, has paid too great a price to ransom us, to leave us continuing to roll around in the same filth in which He first found us. “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” –Romans 6:21-22.

Despite how degrading and repulsive it may have felt to Hosea to be asked by God to marry Gomer, out of obedience to Him, he did it; regardless if it made sense to anyone, himself included. God had commanded Hosea to go and marry this harlot—not die for her. Jesus would soon be sent to cover dying for her. In Christ’s taking a bride from amongst a polluted, sin-drenched, wanton world, we witness the nascent beginnings of His great obedience to do the will of the Father also—however contrary the Father’s will may appear to us in sending One that is sinless to marry one so full of sin. If we were paying attention, we would have caught God’s intention to send us Christ, back in the garden when He covered Adam and Eve in bloody animal skins. But that’s for another day…

In Hosea, we see the foreshadowing of Christ’s donning His wedding suit—a human body, mere flesh, and willingly, obediently, lovingly, stepping across time and eternity at the Father’s behest. Not only to save Israel but also you and me too; we were a great part of why He came at all. To give us His name. To bestow upon us rights, privileges, and honor we’d otherwise never have known. He gave us our place in this world—and the next. In Hosea’s loving-kindness to Gomer, we are privileged to catch but a glimpse of this Jehovah God’s great love, both for Israel—His firstborn, and for you and me, branches grafted into His precious Body. And yes, even for that one too…

“For rarely will anyone 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.

Friend, if you are here today and there is something in you that’s saying, “wait, if God can love a prostitute then there’s hope for me too” you’re right! There’s room for us all at the feet of Christ Jesus! And yes, He’ll take you just as you are. No need to try and get cleaned up before you come. I was a Gomer, and He met me right where I was. Won’t you ask God to come into your life right now? Why wait? “Yet the number of the sons of Israel Shall be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.” –Hosea 1:10.

Never Alone. Psalm 23:4

April 4, 2020 /
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Have you ever found yourself feeling so alone? The heaviness of a loneliness that declares itself your only companion is a weight we were never meant to carry. King David seems to have understood this side of our humanity. Throughout the Psalms, we get a glimpse into some of his deepest, most emotional experiences, as we are taken on a journey through this one man’s life… 

Just chapters before this faith-filled passage, in Psalm 13, we find King David crying out to God because he felt incredibly abandoned. But what caused him to come out of his crisis still trusting in God, the Good Shepherd? How could someone in such distress turn their weeping into a song of praise? King David seems to have responded to emotional turmoil with faith and praise. 

Responding to despair with faith can only stem from a deep-rooted relationship with God. There must be an understanding that God is constant. He never changes. He is good, regardless of life’s circumstances, and He is with us in all circumstances. There is a reason why we are reminded, several times, throughout the scriptures, that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He will never abandon us. (Deut. 31:8; Josh. 1:9; Isa. 41:10; Matt. 28:20, to name but a few). It has been said that it is not God who leaves us, rather, it is we who tend to walk away from God. As we spend time with the Lord daily, we develop an awareness of His presence in our lives. Reminding ourselves of who God is, is essential to remaining steadfast on Him, as the Solid Rock. When we remind ourselves of who He is in the midst of the trial, we put to death our flesh that would rather complain and wallow in self-pity. As we remember who the Father is, it becomes more natural for us to respond to the valleys with prayer rather than doubt. This lifestyle of prayer inherently causes us to remember that we are not merely talking to the air but to an extremely near God who cares for us more than we’ll ever know. 

Psalm 23 is an excellent example of what it means to edify our souls… 

In this passage, it seems as though King David was not in the midst of a trial; he was simply reflecting on the goodness and faithfulness of God. For believers today, this means that it is important to make a habit of praising God in the good times so that in the ‘not-so-good times’ we can remember who He is and what He has done for us. If our attention is never brought to His faithfulness, we will be shaken in those moments when we need to remember it most. Praise is like a muscle; the more we exercise it, the stronger it becomes. As we spend time in praise daily, we’ll learn to exercise our praise muscle so that, when we don’t feel like praising, praise will, nevertheless, become our natural response to whatever we’re feeling. Praise will have become part of our muscle memory. 

There are 5 principles that we can take away from this passage in which David acknowledged the hand of God on his life: v. 1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures…” Jesus provides rest for our souls. In the peaceful seasons, acknowledging the rest that we have in our communion with Him helps us to live in awareness of His goodness. 

v. 2-3 “… he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” I love the peace oozing out of this passage. Our God is a God of restoration. As we walk with Him and trust Him, He brings us to a place of complete peace that surpasses all understanding. In this process, we grow in trust and confidence in Him that we can’t explain. It is an understanding that He is in control. 

v.4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” It’s easy to see God’s hand in hindsight when we’re standing on the victorious side of a trial. There are times when we know we couldn’t make it through a certain situation on our own. May we never forget His kindness in those moments! He is our strength and protection. Draw your strength from the One in whom the wind and waves obey. The God who created the entire universe is not just with us because he has to be, but because he desires to be! He is near. The valley does not always look the same in every season. Sometimes, it can present itself as a trial in your emotions or it can be a conflict in relationships. Whatever it is, you are not alone. He is with you. It is a promise! 

v. 5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In the middle of the trial, whatever that may be, God is our provision. He wants to bless us. According to Webster’s dictionary, the word blessing means; “imploring happiness on another.” God does not want us to be miserable. He wants to bless us beyond measure. Often when we hear blessing it’s easy to think of material things, but by definition, a blessing is a prayer of happiness. What will bring happiness in this season? Is it something physical, or is it peace, joy, or favor? God knows our needs even better than we do! When we abide in His presence and yield our lives to Him, He will bless us far more than we could have ever imagined! 

v. 6 “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” God’s favor is afforded to us when we rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This verse highlights some of the trade-offs for submitting our lives to the Lord. Like King David, we must be confident that the goodness and love of God will be our portion. His favor follows us wherever we go. As children of God, we are never alone. He is with us always. He knew that in this life we would have our fair share of highs and lows, but He promised we wouldn’t have to walk it alone. 

Rest, restoration, strength and protection, provision and blessing, and favor are all available to us as we allow Him to walk with us. Is He enough for you today? If not, I’d 

challenge you to dig deep and ask yourself why not? When we get to a place where He is enough for us, we begin to journey through life with unwavering confidence that He is who He says he is, and we are who He says we are. I pray that you will begin to exercise your praise muscle so that you will respond to the dark valleys in praise, knowing that He is right there with you. As you draw near to God He will draw near to you. Then, now fortified, you’ll lift your eyes and be able to say with confidence, “God is good, even when life is not.” If you are reading this and feel that this is not for you because you don’t “follow Jesus” I want you to know that the opportunity to follow Him is available to you today. God so loved THE WORLD (me and you), that He gave His Son (John 3:16). He came for you before you even knew of Him. If you want to walk with this Jesus who will never leave or abandon you, the Bible says to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Call on His name, for He is near.

Kingship. Revelation 22:16.

December 21, 2019 /
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Friends, for this, our last week together during Advent, I will again be writing this post centered around Jesus as the “Light.” It is this aspect of Himself that He has been impressing upon my heart, and I believe, wants to re-mind us of. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live be remind dear friends: Immanuel is here, still! He is sending His Word out afresh in this season of hope that we might refocus our hearts and minds on Him. To rekindle our remembrance of His promise to “never leave us, never forsake us.” My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is that you will look up and be refreshed, reawakened, or, perhaps, awakened for the first time to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

Isaiah speaks to us about this tender Shoot, this Root. This babe who’ll be born to us in Bethlehem. This Morning Star who comes and humbly takes on His servant’s frame. “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him”—Isaiah 53:2.

I’ve heard of these offspring’s before, these mere shoots; “suckers” they’re called. They’re described as follows: A shout which grows out of the root of a tree, at some little distance from it, of which no notice or care is taken, nor anything hoped for from it. Like that of the springing up of a low and insignificant plant or shrub out of the earth.

Jesus was viewed by many in much the same way…

As insignificant. A nuisance. Wild. Untamable. Of having little value to them. Being deemed as unworthy of sharing in their precious time. A heretic! Most could not recognize the hope He offered this lost and dying world. Offers, still. Jesus was looked upon by most of those He came to give His life a ransom for as an imposter. Yet He is greater than any of those mere men from whose bloodline He hailed. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” –Micah 5:2.

Listen closely to how He describes Himself when speaking to John. He leaves no room, in any man’s heart, to doubt the authenticity of both the speaker or His Words. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” –Revelation 22:16. Long before His lone star shone brightly in the heavens, a beacon, drawing the poor and royal both towards a manger, Isaiah had written of the seemingly lowly status of this New Born King who would come cloaked as Bethlehem’s Babe. “And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger” –Luke 2:12.

Is it any wonder that His arrival would be accompanied by this sign? This Guiding Light? Be heralded by an angel? The birth of the Kings of Kings, God’s only begotten Son made flesh, warranted an extra-ordinary celestial announcement. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” Psalm 19:1-4.

Would any of those below have otherwise believed that the King of Kings had just been born in such a lowly place? Or that He is, in fact, their long-awaited Messiah? Is the King of Glory? Jaded as humanity was—is, still, it requires signs, proofs. Why was it only the Magi who seemingly knew whose star this was? To Whom it was pointing them towards? Didn’t all of Jerusalem, and the surrounding areas have access to the same Scriptures they did? More even? “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth” Numbers 24:17.

No one expected Him to come as He did when He did, that first time around. And, as it was then, so too will it be when He comes again.

“The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing – until the flood hit and swept everything away” –Matthew24:37-38.

Most missed out on the free gift of Jesus’ lavish, sacrificial, healing love. They missed His purpose, the heart behind His ministry: restoration—clearing the way back to a right relationship with the Father. They missed out on His healings, the freedom, liberty, and, new-Life that was being offered them; that might have been theirs, but, they missed out. Missed Him. Their hearts too firmly set against any possibility that He was, in fact, who He claimed to be. They failed—some refused, to acknowledge the humble majesty of this Bright and Morning Star, this New Dawn, this Light that annihilates the darkness, because they were too busy looking for a stately, warrior king, a militaristic deliver—another David. Though through His mother and father both, His lineage is linked to that of Kings, of warriors, this once-renowned kingly line had, by the time of Jesus’ birth, been reduced to little more than the embers of a once-prominent name. Perfect! No mere coincidence here! Such a thing doesn’t exist with God. He is perfect, so is His timing. Hence the exact moment of this Babe’s birth. This Shoot spoke of in Isaiah.

Just when all appeared hopeless, dried up, like some long-dead tree stump, this Offspring of David, this Shoot would suddenly burst forth; forever turning this world upside down. Making all things new…

From the moment He arrived—before really, His Kingship has always been hidden in plain sight; starting with His conception. Kings aren’t typically born to unwed teenage moms and dads who are carpenters. They’re not born in a lowly manger rather, in stately mansions. Kings are not born outwardly poor, don’t willingly take on the form of their humble servant, washing the feet of their friends. Most kings do not renounce their titles, nor the glory and perks that often accompany it. Yet the King of Kings did. He was pleased to give all glory and honor to His Father—claiming none as His own. This Jesus, a babe who was bathed in the Light of heaven, came as a Living Sacrifice the first time. Meek, lowly, yet no less The King. No less God wrapped in flesh.

Soon, He will come again. This time, however, He’ll come as our Judge. Yet before He does, before this Light who sees all, comes; He, out of His store of unfathomable love, offers us one last opportunity to cry out to Him now, in repentance of our sins—for His mercy and forgiveness, acknowledging that we are sinners in desperate need of Him, our Savior. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” –Revelation 22:12.

What better Christmas gift could any man ask than to have His name written in The Lamb’s Book of Life? “For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” –2 Peter 1: 17-19.

Friend, in this season of renewed hope, my prayer for you is this: that you will receive this Gift God freely gives to anyone, anywhere, who will wholeheartedly accept it. Won’t you ask Him to give you this Jesus as your Lord and Savior now, as your own Christmas Gift? How I would love to spend eternity celebrating Him with you! “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” –Revelation 22:17.

Snatched From the Fire. Zechariah 3:2.

August 17, 2019 /
“And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Snatched:  To take or grasp abruptly or hastily; to attempt to seize something suddenly.

You beloved are that burning stick that has been snatched from the fire. A sinner saved by His amazing grace! Like Joshua before you, you have been washed clean—made new by the sacrificial shedding of Blood. The Spotless Blood of Jesus shed on your behalf. If, that is, you have accepted Jesus as your Lord…

To enter into any meaningful and lasting relationship requires intentionality. To deeply consider your commitment. A deliberate, deep and highly personal choice born from the wanting to share and grow, exchange and receive. To sacrifice and serve another or others; come what may. A conscious laying down of one’s life born out of genuine love for the well-being of the other. Entering into a relationship with Jesus is no different. It ought to be born from a deep desire to connect with this One, like no other. Remembering this: once that relationship has been established, you’ve then been set apart to both serve God and His people. And, then, to spend eternity with Him…

Yours will not be an eternity spent in the hell, that place of separation and torment that was neither created nor intended for you or any man. It was created for Satan and all those fallen angels who followed him in his rebellion against God—Matthew 25:41.

You fellow believers, are the ministers of the Most High God. Those chosen from a long line of royal priests. And yet, even though you are the King’s kid still, His ownership of you stands above your service to Him. Your priesthood—your role in ministering before the Lord exists solely because He alone has bestowed its use and service, privilege and anointing, upon you.

Ah! I have my filthy garments on. I cannot pray to Him. I cannot praise Him as I would.” I know what it is to come and preach to you sometimes, and to feel such an overwhelming sense of my own unworthiness, that, were it not, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the gospel,” I would not come on this platform again, for it is hard to feel that your garments are defiled even while endeavoring to be God’s mouth to men—Charles Spurgeon.

Friends, we cannot curry the favor of God. There’s not one thing we can do to earn “our spot.” Earn His Love for us. His forgiveness. Not-one-single-thing. Without God’s mercy and His election of us, take away His unfathomable love for us; our sins demand we spend eternity in the hell created for Satan and his gang of fallen angels, separated from God. As all those who deliberately chose to rebel against Him—deny Him, will. Not popular, I know. But it’s Truth nonetheless. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? —1 Peter 4:17. Now, with that knowledge ever before us, may we be about working out our salvation. Never forgetting the very heart of the words cried out by our brother, Paul.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death…? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! —Romans 7:24.

May this be our cry too, brothers and sisters. May we, like Joshua and Paul, and a remnant of the nation of Israel before us—like every saint that has been or is yet to come, never lose sight of how—by whose power it is, we either stand or fall; least we begin to think too highly of ourselves and risk being humbled by our Lord and, accused before His Throne by the one whose joy is found in pointing out our sins to Him.

My true position, as a Christian, is to be always ministering to God, always standing before His altar. –Charles Spurgeon.

Satan stood at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord accusing Joshua of every sin he and his people had committed. And Satan stands there still; pointing out our sins as well. Accusing all those who dare to believe in The Name above all names! Jesus!

But, here’s the good news beloved…

Jesus Christ has the final Word! He is always, “a very present help in times of trouble”—Psalm 46. There is nothing that Satan can say or do to tear you down before the Lord. We see this Truth not only within our Scripture verse today, but this same Truth permeates the Word of God. Jesus knows everything Satan will use in His attempt to destroy you—to kill you and, He’s got you covered. He’s covered your every sin with His precious Blood. You are now the righteousness of Christ Jesus.

When God spoke to Zechariah concerning the forgiveness of Joshua’s sin, the stain on the priesthood, and the sins of Israelites—you were right there in the center of God’s heart also; represented in the person of Joshua. You stood there before the Lord in all your sin, with all of your faults and flaws, and, you were covered by God’s intentions towards you. Your filthy clothes were also removed, and, in their place, the new raiment of Christ’s righteousness was placed on you. Covering your guilt and shame, you were cleansed and then redressed from head to toe!

Beloved, now when God looks at you, it is His Son—The Spotless Lamb slain for your sins, that He sees.

The rebuke is forcibly applicable to the case in hand. He says, “Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire.” Satan says, “The man’s garments are filthy…”
“Well,” says Jesus, “how do you expect them to be otherwise? When you pull a brand out of the fire, do you expect to find it milk-white or polished?” No, it had begun to crack and burn, and though you have plucked it out of the fire, it is in itself still black and charred. So it is with the child of God. What is he at his best? Till he is taken up to heaven, he is nothing, but a brand plucked out of the fire—Charles Spurgeon.

Can you even fathom so great a love, my friends? Whether or not we can wrap our heads around this, the Truth of God’s love stands fixed. Our firm foundation. God loves you and He gave His only begotten Son to die for you that you might be restored into right relationship with Him—John 3:16.

That is the very heart of the Father’s love towards you, beloved.

The Apostle Paul says it this way: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit —Galatians 3:13-15.

You have been snatched from the fire so that you might have a relationship with the Father…

That you might spend your remaining days running after Him. Seeking Him out. Loving Him and spending time with Him. Desiring Him above all else. Above everyone and everything—placing even yourself at the very top of that list of those, you are willing to sacrifice up to Jesus. Understanding now, you are no longer your own. You have been purchased at an exceedingly high price—1 Corinthians 7:23.

So, then, be re-minded beloved: Just as Joshua was lovingly and thoroughly cleansed and prepared, so too have you been cleansed. You too are being prepared for something unimaginable beloved; to become the bride of this Christ who came and gave His life in exchange for yours. That’s Good News! The very One who reached into that all-consuming fire and said, “Not this one. This one is my own.”

Accordingly, as it was with Joshua and Peter and Noah and Mary, with Paul and John and Father Abraham, brides each, made ready for their wedding day; so too has every detail of your life been, and will forever remain in the All-Knowing and capable hands of the Father. He has spared no expense on preparing you for that day that will rival no other.

The day you meet Him face to face…

That day when your fullness of joy spills out at His feet in loving gratitude. In praise and thanksgiving. In holy adoration.

Beloved, if you have forgotten, as we sometimes do, just how deeply you are loved and cherished by God, then please, ask the Holy Spirit to re-mind you. To fill you once again with the fullness of His Word concerning His great love for you. May you experience renewal, being re-united with the One it is you belong to; have been betrothed to.

The One in whose name you have been called to minister…

I believe each of us needs to stop, from time to time, and reflect on this enormous Truth. To recalibrate, realigning ourselves with our True North.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end—Hebrews 3:12-14.

I like that closing sentence, “And the angel of the LORD stood by.” Oh, yes, we want Him always to stand by. When you have your new garments on, when you wear your mitre, you still want His presence. “Abide with us,” must be our daily prayer. We want still His strength, His comfort, His smile, the help of His arm, the light of His countenance—for if we have Him not, we shall soon slip from our steadfastness, and have reason to stand again, like Joshua, with filthy garments on—Charles Spurgeon.

Friend, if you are here today and have not asked Jesus into your heart know this; God Himself has called you here. These words should be little more than a confirmation. A quickening inside of you that says, “I believe this is God. I believe this is Him answering my question, God, would you truly love someone like me?” He says yes. Yes, I love you. Yes, I led you here. And no, there is nothing that you have ever done that is so filthy that my Sons Spotless Blood will not wash it clean. Just ask me in and let us begin the journey I have planned for you…

The Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Israelites, concerning you and me: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future—Jeremiah 29:11.

Happy Summer!

June 16, 2019 /

To our faithful friends,
Sonsofthesea.org will return from our summer sabbatical refreshed, renewed, and with a new weekly posting day! Expect our return on Saturday, August 3rd, and each consecutive Saturday thereafter; as the Lord allows. We pray you enjoy a safe, faith-filled, joyful, fun-in-the-sun summer!
Until then, may God bless you and keep you…
In His Adventure,
MaryEllen




Restoration. Romans 5:10

June 3, 2018 /

 “ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].”

John 3:16, one of the most quoted verses of Scripture assures us of the unfathomable, unplumbed love of God. Listen: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And, God did this while we were yet His enemies—separated from partaking in, sharing in a loving, intimate relationship with Him because of our sin and rebellion. Yet so great is His love for His creation that even in our fallen state, He, this God we’ve denied, turned away from, rebelled against, said “no thanks” to, sacrificed the person He loved most—Jesus, His only Son. So that through Him—through His life, His death, and His resurrection—a way back to God—back to intimate relationship with Him, would be made for us…

Now I’ve been given many a gift over the course of my lifetime. Some that were downright amazing! However, never, never has anyone loved me so much that they were not only willing, but in fact went as far as, giving up their life—dying, to ensure that I was afforded the opportunity to have, share, partake of—life everlasting with God! Not even my momma, the one God chose to love me “the best”. Though I am certain that her mother’s prayers pierced His heart on more than one occasion—it is only Jesus who stood before the Father and said, Here I am Dad, I’ll die in her place.

And, in your place, and his, and hers, and theirs, and in place of the whole world…

Imagine if you will, the sacrificial love of both God and Christ towards us through this very pale light of comparison:

Most of us have heard of “Spiderman”. His name is Mamoudou Gassama. He’s the 21-year-old man who recently scaled a 5-story building to save the life of a little 4-year-old boy whose life hung—quite literally, in the balance. Now imagine further, if Mamoudou went to such extreme lengths to save this child, do you believe he would then deny this same child He had sacrificed so much for—”time for a visit with each other” if it was something the child he saved asked of him?

If a mere man—heroic and self-sacrificing as he may be, is capable of such extreme acts of sacrificial love, how much more God? “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Romans 5:10.

And, if this same God sacrificed His very best—His greatest, most precious possession, His only begotten Son so that He might have relationship with—have reconciled to Himself a people He knew beforehand would reject His gift—reject Jesus; how much more will this same God give to those who have, who will, opened their hearts to this sacrificial loving gift of His Son? We find the full weight of that answer in our Scripture verse today.

Since He gave so mush to us while we were yet His enemies, how much more will He save those He calls His friends!

Jesus, God’s gift freely given to a sin-soaked, seditious world for the express purpose of reconciliation to, and relationship with Himself. A relationship none of us can ever—will ever have outside of our acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up” John 6:44. Jesus, while speaking to His disciples—expresses this inextricable Oneness, this unity—the mystery of the Trinity between The Father and Himself. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” –John 14:6 (emphasis my own).

God gave all—the very best He had to give while you and I were His enemies…

There is a perpetual bond that now exists between Mamoudou Gassama and the child who is known only as, “the child dangling from a 4th floor balcony.” Here is what this young hero had to say about his selfless act: I ran. I crossed the street to save him. He said he didn’t think twice. When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing.

If a perpetual bond can exist between a mere man—a stranger and a child, born from one heroic act of selfless sacrifice—how much deeper, wider, stronger is the bond between God and those that know Him—that call Him Father? “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” –Romans 5:6-8. Belonging to God—having a relationship with Him doesn’t guarantee us, as with the toddler in Paris, that we’ll never be in a life-threatening situation.

He does guarantee us however, that He will scale any wall, face any enemy, endure any suffering, sacrifice everything to save us. In fact, He’s already done it! “It is rare indeed for 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.

If you are a child of God take great comfort in the Father’s Providential love for you—in His promise of, “how much more”, found in Romans Chapter 8. “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” 8:38-39.

Beloved, it’s no coincidence you’re here right now. If you have yet to call Him your Lord, today is the day! He’s just waiting for you to call out to Him, “Help, Jesus! Save me please!”  He hears your pray and is on His way before you even ask.  “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” –Isaiah 65:24

 

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