The past week I have been hovering on 1 Peter 2 (so behind on my Esther Study b/c I've been chewing on this passage):
1 Peter 2:10 (New Living Translation)
10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.
I had read a book that shared an "old rabbinical saying:" "when you read and something hits you right in the heart, then you have been kissed by the King." When you read 1 Peter 2:10, what word(s) stand out to you? It can change each day as God moves your heart to settle on other words or phrases. Lately I have been sitting on "Once you received no mercy; now you have received mercy." To receive we have to sense and recgonize a need. God is constantly wanting to give but we are not always ready. We may not see our need for His mercy, love, faith, etc. Yet, when our hearts see our need we ask for God/Jesus to show us mercy.
When we were wanting to pursue living on our own terms, we didn't want to identify as His... We didn't realize what we were doing or on Who we were missing out on. Once you ask to know God and Jesus, His name becomes "hallowed" in your heart...set apart from all others. He adopts you and you start to recognize more and more your need for His presence, love, faithfulness. Once we did not receive His mercy b/c we didn't want to recieve it or didn't know how. His Mercies are NEW EVERY morning...
Lamentations 3:23 (New Living Translation)
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
He has mercy (pity and compassion) and grace (unearned favor) bursting forth for those who are longing to receive His mercy and grace. In the midst of pain we can know that He is there and longs for us to ask for His help... He will lift you up. Let's receive it, today... When we receive we are also better enabled to give to others the love and grace God shows us. Love, Mer
The Greek text has a subtle nuance, for in its fullest sense the last clause reads, 'You had not permanently received mercy, but now you have started receiving continuing mercy.'
Received mercy (1653) (eleeo from eleos = ) actively means to help someone because of pity or great concern for their condition of need. Passively it means to receive the outward manifestation of pity and be shown mercy.
Mercy refers to the outward manifestation of pity and assumes need on the part of those who receive it and sufficient resources to meet the need on the part of those who show it.
MacArthur (ref) writes that...Mercy is synonymous with compassion and essentially involves God’s sympathy with sinners’ misery and His withholding from them the just punishment for their sins...
Hi, Baby Girl! You were ~22 weeks old when Daddy got a special "detail" out to New York City for the V.A. Hospital- to work on an Ethics project. He stayed in a nice apartment/hotel in Manhattan on 3rd and 37th. You can see the Empire State Building from His bedroom window and when the wind blows it roars 24 stories below like a huge motorcycle revving it's engine down 3rd street.
Mom came to NYC to visit Dad for 3 days in mid-March. Your Uncle Joel came Mom a free ticket called a Buddy Pass on a Sunday (Your Uncle was going to be the pilot on that flight- your mom was super excited a she's always wanted to fly with her brother) but the flight was over-booked so Mom had to take a taxi home to our lil condo in Fishers. It was lonely at home b/c both Daddy and our doggy, Drake, were not home. :( I caught a flight early the next day but almost didn't make it from Baltimore to New York b/c I was accidentally issued a ticket that had been changed last minute to stopping in Baltimore. They found the error and put me back on the flight to New York. Upon arriving to Laguardia airport, your Mom was seeking out a taxi. A man asked me if I needed a cab and then walked me a 1/4 mile, it seemed, to his taxi- which happened to be a Lincoln Limo. I was a lil nervous as I didn't know if he was legit as well as how much the cost would be.
I text your Dad- telling him about the taxi. Wouldn't you know it- my phone went dead. Low battery. My concern elevated slightly but God is good... I got to the apartment safe and sound. It was an adventure!
Your Dad and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and then ate a famous Pizza place called, Grimaldi's. It was SOO yummy!! We sat a table with 6 other people which was unique. YOur Dad and I had a huge pizza with our own toppings on 1/2. Mom loves mushrooms- Dad's not much of a fan of mushies on pizza. We had dessert @ Lily's Irish Chocolate Cafe -drank two, very rich hot chocolates!! You might remember that :)!
Isn't your Dad great!! He is so much fun!! This is a pose he usually does when we travel somewhere :).
Your Dad was a huge fan of the handsome, gray sweater worn by this Italian looking gentleman hosting at Grimaldi's. This gentleman was pretty calm and cool, but all business. We felt as if we were watching a Godfather movie while we waited to be seated.
On Thursday morning, your dad sweetly walked outside with mom (b/c he's very thoughtful like that) and haled a cab. Wouldn't you know it that 2 taxis drove by at 4:30am...One hit the other causing them to debate in the middle of the street about what had happened. Then they preceded to ask your mom to choose a taxi. Brave and bold as he is (esp after being in NY for a week) he told them to leave us alone. I got into another cab and headed on home.
Since we were miles apart for several days, your mom and dad decided to Skype for the 1st time together. It was so fun!! Your dad was so cute on the computer screen! :) Unfortunately, the computer would often freeze and make a funny picture of our face...it would stay for several minutes while we talked. Your Dad took a picture of me and texted it to me (showing my funny, frozen image on his computer). He's hilarious!! That opened the door for mom to take a picture of him to text, too. We had a great time but ended up talking and praying over the phone instead.
Isn't he so cute! Even with the computer frozen with his mouth open. Now, the pics of Mom Skyping were not as pretty. :)
The time came on April 3rd for mom to fly back out to New York! She was super excited to see her hubby. You and mom had an easy flying experience out as well as took a bus for the first time in New York. It was only a 15 minute ride to meet your Dad. What I'll always remember is riding on the bus with 10 other people to Grand Central Station but realizing that we were going to ride right past Dad's apartment. He got my text and then started running to meet us...He saw our bus and kept running. I looked out of our window and saw Dad running with his Oregon basketball shorts and a big smile. It was so sweet...Mom definitely felt loved.
After a big hug we walked to the apartment and then went to eat at Duke's...and to watch Butler University play Michigan State in the Final Four. Butler won!! YAY! It was a close game! The next morning, we got up early, read the Bible for a bit, then found an Easter Service at the New York City Church (a church plant from Portland, OR). It was terrific!! The new running shoes your Dad bought mom on Times Square from the Footlocker were helping mom stand for ~1 hour at church. Ouch...our feet were hurting already and it was olnly 1pm.
We walked to a deli and then walked to Ground Zero to see the memorial. We each recorded a message on a computer regarding where we were and what we felt when the twin towers were attacked on 9/11/01. Following Ground Zero, we walked and took the subway out to the Staton Island Ferry where we grabbed a super soft ice cream cone and then rode to Staton Island and back. Your Dad took some GREAT pictures! We got home at 6pm with our feet throbbing and our legs fatigued.
"I was in grad school when I saw the planes crashing into the towers between 8:45-9:05am on 9/11/01."
Do you see you?? My belly?? Your Dad is a wonderful photographer!
Your Dad had a hard time sleeping that night b/c there were a couple mosquitos hidden in his room- poor Daddy had huge red bumps from the mosquito bites. After saying a prayer for Dad, the mosquisto surfaced- Mom saw it and it was history. YAY- maybe dad will be able to sleep soundly Monday night.
Monday morning- Dad trekked off to work and Mom put back on her new running shoes and took you out to see the town again. We grabbed a bottled water and then ran into Starbucks for a decaf coffee. We sat and read a chapter in the book of James at a lil table in the very middle of Times Square, took pictures for 3 families, and then ventured out to find Rockafeller Plaza. We found it!!
We stood in front of Hoda and Kathy Lee windows for ~30 minutes or so...we made friends with Tracy and her husband from Toronto who were in NY for their 50th wedding anniversary. Such a sweet couple!! I shared that I thought you'd be a daddy's girl which made Tracy cry. She missed her eldest Daughter...who is 23 and living on the other side of Canada. We hugged and then went our own ways- them to Saks Fifth Ave and us to the NBC store and then St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Your Dad thought MacGruber was a hilarious skit on Saturday Night Live. SOOO wanted to get this shirt for him. :)
We sat and took in more sun, beauty, and sights... then, to save mom's feet and to get some rest, you and mom walked a mile back to the apartment. What a great start to the day!! Tonight Butler plays Duke for the championship!! Go Butler!!
1 Sam 5:3... "When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD." The Ark of the Covenant was the original container for the Ten Commandments and the central symbol of God's presence with the people of Israel.
God has really been blessing my heart and soul through re-discovering 1 Samuel... It is so, so easy to get in a rut of reading His Word in a season of "performance" - attempting to "do" for Him...instead of...talking to Him from my whole heart and waiting to hear from Him. I thank God for a broken bone in my arm to have slowed me down. God is SO wise :). He uses our circumstances for our best...
God is a faithful... loving... and gracious Father.
He is also TRUTH and power. Wherever God is = Truth is.
When a thought or word is twisted and distorted...disorder, shame and pain most often follows. In 1 Samuel 5, the Philistines took the Ark from Israel via a victory at war. They placed this sacred Ark in a defiled place - a place that was dedicated to a pagan god named Dagon. Please read the following verses: :)
1 Samuel 5:1-5
1 Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. 4 But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands {were} cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
God is God... The one and only living and true God (1Th 1:9). Dagon couldn't stand in the presence of God!
Pun totally intended here: the Philistines may have said, "Dagon! What is happening?" :) They recognized that the God of Israel was not allowing Himself to be contained or mastered. God promises to be our God...and the author of our faith! He made His dwelling to be in us...His temple is now in us- those who believe that He is the one, True God Who came to Earth in human form to free us from the bondage of sin. (Romans 7 & 8).
The sermon was about freedom yesterday at Common Ground... This chapter of 1 Samuel shares how God's presence/Jesus in us is the truth...the access to truth...the supply of truth that sets us free!
John 8:32 - "...and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Philippians 3:10 "...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
We are His children...(Colossians 3:12).. God loves us deeply and with a faithful pursuit of hearts...each day. He hears our prayers and doesn't forget them. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory...His image.
For that reason, God WILL...LOVINGLY..." unearth areas within us that have been wounded by lies. God/Jesus WILL uncover some dagons...some false gods = areas of untruth = belief patterns = misplaced identity and worship...places winthin where we have gone to find life... God WILL find those and WILL cause them to fall. God can cut off the "head"/perceived authority of that area/pattern as well as remove the hands/power it has.
This is often a process that feels like an internal battle or war... because it is in fact a battle. Where God is - Truth is. Truth sets us free and brings us new insights into the heart of our God. Be encouraged when you feel as though you see ancient ruins in you surface! Be encouraged when the dirt that is being dug-up surfaces for a bit... FOR
Isaiah 61:4-9 "...they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations." God is rebuilding you and me...day by day... From glory to glory.
1John 5:4 "...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."
Let us seek Him out today in all that we do and see...His presence is truth and that truth is sweeter than any food or human accolade that we could receive. God has allowed me to see more and more how I need Him and depend on Him to love well and to receive love well... As well as to receive grace and to give grace to others (and myself). By giving God reignn in those soul-places...truth illuminates dark places and forms new land. He rebuilds...and I SOOO welcome that today....
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
Growing-up, my parents had me go to Sunday school but I didn't really understand what it all meant until I was 27. :) I can't remember more than 2 of those Sunday school lessons but I do recall the people there who really showed me that they cared for me. To me, they showed me the Bible. Especially having endured a painful divorce (my parents). I thank my Grandma for praying for my sis, brother and I b/c her faith and love really helped my heart to know God was there with me all along through those hard times. He has been since. Even when I choose my own way at times, His love doesn't change... It's a life-long journey of learning to trust Him with my whole heart. He's so worthy of that trust but it's against the grain of my old programming. That's what makes His Grace (in the Greek: "Unmerited/unearned favor)."
Here is a lil devotional to help us all think upon this week... What had happend and how those historical events continue on.
Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. I wasn't sure exactly what Palm Sunday was and thus did some research and reading. More than 300 prophecies given by God in the Old Testament were fullfilled by Jesus. Isn't that amazing! All were done to reveal Himself to us and to show significance through each fullfillment. Here are some regarding Palm Sunday through Easter...
Most of the Gospel Books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) , they tell of the Passover and Jesus riding into Jeruselum. Here is one from my favorite Gospel, John 12:12-19:
12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.”
16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others[j] about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”
Here is a verse from the Old Testament:
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you;He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey,Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Some questions I had when preparing a lesson my some kiddos were, "Why Palms?," "Why a donkey?," and "What does 'hosanna' actually mean?"
The Palm branch represented victory, the donkey symbolized peacefuly intentions, and Hosanna means, "Save now." Given the context of history the Israelites and the rule over them by the Romans, this event was deeply important... They wanted freedom from oppression and victory. What God/Jesus had planned was indeed victory and freedom... Yet, it was in a much more profound impact. Freedom and victory over sin/selfishness and a way to have eternal life with Him/Them always.
After Palm Sunday and into the Passover:
Matthew 26:2
" You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man/Jesus is to be handed over for crucifixion." - Jesus
John 19:16-36
The Crucifixion
So they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth,[d] the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice[e] for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.”[f] So that is what they did.
25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
The Death of Jesus
28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). ***So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus.***
33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they ***didn’t break his legs.*** 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.”
Matthew 27:35 - ***And when they had crucified Him, (A)they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.***
Matthew 27:41-43 (New American Standard Bible)
41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying,
42"(A)He saved others; He cannot save Himself (B)He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
43"(C)HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'
Here are the OT verses that were fullfilled by Christ:
***Matthew 26:52-54 (New American Standard Bible)
52Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for (A)all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.
53"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve [a](B)legions of angels?
54"How then will (D)the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"
Psalm 22
14 My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice for my clothing
Isaiah 53:12 (Old Testament/Covenant)
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,And He will divide the booty with the strong;Because He poured out Himself to death,And was numbered with the transgressors;Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,And interceded for the transgressors.
1 Peter 2:24 (New Testament/Covenant)
"and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
The Burial of Jesus (Luke 23)
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation,[l] as the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
The Resurrection (Luke 24)
1 But very early on Sunday morning[m] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man[n] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
8 Then they remembered that He had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations,[r] beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.
49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
The Ascension
50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.[s] 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.
***Colossians 1:19-22 (New Living Translation)
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
***Ephesians 2:7-9 (New Living Translation)
7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
***Galatians 5:1
[ Walk by the Spirit ] It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (slavery to our selfishness, old wounds, mistakes, guilt, etc)
I hope that these blessed you as much as they have me... The truth is that we love b/c He first loved us (John 4). It is so easy to miss or dismiss due to the distractions of life or the pain that others have caused us...or we ourselves. Yet, the God I've grown to know is so good and His love isn't what we usually see from those around us. My encouragement is to do what I had done when in huge pits- ask God to show Himself to you...to know Who Jesus is. Ask... as He'll answer you in ways that you'll know are Him. He's good. Research, seek, ask...
Love you all...
Meridith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJpeylRl68o
Luke 22 share the sequence of events in a comprehensive way:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022&version=ESV
God's love story lived out and still unfolding:
http://www.godonthe.net/evidence/messiah.htm
Today I have been working on a product submission to Super Duper (rough draft) about a character God inspired me to create (got to give Him all the credit). Prayers are appreciated regarding the submission to this SLP Tx company. Here is one out of 40+ shows...the only DVD I have :( :
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST- MARCH 16, 2010 (DEVOTIONAL)
"The Master Will Judge"
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 5:10
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ." But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ’s pure light (Psalm 139:23-24), your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you.
Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are.
(Forgiveness is what Christ has given- to deny it for yourself or someone else causes division, hardness, and bitterness...Put it on the cross. This doesn't mean that you need to tell that person you forgive them but to let it go to the cross/In what God/Jesus has already done. Let God take it).
One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purposes of hell in you. Bring it immediately into the light and confess, "Oh, Lord, I have been guilty there." If you don’t, your heart will become hardened through and through. One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No power, except the power that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherent consequences of sin.
(Romans 7:17-19 (New Living Translation)
17 So I (Paul writing to the church/body of believers in Rome) am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
(When we ask Him into our lives- He is all that is good in us... Jesus in us sets us free from sin b/c He paid for it all on the cross. We choose to take that forgiveness and have God grow our faith/heal our souls/be our Father and our Lord)
Romans 6:6
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
"If we walk in the light as He is in the light. . ." ( 1 John 1:7 ). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person. The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie.
Galatians 5:1
[ Christ Has Set Us Free ] For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
David Crowder Band's "Thank You" (found on a media player to the right-on the web page)
http://www.last.fm/music/David+Crowder+Band/_/Thank+You+for+Hearing+Me
Love,
Mer
PS
Nothing tops God's Word :)... A Brother and Sister in Christ who share what God has taught them- have written 2 books filled with scripture that really help us glean what He has shown them (via His Word) about sin, truth, and freedom from sin and legalism. I need to read these again- I highly recommend them :)!!!
The Surrendered Life
I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20
WRITTEN BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.
Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.
If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.
Having a Masters degree in both Special Education and Speech-Language Pathology, I am now a stay-at-home mom. God had blessed with with a profession I love(d) and now with a husband and a daughter that fill my heart. This blog is a vehicle of sharing gems that have been given to me vocationally. I truly hope they are helpful for you and your family, too. :)
