What Do You See?

   You can see with physical eyes and/or with spiritual eyes.  So the question is, what do you see?  Jesus said that if the eye be single the whole body is good.  What is getting your attention right now, what are you focusing on?  One enjoyable way to begin the day with the Lord is to read a psalm, because it shifts one's attention from self to focus on the Lord and His truth.  David was, after all, a man after God's own heart.  The Word is spirit and truth, so it opens our spiritual eyes to see beyond the physical circumstances. 

  Worship songs that speak of God's glory and holiness likewise allow our imagination to soar beyond natural boundaries.  We receive this truth in our spirit, rather than figure it out with our understanding.  Once we see God, then we can realize how blessed we are to know Him and to be loved by One who loves us so much that He willingly gave His life for us.  This awesome love that forgives us, also has made us a new creation sharing His infinite life and goodness. There is a worship song that has the line, "All my life You have been faithful, all my life You have been so, so good."  Songs of praise help us picture and dwell on all the great things God has done in our lives, and all the things that we richly enjoy. 

 Our thoughts and imaginations are important to God.  As a man thinks, so is he.  In Isaiah 26:1, the verse contains a strong encouragement to focus on Him, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee."  The Hebrew word for "mind" is the same word used other places in Scripture for "imagination," like before the flood in Genesis 6:5 where God saw "every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually."  Likewise in Psalm 2 it says, "why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?"  Therefore, God promises peace if we keep the imaginations of our heart on His goodness and who He is, rather than continually entertaining the negative thoughts and emotions that the world demands. 

  Furthermore, in Psalm 1 the word that encourages us to meditate, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night...whatsoever he does shall prosper, " this word "meditate" is the exact same Hebrew word used in Isaiah 26, Psalm 2, and Genesis 6. for imagine.  In short, meditation is simply choosing to see with your imagination, to focus on and let dwell in you richly, God's thoughts.  

  Therefore, the concluding question is "What are you looking at as you approach life today?"  Are your thoughts and emotions dictated by what your physical eyes perceive, or are you rather consumed by the awesome love and goodness of the living God who lives in you and strengthens you?  Is your heart filled with thanksgiving because you know He is working for good all things and completing the good work in you to transform you from glory to glory?  Do you see Jesus and His truth enlightening everything you do?  

Fill your imagination and mind with His thoughts and how you might please Him.  Let this vision dominate your words and actions.  See yourself as a gift from God, accomplishing your tasks today through His help, and living for Him and His pleasure forever.  In short, in everything, see Jesus!

Conflict of the Ages

Stand fast in the freedom Christ has set you free and do not submit to a yoke of slavery.   As the hymn by Mrs. Morris states, the conflict of the ages is upon us today.  The "Conflict of the Ages" could be summarized as God's freedom vs Satan's bondage.

 Jesus may have come in the weakness of human flesh, but His life and work clearly demonstrated God's authority and desire to set men free of the bondage of sin, and Satan's control.  Jesus satisfied the all-just God's wages for sin and rescued the "keys of Hades and death." (Rev. 1:18)   Everything man lost through sin has been restored through the death and resurrection of our Lord.  God now calls us to participate in His overcoming power and walk worthy of this high calling.

Jesus pointed out that if we continue in His Word, His Word will set us free.  Even though Jesus has overcome bondage for every man, God does not force His desire for "all men to be saved" on anyone.  Man has been made in the image and likeness of God, which clearly includes the ability to choose.  The famous Deuteronomy 30 declaration confirms this truth, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life."   Part of man's glory or greatness is his ability and responsibility to choose his own destiny. This is such a fundamental part of man's nature that God will let us go to hell if we choose.  It follows that it is up to us to receive and believe in Jesus, to choose to obey the Word, and to trust Him to fulfill the victory He has purchased in our lives.  

The devil is described in the book of Revelation as the one who deceived the nations.  Just as Jesus came to set us free from bondage, the devil's plan is to make us his slaves.  One of the clear identifying characteristics of the evil one's tactics is to take away the abundant life and freedom Jesus purchased for us through His shed blood.  This evil plan is clearly seen in sin, addiction, lust, greed, bitterness, and many other areas designed to choke our intended purpose.  Romans 8 declares these demonic-influenced flesh strongholds are death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.    

On the bigger picture, Satan wants to be "like the Most High God" (Isaiah 14) and wishes to control the whole world system.  America was founded by godly men who cherished man's freedom and right to worship.  Many other governments are influenced by the opposite spirit and wish to dictate what man can think and do, as well as who he can worship. However, the enemy is a liar and his nature is to steal, kill, and destroy.   He continually seeks to undermine the freedoms this country was founded on.  Jesus pointed out that the anti-Christ spirit would increase toward the end of the age, and it is easy to see how today men controlled by this spirit of anti-Christ through money, government, media, and public opinion are seeking to control man's freedom. The conflict of the ages will be settled when Jesus returns and defeats the current ruler of this world.

However, for the believer, this battle has already been won.  Rather than be "sheep," who follow the crowd and try to please men, we are called to please God and not submit to the me-first philosophy of the world.  We are told not to think it strange when the fiery trial comes to test us, but rather to make the right choices in the day of temptation.  This right choice produces patience, character and growth that pleases God.  Romans 5 even goes so far as to say we should glory in our tribulations because of the fruit they produce in us. The good news according to Romans 8:13 is "If by the power of the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." 

Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.  Choose life today in your choices, knowing God Himself is in you "to will and to work" for His pleasure.

Life and Godliness

Consider what God has given you, "His divine power has given to us all that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him."  This is an awesome, almost beyond grasp, reality.  And to ensure that we are able to bring this home, the verse in 2 Peter 1 continues "by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you might become partakers of divine nature...."  Obviously, the more we know Him the more we become like Him, and the more we understand the promises of God, the more we are able to believe and receive them.    

Consider also the truth that runs contrary to our natural mind, namely, everything that we ever need and that changes us into the likeness of God has already been given to us, we already have it.  God's kingdom has come, it is finished, and God waits to be gracious to us.  Instead of trying to get something, we are given God's "exceedingly great and precious promises" so that we will understand how great He is and because of His love, what He has given us.  He is waiting for us to know it is ours and to accept His gift of everything we could ever need for life and for being godly.  

The Greek word for saved, or salvation, is sozo, which is often translated "be made whole."  We have been delivered or saved from all the consequences of sin, old things have passed away, the new creation has come.  Our minds simply have to be renewed to know this truth which sets us free.  As a man thinks, so is he. Notice how Paul told the Ephesians in Acts 20, "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." 

What inheritance?  Jesus said all that the Father has is mine, and Jesus bestows that power and authority to us to exercise in His name.  Furthermore, scriptures like Ephesians 3 speak of coming to know His love and being filled with the fullness of God.  Christ is our wisdom, our strength, our life is hidden in Him.  

Therefore, it follows that our hearts need to be opened and our minds renewed to know Him.  As He reveals Himself, we have the mind of Christ and can think like God thinks.  The more we let His thoughts "dwell in us richly" (Colossians 3:16), the more we see His goodness and are able to just receive all He has given by faith.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

What would it take for you to have more of this resurrected life that Jesus has freely given you?  Do you desire "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..."  Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.   Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh desire.  Be like David who refused to sleep and be at ease until there was a place for God.  

Fragrance

We live for the praise of God's glory.  Perhaps the clearest instruction on how and when to praise God is found throughout the Psalms.  Psalm 34:1 states, "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Psalm 7:17 declares an undeniable reason, "I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most High."  Psalm 9:1 explains intensity, "I will praise you, O Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works."  Likewise Psalm 70:4 encourages joy in believers, "Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, 'Let God be magnified!'"  Finally, Psalm 150 includes everyone, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!"

The Word of God makes it plain that we are continually and whole-heartedly to be involved in praising God.  However, we have many daily responsibilities which must be done so it is virtually impossible to just be declaring His praise every moment of the day.  What can we do?  The answer is in a more complete understanding of worship and praise which enables us to meet this requirement. 

Praise and worship extend far beyond our singing and speaking praise in a worship service.  It is more than the common idea of acknowledging all He has done for us and how great it is to know Him and experience His love. 

Worship is a posture of the heart that is releasing fragrance to God.  This posture of our heart is shown by our words, by the thoughts in our head, and by our choice of actions.  2 Corinthians 2:14 reinforces this truth, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."  Just like from the sacrifices in the Old Testament, there is a sweet fragrance that exudes toward God from knowing Him, and expressing this knowledge in every pleasing thought, emotion, word, or action that comes from our heart.

God is pleased when we love Him enough to obey His Word, when we choose to be Spirit led rather than follow the lusts of the flesh.  Romans points out that those who set their mind on the flesh cannot please God.  We are to take every thought captive. God knows what we are thinking in our heart of hearts.  Every time we lay down our fleshy thoughts of lust, envy, complaining, bitterness, or rebellion and choose rather to let the Word of God dwell in us richly, it effuses a pleasing fragrance to God. Galatians 5 lists the works of the flesh and of the spirit to help us discern whether our thoughts are edifying or destructive. and what needs to be in our mind and heart.  The Father is so pleased when we put on the new man rather than follow our old fallen-nature ways. 

If God would show us His latest 24-hour video of us, with our secret thoughts, our inner feelings, and little choices exposed, would we discover a pleasing fragrance or a foul odor.  It would be challenging to ask God to show us, as Psalm 139 suggests, "search me and know my heart, if there be any wicked way in me."  What does our fragrance smell like?

God has made us a new creation and has removed the stony heart with a tender heart of grace and truth.  By the Spirit of God we can nurture the divine qualities of the new nature and walk worthy of our calling.  Choosing to let all we think and do intentionally honor God is a way to worship and praise God continually and be a sweet fragrance before God.  Therefore, it becomes true, "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ."  2 Corinthians 2:15