Glory of God - Outside and Inside

 God's glory is both evident and available to all those who seek Him.   "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork," according to Psalm 19:1. On a recent flight, the view of the landscape of earth and the vastness of the heavens substantiated this glorious truth.  It is absolutely amazing how people can twist their thinking to imagine it all "just happened."

However, in the next verses (7 through 11), God not only shows His glory in all creation, but clearly through His Word reveals His desire that His goodness and greatness be manifested in us.  

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.  This living truth restores and changes our fallen thinking and choices as well as our darkened emotions back to the pristine wholeness that man had when we were created in His image and likeness. This transformation is similar to the way the brown grass and bare trees turn green and exude fresh leaves in the Spring. Man becomes a new creation.

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  As a man thinks, so is he.  As we begin to think and imagine the ways of God and all He has done, we become like Him.  He allows us to participate in His nature (2 Peter 1:4) and wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:16). 

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.  Our heart, our inner being, takes joy in the assurance that what we treasure and hold on to is pure and good, and above all, acceptable to God forever.  Evil thoughts and emotions produce anxiety and frustration.  The way of the transgressor is hard.  But God's ways give peace and a clear conscience.

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  Jesus said if the eye be single, the whole body is sound.  When we "see" life through the vision of God's Word, our eyes are opened to see God as a loving Father who accomplished everything for us in Jesus, and who by His Holy Spirit is working everything for good in and through us.  Enlightened, we see Him and how all He desires is designed to keep us joined to Him and able to enjoy His presence.  Moreover, with this godly understanding all that flows from our hearts is giving thanks for who He is and all He has done.  Likewise, our mind realizes that glorifying God in everything we do is all that really matters. 

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.  Fear of the Lord, defined as hatred of evil and love of righteousness, is why Jesus had more joy than any of his companions (Hebrews 1:9).  What is awesome about this verse is that the cleanness and freedom from sin will be qualities that never end, but always remain a part of our innermost character.  We shall be like Him.

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether, more to be desired than gold; yea, than much gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.  Not only does God use the Word to warn us about the trap of sin, He stirs up a fresh desire for the sweetness and eternal reward of living by the Word.  Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word from the mouth of God.

We are so blessed to know Him, to see His glory in creation, and to have His Word plant God's glory and likeness in our hearts.  Take time to see and receive the Glory of God.  

Reality

 Life and Death are reality.  God's Word brings this truth into focus.  David speaks, in Psalm 11, about the foundation, and man's attempt to destroy God's truth.  Yet "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.  The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates."  Clearly God knows and is not mocked by man's audacity to choose flesh and death over the Way of life.  

This has been an up and down week for me.  I received a call from someone that came to know the Lord about 50 years ago and was very much alive and dynamic in the Spirit as a teenager.  I had completely lost touch and had not talked to her for all that time.  So it was disheartening to hear that she had a tough marriage for 12 years, got divorced, and then embraced the homosexual lifestyle.  She tried to defend her choice and accused me of being a "fundamentalist."  All I could say is that God's Word is true and of course, I believe it.  In the conversation I tried to point out that I would not judge her, and she would not judge me, but we will all stand before God and His Word will judge us. (John 12:48)  God's Word never changes, and clearly describes what is good and what is bad.  Eternity is forever decided by our choices.  

On the other side of the coin, a good friend and dedicated Christian in Wisconsin went home this week.  I had been in touch with his wife and saw such love of God and peace as he slowly moved toward eternity.  How great is his time of coming before the living God with joy!  Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.  It is precious because our eyes and heart get to experience the very presence of God.  Psalm 11 concludes with the righteous beholding His face.

My heart and mind has been overwhelmed with the reality of life and death.  Clearly God created us to know Him and obey Him that we may enjoy His glory and presence forever.  Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Father.  The reality of heaven and hell and the just judgment of God are not talked about much in the church these days, but Romans 2:6-10 states an eternal truth.  God  “will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil."  He promises glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good. 

When all is said and done, nothing matters as much as our eternal destiny.  God not only "tests us with His eyes upon us," but He also is with us (Jehovah Shammah) every step of the way to help us get there, a very present help in times of trouble.  He leaves the 99 to go after the lost stray.  So this word is simple, let the love of God constrain you to do good and the blood of Jesus wash you and keep you in His peace.  May we celebrate forever His glory.

Called AND Chosen

  Jesus stated this seemingly contradicting phrase, "many are called, but few are chosen."  He gives it as the conclusion of the Matthew 22 wedding feast parable.  This scene explains its meaning quite clearly.  The King invited people to the wedding feast, but many chose to ignore the request, and then even hurt or killed the servants who brought the message.  So the master brought people in from the highways and byways until his house was full.  And true to form, one guest didn't change clothes, so was rejected.  

 Then Jesus gave "many are called, but few chosen" as the summary of the parable.  Naturally, the invitation from God calling us must be followed by an acceptance from us. Chosen are those who respond to the invitation to come and willingly submit to putting on the "wedding" garments.  

 We are in a partnership, a being "yoked" together, to accomplish the work of the Kingdom.  Just as the name "Emmanuel" or "God with us," implies, the plan of God is for us to walk on the earth in the power and name of the Lord.  God works in and through us.  Hebrews 13:20 speaks of making you complete in every good work and working within you what is pleasing in His sight.   

  In Isaiah 41, the word for chosen could also be translated "proven." God is love so He obviously loves each person with an everlasting love.  However, He does take pleasure in those who fear Him and trust in His mercy.  The person who is faithful in little is given more responsibility and reward.  Paul admonishes us to aim to please Him.  The completion of God's invitation is our accepting the call and putting on His garments (anointing) to celebrate the victory and represent Him in the world.  Be holy as I am Holy.  You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  

  Because we submit to His wedding garments, which according to Romans 12:1-2, is to present our bodies as living sacrifices and renew our mind with His thoughts, we will demonstrate the perfect will of God. The wedding garments suggest being clothed in His righteousness and letting our life endorse this union with Him.  

  We could never thank Him enough for all He has done for us and for inviting us to "Come" to His celebration.  Moreover, giving our all and living for Him allows us to be the chosen who will be His witnesses on earth and will spend eternity with Him.  We are the "most blessed" (Psalm 21:6) who are called and chosen!  

Your Wish is My Command

Jesus is the Way.  He established a new way of life that pleases God and abolishes the old way.  “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.  Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come--In the volume of the book it is written of Me--to do Your will, O God."  (Hebrews 10:6-7)   

When we accept Jesus' love for us and His death and resurrection, we are made into a new creation with old things passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Our old way of trying to do things (sacrifices and offerings) to gain God's approval has been replaced by the gift of salvation, making us whole with a new heart that delights to do God's will.  This new way might be expressed as "your wish is my command," because our heart's desire now is to do what pleases Him.  Paul says whether we live or die, we aim to please Him. 

Knowing the love of God is so awesome and overwhelming that in spite of our flesh seeking its selfish way, the love of Christ "constrains us" to do His will as a cheerful giver.  Romans 8:13 would say it this way, "if by the Spirit of God, we put to death the deeds of the body, we will live."  Our born-again spirit delights to do His will and with the Holy Spirit's power overcomes the fleshly desire to only want selfish goals. 

Knowing God's love makes all the difference.  The conclusion of why we can glory in tribulations in Romans 5:5 is that "hope does not disappoint us because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Spirit of God who has been given us."  No wonder the prayer in Ephesians 3 is for God to enable us that we "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

God continues to reveal Who He is and how great His love is for us. As we grow in receiving and understanding His love, the only honest response is to want to please Him.  When Peter saw the miracle of the nets full of fish, he knelt down and cried, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man" and willingly followed Jesus to become a fisher of men.  When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, after crying out to be cleansed of his sinful lips, willingly responded. "Here am I, send me."  Likewise, Saul, or now better known as Paul, completely shifted his life purpose from hating and killing Christians to giving his all to bringing men to know Jesus.  

Jesus promises that His burden is light and his yoke is easy.  The way of the transgressor is hard.  So not only does God calls us to delight in doing His will, He makes it a place of ease and rest for our souls.  We literally enjoy knowing His pleasure when our hearts are filled with vehement desire, zeal, and eagerness to joyfully obey His commands.  God loves a cheerful giver.  Therefore, unite with all Christians in this simple prayer from Psalm 143:10. "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God."