How Blessed

We have the most to give thanks for, having been drawn by the Spirit to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ forever.  Everything else pales in comparison.  Romans 8:32 likewise puts this in perspective, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things."  So my conclusion is simple, thank God for all the good things that He has blessed you with, family, food, clothing, shelter, health, friends, vehicles, resources, etc., but let all His gifts be the icing on the cake, Jesus and your eternal life being the heart of the matter. 

Psalm 119 starts out with "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord" and continues to speak of all the good things the Word of God does for us.  It is really hard to read this psalm without appreciating how blessed we are who know Jesus and live by the Word.  In almost every line, the Holy Spirit enlightens, encourages, and reminds us with the overwhelming promises of what the Word of God provides.  Clearly it is both a celebration and a prayer for the believer to receive with awe and thanksgiving the promises of the Word.    

On the opposite side of the coin, in Revelation 20:4 we see that only those who have a commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word are able to resist the Antichrist.  2 Thessalonians 2:10 also points out that only those who "receive the love of the truth" will not fall for the power and signs and false wonders of the Satan during the coming of the lawless one, the antichrist.  

Therefore, my prayer this morning is for you and me to ask the Holy Spirit for a fresh and abiding love for the truth of God's Word and the staying power to never let go of it.  Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4) in our thoughts, feelings, and choices forever!

Enough

Can you imagine God greeting you, "O mighty man of valor," when you, like Gideon, are cowardly hiding from the enemy and troubled by what is going on in the world?  Does it sound too good to be true, that God sees you as an overcoming, mighty one who is always led in triumph and who crushes the evil one under your feet?  Yet, what He has done is enough to make you more than you could think or imagine.  Let God be true and every man a liar, according to the words of Romans 3:4.  

In Psalm 50 God closes with the words, "to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."  Salvation is the noun describing being saved or delivered from.  When Jesus healed or touched someone, He would say "be made whole."  To be whole is to be completely delivered or saved from sin and all the effects of sin.  However, until God is able to transform our thinking and heart to know our "we are made whole" salvation, we continue to limp between two different opinions. On one hand we are filled with faith that the "Christ is in you" life of God is overcoming all circumstances, and on the other hand, that we are just weak human beings who fail often.  Our verse in Psalm 50 affirms that as we choose to obey God, He begins to show us His salvation, how He has made us whole and overcomers and how totally we are free from the old fallen-nature ways.   Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would lead us and guide us into all truth.  As we let the Word dwell in us richly, the Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit until we "know" what Jesus has given us and are able to walk in it.  In the first letter of John, there are something like 23 "by this we know" statements.  The ultimate definition of eternal life given by Jesus in John 17 is "that they may know the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent."   God wants us to know we are whole in Him and has made provision for us to come to that conviction that it is already accomplished.  

Jesus declares He is the first of many brethren, who share His life and nature.  It seems almost unbelievable and too much to grasp that what Jesus has done has literally made us like Him.  We just need to receive it.  Note the words of 1 John 4:17, "as He is, so are we in the world." We are partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4), but the remainder of that section describes how to press in to make it our own, namely to diligently add to your faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, brotherly kindness love; to brotherly kindness love, love.  Therefore, He can conclude the clincher, that if we do these things we will never fail or be unfruitful.  

The point is Jesus has accomplished what the name Jehovah JIreh declares, God is enough. There is a song, Jireh by Maverick City, that states "You are enough, forever enough, always enough, more than enough."  Our hope of glory, Christ in us, establishes that the overcoming power and love of God lives in us and causes us to always be more than enough for every challenge.  Praise God forever for His glorious salvation!

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.