God Will Answer!

 A simple verse in Psalm 38 states, "For I hope in You, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God."   Hope, of course, suggests choosing to believe a promise of what someone will do in response to our actions, and is future.  Therefore, we could say that our whole life, all we are, all that we hold as truth, all that we do, depends upon God being faithful to answer and keep His promises.  Paul even suggests that if God doesn't do what He says, we are the most pitiable of all men.  

  My dad used to say that getting old isn't so bad when you consider the alternative.  That same principle applies to choosing to believe God is faithful and will confirm His Word.  What is the alternative, to believe in man's thoughts and ways, being sort of a high-class animal with no purpose of life and nothing to look forward to?  However, we as believers have an assurance, a peace within our spirit, that establishes our relationship with the Lord Jesus to "know" Him and His character (which we often simply refer to as His name.)  We believe who God is and what He has done for us which gives an eternal future and a hope for each of us.  Hebrews 11:6 demands that those who come to God "must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."  Jesus spoke with authority pointing out that when we pray, fast, and give, God who sees in secret will reward us openly.  David declares, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." 

 It really isn't a blind faith as the skeptic would like to say, but rather a revelation, a "dawning" of light and understanding, that He not only is real but that in His love He freely died to deal with our sin.  Perhaps the key revelation that motivates us to choose faith is the honest realization that we have a sin nature, a strong tendency to selfishly do and think whatever pleases ourselves. In short, that we have done wrong and are guilty.  We need forgiveness.  On the positive side, Romans 1:20 states that all creation reveals the eternal power and divinity of God.  Then, the coming of Jesus Christ, and the record of His Word, not only show God is real, but that He loves us.  He is love Himself, choosing to lay His life down for each of us out of sheer love and commitment.  He deliberately and willing paid with His own blood for all the sin and evil we have ever committed. And to complete His mission, He has sent His Spirit to let us know for sure who Jesus is and what He has done.  John 16:7 uses the word "convict" of righteousness, sin, and eternal judgment so we know where we stand with God forever.

Therefore, each of us have been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) and we can choose to receive this gift and exercise the power God has given us (life and death is in the power of the tongue) to settle it by declaring with our lips that Jesus is our (my) Lord.  The rest of peace that making this choice establishes in our hearts becomes the basis of believing that God is and also keeps all His other promises.  Yes, as our Psalm 38 verse declares, when we hope in Him, God will answer.  

God is good and He desires to answer prayer, waiting for us to ask so He can be gracious (Isaiah 30:18).  My encouragement based on this truth is that no matter where you are at, whatever the problem or circumstance, put your hope in the Lord (usually through simply praying with the faith you have and stating the truth of God's Word about the situation) and then rest in knowing "God will answer."  

 

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!  

Thank you, Jesus

Thank you, Jesus. Giving thanks begins with realizing that you have been given something valuable, beyond what you earned or deserved.
There are two sides of the foundational coin of thanksgiving. The first is admitting or knowing who we are and freely responding. The second choice is allowing an attitude of ungratefulness to settle in our hearts and suffering the consequences.
1 Corinthians 4:7 asks “what do you have that you did not receive?” In other words we brought nothing into this world, we did not create any of our faculties, aptitudes, or abilities that make us who we are, or do anything to cause us to be alive. God knew every aspect about us long before He knit us together in the womb. It isn’t that we have a checklist of twenty things we are thankful for, but rather there is nothing outside of the incredible treasure that we have been given. All any honest man can do is acknowledge he is blessed.
On the other side of the coin, the person who refuses to give thanks begins a downward spiral of delusion and pride. Romans 1:21 explains that “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” The person who will not acknowledge God as his creator, usually demonstrated by being thankful for who he is and all he has been given, then no longer can think with true understanding and becomes captured by false desires. Verse 22 continues that this person claims to be wise but actually is a fool.
Giving thanks to the Giver is so simple and so right. The word of God continually exhorts us to humble ourselves by understanding what we have been given and walking in an attitude of gratefulness and obedience. Taking time to express thanks reminds us how blessed and valuable we are. God doesn’t need our praise and thanksgiving, He simply is worthy and has been incredibly good to us. We are the ones that need the right attitude in order to experience and enjoy the tremendous relationship that His gift has made possible. Come to Him right now with a simple, “Thank you, Jesus.”