Enter into the Joy of My Father

"You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your fellows."  Psalm 46:7   This verse provides the key to a joy-filled life, which is our attitude toward obeying God (Be faithful in little) and completely rejecting anything that causes us to compromise what we know is right.  When this verse is quoted again in Hebrews 1, it is a description of Jesus' life, but it clearly also speaks of what the presence of the Lord desires to accomplish in us. Jesus asked why we say "Lord, Lord" and not do what He says.  Becoming a new creation means our life thoughts, emotions, and choices have also become new and are changed.     

Poor God!  He has to depend upon us to show the world what He is really like.  "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  We choose righteousness to represent His name.  We are His light to the world.  Needless to say, we often fail, but that doesn't change the responsibility and that doesn't mean that we should quit desiring to be like Him.  It follows that we need His help to be a witness. Jesus promised, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me."   Notice we have been given the power and we shall "be" witnesses.  

Jesus endured the cross, according to Hebrews 12, because of the joy set before Him.  I always suggest that the joy set before Him was you, being set free and made holy so you can share His glory forever.  We know Jesus was motivated to choose the Father's will over His own with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 9:14 states "who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself with spot to God"   We have been given that same Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Christ from the dead gives life to our mortal body, which also leads us and guides into all truth.  Romans 8:13 further declares that by the power of the Holy Spirit we can put to death the deeds of the body.

You and I have our most important appointment of our existence yet to come.  Psalm 42 asks "when will I come and appear before God?"  What an incredible joy it will be to lay our crowns before Him and to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master."  He promises that we will not lose our reward for every action and choice, even something as simple as giving a child a glass of water.  Yes, each one of us will stand before God and give an account for every word, for every deed done in the body.  What a person sows he will surely reap. Therefore, be wise not foolish, and lay up your treasures in heaven by letting the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit direct your steps and the choices you make.  The time will most surely come, when you stand before God, and with joy overflowing, have every iota of your life reviewed and rewarded.

What an awesome and beyond imagination experience to stand pure and holy before God!  Let that joy motivate you to make wise choices, to love and do what is right and hate evil.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the same attitude and commitment toward doing what pleases God that Jesus demonstrated, and hating, completely despising, the evil deeds of the flesh.  God promises fullness of joy in His presence as you agree with Him and do His will.  You reflect the true light of the world, and He invites you to "enter into the joy of My Father."  

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."  

 

Take Refuge, Know His Goodness

You are under attack!  What would you do if you heard that someone was making plans to hurt you, to steal from you and kill you?  Would you be more alert?  Would you lock doors faithfully and make sure you had plans to escape if something happened?  Where would you run? The truth is someone is after you.  As an example of what to do, David declares in Psalm 31:1 "In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge, let me never be ashamed, in Your righteousness deliver me."  

In spite of some general challenges, most of us live pretty comfortably in our daily routines, rather than feel like David who seemed to be in life and death circumstances all the time.  However, the same threat is real; even though we are like the two-year old who runs out in the street or the driver who speeds in the midst of total fog, oblivious to the imminent danger.  Our finite minds are darkened and limited, so we don't see reality.  Paul points out in 1 Corinthians that the natural mind and man's thinking is foolishness to God.  Without God's Word to enlighten our understanding, we cannot know truth.  

On the large scale of the world or society in general, it is clear that Satan is causing massive suffering, killing, destruction and rejection of God's standards and purpose for life.  However, do we also understand he is also working overtime to undermine our thoughts and feelings to walk in defeat, discouragement, and rejection?  It is not a mistake that Jesus, in the very same sentence, declares the enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy in contrast to his giving abundant life. Choose life. For this same good reason that David, In the same psalm 31, proclaims "Lord, You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me."  When we choose to walk in the Spirit, we allow the life of God to refocus our feelings to realize His joy and peace, to transform our thoughts to thankfully know how blessed we are and to redirect our choices to live to please Him.  David says it this way, "But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, 'You are my God.'  My times are in Your hand." (Ps 31:14) 

A good conclusion to remember is verse 19, "How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men."  Jesus is so good and has provided awesome security in what He has done.  Deliberately choose to take refuge in Him today and enjoy His protection and guidance as you walk in His goodness.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8)

 

Chosen, Count the Cost

Chosen.  Do you remember in sports when you were young and older kids were picking teams and you wondered if you would ever be picked?  And how good it was when you were picked early because someone considered you valuable.  The good news today is that you not only have been chosen but you are considered valuable as His treasure.  In Ephesians 1:4 it states before the foundation of the world you have been chosen to be holy and blameless before Him. Jesus has called you and chosen you to be His light in the world. He has prepared works for us beforehand that we should walk in them.

Whenever God calls you to do something, He also provides and enables you to accomplish it.  However, there is a problem.  Because God chose you, the world hates you (John 15:19), just as it hated Jesus. In short, there is always a price to pay if you are going to do something for the Lord of if you are going to obey Him.  After God told Moses to go to Egypt and set His people free, the Egyptian taskmasters made it harder on the Hebrew slaves forcing them to get the straw and make the same number of bricks. David, called to be king, had to endure the jealous attacks of Saul. Scripture is filled with examples of the trials God's people had to overcome in order to fulfill their call.

Jesus uses parables to explain the need to count the cost.  However, Paul, in the New Testament, who went through a myriad of challenges including mobs of Jews, shipwrecks, stoning, rejection and betrayal, is known for bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles and writing a majority of the epistles.  He is not known for the battles he had to fight.  What was his perspective that made all the difference?  He considered the cost as nothing compared to the glory that was to be revealed.

Yes, there is a cost.  We do go through the valley of the shadow of death.  However, God is with us and He continually prepares a table before us in the midst of our enemies and surely His goodness and mercy follow us every day.  When God is with us, even the attacks of the enemy get turned into good and God provides the strength to endure and shows the way of escape.  Thank you for being willing to fight the good fight of faith, and for doing the work God has given you.  However, know that there is One who will come again soon bringing His rewards with Him, and at that point everything and every price we have paid in our commitment to Jesus and His Word will be a million times worth it.  Keep the vision of pleasing God in all you do, for without the vision people perish.  

Count the cost as real, but compared to the privilege of being chosen and treasured as valuable in God's kingdom, treat it is as nothing. You are chosen and will succeed, nothing else matters or can stop you.  

 

How to Set the Lord Continually Before You

A "Good and Blessed" first morning of the new year to you, (with a reminder of how to ensure this year is both good and blessed.)

In Psalm 16, David reminds us of a great principle and promise of a blessed new year:  "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely."  

God's Word is written from His heart to our will.  He calls us to choose to obey.  Verse 6 reminds us that we can choose the attitude of our heart, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me."  Our flesh can always find things wrong and complain like the Israelites in the desert, but God reminds us of His blessings and all the good things He has done for us.  Knowing Jesus, His peace and joy, in the middle of every circumstance is a beautiful gift. In the midst of a chaotic shaking world, we have an unshakeable heritage that continually gets better and better forever.   

There is a simple, but practical, discipline to help us to be like David in setting the Lord continually before us, or in choosing to do as Jesus commands and promises in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Here is my challenge:  What if your first thought when you wake up would be to thank God for what He has done for you, what if your first words were to speak to Him to express your love and gratitude for what He has given you, and what if your first words to another person were words to express how good the Lord is?  The Holy Spirit's favorite passion is to reveal Jesus and transform our lives to be like His, so even if we don't always remember to do this exercise first thing in the morning, we can do it at any time He prompts us to keep the Lord "continually" before us.  

My prayer for you and me is to ask the Holy Spirit to help us keep the Lord continually before us, and therefore, experience the blessings provided by Jesus through His death and resurrection.  He promises that those who abide in Him will bear eternal fruit, both in us and through us.  Have a good and blessed 2023!

Not Everyone Who Says, "Lord, Lord."

 What does God really want?  A man complained, "I go to church every Sunday.  I don't steal, kill, or commit adultery like others do.  I go to work and earn a decent living for my family.  How much more does God need?"  People everywhere have their own idea of what God is looking for in order to "pass" the test to get into heaven.  The important thing is what does Jesus say.

Jesus said some serious considerations in Matthew 7 about not judging others, about treating others the way you want to be treated, about many entering the wide gate of destruction and few going through the narrow gate that leads to life, about knowing good and bad people by their fruit, and about having a foundation that stands through the storms of life.  It sounds overwhelming.  Who can do this unless God helps him do it?  Yes, that is the point, God is with us and wants to teach us how to find His will and depend upon God's help to do it. 

Let's start with the foundation of the basic truth from which everything else flows.  The starting point is coming to know Him by believing in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead (thus completely paying for all your sin) and in gratitude declaring that Jesus is Lord (ruler, owner, master) of your life. (Romans 10:9)   

However, Jesus declares in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  Calling on Jesus as Lord must be more than lip service, but a commitment to actually do what He says.  Jesus clearly reveals the Father's will in the Word of God.  Secondly, He sent the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth.  The purpose of helping us know the truth is so that we do it.  In short, obey His Word.  Jesus said those who love Him obey His commands in John 14:15.

We see this same principle in Micah 6:8, which is a strong verse that answers the question, "What is good and what does God require of you?"  He lists three things: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  All three have to do with the attitude of the heart and obedience.  To do justly is to do what we know is right; to love mercy is to be so grateful for God's mercy toward us that we also show mercy toward others; and to walk humbly is to acknowledge we need Him and to ask Him to lead us and guide us.  He gives grace to the humble.

Clearly God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him through coming to know Jesus and His love.  Secondly, He calls us to surrender our will and thoughts to His way and truth.  We are called to seek Him and His righteousness, then simply obey the instructions and promptings of the Spirit as He reveals what we are to do.  

Those who enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the will of the Father.   Not only is this promise talking about being in heaven eternally with Him after we die, but also experiencing the kingdom of heaven, "righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit," (Romans 14:17), now.  

This is the time of year when many people make new year's resolutions, even though these rarely meet the test of time.  However, with God's help, namely the Holy Spirit, we can choose to surrender fresh to acknowledge Jesus' lordship and do the next thing He directs.  We can resolve to obey His desires and thus enter into the Kingdom of heaven with righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit in our heart. 

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Choose Joy

Joy is a choice.  Paul, while in a Roman prison and probably knowing that he would lose his life, wrote the letter to the Philippians. That is why it seems so incredulous that he states in Phil 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice."  Peter and John express the same sentiment, even after being beaten for sharing the good news of Jesus, in Acts 5:41, "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."  There must be an anchor much deeper and stronger than the present circumstances in which the believer's life and joyful well-being depend upon.  

We just celebrated the birth of Jesus.  We sing the words, "glorious morning when Christ was born!"  We not only celebrate His birth, but also enjoy forever the purpose of His coming.  How can we describe an awesome and excellent God who cares so much about each of us?  This message was declared by the angel "I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." Jesus clearly demonstrated this through taking all men's sins to the cross and releasing everlasting life to all who call upon Him.  He explains to His disciples in John 15 the purpose of His life and His work, "that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."   

Have you noticed that children look forward to Christmas often because of the gifts, but the adults, or the mature, can see beyond the gifts to the loved ones who give gifts as tokens of their desire to give of themselves to those who are dear.  Certainly, in the midst of all God's gifts is the overriding truth that He has given Himself to us, and He desires to be our everlasting strength, joy, and life.  His gift of Jesus clearly reveals not only what He has given to us, but more importantly, the person and Life He is. 

Who are we and how can we respond to the fact that He has not only given Himself to us in coming as a child at Bethlehem, but also that this gift shows His heart which is willing to lay down His life for us in order to purchase our eternal joy with Him?   

In the carol O Holy Night, there is a line "and the soul felt its worth."  The fact that the infinite, glorious God would cheerfully lower Himself to be born a frail, helpless man in the most humble of circumstances, to a poor family in a dirty manager and and be known as from corrupt Nazareth (Can anything good come from Nazareth?), clearly reveals His total commitment to love us.  Psalm 8 reminds us "what is man?" with the answer that God has crowned us with glory and honor.  His coming and establishing us as His children with the authority and gift of ruling with Him forever is beyond our finite understanding, but the truth of His coming, His death and resurrection continue to manifest His eternal devotion to our value and place in His heart forever. 

No matter what happens or how evil the world becomes, the eternal truth of who we are in God's eyes and the value demonstrated by His coming, death, and resurrection far surpass any earthly suffering.  In short, all those who receive Him receive His love and nothing can separate us from the joy of reigning with Him forever.  Let us rejoice.