Mornin' everyone! Hope you had a good sleep! The book of Romans seems to be Pauls passionate plea for Jews to accept Gentiles as fellow-heirs, as comrades in the spiritual walk. I keep thinking about this as Paul talks about circumcision and the law - - it's important for us in different denominations not to look at each other in a competitive way, rather - as comrades, sharing the different truths that we have and encouraging each other on our spiritual journeys.
3:13 "People's mouths are death traps" boy - that's true - - out of the mouth comes lies, discouragement, gossip, slander.
3:20 and 4:15 dovetail in the purpose of the law. It has nothing to do with salvation other than to tell us or point out what sin is. With "no law, then there is nothing to obey, and there is no sin" I've thought of that in the past -- without God's word, there is no moral compass - nothing to hold people accountable, and anything goes - - I guess that was made pretty plane in the French Revolution.
3:31 We uphold God's law and out of GRATITUDE do what He has asked us to do. Gratitude vs entitlement. With entitlement, we grumble and complain that God would have a law or require obedience; with entitlement - we feel we deserve His gifts - what a lousy way we humans operate. God's way though -- is more what every parent is hoping for; out of gratitude and love comes obedience. I think you could say that entitlement is an evil emotion.
Here's a kernel of gratitude truths: "God credits righteousness without that man having worked for it" (4:6)
4:20 "Abraham's faith in God's promise did not waver, but kept growing stronger, even though . . . " This brings hope to all of us, as we all have our "even though" moments when we grab the reins back and try to solve the problems on our own. I think of the Father that cried out to Jesus, "Lord, I believe - help my unbelief"
I love Sunday mornings. I get to sleep in and I get some time to just study what I have read. Romans is my favorite book. I always find something new when I read it. I have read it multiple times and am blessed with each reading.
Linda I agree that it seems to be a plea to Jews to accept Gentiles, but I also feel its a plea to the Gentiles to accept Christ. 3:22 "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."
And then there are Paul's thoughts on faith, in the next 5 verses he mentions "faith" 5 times. He tells us 3 times that our acceptance by God is based on faith! 3:27 "Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.[j] 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
Paul's desire to make it so plain to us that God ACCEPTED us...we did NOTHING! I love the promise in those verses. I also like that we cannot forget the law just because we have faith. I have found that the closer I get to Jesus, the deeper that friendship really goes, the more I want to follow Him. The easier, in some ways, to be obedient to Him. I dont know if its gratitude, respect or a desire to please Him. Maybe its a combination of all 3.
4:16 "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe." Faith like Abrahams! He believed when there didnt seem to be hope, he was willing to sacrifice His OWN son because God said to. Faith like Abrahams..oh to be like that!
4:20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
It was recorded for us! So that when we lose sight of God, when we have issues or problems or cant find that light at the end of the tunnel...all we have to do is pick up our Bible! Read about Abraham, Peter, Paul and Jesus. I love that! I love knowing that God saw to our needs as well as the needs at the time! He saw the BIG PICTURE...he sees the big picture, hmmmm and maybe if I will surrender since he sees/knows more than me..Hmmm LOL!
Enjoyed your thoughts Juli. Did you type all that on your blackberry? That's very impressive! You have more patience than I if you did!
From Abraham thinking he was past the age of having a kid to Noah, who had 3 after he was 500! I look at those #s in 5 & think, yuck, I don't know if I'd want to live that long nowadays!
It was bad back then too though, so bad that it says in 6:6 that God had sorrow in His heart that He made man. That's pretty scary that we made God that sad! What would have happened if Jesus had come to this earth then? There was so much evil in the world that God had to destroy it. Only 8 people believed in God? That's is very sad!
I didn't realize that God told Noah they were going to be inside the ark for 7 days before the rain came. So Noah knew that it'd be awhile & they'd have to listen to the taunts of the people outside. But still, I see it as a test of faith. Waiting on God is always a test of faith. And it showed the hearts of the people outside.
I'm sure they were in awe as the animals filed in with no one directing & pulling them but after nothing happened in the next hours or days...that would have worn off. Just like Ptr Mike said in his sermon, fear is a short-term motivator.
More than 5 months in cramped living qtrs with all the lovely smells/sounds of the zoo! Special grace from God had to of been given to keep them all sane! Did they get their water from the rain outside or did they have to bring enough of that on board at the beginning too? It doesn't say...but I'm just thinking of bathing, bathrooms, etc. How'd that all work? Especially since God is orderly & clean. I'm sure He thought of something! Maybe they could just go up on the deck & take a shower in the rain? :0
4:1 -- Eve exclaimed "I have given birth to a man!" I can't imagine what a mystery the whole getting pregnant, growing belly, birth was to Eve -- like, "What's happening to me??" Adam had to be her mid-wife!
Really interesting wording in my Bible, that makes the old battle of works vs grace jump out.
4:3 "Cain brought the fruits of the field as an offering to the Lord -- symbolic of his own labor and given as a FAVOR TO GOD!" A favor to God? Totally about works
"Able brought a lamb to the Lord . . . because it pointed forward to the One who would give His life for man. Abel understood the principle of redemption . . . and showed faith in what God had promised to do" Totally about grace
4:25 Meanwhile, Adam and Eve had a third son. The grief must have been terrific; losing 2 boys, and watching the world spiral down from their beautiful Eden to a world of violence, hurt, and shameful disrespect to others and to God.
4:3 Go Seth -- he looked like Adam and led God's people to openly profess Him and to call on the Lord to help them be faithful to Him. Openly profess -- in the face of ridicule, no doubt.
You know the day for a year principle in prophecy? I wonder if there's anything to the fact that Enoch lived 365 years, and there's 365 days in a year -- I can't figure out how that would have any significance or what the clue might be -- but maybe there's something there??
5:29 -- generations later, people are still upset with the curse Cain brought to the world. The story must have been passed down.
I always wondered if the fish made it through the flood. 7:22 talks about everything destroyed that had breath in their nostrils -- fish don't have nostrils, so I think they lived on!
I do like the faith vs works that your Bible brought out. I have always wondered about the fish too. Did just 1 couple of each kind survive like everything else? But more of the clean than unclean like the rest of the animals? Interesting that even before the Israelites & Leviticus 11 that the people knew the difference between what they could/couldn't eat. Guess it wasn't a Jewish thing after all. Hadn't thought about that before. Like Sabbath. Most people think it's a Jewish thing but Adam & Eve weren't Jewish.
I wonder if the people of Jericho thought nothing was going to happen by the 7th day? I wonder if they had gotten used to the marching around & figured it was a repeat. But when they kept going around the city, I bet everyone was on the walls watching because that's just are humans are - curious even in dangerous situations.
Every time I read about Ai I wonder if Joshua sought counsel from God before going up. It doesn't say that he did. Because I think God would have told him if there was sin that needed to be weeded out first. Then again, maybe this way impressed the people of the dangers of sin & that no one can get away with it. I think God didn't want the warriors to die just to get a point across, but I think He uses any & every opportunity to teach us.
So tragic that Achan's choice affected his entire family. I wonder how hard it was for the rest of Israel to throw the stones. Maybe not as hard for those who had lost a family member due to his selfishness.
This version (New Life) I'm reading gives the description instead of the common name for ways to describe things. Like instead of Ark of the Covenant it's "special box of the agreement" or instead of harlot for Rahab it's "the woman who sells the use of her body". Definitely not mincing words or PC, just in your face & factual!
I like how Joshua throws it back on God "...what will You do for Your great Name?" But God tosses it right back & tells him to get up because there's sin. So that tells me Joshua hadn't asked God about Ai, as I'm sure God would have said something.
Common trap for leadership (actually anyone) is when things are going well, not to talk to God too much, which tells Him we don't need Him as much. It's also assuming, no one likes to be assumed upon, much less God. Joshua makes the same mistake with the Gibeonites. I'm thankful though that the story of Joshua gives us the mistakes & the successes so we can see that God uses us in spite of us! He's willing to work with us & train us to be the person He created us to be.
My version says in 7:4 Without asking the Lord what to do, Joshua sent three thousand men to take Ai -- and then again, as you pointed out Chris -- no one asked God what He thought about the Gibeonites. It really makes you wonder WHY they didn't ask! It's like they had this General that lived up in heaven and had the gift of the big picture, the future, what the other team was thinking -- WHY didn't they ask. OK then, why don't we ask? I've caught myself taking back the reins and making decisions all the time!
In my version it says 7:15 If they do not repent and come forward on their own, they are to be executed -- I wonder if they had repented if they would have been forgiven. As you pointed out, tho Chris -- there were some families that had paid heavily for Achan's sin. Anyway -- Achan didn't repent, in fact my version says in 19 that he was silent and refused to speak.
Love the Sun Stand Still prayer -- especially after reading the book. And did you notice that Joshua cried it out in the hearing of his men? Sometimes when I pray a prayer for healing or help or whatever, I keep it between him and me; but Joshua was bold in front of everyone. Maybe the hailstones were an indication that they were definitely fighting in God's will, and Joshua's desire to keep do all he could to live out God's will was why he was so bold.
Joshua didn't forget to put the commandments and Moses' words in front of the people -- reminding them WHY they were having successes; it wasn't about themselves, it was about Him and obeying His will.
Finally -- the picture of the commanders putting their feet on the kings' necks. This is a word picture to me; putting my feet on the neck of my fears, my anxieties and then listening to Joshua's words: Don't ever be afraid . . . Don't ever become discouraged and give up the fight, because this is what the Lord will do to all those who fight against you!!!!!
Very encouraging Linda! Love that word pic of conquering our fears too.
Ps 3:1 made me think of people who think they are right with God & then they stand in judgement of me & say I'm wrong & going against God's will. Why is she praying? God's not going to listen to her? But God alone is my defense & I can rest in Him completely to fight my battles. I see both a physical rest here, because I'm trusting in God & also a mental/emotional rest. I don't have to get stressed & worked up. I can have the atmosphere of peace because that's what Jesus promised us in John 14:27 & 16:33.
4:2 I see God asking how long are we going to chase worthless things to find happiness when He is true happiness. It goes against our nature to surrender in order to win, but that's exactly what needs to take place.
v4 "Shake with anger and do not sin. When you are on your bed, look into your hearts and be quiet". I see this as a call to think things over instead of just reacting, which is what I do most of the time. I'm learning that if I just wait & calm down, I'm way more rational & don't have to apologize as much. :0 v5 says to give the gifts that are good & trust in the Lord. This reminds me of Gal 6:9 which says we shouldn't get worn out or tired of doing good. Sometimes I want to withhold doing the right thing because I think it's either not appreciated or hasn't been earned. This says we need to always do the right thing & let God deal with the rest. That's what trust here implies. And doesn't God give me grace when I don't deserve it? Hasn't He given His life for me when I didn't earn it? So what gives me the right to judge & withhold or hand out? I can't believe He's so patient with me!
At the end of 5:3 it says that I lay my prayers before You & look up. I like that. I'm laying it all out before God & WAITING. I'm in expectation of His Will, His deliverance, & the hardest one of all for me, His timing.
When I look down I see all my problems & trials, but looking up changes my focus from me to Him, just like a child to their parent. Although, I don't really like that illustration much, I guess it fits.
Wow -- I like the look down/look up - thanks Chris. I've heard the phrase keep looking up for years, but the way you worded it - - I just read it again, somehow that sinks in.
I also latched on to the "surrender to win" very like God, very unlike us humans!!
I focused on the going to bed (which I love to do) and getting up in the morning.
3:5 "I fall asleep knowing you care about me" 4:8 "At night I will sleep in peace because the Lord watches over me and keeps me safe".
Another great word picture of living in the peace of surrendering fears, anxiety, unfairness to God; and don't you love the thought of him watching over you - smiling down on you, keeping anything troubling away from you?
3:5,6 "I awaken knowing you're still with me. So I will not fear" 5:2,3 "Where else can I go?" (that reminds me of Peter's remark, to whom shall we go?) "You hear my voice every morning. Before sunrise I lay my petitions before you and wait for an answer."
A picture of surrendering up those fears, those requests to God every morning. Letting go of them - placing them in his will, and yes the hardest Chris -- His timing!!
Finally, I liked 5:8 "Lead me in your way and give me strength to do right. I can't trust anyone or lean on others for help"
Looking to God for our answers and our leading. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord!!
I love today's reading because it shows me that God does keep his covenants and His word is true. So many things have changed in the past year.
Psalm 3--"Lord, how they are increased who trouble me....many rise up against me." A yr ago, I was surrounded by evil,evil people who were my enemies. They flaunted their sins and bragged about it. I was told they would never move out of the complex---they were here to stay. I would be the one to move. And they did everything they could to force me out of here. But I knew God gave me this ground and I stood on His word. My Lord took over the territory of my enemies and as Psalm 4 says---He freed me from my distress. Hallelujah!
Psalm 5--God abhors all evildoers and and boasters and He will destroy those who speak lies. 5:10--God pronounced my enemies guilty and let them fall by their own designs.
God is so faithful and true to His word. I Bless the Lord God of Israel.
They keep making changes to the blog, I wonder why they didn't do it all at once. Did they thing we wouldn't notice if they did one thing at a time?
Anyway, Job 3 is where he vents & says why was I even born? God can handle it when we're honest with him about the way that we feel. He already knows it so I don't know why we hesitate to actually say it. We all do it or have done it at one time or the other. I've learned that that verbalizing it helps me get it out in the open & sometimes, just in saying it aloud my attitude changes. I realize how silly it sounds or that I need to do something, usually surrender my will.
Sometimes, I answer my own question too, but only after I say it out loud. Weird huh? You guys experience the same thing or is it just me?
I'm astounded (again) that Job's friends jump on him right at the get go! They don't even seem to TRY to sympathize with him. Not even a little bit. Is it because they want it like it used to be & so "just say you're wrong & then it'll be fixed & we can go home" - get on with our lives? Is it because it's an inconvenience to them to be there with him while he's suffering? Is it just a duty to them, an obligation? Is it just a man thing?
I know I've caught myself feeling inconvenienced (selfish) when I'm with a friend who's struggling. I am amazed at my hard, cold heart sometimes. But when I've prayed & asked God to give me His heart & His eyes toward his struggling child, WOW! What a different experience!
I wonder what would have happened if Job's friends had done that. It means so much to have a listening ear, a sympathetic heart & prayerful support of friends when you're struggling. They would have helped lift the load instead of piling more on to the burden on his heart.
I want to be a "relief" friend, not a "crushing" one. Job probably wanted them to just go away & let him be alone in his sorrow. How sad to prefer to suffer alone than to be with people that could help. But yet, I'm sure we've all felt that way at times too.
Well Chris -- you ARE a "relief" friend to me! I find you a very good listener, and you ask questions to make me think -- so I KNOW that God is using you! But I relate to what you are saying -- sometimes I become impatient with the things I have to do and I have to ask God to slow me down and take the time to be HIS kind of friend; shoot -- it happened just yesterday! I have my agenda, and I have to keep staying open to HIS agenda!
Job sounds suicidal to me in chpt 3; (I'm not blaming him, I see myself as saying the very same things if I'd last everything as he did). 3:13, 21, 25, 26 If I had died, I would be at peace . . . Why is life prolonged for those who wish to die, who long for the end more than for hidden treasure . . . Everything I ever feared and dreaded has happened to me . . . there is n rest in my soul, only confusion."
4:8 makes me wonder if people back then had the "this is an act of God" mentality that our present world has for disasters. Didn't they believe in the devil and that he was/is a driving force in what happens around us? "Those are the kinds of people God turns against" What happened to the God of love? Did they focus on that at all? David did - the OT writers did - - hmmmmm
4:20 sounds a lot like Ecclesiastes: "A man may be alive in the morning and be dead by night, and things will go on without him. Then all he has is taken from him, and what wisdom he had is gone". Another reminder to live generously and joyously in the day we are given! Abandoned to the situations God opens up for us:)
Chris, I think I don't verbalize my questions enough -- I don't think I ask why enough. Both David and Job did, so yes, I believe God does encourage those questions -- and I think by verbalizing them, maybe we realize that we don't have all the answers and we have to lay it down at His feet instead of internalizing them.
Also -- I thought the SAME thing, that Eliphaz was going at Job's problems from a man's perspective of "let's fix this thing" instead of "I feel your pain, let me listen and empathize" that women often need and extend in friendship. I think God uses both and a balance of these two emotions to move us on to healing.
Job 3--Oh my--JOb curses the day he was born. Wow---been there, done that! So many times I've been in trauma so deep that I have questioned the Lord about the same thing. Why on earth am I alive, Lord? Why do you want me to exist if I have to endure such pain? What purpose am I serving? For what possible purpose do you want me to continue to live through this? Is this why I was born? Yep--Been there---
Job 4:5--- I think that if someone is in leadership, those who have been mentored by them have a difficult time seeing their leader in pain. It takes people out of their comfort zone.
And then we have the vision of Eliphaz. I haven't quite figured out what's going on here. Was Eliphaz trying to say that he has some secret knowledge that Job doesn't have? Or is he trying to say to Job that he has experienced frightening things similar to what JOb has experienced? Not sure of the purpose of the vision.
Thanks Linda. I think I would wonder a bit when I heard Job saying these things if he was suicidal. Then again, I know that sometimes you really feel that way, to the depths of your soul, as you expressed Sherrie, but you wouldn't kill yourself. If someone killed you, you'd be thankful, but it's expressing what's really on your heart. It's so heavy that you can't help but speak it. You'd think his friends would worry, but again, must be a man thing...just fix it.
I read Isaiah, but have too much on my mind to formulate any cognitive thoughts to share. Happy FRIDAY!!!!!
Amid all the swirling national hostility -- there are so many prophetic texts of hope about the coming Messiah -- the hope of all the hatred, war, jealousies.
When I read these texts, I wonder what they young man Jesus thought when He read them -- I wonder if He was filled with amazement that He was the one fulfilling the prophecies -- and I wonder when He first "knew"
The 3 prophecies that jumped out at me all centered around the baby: 7:14, 9:6 and 11:2.
Also -- good counsel to stay far away from spiritualism, for the dead know nothing 8:19.
And a good tie in with 8:16 "Those of you who love the Lord, help me to seal what is written in the law and to preserve the testimonies among my people". and 8:20 "If anyone speaks contrary to these (the law and the testimonies), it's because that person has no light in him).
Sooooo -- knowing our scripture is key to loving God and being able to tell truth from error:) Let's keep reading!!
I'm just assuming that the descriptions of peace and safety we find in 11:6-13 is a description of Heaven; of God's plan for our lives - - sounds too good to be true; but it IS! It's what He had in mind all along.
And since Isaiah (and us) is living in the time of swirling national hurt, war, and jealousy -- God reminds them (us) that 11:14 "EVEN NOW the Lord would hlep his People if they were to turn to Him!"
Isaiah 7:3--Isaiah has an encounter with God. This is the thing that stands out to me in today's reading--that Isaiah has many supernatural encounters with God. (8:1, 8:5, 8:11,) It's natural for him. I pray that it will become natural for me.
In 7:6-9-- I see man (flesh) planning out the future in his own mind and God firmly saying NO---that won't happen. This is how things are going to be. There is a lot of BELIEF in man's ability and a lot of unbelief in what the Lord is saying.
I see a very defiant King Ahaz. The Lord tells Ahaz what the future will hold and tells Ahaz to even ask for a sign to help him believe. But Ahaz is so defiant--he doesn't want to bother the Lord with such small matters. Isaiah says the Lord will bring a curse on the nation and on Ahaz's family because he wont listen to God. (7:17)
8:14-15--Wow---Israel and Judah refused the care of the Lord and thereby stumbled against the Rock of their Salvation. God's presence among them now endangered them. Wow. Reminds me of the United States at the moment.
9:8-10---Though Israel's land was in ruin--they said--We will rebuild it better than before. This reminds me of the attack on the twin towers on 9/11. Instead of realizing that God's judgment was on the United States---our leaders said in defiance---we'll rebuild.
There was a lack of recognition that God withheld his protection on 9/11 because of our disregard for Him. Many church leaders believe that we can do whatever we want without seeking God. (As the church goes, so goes the nation)
Matt 3:8 "Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God." This is how people really tell what's important in my life. How do I live? Am I led by God or by my own wants & passions? Are others 1st or am I?
If I'm living with my hands/heart open, then I'm waiting on God & seeking His direction. Which leads me to think of & put other people first. When I'm closed & looking down at me & what I want, then I'm only thinking of myself & my agenda.
Jesus could have accepted the homage of John & say "you're right, I should baptize you, let me do that so we can start this thing off right!" It would be the human way to transfer power to another leader. But Jesus was a leader by surrender, by abandonment of self. The direct opposite to human thinking & planning. People had to stop & make a definite choice if they were going to follow him. Toward the end of his ministry there were times when the crowd got carried away by emotion (entry into Jerusalem, at the cross) by usually it was an individual basis.
What a great feeling to have your father tell you that he is very happy with you! That you bring him great joy! So much more when God is your Father! So then it'd be natural for me, after I'd heard this, to think it's all going to be cake afterwards.
But the One who has just confirmed me, leads me into the hardest trial I've yet faced! I'm not fed for 40 days & instead of angels with food I get my worst enemy? This is where I'd whine & complain. But that would also mean I was living with my hands/heart closed & only thinking of me & my wants. Jesus was thinking of us, of me, not Himself.
He was so weak that He had to totally depend on God for the mental strength to resist temptation. Just because our bodies may be physically depleted or we look like we'd be a pushover, that is when we can be the strongest. But only as we depend on God.
Here Jesus truly had to trust His Father. He was fine surrendering His physical body, knowing that no one could take away His eternal life, just His physical. And really, His Father was in control of that too. Even to be physically touched by sin (satan) & taken wherever sin wanted to take Him.
I know there were limitations on what satan could do to Him. Makes me wonder if there wasn't another meeting like in the beginning of Job where satan came into the Presence of the Father & was told what he could/couldn't do to Jesus while He was here on earth. So thankful that He overcame in the power of His Father/HS.
Again, I think of how unlike human planning, the ministry of Jesus opens. He ministers to people. He reaches out to them, seeks them out & they respond by coming to Him to be healed physically at first, but that opened the door for spiritual healing as well. Just a lot of comparisons to the pomp & display that human leaders put on to attract follows to themselves.
Ya made me think this morning Chris! I never thought about the transfer of power between Jesus/John, and how people would have to choose who their leader would be - - Jesus' total surrender; his life here on earth was at the physical mercy of men -- His birth, His childhood (parents' lost him!!), His baptism, certainly His death - - but He was never at the emotional/spiritual mercy of men - - that belonged to His Father.
John was obedient to His calling to; even though he shrunk back from baptizing the One, even though he sensed the sinlessness of JEsus and understood that He was the Messiah - - he obeyed Jesus command to baptize him. What an honor was given to him, yet he obeyed it in humility.
Jesus came out of the water to offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving that the mission was now under way perhaps? That He was to start this mercy journey for the people around him - - I'm glad he heard the voice.
I'm guessing that voice carried him through the tough times ahead - -
Jesus was led into the wilderness to pray and prepare; we sometimes feel led into situations - - sometimes even Godly missions, and then they don't turn out anything like we hope. But God teaches us that our humility is our strength, as trials causes us to lean on Him. We grow in the tough times.
after trial 1, "the devil didn't give up" after trail 2,"still, the devil did not give up" - - every day we need to ask God to fight for us - - Our God is stronger.
Jesus "lay there dying" sometimes I think I miss that -- how extreme this battle was. God sent assurance before the battle, and after the battle - - in the middle of the battle, Jesus had to cling.
The first group Jesus called for his disciples had to leave their living; the second group had to leave their living and their family. But what a reward for leaving, to spend 3 1/2 years with GOD! At the time, I wonder if they realized that? During the 3 1/2 years, I wonder if they questioned it? It was only after Jesus rose that they seemed fired-up convinced.
Before the battle - YEAH! Lots of love & confirmation. After the battle - YEAH - Victory! But tender care for the Warrior to nurse Him back to health. Those are the moments we like to think about. But I like your reminder to cling IN the battle. Not whine (me) but cling.
Hadn't thought about the difference of leaving work for 1st group & the 2nd group leaving both work AND family. Thanks for bringing that out...& the reward...yeah! I don't they realized it. I'm thinking if it was me it'd be a mix of curiosity & wanting something more than what I'm seeing in traditional religion...seeing Something more that's possible in this Individual. Maybe I'll give it a whirl! But, He takes me for a whirl! LOL
Mornin' everyone! Hope you had a good sleep! The book of Romans seems to be Pauls passionate plea for Jews to accept Gentiles as fellow-heirs, as comrades in the spiritual walk. I keep thinking about this as Paul talks about circumcision and the law - - it's important for us in different denominations not to look at each other in a competitive way, rather - as comrades, sharing the different truths that we have and encouraging each other on our spiritual journeys.
ReplyDelete3:13 "People's mouths are death traps" boy - that's true - - out of the mouth comes lies, discouragement, gossip, slander.
3:20 and 4:15 dovetail in the purpose of the law. It has nothing to do with salvation other than to tell us or point out what sin is. With "no law, then there is nothing to obey, and there is no sin" I've thought of that in the past -- without God's word, there is no moral compass - nothing to hold people accountable, and anything goes - - I guess that was made pretty plane in the French Revolution.
3:31 We uphold God's law and out of GRATITUDE do what He has asked us to do. Gratitude vs entitlement. With entitlement, we grumble and complain that God would have a law or require obedience; with entitlement - we feel we deserve His gifts - what a lousy way we humans operate. God's way though -- is more what every parent is hoping for; out of gratitude and love comes obedience. I think you could say that entitlement is an evil emotion.
Here's a kernel of gratitude truths: "God credits righteousness without that man having worked for it" (4:6)
4:20 "Abraham's faith in God's promise did not waver, but kept growing stronger, even though . . . " This brings hope to all of us, as we all have our "even though" moments when we grab the reins back and try to solve the problems on our own. I think of the Father that cried out to Jesus, "Lord, I believe - help my unbelief"
Well Linda, you said a mouthful & everything that I got out of it, you commented on...well said! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Sunday mornings. I get to sleep in and I get some time to just study what I have read. Romans is my favorite book. I always find something new when I read it. I have read it multiple times and am blessed with each reading.
ReplyDeleteLinda I agree that it seems to be a plea to Jews to accept Gentiles, but I also feel its a plea to the Gentiles to accept Christ. 3:22 "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."
And then there are Paul's thoughts on faith, in the next 5 verses he mentions "faith" 5 times. He tells us 3 times that our acceptance by God is based on faith! 3:27 "Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.[j] 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
Paul's desire to make it so plain to us that God ACCEPTED us...we did NOTHING! I love the promise in those verses. I also like that we cannot forget the law just because we have faith. I have found that the closer I get to Jesus, the deeper that friendship really goes, the more I want to follow Him. The easier, in some ways, to be obedient to Him. I dont know if its gratitude, respect or a desire to please Him. Maybe its a combination of all 3.
4:16 "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe." Faith like Abrahams! He believed when there didnt seem to be hope, he was willing to sacrifice His OWN son because God said to. Faith like Abrahams..oh to be like that!
4:20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
It was recorded for us! So that when we lose sight of God, when we have issues or problems or cant find that light at the end of the tunnel...all we have to do is pick up our Bible! Read about Abraham, Peter, Paul and Jesus. I love that! I love knowing that God saw to our needs as well as the needs at the time! He saw the BIG PICTURE...he sees the big picture, hmmmm and maybe if I will surrender since he sees/knows more than me..Hmmm LOL!
Enjoyed your thoughts Juli. Did you type all that on your blackberry? That's very impressive! You have more patience than I if you did!
ReplyDeleteFrom Abraham thinking he was past the age of having a kid to Noah, who had 3 after he was 500! I look at those #s in 5 & think, yuck, I don't know if I'd want to live that long nowadays!
It was bad back then too though, so bad that it says in 6:6 that God had sorrow in His heart that He made man. That's pretty scary that we made God that sad! What would have happened if Jesus had come to this earth then? There was so much evil in the world that God had to destroy it. Only 8 people believed in God? That's is very sad!
I didn't realize that God told Noah they were going to be inside the ark for 7 days before the rain came. So Noah knew that it'd be awhile & they'd have to listen to the taunts of the people outside. But still, I see it as a test of faith. Waiting on God is always a test of faith. And it showed the hearts of the people outside.
I'm sure they were in awe as the animals filed in with no one directing & pulling them but after nothing happened in the next hours or days...that would have worn off. Just like Ptr Mike said in his sermon, fear is a short-term motivator.
More than 5 months in cramped living qtrs with all the lovely smells/sounds of the zoo! Special grace from God had to of been given to keep them all sane! Did they get their water from the rain outside or did they have to bring enough of that on board at the beginning too? It doesn't say...but I'm just thinking of bathing, bathrooms, etc. How'd that all work? Especially since God is orderly & clean. I'm sure He thought of something! Maybe they could just go up on the deck & take a shower in the rain? :0
4:1 -- Eve exclaimed "I have given birth to a man!" I can't imagine what a mystery the whole getting pregnant, growing belly, birth was to Eve -- like, "What's happening to me??" Adam had to be her mid-wife!
ReplyDeleteReally interesting wording in my Bible, that makes the old battle of works vs grace jump out.
4:3 "Cain brought the fruits of the field as an offering to the Lord -- symbolic of his own labor and given as a FAVOR TO GOD!" A favor to God? Totally about works
"Able brought a lamb to the Lord . . . because it pointed forward to the One who would give His life for man. Abel understood the principle of redemption . . . and showed faith in what God had promised to do" Totally about grace
4:25 Meanwhile, Adam and Eve had a third son. The grief must have been terrific; losing 2 boys, and watching the world spiral down from their beautiful Eden to a world of violence, hurt, and shameful disrespect to others and to God.
4:3 Go Seth -- he looked like Adam and led God's people to openly profess Him and to call on the Lord to help them be faithful to Him. Openly profess -- in the face of ridicule, no doubt.
You know the day for a year principle in prophecy? I wonder if there's anything to the fact that Enoch lived 365 years, and there's 365 days in a year -- I can't figure out how that would have any significance or what the clue might be -- but maybe there's something there??
5:29 -- generations later, people are still upset with the curse Cain brought to the world. The story must have been passed down.
I always wondered if the fish made it through the flood. 7:22 talks about everything destroyed that had breath in their nostrils -- fish don't have nostrils, so I think they lived on!
I do like the faith vs works that your Bible brought out. I have always wondered about the fish too. Did just 1 couple of each kind survive like everything else? But more of the clean than unclean like the rest of the animals? Interesting that even before the Israelites & Leviticus 11 that the people knew the difference between what they could/couldn't eat. Guess it wasn't a Jewish thing after all.
ReplyDeleteHadn't thought about that before. Like Sabbath. Most people think it's a Jewish thing but Adam & Eve weren't Jewish.
I wonder if the people of Jericho thought nothing was going to happen by the 7th day? I wonder if they had gotten used to the marching around & figured it was a repeat. But when they kept going around the city, I bet everyone was on the walls watching because that's just are humans are - curious even in dangerous situations.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read about Ai I wonder if Joshua sought counsel from God before going up. It doesn't say that he did. Because I think God would have told him if there was sin that needed to be weeded out first. Then again, maybe this way impressed the people of the dangers of sin & that no one can get away with it. I think God didn't want the warriors to die just to get a point across, but I think He uses any & every opportunity to teach us.
So tragic that Achan's choice affected his entire family. I wonder how hard it was for the rest of Israel to throw the stones. Maybe not as hard for those who had lost a family member due to his selfishness.
This version (New Life) I'm reading gives the description instead of the common name for ways to describe things. Like instead of Ark of the Covenant it's "special box of the agreement" or instead of harlot for Rahab it's "the woman who sells the use of her body". Definitely not mincing words or PC, just in your face & factual!
I like how Joshua throws it back on God "...what will You do for Your great Name?" But God tosses it right back & tells him to get up because there's sin. So that tells me Joshua hadn't asked God about Ai, as I'm sure God would have said something.
Common trap for leadership (actually anyone) is when things are going well, not to talk to God too much, which tells Him we don't need Him as much. It's also assuming, no one likes to be assumed upon, much less God. Joshua makes the same mistake with the Gibeonites. I'm thankful though that the story of Joshua gives us the mistakes & the successes so we can see that God uses us in spite of us! He's willing to work with us & train us to be the person He created us to be.
My version says in 7:4 Without asking the Lord what to do, Joshua sent three thousand men to take Ai -- and then again, as you pointed out Chris -- no one asked God what He thought about the Gibeonites. It really makes you wonder WHY they didn't ask! It's like they had this General that lived up in heaven and had the gift of the big picture, the future, what the other team was thinking -- WHY didn't they ask. OK then, why don't we ask? I've caught myself taking back the reins and making decisions all the time!
ReplyDeleteIn my version it says 7:15 If they do not repent and come forward on their own, they are to be executed -- I wonder if they had repented if they would have been forgiven. As you pointed out, tho Chris -- there were some families that had paid heavily for Achan's sin. Anyway -- Achan didn't repent, in fact my version says in 19 that he was silent and refused to speak.
Love the Sun Stand Still prayer -- especially after reading the book. And did you notice that Joshua cried it out in the hearing of his men? Sometimes when I pray a prayer for healing or help or whatever, I keep it between him and me; but Joshua was bold in front of everyone. Maybe the hailstones were an indication that they were definitely fighting in God's will, and Joshua's desire to keep do all he could to live out God's will was why he was so bold.
Joshua didn't forget to put the commandments and Moses' words in front of the people -- reminding them WHY they were having successes; it wasn't about themselves, it was about Him and obeying His will.
Finally -- the picture of the commanders putting their feet on the kings' necks. This is a word picture to me; putting my feet on the neck of my fears, my anxieties and then listening to Joshua's words: Don't ever be afraid . . . Don't ever become discouraged and give up the fight, because this is what the Lord will do to all those who fight against you!!!!!
Very encouraging Linda! Love that word pic of conquering our fears too.
ReplyDeletePs 3:1 made me think of people who think they are right with God & then they stand in judgement of me & say I'm wrong & going against God's will. Why is she praying? God's not going to listen to her? But God alone is my defense & I can rest in Him completely to fight my battles.
I see both a physical rest here, because I'm trusting in God & also a mental/emotional rest. I don't have to get stressed & worked up. I can have the atmosphere of peace because that's what Jesus promised us in John 14:27 & 16:33.
4:2 I see God asking how long are we going to chase worthless things to find happiness when He is true happiness. It goes against our nature to surrender in order to win, but that's exactly what needs to take place.
v4 "Shake with anger and do not sin. When you are on your bed, look into your hearts and be quiet". I see this as a call to think things over instead of just reacting, which is what I do most of the time. I'm learning that if I just wait & calm down, I'm way more rational & don't have to apologize as much. :0
v5 says to give the gifts that are good & trust in the Lord. This reminds me of Gal 6:9 which says we shouldn't get worn out or tired of doing good. Sometimes I want to withhold doing the right thing because I think it's either not appreciated or hasn't been earned. This says we need to always do the right thing & let God deal with the rest. That's what trust here implies. And doesn't God give me grace when I don't deserve it? Hasn't He given His life for me when I didn't earn it? So what gives me the right to judge & withhold or hand out? I can't believe He's so patient with me!
At the end of 5:3 it says that I lay my prayers before You & look up. I like that. I'm laying it all out before God & WAITING. I'm in expectation of His Will, His deliverance, & the hardest one of all for me, His timing.
When I look down I see all my problems & trials, but looking up changes my focus from me to Him, just like a child to their parent. Although, I don't really like that illustration much, I guess it fits.
Wow -- I like the look down/look up - thanks Chris. I've heard the phrase keep looking up for years, but the way you worded it - - I just read it again, somehow that sinks in.
ReplyDeleteI also latched on to the "surrender to win" very like God, very unlike us humans!!
I focused on the going to bed (which I love to do) and getting up in the morning.
3:5 "I fall asleep knowing you care about me" 4:8 "At night I will sleep in peace because the Lord watches over me and keeps me safe".
Another great word picture of living in the peace of surrendering fears, anxiety, unfairness to God; and don't you love the thought of him watching over you - smiling down on you, keeping anything troubling away from you?
3:5,6 "I awaken knowing you're still with me. So I will not fear" 5:2,3 "Where else can I go?" (that reminds me of Peter's remark, to whom shall we go?) "You hear my voice every morning. Before sunrise I lay my petitions before you and wait for an answer."
A picture of surrendering up those fears, those requests to God every morning. Letting go of them - placing them in his will, and yes the hardest Chris -- His timing!!
Finally, I liked 5:8 "Lead me in your way and give me strength to do right. I can't trust anyone or lean on others for help"
Looking to God for our answers and our leading. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord!!
I love today's reading because it shows me that God does keep his covenants and His word is true. So many things have changed in the past year.
ReplyDeletePsalm 3--"Lord, how they are increased who trouble me....many rise up against me."
A yr ago, I was surrounded by evil,evil people who were my enemies. They flaunted their sins and bragged about it. I was told they would never move out of the complex---they were here to stay. I would be the one to move. And they did everything they could to force me out of here.
But I knew God gave me this ground and I stood on His word. My Lord took over the territory of my enemies and as Psalm 4 says---He freed me from my distress. Hallelujah!
Psalm 5--God abhors all evildoers and and boasters and He will destroy those who speak lies.
5:10--God pronounced my enemies guilty and let them fall by their own designs.
God is so faithful and true to His word. I Bless the Lord God of Israel.
They keep making changes to the blog, I wonder why they didn't do it all at once. Did they thing we wouldn't notice if they did one thing at a time?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Job 3 is where he vents & says why was I even born? God can handle it when we're honest with him about the way that we feel. He already knows it so I don't know why we hesitate to actually say it. We all do it or have done it at one time or the other. I've learned that that verbalizing it helps me get it out in the open & sometimes, just in saying it aloud my attitude changes. I realize how silly it sounds or that I need to do something, usually surrender my will.
Sometimes, I answer my own question too, but only after I say it out loud. Weird huh? You guys experience the same thing or is it just me?
I'm astounded (again) that Job's friends jump on him right at the get go! They don't even seem to TRY to sympathize with him. Not even a little bit. Is it because they want it like it used to be & so "just say you're wrong & then it'll be fixed & we can go home" - get on with our lives? Is it because it's an inconvenience to them to be there with him while he's suffering? Is it just a duty to them, an obligation? Is it just a man thing?
I know I've caught myself feeling inconvenienced (selfish) when I'm with a friend who's struggling. I am amazed at my hard, cold heart sometimes. But when I've prayed & asked God to give me His heart & His eyes toward his struggling child, WOW! What a different experience!
I wonder what would have happened if Job's friends had done that. It means so much to have a listening ear, a sympathetic heart & prayerful support of friends when you're struggling. They would have helped lift the load instead of piling more on to the burden on his heart.
I want to be a "relief" friend, not a "crushing" one. Job probably wanted them to just go away & let him be alone in his sorrow. How sad to prefer to suffer alone than to be with people that could help. But yet, I'm sure we've all felt that way at times too.
Well Chris -- you ARE a "relief" friend to me! I find you a very good listener, and you ask questions to make me think -- so I KNOW that God is using you! But I relate to what you are saying -- sometimes I become impatient with the things I have to do and I have to ask God to slow me down and take the time to be HIS kind of friend; shoot -- it happened just yesterday! I have my agenda, and I have to keep staying open to HIS agenda!
ReplyDeleteJob sounds suicidal to me in chpt 3; (I'm not blaming him, I see myself as saying the very same things if I'd last everything as he did). 3:13, 21, 25, 26 If I had died, I would be at peace . . . Why is life prolonged for those who wish to die, who long for the end more than for hidden treasure . . . Everything I ever feared and dreaded has happened to me . . . there is n rest in my soul, only confusion."
4:8 makes me wonder if people back then had the "this is an act of God" mentality that our present world has for disasters. Didn't they believe in the devil and that he was/is a driving force in what happens around us? "Those are the kinds of people God turns against" What happened to the God of love? Did they focus on that at all? David did - the OT writers did - - hmmmmm
4:20 sounds a lot like Ecclesiastes: "A man may be alive in the morning and be dead by night, and things will go on without him. Then all he has is taken from him, and what wisdom he had is gone". Another reminder to live generously and joyously in the day we are given! Abandoned to the situations God opens up for us:)
Chris, I think I don't verbalize my questions enough -- I don't think I ask why enough. Both David and Job did, so yes, I believe God does encourage those questions -- and I think by verbalizing them, maybe we realize that we don't have all the answers and we have to lay it down at His feet instead of internalizing them.
Also -- I thought the SAME thing, that Eliphaz was going at Job's problems from a man's perspective of "let's fix this thing" instead of "I feel your pain, let me listen and empathize" that women often need and extend in friendship. I think God uses both and a balance of these two emotions to move us on to healing.
Job 3--Oh my--JOb curses the day he was born.
ReplyDeleteWow---been there, done that! So many times I've been in trauma so deep that I have questioned the Lord about the same thing. Why on earth am I alive, Lord? Why do you want me to exist if I have to endure such pain? What purpose am I serving? For what possible purpose do you want me to continue to live through this? Is this why I was born? Yep--Been there---
Job 4:5--- I think that if someone is in leadership, those who have been mentored by them have a difficult time seeing their leader in pain.
It takes people out of their comfort zone.
And then we have the vision of Eliphaz. I haven't quite figured out what's going on here. Was Eliphaz trying to say that he has some secret knowledge that Job doesn't have? Or is he trying to say to Job that he has experienced frightening things similar to what JOb has experienced? Not sure of the purpose of the vision.
Thanks Linda. I think I would wonder a bit when I heard Job saying these things if he was suicidal. Then again, I know that sometimes you really feel that way, to the depths of your soul, as you expressed Sherrie, but you wouldn't kill yourself. If someone killed you, you'd be thankful, but it's expressing what's really on your heart. It's so heavy that you can't help but speak it. You'd think his friends would worry, but again, must be a man thing...just fix it.
ReplyDeleteI read Isaiah, but have too much on my mind to formulate any cognitive thoughts to share. Happy FRIDAY!!!!!
Amid all the swirling national hostility -- there are so many prophetic texts of hope about the coming Messiah -- the hope of all the hatred, war, jealousies.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read these texts, I wonder what they young man Jesus thought when He read them -- I wonder if He was filled with amazement that He was the one fulfilling the prophecies -- and I wonder when He first "knew"
The 3 prophecies that jumped out at me all centered around the baby:
7:14, 9:6 and 11:2.
Also -- good counsel to stay far away from spiritualism, for the dead know nothing 8:19.
And a good tie in with 8:16 "Those of you who love the Lord, help me to seal what is written in the law and to preserve the testimonies among my people". and 8:20 "If anyone speaks contrary to these (the law and the testimonies), it's because that person has no light in him).
Sooooo -- knowing our scripture is key to loving God and being able to tell truth from error:) Let's keep reading!!
I'm just assuming that the descriptions of peace and safety we find in 11:6-13 is a description of Heaven; of God's plan for our lives - - sounds too good to be true; but it IS! It's what He had in mind all along.
And since Isaiah (and us) is living in the time of swirling national hurt, war, and jealousy -- God reminds them (us) that 11:14 "EVEN NOW the Lord would hlep his People if they were to turn to Him!"
Isaiah 7:3--Isaiah has an encounter with God. This is the thing that stands out to me in today's reading--that Isaiah has many supernatural encounters with God. (8:1, 8:5, 8:11,) It's natural for him. I pray that it will become natural for me.
ReplyDeleteIn 7:6-9-- I see man (flesh) planning out the future in his own mind and God firmly saying NO---that won't happen. This is how things are going to be. There is a lot of BELIEF in man's ability and a lot of unbelief in what the Lord is saying.
I see a very defiant King Ahaz. The Lord tells Ahaz what the future will hold and tells Ahaz to even ask for a sign to help him believe. But Ahaz is so defiant--he doesn't want to bother the Lord with such small matters. Isaiah says the Lord will bring a curse on the nation and on Ahaz's family because he wont listen to God. (7:17)
8:14-15--Wow---Israel and Judah refused the care of the Lord and thereby stumbled against the Rock of their Salvation. God's presence among them now endangered them. Wow. Reminds me of the United States at the moment.
9:8-10---Though Israel's land was in ruin--they said--We will rebuild it better than before. This reminds me of the attack on the twin towers on 9/11. Instead of realizing that God's judgment was on the United States---our leaders said in defiance---we'll rebuild.
There was a lack of recognition that God withheld his protection on 9/11 because of our disregard for Him. Many church leaders believe that we can do whatever we want without seeking God. (As the church goes, so goes the nation)
Matt 3:8 "Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God." This is how people really tell what's important in my life. How do I live? Am I led by God or by my own wants & passions? Are others 1st or am I?
ReplyDeleteIf I'm living with my hands/heart open, then I'm waiting on God & seeking His direction. Which leads me to think of & put other people first. When I'm closed & looking down at me & what I want, then I'm only thinking of myself & my agenda.
Jesus could have accepted the homage of John & say "you're right, I should baptize you, let me do that so we can start this thing off right!" It would be the human way to transfer power to another leader. But Jesus was a leader by surrender, by abandonment of self. The direct opposite to human thinking & planning. People had to stop & make a definite choice if they were going to follow him. Toward the end of his ministry there were times when the crowd got carried away by emotion (entry into Jerusalem, at the cross) by usually it was an individual basis.
What a great feeling to have your father tell you that he is very happy with you! That you bring him great joy! So much more when God is your Father! So then it'd be natural for me, after I'd heard this, to think it's all going to be cake afterwards.
But the One who has just confirmed me, leads me into the hardest trial I've yet faced! I'm not fed for 40 days & instead of angels with food I get my worst enemy? This is where I'd whine & complain. But that would also mean I was living with my hands/heart closed & only thinking of me & my wants. Jesus was thinking of us, of me, not Himself.
He was so weak that He had to totally depend on God for the mental strength to resist temptation. Just because our bodies may be physically depleted or we look like we'd be a pushover, that is when we can be the strongest. But only as we depend on God.
Here Jesus truly had to trust His Father. He was fine surrendering His physical body, knowing that no one could take away His eternal life, just His physical. And really, His Father was in control of that too. Even to be physically touched by sin (satan) & taken wherever sin wanted to take Him.
I know there were limitations on what satan could do to Him. Makes me wonder if there wasn't another meeting like in the beginning of Job where satan came into the Presence of the Father & was told what he could/couldn't do to Jesus while He was here on earth. So thankful that He overcame in the power of His Father/HS.
Again, I think of how unlike human planning, the ministry of Jesus opens. He ministers to people. He reaches out to them, seeks them out & they respond by coming to Him to be healed physically at first, but that opened the door for spiritual healing as well. Just a lot of comparisons to the pomp & display that human leaders put on to attract follows to themselves.
Ya made me think this morning Chris! I never thought about the transfer of power between Jesus/John, and how people would have to choose who their leader would be - - Jesus' total surrender; his life here on earth was at the physical mercy of men -- His birth, His childhood (parents' lost him!!), His baptism, certainly His death - - but He was never at the emotional/spiritual mercy of men - - that belonged to His Father.
ReplyDeleteJohn was obedient to His calling to; even though he shrunk back from baptizing the One, even though he sensed the sinlessness of JEsus and understood that He was the Messiah - - he obeyed Jesus command to baptize him. What an honor was given to him, yet he obeyed it in humility.
Jesus came out of the water to offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving that the mission was now under way perhaps? That He was to start this mercy journey for the people around him - - I'm glad he heard the voice.
I'm guessing that voice carried him through the tough times ahead - -
Jesus was led into the wilderness to pray and prepare; we sometimes feel led into situations - - sometimes even Godly missions, and then they don't turn out anything like we hope. But God teaches us that our humility is our strength, as trials causes us to lean on Him. We grow in the tough times.
after trial 1, "the devil didn't give up" after trail 2,"still, the devil did not give up" - - every day we need to ask God to fight for us - - Our God is stronger.
Jesus "lay there dying" sometimes I think I miss that -- how extreme this battle was. God sent assurance before the battle, and after the battle - - in the middle of the battle, Jesus had to cling.
The first group Jesus called for his disciples had to leave their living; the second group had to leave their living and their family. But what a reward for leaving, to spend 3 1/2 years with GOD! At the time, I wonder if they realized that? During the 3 1/2 years, I wonder if they questioned it? It was only after Jesus rose that they seemed fired-up convinced.
Before the battle - YEAH! Lots of love & confirmation. After the battle - YEAH - Victory! But tender care for the Warrior to nurse Him back to health. Those are the moments we like to think about. But I like your reminder to cling IN the battle. Not whine (me) but cling.
ReplyDeleteHadn't thought about the difference of leaving work for 1st group & the 2nd group leaving both work AND family. Thanks for bringing that out...& the reward...yeah! I don't they realized it. I'm thinking if it was me it'd be a mix of curiosity & wanting something more than what I'm seeing in traditional religion...seeing Something more that's possible in this Individual. Maybe I'll give it a whirl! But, He takes me for a whirl! LOL