Author: kezha1

John 1:3 says, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” So in other words, as Colossians 1:16 tells us, when God created all things, there was nothing that preexisted, and He created everything out of nothing. (Hebrews 11:3) Thus, if we can somehow wrap our heads around this kind of power…our heads will surely explode with the concept that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave will also raise us up. (I Corinthians 6:14) For when we are “buried” in baptism, we are then “raised up” with Him through faith in the powerful work of God in our lives… Who by His power, raised Jesus (and us) up from the dead. (Colossians 2:12) So in the end, God promises that we can truly know and have confidence in this kind of power… as we grow deeper and deeper in wisdom and fellowship with Him.

Romans 10:17 tells us that, “Faith comes from hearing the Message, and the Message is heard through the Word of God.” It was the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther who declared that justification by faith alone was the article upon which the Church stood or fell. And this faith in the Gospel Message was then seen as the cardinal doctrine in the Reformation’s battleground back then, and even now. It’s this type of “saving “faith that goes beyond head knowledge to heart knowledge…it’s a “living” faith, not just an empty profession of trust with no commitment…and it’s a very “personal” faith trusting in Jesus Christ alone not only as Savior, but as Lord. We are to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, (Colossians 3:16) and then believe what we have heard…(Galatians 3:2-5) both building our faith and trust in God’s Word…one confident hope in His promises at a time.

We can glean much from God’s Word in these three verses in Psalm 119. Verse 28 says, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.” In Jeremiah 45:3, Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, echoed these very words when he lamented, “Sorrow has been added to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.” Nothing can zap our strength like sadness, sorrow, and mourning. It seems like never ending days that transcend into unending nights filled with tears, anxiety, and exhaustion. But God’s Word is quick to reassure us that He gives strength to the weary, (Isaiah 40:29) and with Him, we can stand strong in the midst of it all. In verse 50 we see that our comfort from our suffering and affliction comes from this… God’s promises preserve our life…His compassion and consolation helping us to gain back our life as we dwell in His Word. Finally, verse 114 tells us that God is our refuge and hiding place, so we can confidently place our hope in Him as we rest under His protective hand.

One of the most hope-filled Scriptures found in the Bible is Psalm 107:20, “He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.” This verse not only shows God’s steadfast love and compassion, but the Word’s power and effectiveness, and God’s readiness to answer the prayers of His people. This promise is filled with redemption and hope that we can walk in healing and deliverance just as David did in Psalm 56:13, “For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light .” For even though David was in terrible danger, he chose to turn his lament into gratitude for God’s protection and willingness to save him….turning David’s fear into faith.

Psalm 119:105 says to us, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” We don’t have to travel through this uncertain and scary life on a darkened highway filled with pitfalls, hidden dangers, and booby-traps. God’s Word and His Divine Revelation can provide insight and guidance as to a lamp shining in a dark place…illuminating the road ahead. (II Peter 1:19) For when we accept God’s commands, we learn from them…gaining Godly wisdom, insight, and perspective in the process. That’s because His Word is reliable, showing us how to live our very best life. And as we walk in God’s Will, we’ll see that it is very personal, practical, and powerful… with His plan & purpose for our life fitting perfectly within who we are.

Psalm 19:7-8 tells us, ” The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” We will all go through times when we’ll feel completely out of control of our life and the circumstances surrounding it…making it seem like we’re being washed downstream by a raging river with no hope of escape. But we only need to read God’s Word to get back our equilibrium and solid footing again. It says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the Hebrew concept of wisdom here was very practical, based on what God had revealed concerning right and wrong…or what is called Divine Revelation. For once we get into God’s Word, He is able to open our eyes and transform our lives…allowing us to view things from His eternal perspective.

Psalm 119:165 tells us that, “Great peace have they who love Your Law, and nothing can make them stumble.” All our anxiety, fear, and stress and be rolled up into one word…distrust. But when we put our faith and confidence in the Lord, even when we stumble, we won’t fall, for the Lord upholds us in His hand.(Psalm 37:24) God welcomes all who are reconciled to Him with love, guidance, and protection from the staggering burden of anxiety we’ve carried around… thus making it possible to obtain real peace as we live in the light. (I John 2:10)

This verse comes from the Beatitudes that Jesus taught from the Sermon on the Mount. Likewise, Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We only have to reach back into the Old Testament to Isaiah 61:2-3 to see this future time that Jesus was pointing to when God will comfort all who mourn over the sinfulness surrounding them. From the daily death and destruction and senseless killings, to the very personal losses we go through…we grieve not only for others, but for ourselves living in this very broken world. But we are promised here in Isaiah that we will be consoled when the Lord comes to redeems His people. This precious promise is again echoed in Revelation 7:17, reassuring us that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes caused by unjust suffering.

This entire Chapter in Jeremiah is a personal message from God to Baruch, Jeremiah’s loyal secretary/scribe. Baruch had faithfully written down all the stern words against Jerusalem dictated by the prophet Jeremiah, he had read them to the king, and taken the abuse of the court for even daring to utter such words. Consequently, both Jeremiah and Baruch greatly suffered the rejection of the people who refused to believe the Lord’s warning. God’s promise to Baruch is what Jesus spoke about in Matthew 6:25-27…don’t allow anxiety and worry to take your eyes off Jesus…rather seek Him first, for He will meet all your needs. And we also can cling to this promise today…for even in our darkest times, we can have hope, because we are under God’s Divine care and protection.

Paul didn’t mince words to the Church in Corinth in his letter to them…having received a report of improper conduct amongst the congregation. I guess you could call this a “Tough Love” letter as he rattled off exhortation after exhortation. “Be on your guard” – Be watchful, open your eyes and don’t be duped by the world creeping into the Church for the sake of being politically correct or inclusive. “Stand firm in the faith” – Hold firmly to the Word of God, read it, study it, memorize it, so that you can not only encourage others but also refute those who oppose it, showing the wayward their error. “Be men of courage” – In other words, act like men and be courageous. “Be strong” – Ephesians 6:10 says to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power…the same power that raised Jesus from the grave…so draw your strength from Him. Finally, “Do everything in love” – This is true Christian love one for another, allowing you to show God’s love through you to others.