Jesus was criticizing the Pharisees and Jewish Teachers for maintaining the teachings of the Jewish elders concerning ceremonial hand washing…which was never part of God’s commandments to His people. We humans are so good at taking the Lord’s commandments and embellishing them… until we’re more focused on the peripheral and superficial, than the original Law that was given in the first place.
Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
For many, this day is not filled with happiness. Discouragement and fatigue may be stealing all your joy…Physical ailments may be robbing you of delighting in the Lord at all. You may be even saying to yourself, “I have nothing to be joyful about today.” But the feelings of joy, happiness, and delight are just that…human feelings. You don’t have to feel joyful in order to be filled with God’s strength. For joy comes from that all-encompassing assurance that God is there… even if your rejoicing is only by determination and through tears.
Ezra 1:1 ” In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the Word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing…”
The Prophet Jeremiah had proclaimed to the children of Israel that they would be exiled to Babylon…”But when the 70 years are over, I will fulfill My promise to bring you back to Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 25:11-12) God then used a very unlikely person to carry out this prophesy. He stirred up the heart of a heathen king in order to initiate and institute His Will. In Proverbs 21:1 it states, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.” Even in today’s volatile world scene with Godless governments oppressing their people – God is in control.
John 11:40 ” Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ “
Faith is not common sense…and common sense is not faith. The two are about as far apart as our natural life is from our spiritual life. Our human logic will get us into trouble every time we look at God…for we want to put God into a tidy little box, but it just doesn’t work that way. Faith in God, is seeing the situation through His eyes, and not ours…it’s trusting God when our human reasoning has all but given up…it’s believing when there’s nothing else left to do.
Ephesians 4: 23-24 ” To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
To clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus is to change our mindset…to alter every thought and action through a “God-like” filter. ” We have taken off our old self and put on the new self which is being renewed.” (Colossians 3:10) The point being, that this transformation process in our new self…our Christ-like self…is ongoing, ever evolving, ever growing as we pursue a right standing with God.
Ephesians 4: 4-6 ” There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all, and in all.”
The invitation was given…you accepted…and that first hope was born within your heart. Now having answered that call, you have become a child of the King…the absolute, sovereign God ruling over everything and everyone in accordance to His Eternal, Holy, and unchanging Will.
Ephesians 3:16-17 ” I pray out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
I pray this also into your life today. That Christ will not only take up residence, but become established and rooted in your heart…so that you will be able to do all things through Him who gives you strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Ephesians 3:12 ” In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
It’s that first hope in Jesus that changes our life forever. We’ve taken those first halting steps towards our Savior, and He has in turn gathered us up in a mighty hug of assurance and certainty. Now filled with the confidence and trust no human can fully explain, we can face God without the guilt and shame that has covered us for so long.
Ephesians 2:14 ” For He Himself is our peace.”
This precious promise is for you today. A promise that will never be withdrawn…a lasting promise brought about by God’s infinite mercy for you. In John 14:27 our Lord states, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” You have been bestowed with peace from Jesus Himself…receive this peace He offers you today.
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