We’ve got to live: Securely in His love

For those of us who have been betrayed by someone who said they loved us,  but did the opposite.  Who said they would protect and esteem us, yet carried out appalling acts against us.  We feel hesitant that the Lord is really trustworthy…we are anxious and uneasy to put our total faith in someone who could, for all we know,  suddenly turn and  threaten or deceive us.  But by immersing ourself in His Word, and reading promises such as Psalm 13:5, which says, “But I trust in Your unfailing love.”…we can grasp with certainty the unending, unchangeable love of the Lord.

I Thessalonians 4:1 ” Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”

It would be easy if living a Godly life was a once and done…or if we could somehow attain “Christian perfection.”   Unfortunately, our walk is a lifelong  journey…our race is a marathon not a sprint. What we learn one day…we apply to the next…and slowly we’re changed…day by day.

In Christ Jesus…You are more than a conqueror.

” I can’t do it.”  Do you know that’s music to Satan’s ears?  All he has to do is whisper, “You can’t do that.” and we usually cave in.  For doubt is the biggest culprit of our  disobedience to the Lord.  If we could somehow not only realize, but allow the concept to settle deep into our souls, that it’s God doing the work and not us, we would become invincible.  So the next time Satan is spreading doubt, remind him…I can do all things with the help of Christ, for it is the Lord, not me, working out His plan and purpose in my life…so back off Satan, and watch what God and I can do!

In Christ Jesus…You are a loved Child of God.

When you receive Jesus into your heart and believe that He died for your sins, you are adopted into the family of God.  As Romans 8:16-17 states, “You have received the Spirit of sonship.”   Regardless of whether you had both parents, only one parent, or no parents at all when you were growing up…you have been adopted into God’s family…and in doing so,  have been chosen and legally named as a joint heir with Jesus.

I Corinthians 1:10 ” I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. “

There was Church division in Corinth…some followed Apollos, some Peter, and some Paul.  All three were Godly men…all three were preaching the Gospel.  So where could there be the disagreement?  Apollos was an Alexandrian Jew that was converted to Christianity and  tutored by Aquila and Priscilla in areas of the faith he was ignorant of.  While Peter was one of the original twelve Disciples that had witnessed firsthand the work of Jesus.  Finally there was Paul, a Jew and persecutor of the Christians until that fateful day on the road to Damascus  when the Lord confronted him.  All three were passionate about the Lord and the desire to evangelize.  But they all came from different backgrounds and different life experiences, and their preaching styles showed it.   Thus Paul exhorted the Believers to be joined together in Christ and the Gospel, not divided apart by man and subtle nuances.

Colossians 2:2-3 ” My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. “

Do you know Jesus?  No really, do you know Jesus?  For in that perfect comprehension of just who Jesus is and what He’s done for you,  comes the unveiling of hidden things.  In it we’re able to recognize and discern truth  from distorted truth.  In knowing Jesus,  comes the revelation of God’s wisdom…His divine insight and knowledge of  once concealed things.  I’ll ask you again, do you know Jesus?

Revelation 15: 14 ” I looked, an there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ‘like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”

There is coming a great and mighty day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to judge the Nations.  He will swing His sickle, for the harvest is ripe.  The Son of Man will return on the clouds…the reaper prepared for the harvest…the sickle in His hand.

Proverbs 24: 23 ” These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good…”

In Leviticus 19:15 it states, ” Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”  We tend to have our own very personal  prejudices and biases…comfortable preferences that have been ingrained in us  by our culture, family, and past experiences.  But that doesn’t mean they are fair or just.   All our decisions must be based on God’s decrees and Laws, rather than our feelings.

Colossians 3:20 ” Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”

Let’s look at this verse from the perspective of different generations.   Read this verse to a young child and they’ll readily agree that they need to obey Mommy and Daddy…but the dance starts in the application of this into everyday living.  As children grow,  so does their autonomy.  We draw a line in the sand and they  push their big toe across it…just to see what happens!   Let a teenager read this verse and you’ll probably get eye-rolling and an argument of every point…like, what exactly is the definition of obedience?  And does everything mean “everything”?  Finally, we read this as a parent or Grandparent, having gained  a wealth of experience, wisdom, and insight… and we say, “Yes, Amen!”  to this verse. For all those past experiences and circumstances have drilled into us the importance of  obedience… not only to our parents, but to God.

II Chronicles 30: 18-20 ” Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manassh, Issachar, and Zebulum had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the Lord, Who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God – the Lord, the God of his fathers – even if he is not clean according to the rules of the Sanctuary.’ And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.”

In these verses we see the spirit of the Law vs the letter of the Law.  In Matthew 23:23 Jesus chastised the Pharisees for their legalism and in doing so losing sight of the more important matters of the Law…things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.  The Lord always searches the heart for honesty and sincerity and will reward accordingly.