Seeing God as He is transcendent fosters reverence for His immanence.
God is transcendent...He is completely separate from His creation in holiness, in righteousness, in perfection, in His very being. Yet God is also immanent. He is personally involved and interested in our lives and intimately acquainted with our ways. When I meditate upon these truths, I am comforted. When the days grow weary with monotony, I know that God cares about my days for He has called me His own. When I flit about in busyness I remember the God Who is Here. I must be tethered to the moment He has given me and walk with Him in His holiness.
Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin." Exodus 20:20
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Who did He consult and who made Him understand?...Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold He takes up the coastlands like fine dust."
Isaiah 40:12-15
Psalm 139 For You [God] formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb...My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in eh depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
God is both immanent and transcendent. These two qualities of the Most High cannot be separated. They are a part of Who He is and we must understand as well we can in our finite minds, this fact of God Almight
Sadly,religion separates these two aspects of God's character. Where transcendence reigns-legalism tends to rise. Legalists resort to following rules with focus on outward behavior and appearances rather than God. Those who practice legalism may appear more somberly spiritual than our liberal sisters in Christ, but it is the practice of the Pharisee's, behaving as polished, white sulpechurs. And where immanence reigns-liberal doctrine arise.These steps are framed in the practice of "following the Spirit" and often ignoring the Word, but opens the door to compromise. Each little step of compromise will add up to a leading away from worship of God to worship of the created things. It is slippery slope to apostacy whether it be worship, service, "signs & wonders" or acceptable sins that are "not so bad".
Either practice is unbalanced and focuses on the works of man and his changing standards rather than on the unchanging, immanent, transcendant God of the Universe.
God is both transcendent and immanent and these two characteristics cannot be separated.We must come to Him in reverence for the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and couple it with the fact that He is our Father in Heaven and has adopted us into His family through His Son, Jesus. We must understand that He is truly interested and involved in our personal lives. Even the monotonous. Even when we become too consumed with busyness.
"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant." Psalm 25:14
Keep God exalted...the Lord is enough! His Word is complete for what we need for life. Know it, know Christ for He is the Word...the living Word of God.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Hope for Humanity
God's invitation is extended to all. It is not a question IF we've been invited, but will we accept? All of God's promises are ours in Christ Jesus-Who through Him and by Him this invitation stands!
Christians have been accused of being exclusive. This is not our doing but God Almighty.
Jesus said, these being God's very words, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
Even so, His invitiation is to all...for His Word is very clear:
"For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
God's invitation is for all. He made this plan for humanity before the foundation of the earth. He left the door open for anyone who would walk through then He gave a picture of His kindness and patience with Noah. Noah, for 100 years, worked on the massive ark to float through the worldwide flood to come. The door of the ark was open to anyone who would believe and walk through its passage way into salvation. The warning of the flood was foolishness to humanity because their reasoning was based on no experience with flood. Yet Noah and his family believed and did not perish in foolishness.
God invites mankind to come to Him and receive from Him the gift of life for eternity. It cannot be earned or purchased. Jesus did the work and stated "It is finished." when He gave up His life on the cross, dying in our place. As with any gift, if we attempt to reimburse for it, it is no longer a gift! The only "cost" is for us to lose our pride, realizing our sorry state with out Christ.
God's promises are only to those who receive. There is only One way...and that is through Christ Jesus. The Messiah. Savior of mankind. Son of Man, Son of God. He is the narrow gate that we must enter through to life. And when we enter in to His life, we begin to realize all that we inherit as part of His family.
So, we who belong to Him will receive the prize!
"I [Jesus]will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 This is the tree of life that was available to Adam and Eve if only they would have enjoyed ALL of creation that God had given unto them instead of lusting after the ONE forbidden thing...the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God's divine mercy wanted to protect them and His great kindness did not permit them, after eating of the forbidden tree-which leads death, to then eat from the tree of life in their rebellious, sinful nature.
"...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is aable to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. I and the Father are One." John 10:26-30
God's invitation is accessible and welcoming to everyone. The enemy cannot nullify the believers acceptance of Christ, yet he will do everything in his power to make the believer feel as if the invitation has been revoked. If Satan cannot keep a person his next goal is to keep every believer from fully recognizing all that our relationship with Jesus can offer us. We need to step over the threshold into the new life Christ gave us...enter into His banquet hall and enjoy what Christ has given us. This is our Hope, found in Christ Jesus.
Christians have been accused of being exclusive. This is not our doing but God Almighty.
Jesus said, these being God's very words, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
Even so, His invitiation is to all...for His Word is very clear:
"For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
God's invitation is for all. He made this plan for humanity before the foundation of the earth. He left the door open for anyone who would walk through then He gave a picture of His kindness and patience with Noah. Noah, for 100 years, worked on the massive ark to float through the worldwide flood to come. The door of the ark was open to anyone who would believe and walk through its passage way into salvation. The warning of the flood was foolishness to humanity because their reasoning was based on no experience with flood. Yet Noah and his family believed and did not perish in foolishness.
God invites mankind to come to Him and receive from Him the gift of life for eternity. It cannot be earned or purchased. Jesus did the work and stated "It is finished." when He gave up His life on the cross, dying in our place. As with any gift, if we attempt to reimburse for it, it is no longer a gift! The only "cost" is for us to lose our pride, realizing our sorry state with out Christ.
God's promises are only to those who receive. There is only One way...and that is through Christ Jesus. The Messiah. Savior of mankind. Son of Man, Son of God. He is the narrow gate that we must enter through to life. And when we enter in to His life, we begin to realize all that we inherit as part of His family.
So, we who belong to Him will receive the prize!
"I [Jesus]will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 This is the tree of life that was available to Adam and Eve if only they would have enjoyed ALL of creation that God had given unto them instead of lusting after the ONE forbidden thing...the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God's divine mercy wanted to protect them and His great kindness did not permit them, after eating of the forbidden tree-which leads death, to then eat from the tree of life in their rebellious, sinful nature.
"...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is aable to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. I and the Father are One." John 10:26-30
God's invitation is accessible and welcoming to everyone. The enemy cannot nullify the believers acceptance of Christ, yet he will do everything in his power to make the believer feel as if the invitation has been revoked. If Satan cannot keep a person his next goal is to keep every believer from fully recognizing all that our relationship with Jesus can offer us. We need to step over the threshold into the new life Christ gave us...enter into His banquet hall and enjoy what Christ has given us. This is our Hope, found in Christ Jesus.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Giving
In our culture, we have departed from the Biblical mandate to give. Instead, we have embraced the concept of receiving as ideal and better still, to accumulate possessions being far superior to thinking of others and giving. The once laughable bumper sticker statement, "He who dies with the most toys, wins!" now sadly is a practice of todays world.
Francis Roberts noted: "Giving seems sacrificial only when viewed in the light of what other use you could have made of the money." As we look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we are given a view to eternity. We see the worth and the blessing of giving and it is little in comparison to what has been done for us, on our behalf, through Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 11:25 reminds us, "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered." We are to be stewards of all that God has entrusted us with which not only includes money but the talents and gifts we have. We are to give freely, using these things for it is in God's perfect economy we see that as we scatter, we accumulate. As we give, we receive. To be happy and have joy, we must reach out to others and seek their good, to make them happy.
"Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and running over." (paraphrase)
Let us walk worthy in the calling Christ Jesus has called us!
Francis Roberts noted: "Giving seems sacrificial only when viewed in the light of what other use you could have made of the money." As we look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we are given a view to eternity. We see the worth and the blessing of giving and it is little in comparison to what has been done for us, on our behalf, through Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 11:25 reminds us, "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered." We are to be stewards of all that God has entrusted us with which not only includes money but the talents and gifts we have. We are to give freely, using these things for it is in God's perfect economy we see that as we scatter, we accumulate. As we give, we receive. To be happy and have joy, we must reach out to others and seek their good, to make them happy.
"Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and running over." (paraphrase)
Let us walk worthy in the calling Christ Jesus has called us!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
"Stream of Providence"
"How pleasant it is to float along the stream of Providence! There is no more blessed way of living than a life of dependence upon a covenant-keeping God. We have no care, for He careth for us; we have no troubles, because we cast our burdens upon the Lord." Spurgeon
Oh to float along on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. To allow God to steer and guide our way as we sorjourn this earth. We no longer need to trust in our "power". We no longer need be tossed about by the winds of culture and change but remain steadfast in the love and care of God while we stream along by His Providence in our lives.
Oh but to trust in Jesus for the whole of our lives.
Oh to float along on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. To allow God to steer and guide our way as we sorjourn this earth. We no longer need to trust in our "power". We no longer need be tossed about by the winds of culture and change but remain steadfast in the love and care of God while we stream along by His Providence in our lives.
Oh but to trust in Jesus for the whole of our lives.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Our Shepherd King
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3.
This familiar Psalm is often referred to as the Shepherd's Psalm. The entire psalm addresses what the Shepherd (Jesus) does for His sheep. Isaiah writes: "He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." (40:11)
Ezekiel writes of IsraEl: "As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out My sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." (Ezekiel 34:12) A beautiful promise to a nation, a people, that has been so scattered that some of the original tribes are considered "lost". But not to our God! Our Shepherd King. He will seek out, He will rescue, He will gather His flock.
John quotes Jesus: "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (10:11) And He did! Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus laid His life down for us; taking our place, receiving the wages of our sin; facing the wrath of a Holy God.
John writes in Revelation: "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear." (&:17) Jesus, Who was crucified and died in our place is alive and sitting on the throne! Our Hope. Our Life...all found in Jesus.
Spurgeon elaborates on this picture of our King Jesus as King Shepherd:
"Christ's reign in His church is that of a shepherd king. He has supremacy, but it is the superiority of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock;...He rules by the force of love but the energy of His goodness."
"His reign is practical in its character" for He is ""actively engaged in providing for His people and we His people can trust that He will "do everything expected of a shepherd: to guide, to watch over, to preserve, to restore, to tend and to feed."
"His reign is continual in its duration." His eyes never slumber nor sleep.He is always on His throne. "His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people's burdens."
His reign is effectually powerful in its actions...He who stands today representing the interests of His people is very God of very God...Happy are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity communes with us, and whose divinity protects us."
Hallelujah!
This familiar Psalm is often referred to as the Shepherd's Psalm. The entire psalm addresses what the Shepherd (Jesus) does for His sheep. Isaiah writes: "He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." (40:11)
Ezekiel writes of IsraEl: "As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out My sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." (Ezekiel 34:12) A beautiful promise to a nation, a people, that has been so scattered that some of the original tribes are considered "lost". But not to our God! Our Shepherd King. He will seek out, He will rescue, He will gather His flock.
John quotes Jesus: "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (10:11) And He did! Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus laid His life down for us; taking our place, receiving the wages of our sin; facing the wrath of a Holy God.
John writes in Revelation: "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear." (&:17) Jesus, Who was crucified and died in our place is alive and sitting on the throne! Our Hope. Our Life...all found in Jesus.
Spurgeon elaborates on this picture of our King Jesus as King Shepherd:
"Christ's reign in His church is that of a shepherd king. He has supremacy, but it is the superiority of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock;...He rules by the force of love but the energy of His goodness."
"His reign is practical in its character" for He is ""actively engaged in providing for His people and we His people can trust that He will "do everything expected of a shepherd: to guide, to watch over, to preserve, to restore, to tend and to feed."
"His reign is continual in its duration." His eyes never slumber nor sleep.He is always on His throne. "His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people's burdens."
His reign is effectually powerful in its actions...He who stands today representing the interests of His people is very God of very God...Happy are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity communes with us, and whose divinity protects us."
Hallelujah!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Jesus says, "Come away..."
Jesus has called us into a wonderful, indescribable privelege...time away with Him. Yet, how often we are neglectful of this unfathomable gift as we scurry about the doings of each day. We grow weary and disheartened. Our futile attempts to winnow away the unnecessary activities in our busy lives leave us weary with the effort.
Oh to sit at His feet, bask in His presence, covered by His glory, a sweet fragrance of Jesus, as time away with Him refreshes us, restores us and renews our strength. Jesus has called us to "come away" with Him to a lonely even desolate place where He is. Free of all distractions so that we may hear Him. But we postpone this time away and eventually forget this needful thing. We miss out on this "better portion" that Mary was commended for while Martha railed about her idleness.
Francis J. Roberts writes, "Weariness shall overtake thee on the smoothest road if it be not the pathway of My ordained will." God's will for our lives is to know Him, love Him, serve Him. Time with the one we love is how we grow to love them even more. As we spend more time with our King, our Lord Jesus, we find that He does indeed lead us beside still waters and to green pastures where He restores our soul. Then we know the pathway that He sets before us and yoked with Him, we find that His burden is not only light but easy-for our great Saviour shoulders it all as we walk with Him. The smooth road we were searching for we find is not for us. But even as we face the difficult climb, we realize that we can indeed do all things in Christ Jesus.
What can we do? What is our part? To make room in our lives for time with Jesus. Yes, His Spirit indwells each of us that belong to Him, we are not forgotten or forsaken, but are we making purposeful time with Him a priority? Are we making room in our lives for solitary time with Christ-making time spent with Him preeminent? I know I sorely lack in this. Many of you, like me, struggle being more able to relate to Martha's attitude toward life than with Mary.
Oh to apprehend the great truth to "rejoice to be granted the privelege so sacred a task, Count it most precious and guard against intrusion of distractions. Nothing is more important in [Jesus' eyes] of all the things you can do for [Him]. Cherish it and cultivate it, live in prayer." Francis J. Roberts
So we are to put down the anxieties of this world and come away with our Beloved Jesus. Trust Him for everything for He knows our needs and is fully able to supply our needs according to His riches. As we spend time and more time with our Lord, we find that anxiety and anxious thoughts fall away. There is no effort on our part...only respond to His call to, "Come away".
Another pearl of wisdom from Francis J. Roberts states, "He who does not habitually commune with Christ alone is almost sure to find true prayer impossible in public." Oh to apprehend the wonderful call of Jesus-"Come away..." In Him is peace and joy and strength for the day. His mercies are new each morning. Throughout the day, He will never leave us nor forsake us. Have we "left Him" in our busyness. Have we forsaken Him?
Oh to cherish and cultivate our time with Him. To answer His call to "Come away". Just think, the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God has invited us to "Come away". Today...even now...
Oh to sit at His feet, bask in His presence, covered by His glory, a sweet fragrance of Jesus, as time away with Him refreshes us, restores us and renews our strength. Jesus has called us to "come away" with Him to a lonely even desolate place where He is. Free of all distractions so that we may hear Him. But we postpone this time away and eventually forget this needful thing. We miss out on this "better portion" that Mary was commended for while Martha railed about her idleness.
Francis J. Roberts writes, "Weariness shall overtake thee on the smoothest road if it be not the pathway of My ordained will." God's will for our lives is to know Him, love Him, serve Him. Time with the one we love is how we grow to love them even more. As we spend more time with our King, our Lord Jesus, we find that He does indeed lead us beside still waters and to green pastures where He restores our soul. Then we know the pathway that He sets before us and yoked with Him, we find that His burden is not only light but easy-for our great Saviour shoulders it all as we walk with Him. The smooth road we were searching for we find is not for us. But even as we face the difficult climb, we realize that we can indeed do all things in Christ Jesus.
What can we do? What is our part? To make room in our lives for time with Jesus. Yes, His Spirit indwells each of us that belong to Him, we are not forgotten or forsaken, but are we making purposeful time with Him a priority? Are we making room in our lives for solitary time with Christ-making time spent with Him preeminent? I know I sorely lack in this. Many of you, like me, struggle being more able to relate to Martha's attitude toward life than with Mary.
Oh to apprehend the great truth to "rejoice to be granted the privelege so sacred a task, Count it most precious and guard against intrusion of distractions. Nothing is more important in [Jesus' eyes] of all the things you can do for [Him]. Cherish it and cultivate it, live in prayer." Francis J. Roberts
So we are to put down the anxieties of this world and come away with our Beloved Jesus. Trust Him for everything for He knows our needs and is fully able to supply our needs according to His riches. As we spend time and more time with our Lord, we find that anxiety and anxious thoughts fall away. There is no effort on our part...only respond to His call to, "Come away".
Another pearl of wisdom from Francis J. Roberts states, "He who does not habitually commune with Christ alone is almost sure to find true prayer impossible in public." Oh to apprehend the wonderful call of Jesus-"Come away..." In Him is peace and joy and strength for the day. His mercies are new each morning. Throughout the day, He will never leave us nor forsake us. Have we "left Him" in our busyness. Have we forsaken Him?
Oh to cherish and cultivate our time with Him. To answer His call to "Come away". Just think, the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God has invited us to "Come away". Today...even now...
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Vessels of Grace
C.H. Spurgeon wrote:
"Our Lord Jesus is ever giving, and does not for a solitary instant withdraw His hand. As long as there is a vessel of grace not yet full to the brim, the oil shall not be stayed. He is sun ever-shining; He is manna ever falling round the camp; He is a rock in the desert, ever sending out streams of life from His smitten side; the rain of His grace is always dropping; the river of His bounty is ever-flowing, and the well-spring of His love is constantly overflowing. As the King can never die, so His grace can never fail...His mercies are new every morning and fresh every evening."
from May 16th Morning and Evening Daily Readings
I Timothy 6:17
2 Cor. 4:7-11
"Our Lord Jesus is ever giving, and does not for a solitary instant withdraw His hand. As long as there is a vessel of grace not yet full to the brim, the oil shall not be stayed. He is sun ever-shining; He is manna ever falling round the camp; He is a rock in the desert, ever sending out streams of life from His smitten side; the rain of His grace is always dropping; the river of His bounty is ever-flowing, and the well-spring of His love is constantly overflowing. As the King can never die, so His grace can never fail...His mercies are new every morning and fresh every evening."
from May 16th Morning and Evening Daily Readings
I Timothy 6:17
2 Cor. 4:7-11
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)