Tag: lights

34.w. “And God Said, “Let There Be….”

 

Genesis 1: 3-26 And God said, “Let there be light,” And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.”And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Deep within each and every soul is a God-given yearning for purpose and meaning in their existence. Each soul will choose a path or paths to search out for themselves. Some may see God’s creation with awe and wonder giving praise to the Creator and then being led by the Holy Spirit come to an understanding of their Creator, His Holiness, their sin, and the need for redemption, and follow down the path that brings them to faith in Jesus Christ. Others seeing God’s creation have the same awe and wonder but reject the fact God created it, or for that matter there even really is a one and only God, and they follow down paths that are self-led or led by others with worldly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and with no thought about God. 

Just as there are millions of souls who have found purpose, meaning, peace, and rest for hearts, minds, and souls by faith in Jesus Christ and following, obeying, serving, honoring, and glorifying Him, there are a million times more who go through life to the grave denying and rejecting God, the Word of God, and salvation, redemption, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. They have no lasting purpose and meaning for their lives and at the end of their days, they die unsatisfied and wanting more. The world offers many distractions and means to deaden the soul’s desire for true purpose and meaning.  It offers; fleshly lust, pornography, drugs, alcohol, prosperity, position, power, worldly wisdom, knowledge, greed, etc…..Not only does it offer these lies as a means of satisfaction and purpose, but it also promotes and condones them in the hearts and minds of those doing them. 

God created you with a purpose and meaning for your life. He has given you free will to choose either a purpose with soul deep meaning, satisfaction, rest, peace, joy, comfort, and hope, or to choose that which gives none of these though the world and flesh say it does and will. 

God so loved the world (His Creation) that He gave His one and only Son to redeem them to eternal life and give them purpose, satisfaction, and meaning, if they would but believe in Him, Trust Him, Follow Him, Believe in Him, Rely on Him, Obey Him, Serve Him, Honor Him, Worship Him, Praise Him, and Glorify Him with all their heart, soul, and mind. For this purpose they (we) were (are) created. Blessed is the soul that finds purpose and meaning through Jesus Christ.

15.y. “No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

John 6:65  And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

John 10:16    And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Ephesians 2:8-9    For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Titus 3:3-7     For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

James 1:16-18    Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Raising children we often encourage them to try something on their own.  We teach them to walk without us holding onto their hand, we teach them to ride a bike without training wheels,  we teach them how to drive so they can drive on their own, we teach them how to eat, use the bathroom, read, work, help others, etc……  While raising them up we encourage their independence from things that hinder their full development or function.  We take them from new-born to adulthood and hopefully, we have helped them become a person who knows their limits, knows when to ask for help, and when not to be afraid to take on something new.  I am afraid that when we teach this independence without God’s Word they will grow in self-reliance and independence and will harden their hearts, close their eyes, and become deaf to the calling of God.  When He calls upon them, will they see the need for salvation and forgiveness of sin?  Will they see Jesus Christ as redeemer savior? Will they hear God’s calling, repent, turn away from their sinful nature,  and believe?  It is so hard for us to understand how God is able to give us free will to choose and, at the same time, draw us to Himself.  But draw us He does.  He knocks at the door to our heart and soul.  He makes Jesus known to us.  He reveals His holiness and majesty. He makes us aware of His love.  And in all of this, some are drawn to Him and some turn away.  There are consequences.  There is eternal life for those who are drawn to Him and eternal damnation to those who reject His calling.  Independence and free will result in a choice for one or the other.

75. And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped.

Joshua 10:12   At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Job 9:7  who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;

Psalms 74:16  Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.

Isaiah 28:21  For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused; to do his deed—strange is his deed! and to work his work—alien is his work!

Habakkuk 2:20  But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Zechariah 2:13  Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

It is hard to try to understand how the Sun and moon could stand still for about a whole day.  Likewise, it is hard to understand how God created heaven and earth, light and darkness, man, animals, plants, and everything else that was created.  Our minds do not have the capacity to understand the vastness of God or what He can do.  Scripture says He can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.  Who can imagine the 8 plagues He caused on Egypt, the host of miracles performed in the wilderness, and the numerous works, deeds, and wonders of Jesus Christ?  All of these are beyond our knowledge but not our believing.  With our heart and mind and soul, we trust in God and believe He is able, sovereign, all-powerful, mighty, and awesome, capable to do more than our limited understanding.  It is good to rest in His awesome unlimited love and power.  In Him, we find peace, rest, comfort, hope, and purpose.  

 

Do not limit what God is capable of doing by your lack of belief.

You meant it for harm

Psalms 119:153  Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!  Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.  Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your rules.  Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.  I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.  Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.  The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

1 Peter 4:12–16  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad

Matthew 5:10–12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward

1 Peter 1:6–7  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory

Philippians 2:14–16  Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life…

Trust in the word of God is forged in the real world, a world full of trials, troubles, persecution and those who wish us harm.  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

One of the most potentially defeating aspects of being a Christian is wanting to be in control when things in and around our lives are out of control.  It seems as though we take aim at that which is troublesome with our own mind, wisdom, power, and strength, when in fact, these trials and troubles are indeed not ours to fight.  On our own and in our own strength we can do little to have lasting victory or any victory at all.  Fear of the unknown outcomes seem to drive us to thinking we need to go it on our own.

God is in control even when things seem so out of control and we fear the unknown future.  And, yet what trumps that fear and evil is knowing that, no matter what comes, God is in control. Waiting for His perfect timing and trusting in Him allows us to confidently say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Being able to wait on Him is a testimony to faith, trust, hope and reliance in Jesus.    He loves us.  He wants what is best for us. He will never leave us or forsake us. He has plans and purpose for our lives.