Tag: Purpose

Ponder what He has done

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

“Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

Psalms 64:9  Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

Psalms 40:3    He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 53:5  There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

Psalms 119:20    My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Jeremiah 51:10     The LORD has brought about our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

Psalms 107:42  The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Isaiah 5:12   They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.

Proverbs 1:5  Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 4:18    But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Daniel 12:10   Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

Have there been times in your life where the hand of God was so present and real that you just pondered what had just happened?  Where one step, one glance, one decision, or one word at the wrong time  would have changed your life in another direction completely.  How many times have you said “I was very lucky”?  People of God ponder these acts of God and give Him praise. They do not say it was luck or chance but by the sovereign hand of God working in their life.  How do they know this is the work of God?  Because they know Him.  They know His promises.  He is their rock, refuge, hope, faith, love, joy, power and they rely on His steadfast love.  The Holy Spirit within them confirms to their spirit it was the work of God.  They absolutely know.  His hand, power, love, joy, peace, kindness, strength, might, forgiveness, hope, mercy and grace is known to them.  They find anchor to these in His word.  They cling to, rely on, and trust in Him.  To the world and those who know Him not this all seems foolish, but to those who have put their hope and trust in Him it is the purpose and meaning for life this side of eternity.  Desire and seek to know Him and to be able to hear His whispers into your life.  Humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  Believe in His promises.  Trust in Him.  Cling to Him.  Rely on Him.  And you will see His hand at work in your life.

Establish your Heart

“For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.”

“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

“Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.”

Psalms 40:1  I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.  Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

James 5:7  Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Psalms 37:23   The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

Psalms 119:133  Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me

Acts 2: 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Psalms 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,  who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,  who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

2 Thessalonians 2:9  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,

Jonah 2:8  Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

What does it mean to establish your heart? When you read these verses today we can see many reasons why we should but what does an established heart look like lived out in everyday life?  Does it worry or fret?  Is it anxious or impatient? Is it angry or unforgiving? Does it look to others for resolution or refuge?  Does it complain or whine?  An established heart rests in God alone and gives all it’s cares to Him.  This life seeks to grow in knowing more and more about God and His purpose for their life.  Praise is on their lips.  His word is always on their heart and mind.  They have joy, peace, rest, comfort, hope, and a refuge that cannot be moved.  Strive to have an established heart that is rooted deep in humbly serving, honoring and obeying God.

Discern, Know, Understand

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them;” 

Hos 14:9  Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Psalms 107:43  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Proverbs 1:5-6   Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 4:18  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

John 18:37   Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

John 8:47   Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Job 34:10-12 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.  For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

Hosea has been a very good book to study.  I am amazed at how many times knowing and understanding God was mentioned.  The moral condition of the people was corrupt and God was ignored. Even with all of these warnings many did not return to God.  What does it take to get us to return to God?  Do we not take them serious?  Do we expect our lives to be any different than those  before us who chose to ignore God?  Do we expect understanding and knowledge of Him and His purpose in our lives if we neglect His word?  We are encouraged to draw onto Him so that our eyes, hears, and mind are opened to His holiness, love, mercy, grace,  atonement, righteousness, gentleness, wrath and judgement.  Ignorance and neglect have a price on our soul.  Do not neglect Him in your life.  Choose to commit each day to Him and study His word to become a workman who is not ashamed of the life led this side of eternity.

Called According to His Purpose

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth

What does it mean to be called and chosen?  We are both called and chosen to be the faithful of God. This calling is from God. He places an understanding within every heart to know Him.  It says in Romans “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them”.  This calling continues through Jesus Christ  where scripture says “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.  This is all the work of God.  Paul said “what manner of persons ought we to be given this great out pouring of Love from God”.  We do have a choice to humbly live and bring honor and glory to Him.  The choice we make  lasts for eternity.

Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Revelation 17:14
and those with him are called and chosen and faithful

Luke 18:7
And will not God give justice to his elect

Romans 1:6
including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God

Be a Planter of Seed

We should be ever diligent in telling others of the hope that is within us.  I think there are times we look at the person and think to ourselves that this is nothing more than rocky soil.  What do we know?  Think back to the time when someone spoke to you about God’s love, grace, and mercy.  If you were to examine your past prior to coming to the knowledge of salvation, would people also think you were rocky ground?  We share the hope that is within us because as long as there is breath in a person there is still a chance their ears and heart will open and become fertile ground.

Matthew 13:3
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.

Isaiah 55:10
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it

Romans 1:14
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching