Tag: Redeemed

3.w. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant

Nehemiah 1:4  As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Leviticus 26:33     And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

Deuteronomy 4:27    And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.

Deuteronomy 32:28     “For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them.

1 Kings 9:6-7    But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,  then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

Ezra was a priest.  He was sent to Jerusalem by Nehemiah to start rebuilding the temple and leading the people in commitment to God.  Nehemiah’s prayer.  This was a very big ask by Nehemiah.  He knew they had fallen away from God and this was the reason they were in exile.  He also knew from God’s word that unfaithfulness is punished and returning to God is rewarded by the awesome power and steadfast love of God.  He prayed confession, praise, and faith.  He prayed believing in God’s word.  He prayed for success in what seemed impossible.

When our heart is heavy and our burdens overwhelming we don’t have to wait and be overcome with doubt, fear, worry, and restlessness.  we can take it straight to the feet our redeemer Jesus Christ.  We can know and believe that He is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.  Why do we not ask?  Why do we not ask?  Why do we wallow in our doubt?  Could it be that we think we are not good enough or have not done enough?  These thoughts of being and doing are lies from Satan.  He wants you to believe that the only way to receive God’s grace and love is to be better, do better, live better and with this lie filling your heart deny the power that is through Jesus Christ who willingly died for the person we were.  He did this for the lost sinner.  He did this out of His love.  He did this to show His love for us.  While we were yet sinners He did this.  In faith, we come to Him.  In faith we can rely on Him.  In faith, He is honored and glorified.  In faith we are made right with Him, not by being good.  We are made good through faith in Him alone and not by what we do.

Come to Him as you are, in faith, confessing, praising, and trusting in Him alone for the trials, worries, and burdens that are seemingly impossible to overcome.

108. Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!

1 Samuel 18:12  Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

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 51:11     Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Hosea 9:12     Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them till none is left. Woe to them when I depart from them!

Deuteronomy 31:17    Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?

2 Kings 17:18     Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight.

Jeremiah 15:7    I have destroyed my people; they did not turn from their ways.

Hosea 7:13     Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.

God’s warnings to man state very clearly God wants us to honor and serve Jesus, trust and obey Jesus, cling to and rely on Jesus with our whole heart, soul, and mind.  For those who live for Jesus, there are blessings of peace, rest, joy, courage, hope, refuge, strength, and steadfast love for life this side of eternity and the promise of eternity with Jesus.  For those who do not live for or believe in Jesus Christ, there is no inner peace, no inner rest, no lasting hope or satisfaction, no knowledge of His love now and for eternity.   Many want to and do believe lies that there is no God and no plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and their destiny is hell.  Many want to believe the lies that God’s love alone covers them without any need for repentance or forgiveness and their destiny also is hell.  

Chris Gowen, (Feb 2001) – You would think everyone wants to go to Heaven when the Lord comes. You would think everyone would take the steps to be ready to meet the Lord one day. Several years ago the warning went out for thousands of people living on the eastern coast about the coming of a Hurricane. Many people prepared by boarding up their homes, purchasing supplies, and making evacuations. There are some folks who did not take seriously the warnings and chose to go on as if nothing would happen. They are like many people who choose to disregard God’s warning in the Bible. The Warning is very plain from Scriptures. We must get the Word out! If you will look in your Bibles to Revelation, chapter 22, You will see God’s Final Warning! 10 And he said to me, ” Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.’’ 12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. 13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’’ 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Some folks foolishly think somehow they will be warned at that moment prior to the coming of the Lord, and then they will make preparation. That’s why Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly.” When Jesus comes it will be over. It won’t be like looking on the television and seeing the coming storm. People begin to prepare for the hurricane or the possible tornado. When Jesus comes, he will become and go before a person will know it happened and at that very moment they will spend eternity in separation from Jesus and torment of their soul forever.

So the warning is this, don’t wait to come to Jesus.  Don’t wait to live for Jesus.  Don’t wait to be in and study His word. Don’t wait thinking there is all the time in the world to start living with an intentional choice to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Jesus.  You know if Jesus is first in your life or not and whether you are in his word each day with a heart and mind deep desire to live for Him.    Do something NOW. The time to do something is now. Don’t think God will flash a neon sign across the heavens which reads…”I am coming for you tomorrow, so get ready this very day.”

52. You shall be called Sought Out

Deuteronomy 14:2   For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Exodus 19:5-6    Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;  and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Leviticus 11:45    For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Leviticus 20:26     You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

Isaiah 62:12    And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

Titus 2:14    who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1 Peter 2:9     But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Redeemed, chosen, a treasured possession, sought out, and separated for good works describe those called by God.  We are sought out and chosen by God.  This is not because of who we are but because of who He is.  This is not because of something we did to deserve it but because of what He has done.  Just think, God of creation has sought you out, chosen you, redeemed you, and sees you as a treasured possession to be separated and set aside for good works.

Being sought out and chosen by God is no small thing and should not be viewed as small, trivial, insignificant, inconsequential, unimportant, or of no importance.  This is God’s love demonstrated and extended to His creation.  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God’s steadfast love and external call go out to all mankind.  He demonstrated love and sacrifice so great and all-encompassing that all are called (chosen) – but not everyone chooses to accept the call of being chosen.  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

It is important to hear the call but much more important to respond to that call.  Remember response to this call is not an ending but rather a new beginning of being a chosen, redeemed, treasured possession, sought out and separated for goods work child of God.  The response to God is every minute of every day.  Be ever listening to His leading and ever obedient to His word.

But they understood none of these things

Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

Acts 7:25  He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.

Psalms 106:7  Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Luke 9:45  But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it.

Luke 18:34  But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Psalms 78:42  They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,

Mar 4:11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,  so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”  And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.  And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,  but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

“They will not believe or listen to my voice”.  This is what Moses said to God when God told him to go speak to the elders. Note in Acts where Paul explained what happened to Moses – the people did not understand.

What keeps people from understanding, listening, remembering, perceiving, or grasping things of God?

Could it be a hardened heart? Weak heart? Lukewarm heart? Proud heart? Worldly heart? Greedy heart? Self-seeking heart?  Fearful heart?  Faithless heart? Yes these can all happen but why?

Being complacent and living in prosperity, not thinking about needing God.  It is a sad place to be, to think you do not need God everyday for every moment. It gets worse from here.  When we see little need for God there is no time spent in His word, no time in prayer, no time seeking to serve Him, no time to worship Him, no time to honor Him.

How do we think we will see any of His mighty works, or loving kindness, or grace, or mercy, or forgiveness, or power, or strength, or peace, or courage, or healing….. if neglecting God is the norm for our daily life.

The same neglect will void any understanding of His word and knowing how to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey.

The same neglect leaves us defenseless from the darts of satan in our lives.

“And though they said all is well, destruction came upon them unaware”

If his word is not breath, food and water for your soul there is little hope for honoring Him.  If humbly serving, following and obeying Him is not your first goal in life there is little hope for honoring Him.  If honoring Him is not the first thought in the morning and last thought at night, how will it ever happen. If His word is not feeding your heart, mind, and soul how will their be fruit.

My strength comes from the Lord.

My hope is in the Lord

My life is in the Lord’s hands

My peace, joy, and love comes from the Lord

My soul rejoices in His promises

My ears seek to hear His leading

My eyes desire to see His mighty hand

My heart loves the Lord

They did not know the time of your visitation

Exodus 3:17   I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction

Genesis 15:13-21     Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

Genesis 46:4    I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again

Genesis 50:24     And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Exodus 4:30  And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Luke 1:68   Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation

Psalms 8:4     what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Luke 19:44     and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

I’m intrigued by:

God’s all knowing “They will be afflicted for 400 years”,

God’s love “I will go with you”, “bring you up”, “redeem His people”

Man’s rejection “because you did not know the time of your visitation”

Is it possible to see the hand of God at work in and around us and see it? Yes it is.  However, seeing it does not mean we recognize it as work of God.  It does not mean we trust and rely on Him.  It does not mean we are right with God.  It does not mean our heart, mind, and soul are worshipping Him and giving Him glory.  It does not mean we are serving Him.   It does not mean we are in obedience to Him.

To those who are looking, longing, desiring, waiting, and seeking God, they will know His presence at all times.  They will see His hand at work even through the affliction, trial, and troubles.  They will have peace, rest, refuge, courage, strength, power, might, and hope.  They will have trust, reliance and faith.  They will be searching and know the work of God through out each day.  They will be listening and know God’s whispers of guidance. Though sudden hurt and fear may come upon them they will stay true in God’s ever loving hands.

If you are not walking with God you may not see or hear things of God though they are right before your eyes and shouted into your ears.  “because you did not know the time of your visitation”

A complacent walk with God will not see Him or hear Him because the heart and mind are hardened with a love for things of this world above humbly serving, honoring, glorifying, following, and obeying Him.

He lifted them up and carried them

Exodus 3:7Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey

1 Samuel 9:16  “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.”

Psalms 22:24  For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Psalms 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Psalms 106:44  Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.

Psalms 142:3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!

Hebrews 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Psalms 145:19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

When we face trials we never know when they will end or how hard they will become, or when God will lead us out of this dreaded darkness.  How many times do we wish the trial never happened to us?  How many times do we question why me, why now?  What did I do wrong?

Certainly there are some trials that are the consequence of our own doing.  We know it or we come to that understanding after trying to blame everyone else.    Other times it is because of things out of our control and when this happens so come the questions?

Is God there?

Does He hear me?

Will He do something?

When will He act on my behalf?

Does He care?

We must remember that we live in a sinful world and trouble happens.  We live in a world where satan and demons  are real and able to influence bad things from people.  We live in a fallen world with sinful people who will sin and do us harm.  Does this in anyway mean that God is not sovereign, powerful, loving, steadfast, merciful, full of grace, and all knowing? No it does not.

We are told this is not our home for God has made us a home in eternity.  Things that happen here are temporary and happen for a reason that fits into God’s plans and purposes even if we don’t understanding and knowledge of the details.  God loves us.  He gave His Son as a ransom for us.  He prepared us a place in eternity.  He sent the Holy spirit to comfort us, lead us, teach us, and help grow our faith in God through these trials.

Does placing our troubles in God’s powerful and loving hands mean they are going away in what timing we think they should.  No  it does not.  It does though transfer the full weight of the burden on Him and gives us hope for today and joy for tomorrow.

Everyone of us can attest to the troubles that have come our way.  Some heavier that others.  Some we can say we that we gave them into God’s hands during our darkest time and the burden was lifted but the trial was still present.  There was a peace that came over us that allowed us to face the day and then next.  We found strength and hope.  We knew in our heart, mind and soul no matter what happens we are confident in God’s plan and purpose.  We came out the other side of the trial with greater faith, being more humble, better able to empathize with others, willing to help others, and a greater reliance and comfort in God.

By your blood

Psalms 103:4  who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

Psalms 34:22     The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalms 56:13     For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalms 71:23     My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Job 33:19-30     “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,  so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.  His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.  His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.  If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,  and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;  let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;  then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.  He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.  He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’  “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,  to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.

Revelation 5:9     And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

James 1:12     Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

2 Corinthians 4:16     So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

To have sins forgiven is more important than physical healing.  What does it profit the soul to have perfect or good health if the soul is rotting away?  We tend to put blinders on when it comes to the health of our soul.  It is understandable why this can happen.  We can see and feel our physical state.  Our physical body is designed to let us know something is not right.  We feel pain.  We see the effects of something not being right.  Sometimes it is others who see it.  When it comes to our soul, how are we to know? The word of God.  In and through His word we are able to gain understanding of His holiness and our sinfulness.  His word is a light into our soul.  His word exposes the cancer that is eating away our soul.  His word brings healing to our soul.  Physical health has benefit for this life but spiritual health of our soul has benefit for eternity.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

God is Great

“There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.”

Psalms 86:10  For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Psalms 77:14     You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.  You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 145:3    Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.  On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Exodus 15:11    “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Daniel 6:26    I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Acts 2:19     And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;  the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Psalms 105:5    Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

I will meditate on your majesty and wondrous works.  When I read this, two approaches to looking at and meditating on seem to happen.  The first is I start remembering various wonders that are recalled in scripture – creation, Noah’s ark, judgement – flood, Abraham and promises made and fulfilled to him, Joseph, Pharaoh, Moses, Splitting the Red Sea, water from a rock, numerous times of God intervening in battles when all seemed lost, numerous times God called out the sin of a nation and performed judgement on them, battle of Jericho, stopping of the  Jordan river, prophets, David and Goliath, manna, Jonna and the whale, John the baptist, Jesus and all of the miracles He performed, death and resurrection of Jesus, sending the Holy Spirit to indwell all who believe.  This list of what has been recorded can go on and on.  The second thing I start to remember is His wonders that I have seen in my life.  Saving me from an explosion, softening my heart and mind and bringing Dawn and I to a place where  we saw the absolute need for salvation, Saving us, guiding us, giving us 4 sons, giving us two daughter-in-laws, so far, blessing us through out our lives together, answering prayers, teaching us, correcting us, revealing to us, confirming to us, speaking to us and using us in ways that are through His leading, putting people into our lives, and making His promises alive in our heart and soul.  Behind all of these there are many more specifics and all are at the hand of God.  No life is wasted when it is placed in the hands of God.  Spend time today thinking of and meditating on His greatness, grace, mercy and love.

Walk Properly

”And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

John 12:35  So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Psalms 22:16   For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—  I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me;  they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

1 Peter 2:24     He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 3:18    For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Galatians 3:13     Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Romans 5:17     For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.  For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Revelation 5:9     And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Isaiah 2:5     O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 42:6    “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Romans 13:12     The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Psalms 69:22    Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.  Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.  Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.  May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.  For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.  Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

Jesus Christ went to the cross to redeem all who would believe – to draw them unto Himself- to take us by the hand – to heal us – to make us righteous – to give us light – to give us armor to fight against darkness  – to keep us – ransom us from separation from God due to our sin – to make us alive in the spirit – to make us a new creation for humbly serving, following, honoring, obeying God.  Think on this today and what kind of life you are living in light of this glorious gift.  Read His word and pray asking Him to fill you with knowledge and understanding beyond human wisdom.  Praise His name for He is worthy.

They follow Me

“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 able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.”

Joh 9:1  As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.  And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Ecclesiastes 9:1    But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.

Luke 13:2    And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Acts 4:21     And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

Proverbs 16:3    Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

Isaiah 26:12     O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

As much as we want to think we are in control and have it altogether, we do not.  We make plans, we do this and that many times without giving God a second thought.  While living this side of eternity our culture can convince us we don’t need God everyday.  In fact we might not even give Him a thought.  Satan would love nothing greater than to have us neglect God and become complacent in our walk with Him.  Our purpose is to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Him.  With this our purpose this side of eternity how is it possible if we neglect to seek Him, desire Him, listen for His whispers of guidance, and spend time in His word.  It is not possible and without placing God first in all we do, all the time, we live a lie serving only ourselves.  How do we encourage others in their walk if we do not start first with all our heart, mind and soul seeking Him.  Spend time in His word and listen for His whispers of guidance.