29.a. “And to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,”

 

Colossians 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

 John 15:24   If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

 Hebrews 1:3    He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

 Psalms 102:25-27   Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,  but you are the same, and your years have no end.

 Isaiah 44:24   Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,

 Ephesians 3:9   and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

How smart is mankind – So smart that they can explain away the need for a Creator and replace the Creator with a big bang. The foolishness of the thought that nothing can magically form over billions of years still amazes me how really smart people believe this to be true.  Any depth of comprehension and thought would tell us this is not possible and that there must be a Creator, someone who created it.  God created all there is from planets, stars, universes, galaxies, to atoms, DNA, life, mankind, angels, light, water, time, seasons, gravity, microbiology, chemistry, and how it all works both physically and chemically.  He created everything, all of it, there is nothing in the whole universe that was not created. Nothing existed before it was created by the Creator.  It is this same Creator who reached out to fallen mankind to redeem and save them, giving them the hope of eternal life with Him.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [e]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the [f]only begotten Son of God.  This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”  

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes”

Worship the Creator and honor and glorify Him in all that you think, say, and do.  Be in awe and wonder about such grace, mercy, and love, freely given by the Creator. To reject the offer of eternal life from the Creator will plant you in eternal hell forever.  Come to Him, yield and surrender to Him, obey Him, trust Him, and live for Him alone.

According to your promise

the LORD upholds the righteous.”

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Psalms 119:116  Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

Isaiah 41:10     fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalms 37:24     though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

Psalms 63:8     My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalms 27:1    The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 12:2    “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Psalms 46:1-2    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

Joshua 1:9     Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Deuteronomy 20:1   “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8   Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Romans 10:11     For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Romans 9:32     Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works.

This support (Uphold me) would come according to God’s word. It would be both consistent with God’s word, and find its source in God’s word. It is by the strength that comes from God, and we find this true through His word. We find our hope.  Apart from God how is it possible to face even a single day of trial and trouble without being consumed with worry, doubt, anger, frustration, and fear?

Each word, promise, warning, truth, and works of God, given in scripture, increases our hope, trust, and faith.  But there seems to be a natural desire to only seek His word and promises when times are troubling. When things are out of control.  When we have perceived to have been wronged. When we realize it is out of our hands and we have no where else to turn.  This is not the way to view, serve, or honor God.  His word is not some form of prescription that is opened for some time of need and left idle in our heart, mind, and soul for the rest of the time.

His word is useful for training, growth, warning, faith, hope, praise, worship, comfort, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, light, courage, power, strength, and love.  His word is not a magic potion but rather door way to know Him and through it continually learn more and more of His steadfast love, His awesome power, our sin and sinful desires and His plan of salvation, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, eternity, heaven, death and what is in store for those who are complacent and neglect or flat out reject Him and His plan of salvation.

Commit to humbly serve, honor, glorify, worship, trust, follow and obey Him with all your heart, mind and soul.  Stay in His word each day and let it guide and light the path for each moment of that day.

Judge with equity

Psalms 96:10  Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Psalms 46:10     “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Malachi 1:11     For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations,

Isaiah 49:8     Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages,

Hebrews 1:3    He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Acts 17:31     because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Romans 2:16     on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Jude 1:14-15     It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,  to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

2 Peter 3:7     But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Matthew 25:31-46     “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Being recognized and separated can be a good thing or bad thing.  A line up as it were. Scripture speaks of those who are separated and will be with Jesus Christ and those who will be judged and found convicted of rejecting redemption.  For those of us who are saved it is a glorious day when sin is fully put to rest at the final judgement and we are forevermore with Christ in His kingdom.  If you were the person able to give this gift of eternal life and someone accepted the gift, how would you expect that person to live out their time this side of eternity?  Give thought to this.  Give thought to this in light of scripture.  Give thought to this in light of the willing sacrifice Jesus gave on the Cross for our redemption.  Live humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying the author and finisher of life.

Consider your ways!

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways.”

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure”.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is”

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.  I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.”

“but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Psalms 37:23  The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

Psalms 17:5   My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Psalms 85:13  Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

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

Psalms 121:3   He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalms 121:8   The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

1 Samuel 2:9    “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

Proverbs 16:9   The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Jeremiah 10:23  I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Hebrews 13:16    Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Ephesians 5:15   Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise

I have been thinking about resting in God.  Relying on Him.  Waiting on Him.  Trusting in Him.  I wonder what this looks like lived out.  Does resting mean we are not constantly searching to know and understand Him more?  I think we have a tendency to become complacent and we stop at “resting”.  Notice scripture today in pondering our path and God’s leading.  Can we know this if we are complacently resting?  Our purpose in this life is to humbly serve, honor, glorify, and obey God.  To do this we need to continually spend time in His word with a heart deep desire.  Spend time in His word.