Bible ABCs - Unites

Children loved to be with Jesus and mothers liked to bring them to Him.  The disciples tried to stop them and Jesus rebuked the men,

"Suffer the little children to come unto me:  and forbid them not..." (Mark 10:14 KJV)

Imagine the children snuggled up in the crook of Jesus' arms.  Does it produce a warm, contented, endearing picturesque feeling?

Does it make you want to be close to Him too?

What we learn from God's Word can help us to be united to our Lord and Savior in an even more closely bonded relationship with Him.

I'm reminded of that saying about Christianity,

"Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with God our Creator"!

That's awesome!

How to make that a progressively, endearing, dependent relationship, though?   It's a relationship that from the moment of salvation (birth into His family), onward throughout a believer's life,  needs constant interaction.  But, how?

The Psalmist David prayed,

 "Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name" (Psalm 86:11 NIV).

Note the "undivided heart".  Look at how David believed that could be achieved.  A chain reaction:  learn God's way, then rely on His faithfulness to generated the undivided heart which, in turn, produces that fear, that awe and respect and reverence of our Lord and Savior, bringing an individual into closer intimacy with Him.

What's true for the physical, is true for the spiritual.  A mundane example would be, the more two people know each other, the greater the understanding of each other's character, attitudes, moods, likes and dislikes.  Those in such an ideal relationship will then govern themselves with respect that such closeness affords and demands, and in turn draws them into an even closer, more trusting and inter-dependent alliance.

When either one does something out of line and disappoints the other, that bond is negatively tested and affected but hopefully holds tight.  Or, if one or the other follows some pursuit that involves greater blocks of time elsewhere, the relationship can cool.  There is a divided heart.

Think of that illustration of the burning coals that glow, contentedly together, offering up their combined warmth.  However, when one ember is removed and set upon the hearth, the glow slowly peters out; dies.

Human beings are often fickle, distracted, easily wearied with the effort of maintaining a relationship.  The rewards though, are beneficial to one and all when it is treasured, cherished and worked at; they can 'burn together" brightly, lending each other warmth of relationship.

No less our relationship with our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, His Son.  If things go south, it is not His fault.  

"...I, the LORD, do not change..." (Malachi 3:6 NIV).

He is there 24/7 for us.

"The same yesterday, and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Jesus prayed that His disciples would have such a relationship as He did with His Father, God.  You see, He left them (us) with the gift of His Father's words.

"For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them.  They knew with certainty that I came from You and they believed that You sent Me" (John 17:8 NIV).

Most couples want to have good conversation with their spouse, the relationship being a two-way street.  Give and take and acceptance.  This builds up over time and constant seeking out the other and with kind, considerate, forbearing and exclusive interaction within the relationship. 

As we study the life of Jesus, you'll observe how many times Jesus went out to lonely, isolated places to converse and confer in quiet with His Father.  He is our Perfect Example in all things.  We do well to follow suit.

Find your "lonely" place and visit with Him often.  Be taught by the truth and guidance of the Scriptures.  This is where we followers of Jesus can learn about Him and His Father; where we can learn of His likes and dislikes; of His character; where we can be taught to trust and rely upon Him; to please Him and to just soak and bathe quietly in His presence.  A place to let all other "loves" drift away, uniting your heart with your Heavenly Father's heart with undivided devotion.

Allow God's Word to unite you with the Lord and curry an ever increasing intimate relationship with Him in reverence and fear.  You will not be disappointed.

                                                        ~ERC  October 2019~

Lord's Day Devotion - He Holds No Grudges

Anger flared, simmering, then burning hot in his heart.  Cane and Abel had sacrificed of their respective livelihoods to God.  Abel's sacrifice was more acceptable to God than was Cain's.  Cain was affronted by that, producing seeds of jealousy, anger and bitterness within his heart.  We all know from reading Genesis 4, the murderous outcome of that grudge Cain held against Abel.

The LORD had put a "stop sign" along Cain's path when He spoke to him, 

"If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.  Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7 ESV).

Cain did have a chance to rectify his mind, heart and sacrifice.  However, he clung to his grudge, harboring evil intent, killing Abel in cold blood.  Not a very great "first family" or track record for the human race.  What a disappointment!  Yet God persevered with mankind and even put a form of life sentence, as well as protection, upon Cain.

Another set of siblings, twins, in fact, are introduced as Esau and Jacob.  Jacob was a rather conniving chap, aided by his mother Rebekah.  We would even indignantly affirm, Esau had every right to his feelings of injustice.  Twice, Jacob 'stole' from his brother; the birth-rite and the blessing.  (Genesis 27, 28, 33).

If you dig deeper and see Esau's heart, you'll discover, he didn't truly value the birth-rite.  It was too late now, though.  In the end,

"Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him.  He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near, then I will kill my brother Jacob" (Genesis 27:41 NIV).

Mother Rebekah heard Esau's intention and told Jacob to hightail it to her relatives far away.  Jacob escaped with his life yet fear of his brother's homicidal ire lived on for decades thereafter.

Grudges linger, fester and foment.  Read the entire book of Genesis and you'll unearth such ugly human failing and intrigue roiling down even through early civilization's history.  If you'll direct your attention to the account of Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37) you'll see grudge has popped up again.  It was horrendous what they did to him due to not ruling over nor containing their jealousy, nor activating forgiveness towards Joseph.

Their father, who so happened to be Jacob, loved Joseph more than the whole slew of his older half siblings.  Jacob even made a beautiful multicolored coat for Joseph (who said sewing was only women's work).  On top of that Joseph detrimentally strutted his dreams in which those brothers would bow in obeisance to him.  That really got their goats and so the first chance they got to be rid of him, they did.

Imagine selling your own sibling down river!   The intentions of the heart were truly continually evil.  Grudges led to horrible mischief time and time again.

Joseph faced so much inequity thereafter:  slavery; false accusation and imprisonment.  Hard to believe those dreams of grandeur, yet Joseph must have kept them on the back burner of his mind (Genesis 39; 40).

Joseph was different from the rest and didn't allow the unfair chain reaction of events in his life to sour him.  He didn't hold a grudge.  Instead, he held a trump card.  He feared God.  He believed that what was meant for harm, God meant for good (Genesis 50:20).   In the end, Joseph's wisdom saved the entire world from starvation:  Egyptians, and surrounding people's including his very own father, siblings and their whole clan (Genesis 40, 43, 45).

All down throughout the ages, mankind has behaved in horrendously abominable ways that are intolerable to God.  Nevertheless, He loves us all still.  He wanted to prove His love and that He would not hold a grudge against us feeble, willful human beings.  

The Almighty Creator, reached down in forgiving compassion, sending His Son Jesus to make atonement for our souls.  Joseph rescued his generation from death.  Jesus rescued, not only His own generation, but all mankind since, from the clutches of death and Hell which licked at our heels in hot pursuit as punishment for our sin.

Jesus forgives.  Jesus saves.  He holds no grudges against us.

Followers of Jesus Christ, thank and praise Him for all He has done for mankind in general, and for each individual in particular.  As we partake of the bread and wine on Lord's Day, think on these things.

What a mighty, grudgeless God we serve!

                                                   ~ERC  19 October 2019~

This song may not be for everyone as it's a deviation from solemn hymns, but he has a point about Grudges with Brinson, a Christian rap artist.


A little "tamer"  from Anthony Evans, No Condemnation

Bible ABCs - Teaches

"Turn left, in 200 meters," directed the wafting Waze voice.  In a blink, we veered off the highway in another direction, speeding along with the greatest of ease; "onward ho" to our destination.  There were no worries because of reliable 'Waze" at the helm.

Waze really makes going along unfamiliar routes a breeze, when followed.  God's Word is very much like that.  God's Word teaches those who are led by it.  David, the Psalmist, knew that.  He specifically asks for God's ways.  He besought the LORD as seen in Psalm 25:4 & 5 (NIV),

"Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."

Road-users ask Waze to show the way from Point A to Point B.  Followers of Jesus can choose to inquire of God; His way for living a holy and pleasing life, as did David.  Just ask Him.  The Word of God and the Holy Spirit direct.  It's up to the individual to follow suit.

There are times that even with Waze, a driver can get turned about to a wrong direction, perhaps, due to inattentiveness or some distraction.  Whatever the reason, the wonder of Waze is, it will effortlessly guide you back to the right road.

When a believer sincerely seeks God, asks, as David did, "show me...teach me...guide me...in Your ways...paths...truth"  He will help them find the U-Turn back to Him.

Of course, it could be a long road ahead, especially if a person had gotten quite a ways off course.  However, by God's grace and the individual's perseverance, as he/she listens for His guiding voice, the person can travel along in their spiritual journey of life to where the Lord desires the living soul to be.

God's Word instructs us on how to overcome and navigate through the pitfalls and dangers of life.  He can instill the confidence we need to go pleasantly and peacefully in the direction He points out for us to faithfully and purposefully pursue.

To reiterate, God's Word teaches all those who appropriate and are led by it.  Waze can miss a beat, the internet signal disconnect or our phone's battery conk out and leave us stranded in the middle of, we don't know where, but our Savior will lead, guide and direct and is available  all day and night long.  We can avail ourselves of God's Word's teaching.  

Pray and ask Him to show you His ways for your life.  Put your hope in Him; follow Him.

Praise His glorious Name.

                                                   ~ERC  October 2019~


Show Me Your Ways, Hillsong

Your Word, Hillsong

Lord's Day Devotion - The Voice of the LORD

Voices, voices, voices.  People talking and talking.  What a babble!  Yet some voices, because they are sharp, or loud or angry, or quietly gracious, loving and kind, can be distinguished from the hubbub.

When boiled down to an individual, some of those voices hurt or heal; curse or bless; some agitate, some soothe.  The list could go on but you can, no doubt, get the gist.

There is one voice, above all others, that has accomplished amazing things; that of the voice of our LORD.  Genesis chapter 1 notates that when God spoke, the world: heaven, earth, the sea, and all that in them are, came into being.  Look at this,

"God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.  God saw that the light was good." (Genesis 1:3. 4 NIV).

He spoke, and it was.

God's voice could be heard again and again.

"'Let there be...and it was so'...and God saw that it was good" (continue reading Genesis 1).

Eight times His voice uttered the aspects of the  world into being.

Truly very good, astonishing and breathtaking.  We stand in awe of our God, The Creator.

Since then God's voice has been heard all down throughout the ages.  The Psalmist records the effects of the voice of the LORD.  Flip your Bible open at Psalm 29.  There David delineates some of that history as well.

Psalm 29:3 (ESV) reads,

"The LORD's voice was heard over the water showing forth the power of God's glory."  

David said the voice, "thunders".

If you've ever gone to a waterfall, especially after a torrential downpour of rain, you hear that the waters definitely thunder.  For an even greater thundering of waters, go to Ontario, Canada and visit Niagara Falls!  There the waters thunder to its heart's content.  There people gather in multitudes in rapt wonder.  Did they know they are hearing the LORD's voice and seeing His glory?

In the next verse, Psalm 29:4, David goes on to write that the

 "...voice of the LORD is powerful...and full of majesty".

Certainly, the Niagara Falls waterfall is an indomitable force to reckon with.  Scores of people have tried to defy that power by going over the precipice in a barrel or otherwise.  Not many of those few survived.  

The LORD's voice is infinitely more unconfined power.  Cogitate on what His voice perpetrated with creation!  He spoke and it was!  Now we know His voice is indeed mighty and can give life.  How do we 'hear' this raw power now?

  The avenue in which we hear God's voice now is the Bible, the Word of God.  This voice explains to us,

"The Word of God is quick, alive, active and powerful (Hebrews 4:12 and depending on which version you use:  this is KJV and NIV) which can divide asunder soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (mostly KJV).

This kind of power we may take a step or two backwards from because it hits us where it may pain us; reaching into the inner sanctums of our beings.  Like a surgeon's knife, routing out all that should not be there; convicting us, guiding us, to the way we should go.  This, all out of God's gracious heart of love and care for the individual.  Can you hear His Voice?

Elijah had such an experience (1 Kings 19:11-13).  He was on the run from the murderous Queen Jezebel who had vowed to kill him.  He ran and eventually ended up in a cave feeling exceedingly sorry for himself and ironically wishing to die (1 Kings 19:3, 4)!  God wouldn't let him.  There was a mighty wind, an earthquake and fire roaring passed that cave but God's voice came only after the force of nature took its course.  Then Elijah heard God's "gentle whisper" (verse 12).

God wouldn't let him carry on feeling sorry for himself.  He had fed him earlier and let him have his sleep but He didn't let it go on at infinitum.  He talked with him at the cave mouth and encouraged him, telling him that there were others who still had the fear of God in them and who did not bow down to Baal.  He also told him he still had a mission.  Like, "get up now, dust yourself off; I've got something more for you to do".

Sometimes, in our anguish of a desperate situation, its soothing balm to hear God's whispered voice even if He is propelling us to specific action that we may not want to perform.  There is power even in His whisper.

Further down in Psalm 29, we learn that the powerful voice of the LORD has the capability to break "cedars", and not just an ordinary kind of cedars, but the "cedars of Lebanon" (vs 8).  These were of well known quality and of great value in that ancient world; a symbol of strength and durability.  They could withstand much and were used to make sturdy buildings such as kings' palaces and even the temple that King Solomon built for God (1 Kings 6:29-30).  Yet, the Psalmist remarked, "the voice of the LORD could break them.

If the LORD's whisper is powerfully motivating what would His shout be like?  However, I suspect it's good to be sensitive to His whisper.

Listen for His voice.  

Members of God's creation do well to listen for the Creator's voice.  Even if we are a mighty man or woman of God, of great integrity, devotion and commitment (like a "cedar of Lebanon), it's good to examine ourselves in God's eyes for anything in our "joints and marrow" that God wants to address.  His voice can assist you to "break" it.

"The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire...shakes the wilderness" (vs 7, 8).

In the wilderness of wanderings the Israelites encountered the voice of the LORD numerous times.  God's presence was in the cloud and pillar of fire.  He spoke to Moses who then passed on the message to the throngs.   Sometimes they listened and sometimes they didn't; that's when they would hear God's "shout" which boded no good for them.

It's riveting to see what else the voice of the LORD effectuated:  it made,

"Lebanon to skip like a calf...and the deer to give birth" (Psalm 29:6, 9 ESV).

A nation and a creature of the forest felt the joy (birth generally does) of hearing God's voice.  

The Creator of all the earth was definitely interested in His creatures, including mankind.  He wanted to interact and still does.  This is His desire, His longing to connect.

The Bible is teeming with instances of the voice of the Lord speaking to His creatures: to mankind in particular.  Sometimes it was blessed communion, at other times exhortation and admonishment.  From Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; to Cain with a grudge against Abel, his brother; to Noah, directed to build an ark; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (who even had a wrestling match with God until He spoke the words Jacob wanted to hear); King Solomon; the many  judges and prophets (especially Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Amos, etc) inspired so much communication from God.  

And then...then that awful silence!

Some believe that silence held for about of 400 years!  No one heard the voice of the LORD.

What were the thoughts of the sons of man?  Disappointment?  Oh God, who's He?  He doesn't care about us anymore.  Does He really exist!?  Some of the righteous men may have said, "We have the Torah.  We can still trust God even though we don't aurally hear from Him.  He has left us with His written word.  

Then the deafening silence was interrupted.  God had not forgotten His human creatures.  It was God's momentous occasion, the culmination of all that had gone beforehand.  

Zechariah had been faithfully going about his high priestly duty in the temple little expecting to hear the voice of the LORD that fine day.  He encountered an angel bearing  a special delivery message for him straight from the heavenly realms.  Granted, it wasn't a direct tete-a-tete with God, but it was a message from Him just the same.

It was an Abraham and Sarah-like moment; Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a child in their old age.  It was so hard for Zechariah to believe it; yet it came to pass.

Next, Mary got her astounding message from the same angel.  This was also from God.  Jesus was to be born and she was the one to conceive through the Holy Spirit's hovering and give birth to Emmanuel!

What a marvelously miraculous way to break the silence!

God, with us!

His voice come in human form; so to speak!

Ponder on that a spell.

Spellbinding times!

At Jesus's birth, the voice from Heaven told the shepherds where to look for the Savior.  Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.   God's voice came again at Jesus' baptism and at His transfiguration.   Multitudes flocked to Him and heard His many words of teaching and touches of healing.  Makes one weep to reflect about it;  it touches the recesses of my heart!  The gospels record Jesus' voice; the statements He expressed from the cross.  

Continued tuning in to the voice of the LORD has all been made possible by the gift of salvation God gave us through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and the gift of His Holy Spirit and God's Word, the Bible.  Remember all this on Lord's Day as we partake of the symbols of His body and blood, the bread and wine. 

Nowadays, the Bible, God's Word, can speak to us followers of Jesus through the Holy Spirit as we read and hide it in our hearts.  He has not left us bereft.  He is not silent.  He cares.

We are very privileged to be able to still hear our Father's voice. 

Listen.

                                                        ~ERC  October 2019~

Listen (The Voice of God) as sung by David Griffin music

I Will Listen as sung by Twila Paris