Are you 'dying' to judge someone? How about to judge yourself? Ha, ha...if you don't want anyone to judge you, then judge yourself.
Why judge and what is the "yardstick" for that judging?
God's Word, which the psalmist David says is, "more precious than...pure gold, sweeter than honey...and warns...and when kept, brings great reward" (Psalm 19:9-11 NIV), is that quality standard or 'mirror' by which to regard and judge ourselves.
When you look into such a 'mirror', do not forget what you have seen? Anything that is not right, rectify. God's Word judges the conduct and makes the keeper thereof, wise; this for one's own good and benefit.
Second Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) enlightens us to a procedure for this kind of judging. In addition, it relates to the previous Bible ABC, that is, that God's Word helps to form our minds. So this has to do with what our minds are occupied. Here's how that Scripture reads,
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Combine that with the verse about the things to think about: true, lovely, of good report, etc (Philippians 4:8).
Ask yourself, "Do I do those things?"
Easier said than done, I know! So thankful for the Holy Spirit of God indwelling, Who helps to convict and helps us to deal with those unprofitable habits, thoughts and ways we often cling to.
First, judge away the arguments, pretension, then all those thoughts that do not measure up to God's Word and what is true, lovely, etc; take them captive. Cut them off! Put them to death (Colossians 3:5 NIV)! When another of those unlovely thoughts scurries across your mind: catch it; cut it off, put it to death. Judge it yourself and others will be less likely to help you do the judging.
Most importantly, our wonderful and loving Heavenly Father won't have to rebuke those of us who are His followers. We do not want to disappoint Him.
Another instruction from the book of James and chapter 5, verse 16 (NIV) says to...
"Confess your faults, or sins, to each other..."
If we do that, then again, other's will be less likely to accuse us.
That same verse gives motivation for the confession;
"...and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Do we not wish to have powerful and effective prayers? Do we want to have healing? Judge yourself and make your confessions to the Lord for He comforts us, with His Word,
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV).
In the end, when our minds have been trained towards the proclivity of good and thinking wholesome thoughts by the judgments we have imposed upon ourselves, we will see a clearer, cleaner image in our 'mirror' reflections. That's wise wisdom won.
As the writer of Romans commended them for, we too may have the same observations and "judgment" pronounced upon us by others,
"...you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another..." (Romans 15:14 NIV).
What a great eulogy and epitaph that would make!
~ERC July 2019~
My kitchen is rather small . Counter space for food preparation comes at a huge premium. Was just recounting, and, ahem, complaining, to my good friend this morning that one end of my cutting board (chopping board) hangs over the edge of the counter space. How big is a cutting board? You will realize how much horizontal kitchen surface there is with the answer.
Then my friend had to make a phone call. As she talked with the person, my eye fell upon an open Above Rubies magazine (Issue 95), at the editoress, Nancy Campbell's, page which I perused. Among other things, Campbell wrote about going to La Paz, Bolivia for Child Fund, scouting out children who need help. While there she discovered that some of the women have even less of a kitchen, in fact, no kitchen, and so, I presume, food preparation is orchestrated upon the living space floor.
That kinda puts things into perspective. I believe the Lord was telling me to...
"...be content with such things as ye have" (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
A stark, blunt admonition.
However, the Lord then gave me the next thoughts,
"Your name is written in Heaven and I'm preparing a mansion there for you" (Revelation 20:15; Luke 10:20; John 14:2 KJV).
Those things will be mine, and yours, too if you are a follower of Jesus Christ.
How so?
When we have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, we receive not only forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but we get so, so much more! Our name written in Heaven. God won't forget us. Mansion in Heaven!? Be glad and rejoice!
Perhaps that sounds materialistic. Yet our Heavenly Father delights to give His children many good things. This is one we have to look forward too. Yes, the best is yet to come especially just to be in His presence for evermore.
Ponder on that and may your hearts be glad as you partake of the bread and cup of wine on Lord's Day. He has done this for us through His death and resurrection. Blessed be His Name.
~ERC July 2019~
Matt Redman sings, Blessed Be Your Name
There is a Mansion in Heaven lyrics and instrumental
This is the one that says it more to me: Gaither Group singing Mansion over the Hilltop
The mind is such a powerfully, astonishingly amazing part of our being; a world, almost, unto itself. The scope of the machinations of it's workings known only to our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, the Creator thereof.
We do have control over our minds to some extent. Even an individual with Alzheimer's Disease with diminishing inhibitions can surprise one with turns of lucidity that startle and leave those of us in our supposed "right minds," flabbergasted and speechless. The workings of the mind are like the inter-locking of gears and cogs of a good-old fashioned watch. Each part has its function and runs like clock-work, but sometimes there can be a wrench in the works; and if it doesn't tick, how can it tock?
When I was working on the Burning Quest blog series and reading up on some of the beliefs of Buddhists and comparing them with God's Word, I learned that they put prodigious emphasis on training the mind. When the mind is under control and thinking good and wholesome things, then the person's actions will follow suit.
Certainly our conscience can be trained to certain bents by our will of choices. Yet, the mind is rather a "slippery character" that has a mind of it's own and wants to go in many directions other than that it should. Nevertheless, the belief is that it can and does become trained to the best of behaviors when a person, by their own great colossal effort, strenuously disciplines it to eschew all evil.
For those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, we know and are assured that it is only the sanctifying work of God's Word and the Holy Spirit indwelling us that will have any lasting, guiding and disciplinary effect upon our mind.
"When upon life's billows we are tempest tossed," then we discover, when we turn to Him, that God's Word will help form our mind to its secrets.
"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways" (Isaiah 64:4-5).
God has a plan for each of our lives and along the way He has various things for us to learn. In the learning of these things there could be trials and troubles mingled with the pleasanter happenings of life. The mind can be formed, in a right way, when the individual chooses to allow God and His Word to engage and commingle with the "work in progress".
Is it to learn patience? Is it to learn to be happy through and despite trials (James 1:2)? Is it to learn dependence upon the Lord?
Pause here in the questioning...
The great patriarch of old, Abraham, was asked by God to leave his very comfortable home to go a wandering about to "the place I'll tell you about". No fixed address. Yet, Abraham packed up lock, stock and barrel, and then some, and off he went to wander in the wild blue yonder.
"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1 NIV).
Would you do such a thing?
Abraham did.
"So Abram left, as the LORD had told him..." (Genesis 12:4 NIV).
Most of us know this wonderful story. Turn to Genesis and read the many chapters through. Abraham had great patience and learned dependence despite incidences of failings to trust. He was not perfect and neither are we. Yet, the LORD had patience with him and has with us also. He forgives and blesses us more challenging opportunities to learn.
Let's continue with the questions...Is your mind being trained to worship God?
Abraham's experiences along the dusty roads taught him to worship God. He often seemed to be building an altar along the way. "Oh, servants, we need another altar. The LORD appeared to me. Come let's worship Him."
Genesis 12:7 NIV,
"The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land."
If you know this story, you will remember that Abram and Sarah could not have children and were well advanced beyond childbearing years. Now God is telling him He's going to give this land to Abraham's offspring?! Abraham trusted God, depended upon God and his response was...
"So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him" (Genesis 12:7 NIV)
Verse 8 of Genesis 12 also shows that further along that road, Abraham is worshiping yet again,
"From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent...There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD." (NIV)
If you read further, again, through Genesis, you'll see more altars that dotted the roadsides in Abraham's wake. Dependence and worship went hand-in-hand for Abraham. It became, not second nature, to him, rather, first nature; his mind was formed towards them.
Earlier James 1 was alluded to. If you turn to it now, and look at verses 3 and 4 (NIV), you'll see the progression of the good things that God's Word tells us that can come out of trials in our lives and that can train our minds. We will develop, faith, perseverance, become mature and not lack anything. However, should there be lack of anything, verse 5 informs, we can ask of God; especially for wisdom.
The portion goes on to talk about our minds having doubts and being tossed first in one direction and then another (verses 6 and 7) as if on a stormy sea. The joy that comes from the trials are all the above character building aimed at greater Christ-likeness, except for the doubts. If one has not allowed God's Word to form the mind by them, then one may well become "seasick" on the deep ocean waves of doubt.
When a person...
"...sets their minds on things above where Christ is seated" (Colossians 3:1-3 NIV).
there will be a relinquishing of earthly things such as,
"...sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed" (Colossians 3:5 NIV).
When the mind, with the help of God and His Word, cuts off, and puts to death these things, the mind forms better things such as,
"...compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience..." (Colossians 3:12 NIV).
and a whole lot more.
Again, these will become first nature, as if programmed into our DNA.
When we think on heavenly things aided and abetted by God's Holy Spirit, our minds will be more predisposed to those inclinations. Look as this familiar list,
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).
We think with our minds. May our minds all have this penchant and be formed more in the image of our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, our Creator, who made them, as we each become more acquainted with God's Word by reading and obeying it. May you all be blessed, edified, guided, healed and have your souls fired up to do His will and surrender your mind to God's control.
In closing, here's a little nugget from Charles R. Swindoll's little book, Intimacy With the Almighty to comfort your mind,
"Nothing under God's control can ever be out of control."
~ERC July 2019~
Picture a scorching hot summer day, or for those of you in the tropics, an every day, ordinary day of searing, unmerciful sun, beating down upon you. Now picture yourself splashing about in a swimming hole with a waterfall cascading down from above, feeding that "pool" with cool refreshing water that continuously flows through to a meandering stream the other side of the pool outlet. Do you feel cooler, pleasanter relief?
There can be relief and even healing from the winter storms of life, "washing" the stresses away. I started writing this blog entry before a tragedy occurred. It has become, not such an agreeable picture to me. There can also be danger in such a pool, an undertow or whirlpool where the waters spill down. Case in point is a friend's son who just this past week drowned in just such a whirlpool trying to rescue his young son. The son was saved but very sadly and tragic to say, the father did not.
Some may say, the man died a "hero" of sorts. Whether or not the wife and children will feel that I do not know. That may be a long time coming. Right now the family is likely too stunned and numb to think much of anything.
Yet there can be some solace in God and His Word when a heart turns to the One Who gave His life for us. God can and does this kind of work. His Word tells us in Psalm 107:10-20 (ESV), that in the midst of Israel's troubles, they cried out to the LORD. What was God's response?
"He sent out His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction."
Constantly, constantly read God's Word. Read even when you don't understand it all. Bathe yourself in it. It will bring delights and understanding and comfort that will surprise you and even "heal" you. For instance, the book of Psalms has brought much consolation to many.
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) talks about such relief in regards to God's Word,
"That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word."
Each of us experiences difficulties in life, some more intense than others, that can and do leave serious wounds on our hearts, minds, and spirits and souls, in general. Let God's Word flow over you, and reach into those inner recesses of your being. Cling on to His Word and promises and find that desperate healing you need and crave.
One of my favorite stories is the incident when Jesus was visiting His good friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary had chosen the "better portion". She was sitting at Jesus's feet "listening to His teaching" (Luke 10:38-42, especially verse 39 ESV). Jesus would not allow Martha to take this away from her sister.
We do not know if Mary was ailing or traumatized from anything but we can surmise there could have been something that needed healing. Or, she just simply treasured what Jesus had to say, so much so, to the exclusion of everything else. She knew from where, or rather, Whom, her Source of strength, comfort and healing came.
No matter the circumstances of your life, I pray that you will all find comfort and healing in the reading, knowing, taking to heart and obeying God's Word. Allow His Word to heal you.
~ERC July 2019~
Here's a link to "Songs of Hope and Healing" presented by Don Moen Radio
It's really fun to tease a cat. Have you ever done so? Try it. At night, especially when you have the lights out, dig out your flashlight (or "torchlight", as they say in some countries) and flash the light around on the floor for your cat to dash and dance after. Slowly move the beam of light up the wall and see the cat lunge for it. It's fun for the cat too, I think, and gives it some exercise to boot.
Then there's the typical "guiding light" illustration with the old fashioned oil or kerosene lanterns that they used to use to see their way out to the barn to tend to the animals or nowadays perhaps, use on more rustic camping trips. One often sees pictures of the good shepherd who's gone out to look for Sheep 100 who went astray (Matthew 18:12-14), holding up such a lamp to guide his way safely along the dark, wet and slippery path over the hills, dales and meadows.
Contemplate Psalm 119:105, a very favorite Bible verse that almost every Sunday School child is asked to memorize,
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (NIV).
I've heard preachers preach that the lamp shows where to put your foot for the next step, and the light may show you a bit further down the path as you lift the lamp higher. We learn bit by bit, and hopefully obey as we go along, keeping in the light.
When a person follows the light of God's word, he or she will be right and in the Light. We know that Jesus said that He is the Light of the world.
"Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 NIV).
Once we have Jesus in our life, we have His light within us. We also have His Word which brings light as well. As we read and obey God's Word we will indeed be following His light, not just around in circles or up a wall like the cat, but our way will be guided through life's decisions, trials and troubles. It will also help our relationship with the Light (Jesus) and help keep us in good company and on firm foundation.
You wanna know how God's Word shed light and opened up someone's eyes from darkness in a wonderful way? Flip your Bible open to Acts 8:26-40 (NIV) and see it for yourself. Philip was sent onto the desert road for a very important appointment. He was to meet a very important official of Queen Candace of Ethiopia.
The official was pondering perplexedly over a portion of God's Word from Isaiah (53:7, 8). He really wanted to know the meaning and Philip was sent to expound. Expound he did of the "good news of Jesus", and the official came out of his spiritual darkness into the glorious Light of God. In the end, even though Philip was whisked away, he "went on his way rejoicing".
He had gotten the light of salvation; that wonderful gift of God through Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) explains,
"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."
May each one follow and be guided by the Light of God while reading His Word daily and obeying it. You never know what vistas will open up before you, where He will take you or what adventures you might have until you do. He will never drive you up against a wall though.
~ERC July 2019~
Song Light of the World, You Stepped Down into Darkness - a Hillsong
Most of my growing up years I've sung and heard sung, the "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" hymn. That's years and years of knowing this song and having it accepted by so many family and friends and other brothers and sisters-in-Christ, without criticism.
It's a hymn that mostly brings out the feelings of great sadness that Jesus would have to suffer so much for me. It's strains touch and tug at the heart in a melancholy way. Yet, it's a hymn that followers of Jesus Christ turn back to repeatedly to help understand the profundity of what Jesus has done for them and to express their return depths of gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Him.
I was shocked, hurt and puzzled then when a brother, several years ago, said, "You shouldn't sing that song."
"Why ever not?!" I boomerang-ed back.
"Because it wasn't wondrous to Jesus, it was torture."
I was speechless.
Since then, I've heard, and that a lot more recently, that another also does not believe it should be sung.
So I sits and I says to myself, "it was wondrous for me". Sound selfish? Not really, cuz, Jesus also went through all that for all the "whosoever" who will accept God's gift of salvation He bought through His Son Jesus Christ on that wondrous cross.
True enough, it was not wondrous for Jesus to have had to go through even one infinitesimal amount of that. He was determined to do so however, for our sake. That is what is so wondrous about it. Yes, it was torture, but He still knew what was coming and He went through it all for me and for you.
So as you do remember the Lord Jesus Christ in His death upon the cross each Lord's Day, remember it was also His wondrous love for you that He went to the cross. As you pass the broken bread and the cup of wine, recall all the pain and sorrow He took upon Himself that was "mingled" with His love for you. Let it take your breath away. May you be rendered speechless by it.
Do find your second wind to give Him praise and gratitude and yes, to sing triumphantly, "When I survey the wondrous cross...." His wondrous love brought the wondrous cross for our wondrous salvation.
What amazingly divine love...isn't it wondrous!
~ERC July 2019~
Listen to the pathos of this song, What Wondrous Love is This; lyrics by Charles F. Bryan, 1952.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, lyrics by Sir Isaac Watts (1674-1748); sung here by the Gaither's group.
When my siblings and I were younger, our family had those big records that today's generation would scoff at; however, we got hours of enjoyment and 'soothe-ment' out of them. Whenever we were sick, our Dad would play the music for us, softly, as we lay ill. Eventually, he recorded them onto reel to reel tape so the soothing strains could work their wonders for hours.
Besides a lot of the pianist Rudy Atwood which I still croon over today when I get the chance, one of those records was of a Korean choir singing songs of praise. It always tickled my fancy because of their accented English. One of the songs I can still hear in my head was, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going..."
Many know this reality of life, a small spark ignites big things both positively and negatively. Here of course, we are talking about God's Word. As we read and obey it, it can fire up our hearts with fervor for God, Jesus, and for following His ways. Of great import is that it can fire up our hearts to faithful testimony.
Just glancing at the first couple of chapters of the book of Jeremiah you see the clause, "The word of the LORD came to him, or me" several times. Then there was action taken. Repeatedly, the prophet Jeremiah was sent on very unenviable tasks by God. Those tasks often got him into hot soup with the king. Yet, Jeremiah remained faithful through thick and thin to the end.
The prophet Isaiah was another of such caliber. I think he even may have had it worse, from my human standpoint of thinking, than Jeremiah did. He had to, among other things, lie naked upon the ground for more than a year and even cook his own food from such an awkward position. How overwhelmingly humiliating that must have been. This gave Israel a visual sign of the times of God's coming condemnation upon them for their wayward ways. Through it all Isaiah remained faithful, obeying God's Word, will and ways for him. He was fulfilling God's purpose.
Hop, skip and jump over to the New Testament. It was that lull, not so much of a peaceful one, but one where it gets really quiet after a major tragic happening that leaves everyone so, speechless. No one really knows what to do or say. Maybe some people will say or do some out of character thing out of reaction. When Jesus died, the "sheep" felt all encompassingly bereft. All of that for nothing?
They had not computed in the resurrection.
There were the two on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33). Defeated, almost aimless in action. It brings tears to my eyes to think of the Lord Jesus, with His full heart of love and compassion, meeting them along the road. Truly, going to Him gives rest, but here He goes to them! He spoke with them and when He also graciously went in to dine with them, they realized, ever so suddenly, Who He was, as their eyes were opened through His breaking of bread with them.
This galvanized them to get up and go back, "at once" to Jerusalem.
We do not know, as Scripture doesn't state, if they continued to be faithful to the Lord all the rest of their days or not. They had asked each other,
"Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us" (Luke 24:32 NIV)?
I'd like to think that they did; that they had been forever "sparked" into burning faithful followers.
The apostle Peter's preaching of the good news, just after Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit's indwelling, electrified the hearers so much to their condition; they needed repentance...
"...the people heard...they were cut to the heart..." They asked Peter, "...what shall we do" (Acts 2:1-41, esp vs. 37 NIV)?
Peter told them they needed to repent and be baptized, looking to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
They heard God's Words, through Peter, and obeyed them. There were about 3000 that were added to the number of Jesus followers that day! What a catch of "fish" Peter had had; enough to sink many smallish ships!
We do know that Peter was faithful to the end. Again, we hope that all those 3000 and more were too.
Another faithful stalwart was the apostle Paul. From the moment of his conversion on the road to Damascus, he was spurred on to many years of faithful testimony to his Savior, Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-31). He did not have it easy after that either: hounded and persecuted; beaten, stoned and left for dead. He got up, and continued on and on.
The verse from Jeremiah 23:29 illustrates the phenomenal changes that enter a person's life from encounters with Jesus, God and His Word. Look at what he wrote,
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces" (NIV)?
A fire definitely changes things as alluded to earlier: it can destroy and it can refine. Allow the 'spark' of God's Word to kindle a fire as searing as a forge so as to burn off all the dross of your life and refine the thoughts and intents of your hearts as you obey (Hebrews 4:12). Fire up your hearts and be transformed into the faithful followers He needs and wants, giving testimony to His Name. Bring Him glory and honor as you burn brightly for Him all your days on earth.
~ERC June 2019~
Here's a lovely old Sunday School special song, God's Word is Like a Hammer arranged by Bible Truth Publishers.
Pass It On - it Only Takes a Spark (but not by the Korean's; can't find it) - Music for the Soul
