Esteem God's Holiness

 

Do we esteem God's love more than God's holiness?  God says, 

"Be holy, as I am holy" (Leviticus 19-20; 1 Peter 1:1-17).

Moses was commanded to take his sandals off when he got too close to the "burning bush" that was not burning.  It was holy ground because Holy God was there.

The Holy of Holies with the mercy seat was sacred ground too.  The High priest could only enter if certain requirements were in place.  He could not simply rush into the presence of God for the sake of so doing.

Isaiah felt his sinfulness in the presence of God's holiness.  Do we?  Do we even enter our living God's presence with bold confidence and remember,

 "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed (holy) be Thy Name..." (Matthew 6:9-13)?  

If we do, we won't be flippant.  We will humbly bow before Him in contrition, repenting and confessing our sins.  We will become more holy in our Christian living.

Peter was so smacked and smitten by his sinfulness in the presence of Jesus, Son of God, the Holy One of Israel, he put his clothes on, jumped into the sea and swam ashore and then asked Jesus to leave him.  Peter found it so very difficult by the contrast of Jesus' holiness up against his sinful nature.  

Be holy as He is holy.  Be repentant.  Make your confessions and come before our Heavenly Father with, 

"...hallowed be Thy Name" 

imprinted upon our minds, hearts and upon our lips.

Esteem God's holiness equally and perhaps even more than, His love, which also knows no bounds.  "Holy" is His Name.  Let Him govern your life of holiness before Him; in His presence.

Take off your shoes.

Bow before Him, revere Him.  Be holy as He is. 

 Cry out,

"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty."

                                                         ~ERC  August 2021~

Sing, Holy, Holy, Holy, with Audrey Assad

Lord's Day Devotion - He Built Altars

 Abram, for all his ancient years, was quite the pilgrim migrant.  What stamina he had had to be trekking here and there.  Then at certain milestones along his wanderings, to have the energy, not to flop down on his bed and snore, but to build an altar!

"He built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 12:8 NIV).

Amazing man who knew where to place his trust - in the LORD.  That was his secret strength.

If you read the narrative in chunks like from Genesis 11 to 20 in one go, you can take better note of Abram's faith in the LORD of His promises.  He liked to show it by his altar building - a visual memorial, NOT to be worshiped, but to give worship to the LORD, as

 "he went from place to place" (Genesis 13:3-4MIV).

He found a shady place of repose near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron and built another altar (Genesis 13:18 NIV).  If you trace his footsteps and follow in his wake, you'll be able to know and say, when you see yet another altar in the middle of nowhere,

"Ah, Abram was here."

The altar to the LORD, showed it.

In many ways I see this as good practice.  In our own personal lives we can make "altars" of remembrance of how the Lord preserved us; our faith and answers to prayer, and vindication thereof.

Abram, or as he was later known, Abraham, did see the son he had been promised by God, but he did not get to see the uncountable multitudes as many as the grains of sand on the seashore, nor the numbers of stars in the sky...but...he believed it would happen.  Yet through all the years of waiting for the promised son, he still built altars and worshiped the LORD, God Most High, Who is the Creator of heaven" (Genesis 14:22 NIV) and made covenant with Him.  God was a Personal Friend as well as Diety to be worshipped.

For us today, one of our "altar" remembrances can come, 

"as often as we eat the bread and drink from the cup" (2 Corinthians 11:26),

on any given Lord's Day.  We  can meet together physically or virtually and remember what Jesus has done for us through His death on the cross and through His resurrrection.  Our strength and salvation come from the Lord.  We do well to build altars and worship Him, even if it is only in our closet.

                                                        ~ERC  August 2021~

Based on Genesis 11-20 NIV.

Before It's Too Late

 

Noah's Ark with all his family and the creatures within landed; bump! and perched atop Mt. Ararat.  Nowadays Mt. Ararat is 5,137 meters high.  Not sure how high it was back in Noah's millenia but it is referred to as, "a mountain".

Try to imagine the ark resting there when the floods had receded, the land had dried and new foliage growth had sprouted and garnished the forests and plains.  If anyone had survived outside of that ark, which from the Bible account, we deduce they didn't, since the LORD God had declared afterwards,

"Never again will I destoy all living creatures as I have done" (Genesis 8:21 (NIV),

just picture it anyway.

They would have looked w-a-a-y up and have seen it there; clear, as clear as can be, they'd have seen it.  It was a beacon to the tragedy and pain inflicted upon God's heart by the wickedness of mankind, yet showing God's mercy in making a way of escape and safety.  If only more than eight souls had entered that ark!  For those others, it was devastatingly, too late.

Let us followers of Jesus Christ be that beacon of light and guidance to Jesus, the Savior, not just in this COVID era, but for all time.  The "flood" of God's judgement is coming.  Be there for those who haven't yet put their faith and trust in Jesus.  May they see each of us children of God, as clear as clear as can be.  Be still before the Lord, learn from Him and be the light we should be.

May the lost souls come before it is forever, devastatingly, to late, for them.

                                                   ~ERC  August 2021~

Sing Here I am to Worship with Michael W. Smith

What's in the Wind?

 There was a "mighty rushing of wind".  It "filled the entire house."  It was to be the Pentcost of all Pentacosts for those believers sitting there.  They didn't sit for long though.

The Holy Spirit filled them.  They must have popped right down those stairs and out into the throngs of people.  They

 "began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance".

Devout Jewish men had gathered from "every nation under heaven" whose mother tongues were not necessarily Hebrew, Greek or Latin.  Their native languages were from places such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Libya, Arabia and Rome, to name a few.  How was it they could undestand, in their own tongues, the mighty works of God"?

Isn't this truly amazing and astounding especially since the men telling out this good news in the various known languages were deemed Galileans and therefore supposed "unlearned"!?  Our God works wonders!  All made possible through the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit Who had come to indwell them; comfort and guide them.

Wind is a symbol of the breath of God.  God had breathed into Adam's nostrils the "breath of life" at his creation.  Now the "wind" came again, breathing new life into the apostles and other disciples present that momentus day.

Have you "felt the wind" of the Holy Spirit's workings in your life?  Come to faith in Jesus Christ and You will have the Holy Spirit indwelling.  He aids and abetts the believer in this life on earth.  He comforts, convicts, guides and directs.  His presence is with us.

Maybe we do or do not suddenly speak in other languages not our own mother tongue (how wondrous that would be), but this power is at work within us and can manifest in this or other ways.  May we all realize God's almighty rushing wind and be filled and bask in His presence.

Sit and be with Him.

You never know what He wants to tell you.  You never know what's in the wind.  He'll pleasantly surprize you.  May we each "feel His wind" and have our own personal pentacost.  May there indeed be revival within us and through us out to others so they too, may know Jesus Christ as Savior and His wondrous working power, personally.

                                                    ~ERC  August 2021~

Based on Acts 2 (ESV)

Sing, Breathe on Us, with Kari Jobe

Book Review - Where The Light Fell - By Philip Yancey - Publication Date: 5 October 2021

 Books written by Philip Yancey have been a boon and a blessing in many believers' lives; I for one, can attest to that.  They are "get real" books; drop the facade.  In this book, Yancey unveils "where he's coming from" in those books.  Again, a blessing to know of the struggles endured throughout his lifetime, at home and at church, yet being able to strongly come to terms, in sincere faith and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Those who have grown up in a home and/or church setting that have, as Yancey puts it, an "extreme form of faith" and have been spiritually and emotionally abused thereby, will relate to his "verbal selfie"  aka "memoir" (his terms).  They will know there is hope.  Philip Yancey, thank-you for candidly sharing your life's journey; it helps!

                                                    ~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                                September 2021

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Joseph Barsabbas Justus OR Matthias

 

Two men.  Both qualified.  Who would be chosen?

Both Joseph and Mattias had been with, and witnessed Jesus' baptism by John the Baptizer, staying with Jesus and the chosen disciples throughout Jesus' earthly ministry.  Secondly, they had to have been witness to Jesus' resurrection and ascension back to Heaven.  These two men, therefore were proposed to potentially take Jusdas Iscariot's place among the eleven apostles, to tally their number back to twelve.

 The company of believers in the upper room that day of choosing, numbered about 120 persons.  They all did not simply say, "Okay, let's take a vote; who wants which man?"  NO.  These were still mostly all Jewish believers in attendance, used to "casting lots."  However, they did not simply run ahead and do that either.

Look at what they did do.  See Acts 1:24, 

"They prayed...".

The group used their own earthly wisdom based on the two criteria, and knew the method they would use to choose but they knew, there was still the vital part of decision making -- praying for the Lord's direction; getting His input.

They said, 

"Lord, You know everyone's heart" (Acts 1:24 NIV).  

We only see the outward but God knows our hearts.  

"Show us which one..." they continued. 

 Only after their prayer did they dare to cast those lots.  Matthias was chosen (Acts 1:26).

Some may look down on Joseph Barsabbas Justus but he must have bowed out with dignity and acceptance of God's will.  This is nothing to sniff at nor condemn in him.

Yes, the human heart is deceptive all the time even in this man.  Nevertheless, his even being considered for the postition is telling enough that he was a respected, honorable man and spiritual brother.

I'd like to believe that yes, the Lord knowing his heart, had a better plan and purpose for him according to his particular gifting.  He would be more effective in another role and discipline.  We do not know as we are not told.  The main point is that he and the others accepted the Lord's leading with grace.  There were no quibbles or quarrels about it.

Recently, I watched a documentary of the Amish ways,* produced by a former Amish man and his family.  It showed how they "cast lots" to determine who should be in leadership.  It was vey similar to the Acts account idea of filling the place of service.

Now, I may have some of the precise details mixed up but it went someething like this.  Three men were proposed.  They each gave their Bible to the current leadership.  That person would not know whose Bible was whose.  They'd slip a piece of paper (I think that's what I saw) into one of the bibles.  Then bring them back out and set them on the table in front of the whole congregation.

The three men were seated in front before the table.  One of the leaders prayed.  One by one the Bibles were then picked up, by the leading leader and searched for that piece of paper.  If it was not found in that Bible, he moved on to the next and so on.  

The one in whose Bible the paper was found, graciously, even if stunned, accepted the ministry bestowed upon him.  The other two, just as graciously, bowed out.  The whole congregation accepted it too.  It was their way.

That there, right there is also amazing.  In the Amish case and also in this account in Acts among the early believers, the whole process was orderly.  The whole congregation was in attendance.  There was prayer.  The Lord indicated, according to their process.  The leadership directed.  The chosen candidate accepted.  The unchosen gracioulsy bowed out.  The whole congregation, in submission to what they believed was God's will, accepted.  There were no angry arguments.  Isn't that precious!?

Later on in Paul's epistles to both Timothy and Titus, we are given the criteria for those who "set their hearts" on the "noble tasks" of being an overseer or deacon.  Quite a long list among which is "faith in Christ" (1 Timothy 3:13 NIV).

I don't read anything about the prayer or process, choosing the particular brother for the particular post but it is quite likely Paul was assuming Timothy and Titus would know and would follow the similar Acts pattern.  I don't know, as we're are not told but it doesn't mean they did not follow that way.

Nowadays, it would be well to follow all these principles, criteria and process with all the congregation in attendance.  You may say, it's so ideal.  Yes, of course, when we follow God's word, things will be done decently and in order and there will be greater peace among God's people whose hearts He knows.

May our hearts be submissive to the Lord's leading when all is said, prayed and done, as did Joseph Barsabbas Justus and Matthias, and the 120 believers in that uppoer room.

                                                     ~ERC  August 2021~

Based on Acts 1:1-26 NIV

*Breaking the Silence is a series of video's documentary re the Amish ways.  Very informative and sensitively portrayed.   It may seem like it's in another language, but i assure you, it's mostly in English.

 

Haiku - He Keeps Me

 

This is a Haiku of sorts based on a picture my friend took of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada.  The silhouettes of eventide whisper.

The stillness of wa-

-ning day, sky still tinged; silho-

-uettes outline boat house.

Outline fishing boats,

Ocean lapping at their keels.

Gentle ripples perk.

Hearts stilled, calmed, spot gull,

roosting above.  Breathe in God's

compassion and love.

All is quiet, con-

template. Peace goes to the heart.

Tranquility.  God.

Jesus, Lord, Thank-You!

In my mind and soul, peace too.

Breath of God, keeps me.

                                                   ~ERC  3 August 2021~

Based on picture accompanying, above.