Such Great Love

Lamentations 3:22&23: Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

I marvel at the great love of the Creator of the universe! There are over 7 billion people on earth right now, but amazingly, we get to see His hand in our individual lives…His favor…His provision…His mercies.

His faithfulness is great.

A Shield & Refuge

I was so encouraged when this script popped us as the verse of the day. I’m praying it will be a blessing to you as well.

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

Psalm 18:30 AMP

Giving

Deuteronomy 16:17: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.

Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

 

Question #1: Would you trade the blessings of God for $27? If in one hand you were holding $27 and in the other, you were holding the blessings of God, and you could hold onto one but had to release the other - which hand would you keep open and which would you close?

Question #2 - If I handed you $370 but said that if you give me $37 back, you could have God’s blessings, would you give me the $37?

The answers to these simple questions seem like a “no-brainer”. However, when we face these types of scenarios in our lives, and on a more grand scale, it may not be so easy. There are all kinds of factors that shape our giving practices. Regarding this matter of tithing, what have your choices been? What will they be?

 

Philippians 4:19: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Loving Others

Yesterday I was at my old job. I worked at a church. I got to be in the presence of many who loved me…former co-workers and members of the congregation. I hadn’t seen many of them for a very long time and it was a rich experience. Loving. Mutual appreciation. Laughter. Hugs. Stories. It was wonderful.

When I was driving away, I was thanking the Lord for how loving that time was. It made me think about what the Word says about how we are to be in loving relationship with each other.

Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first. (Romans 12:10)

So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others. (John 13:34&35)

So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing. (1Thessalonians 5:11)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Shoulder each other’s burdens, and then you will live as the law of the Anointed teaches us. (Galatians 6:2)

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.


AMEN!!!!

Lead us Not...

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.. (Matthew 6:13) 

For me, this portion of this prayer which we call “The Lord’s Prayer” always was a little weird to me. I wondered how it would be possible for a benevolent God to actually lead us into temptation. Not that He couldn’t, I mean He is omnipotent. But because of His character and because of scripture that seems to contradict this, it was a mystery.

In studying it though, I learned the following from Matthew Henry. I know that in the past I have shared his commentary, but I felt led to revisit it. I pray you will be encouraged.

Regarding Matt 6:13:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. This petition is expressed, (1.) Negatively: Lead us not into temptation. Having prayed that the guilt of sin may be removed, we pray, as it is fit, that we may never return again to folly, that we may not be tempted to it. It is not as if God tempted any to sin; but, "Lord, do not let Satan loose upon us; chain up that roaring lion, for he is subtle and spiteful; Lord, do not leave us to ourselves (Ps. 19:13 ), for we are very weak; Lord, do not lay stumbling-blocks and snares before us, nor put us into circumstances that may be an occasion of falling.’’ Temptations are to be prayed against, both because of the discomfort and trouble of them, and because of the danger we are in of being overcome by them, and the guilt and grief that then follow. (2.) Positively: But deliver us from evil; apo tou ponerou —from the evil one, the devil, the tempter; "keep us, that either we may not be assaulted by him, or we may not be overcome by those assaults:’’ Or from the evil thing, sin, the worst of evils; an evil, an only evil; that evil thing which God hates, and which Satan tempts men to and destroys them by. "Lord, deliver us from the evil of the world, the corruption that is in the world through lust; from the evil of every condition in the world; from the evil of death; from the sting of death, which is sin: deliver us from ourselves, from our own evil hearts: deliver us from evil men, that they may not be a snare to us, nor we a prey to them.’’

Walking in the Light

What we are telling you now is the very message we heard from Him: God is pure light, undimmed by darkness of any kind.  If we say we have an intimate connection with the Father but we continue stumbling around in darkness, then we are lying because we do not live according to truth.  If we walk step by step in the light, where the Father is, then we are ultimately connected to each other through the sacrifice of Jesus His Son. His blood purifies us from all our sins. (1 John 1:5-7)

Our God is wholly righteous. He is the almighty God. The perfect One. Pure light.  The presence of the Father in our lives is evidenced by walking according to the truth. Walking in His light – not stumbling in darkness. And when we walk step by step in the light, we are connected to each of the Father’s children. We are identified as His children when we have accepted Christ as our Savior; allowing His blood to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Are you walking in the light?  If not but you are interested in that idea, I invite you to message me so we can talk about it.

Blessings to you.

Isaiah 61:10 I Will Greatly Rejoice!

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Welcome Singapore!!!!

I'm so glad you have found us here at Simply Christian!!!  It just amazes me when we are found by new readers...especially outside of the United States.
We post a biblical meditation six days per week and I invite you to bookmark this blog or subscribe so that you can receive the blogs daily. We are also on Facebook so I invite you to visit our page, comment, and follow us at Simply Christian. You can also see some teaching on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHsrga8Fssk
Know that I am praying for you daily. I pray for all of our readers on a daily basis.
SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE! YAY!!!

Blessings to you!

PRAYER NEEDED

We live in such a challenging time in history. Increased hatred…crime...disdain…war…disasters…drought…disease…broken families.  May I encourage you? PRAY! Talk with the Father and seek His wisdom. He will strengthen you and guide you. We need women and men of wisdom operating in this world. The world needs the loving God Almighty.

Pray.

Blessings to you.

The One Who Fights With Us and For Us

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! (Joshua 10:12-14)

This is an utterly amazing account of what the Lord allowed to happen among Joshua and the children of Israel – His beloved ones. Joshua was able to speak to elements of nature and the Lord caused them to obeyed his words! What?!?! And God was so present that He did not allow the sun to go down until the Israelites had victory. And then to top it off, this account in scripture points out that the Lord Himself was fighting on Israel’s behalf. In fact, in verse 11 of this chapter, we read: “As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.” AWESOME!!!!

Beloved one, know that in the midst of your trials, the Lord is not only with you but He is fighting on your behalf. Trust Him. Depend on Him. Have faith in Him.

For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  (Mark 11:22-24)

Building up One Another

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

As we walk through this challenging life - a life that Jesus assured us would be challenging (John 16:33), we must support one another. We must encourage one another. We must strengthen and build one another up. We must be intentional about being mindful of what is happening with our brothers and sisters and generously and lovingly doing all that we can do to be a support to them. These relationships are of immeasurable value and we get the privilege of standing for and with one another as we deepen in relationships. And for those of us who struggle with pride (Yeah, I’m one of those!), I encourage you to allow and enjoy this loving support from the people that the Father brings in to your life. We need one another and the Father has connected us as brothers and sisters through the blood of our Savior.

Let’s be diligent about building one another up.

Our Identity

Precious one. Please know that your heavenly Father has lovingly created you. He knows everything about you; knows you inside out. And He has great plans for you. Today, I want to encourage you to truly embrace the truth of who you are and to embrace the One who made you.

God said, let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26&27)

When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:3-9)

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Uncommon

In his book Quiet Strength, former football coach Tony Dungy shares how one of his former football coaches used to give the same speech to incoming Freshmen every year. Part of that speech was that “Success is uncommon and not to be enjoyed by the common man.” Dungy knew even at that early age that he had a better chance of becoming uncommon by his efforts than he did by natural ability. He uses Yao Ming’s height and Michael Jordan’s vertical jump as examples of God-given natural abilities. Basketball player Steve Kerr, on the other hand, shot five hundred free throws a day to make himself uncommon.

I love this concept of being uncommon not because of natural abilities, but because of uncommon effort to achieve a goal. Five hundred free throws!?!?  That’s uncommon effort.

Not every football player is inducted into the hall of fame. Not every heavyweight boxer is a champ. Not every figure skater becomes a world champion. Not every business owner enjoys the success of a Donald Trump or a Reginald Lewis. Why? I believe it is because where natural ability may be limited, sometimes we choose not to push past the natural and press for the uncommon. Get the education, get the training, get wise advisors…if you’re an athlete, train like your life depends on it!!! PUSH!

So today I just want to encourage you to push. Push for the uncommon and live a robust life with God.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Jesus, our example, got up early in the morning to spend time in fellowship with the Father. Should we not also do the same – spend intimate time with our Father? For sure we should!!!

El Shaddai - All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty

This name of God is found a handful of times in the Old Testament – specifically in the book of Genesis. This name depicts God as the all-sufficient and almighty One. And in this context, the name also denotes a tenderness from God. Tenderness likened to a mother who nourishes and loves her child. A mother who lovingly meets the needs of her child.

In this God of strength and power, there is no lack. He is well able to provide more than sufficiently for His children.  He is well able to protect and defend…to nurture and comfort. El Shaddai is the all-sufficient One, the almighty One, the One who loves us immeasurably.

Thank You Father!

Power Scriptures!!!! - crafted for personal declaration

We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that sets itself against my knowledge of the one true God. Together the Holy Spirit and I are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.

2 Corinthians 10:5

 

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

 

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - my faith.

1 John 5:4

 

The Lord said to me, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.”

Joshua 10:8

 

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has ben miraculously given to me by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited me to God.

2 Peter 1:3

 

But no matter what comes, I will always taste victory through Him who loves me.

Romans 8:37

I trust in God. When I do, honestly, I can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If I don’t doubt, but trust that what I say will take place, then it will happen. So whatever I pray for or ask from God, I must believe that I’ll receive it and I will.

Mark 11:22-24

 

I am cracked and chipped from my afflictions on all sides, but I am not crushed by them. I may be bewildered at times, but I do not give in to despair. I am persecuted, but I have not been abandoned by my precious Father. I have been knocked down, but I am never destroyed. I always carry around in my body the reality of the brutal death and suffering of my Savior. As a result, His resurrection life rises and reveals its wondrous power in my body as well!

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

 

For the Lord my God is the One who goes with me to fight for me against my enemies to give me victory.

Deuteronomy 20:4

 

I can be content in any and every situation through the Anointed One who is my power and strength.

Philippians 4:13

Delight Yourself in the Lord

Take great joy in the Eternal! His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires!
(Psalm 37:4)

Drawing Them Out

Proverbs 20:5 - Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

This scripture speaks to the wisdom of one who recognizes the wisdom within a man and seeks to draw it out. While men and women of wisdom may not also be persons who are overly verbose and liberal with their knowledge, we do well to seek conversation with and counsel from them. Men and women of understanding will do exactly that. Knowing that wisdom lays deeply within, the man of understanding will be diligent and relentless in pursuing that knowledge from others.

A Moment of Thanks and Praise

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:5-11)

These words of David are so precious and clearly heartfelt. The Lord is the One we need in our lives. He is our security, He is the one who makes plans for our lives and designates our blessings. The Lord speaks to our hearts even in the night – because of the time we spend in intimate relationship with the Lord, we hear His counsel even in the dark and quiet times. Because of these truths we can rejoice and rest assured that the Father is always with us…protecting us…providing for us…guiding our paths…and filling us with His joy.

Father, we thank You and praise You!

His Finished Product

Use all your skill to put me together; I wait to see your finished product. (Psalm 25:21)

We touched on this concept just a couple of days ago – God’s process with us. May our hearts truly seek to submit our lives completely to the Lord, living with the touch of His hand. And may we be excited to see all that He will do in and through us!

Conquering Loneliness

Regarding this matter of loneliness, Charles Stanley writes: “God desires that all people feel connected to Him and to each other…The first step is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Second, we must admit that we’re lonely. Some Christians incorrectly think they shouldn’t be susceptible to normal human feelings. But nothing in the Bible says we won’t endure emotional isolation. Finally, we should develop godly friends. These are the Christian brothers and sisters who will laugh, cry, and empathize with us. Above all, believers need friends who will continually point them to God and pray over them.”

I can’t agree enough with these three points…but especially about connecting with our Christian brothers and sisters. If you’ve read this page for a while, you’ve seen this theme emerge more than once. It is vitally important that those of us who are living for Christ, connect and support one another through transparent, intimate, and supportive friendships. This can be much tougher than Stanley’s first two points because it requires vulnerability. But I know that the Father will direct us toward those whom He desires for us to connect with in this way. All we need to do is ask.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  (James 1:5)

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (Colossians 3:12)

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Better Now Than Ever Before

But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]. My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept and not turned aside. I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:10-12)

Those that keep the way of the Lord may comfort themselves, when they are in affliction, with these three things: 1) That they are but tried. It is not intended for their hurt, but for their honour and benefit; it is the trial of their faith, 1 Peter 1:7.  2) That when they are sufficiently tried, they shall come forth out of the furnace, and not be left to consume in it as dross or reprobate silver. The trial will have an end. God will not contend for ever.  3) That they shall come forth as gold, pure in itself and precious to the refiner. They shall come forth as gold approved and improved, found to be good and made to be better. Afflictions are to us as we are; those that go gold into the furnace will come out no worse. - Matthew Henry

Our precious Father is with us in the midst of every trial. Be encouraged. Although we go through trials of “fire”, like gold, we come out refined and purified. And how precious it is that Henry points out that the Refiner (our Father) has already found us to be good (Ephesians 1:3-6), but in the trial, we are made to be better.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (John 16:33 AMP)

So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7 AMP)

Ezra 10:4

Welcome Italy!!!!

I'm so glad you have found us here at Simply Christian!!! We post a biblical meditation six days per week and I invite you to bookmark this blog or subscribe so that you can receive the blogs daily. We are also on Facebook so I invite you to visit our page, comment, and follow us at Simply Christian. You can also see some teaching on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHsrga8Fssk.
Know that I am praying for you daily. I pray for all of our readers on a daily basis.
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
Blessings to you!

God is Ever Present…and He Cares

At the end of Job’s trying time of the loss of his flocks, herds, labor, servants, and children, and the horrific attack on his body, the Lord restored all Job had lost. The Lord restored Job’s fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. He restored double the flocks and herds and gave him 10 more children and allowed him to live long enough to see his children and their children to the fourth generation! Amazing restoration. It is even speculated that Job was 70 at the onset of this time of trial and we see that the Lord allowed him to live to the age of 140. Another doubling of His blessing?!?!?
But right before the account of the restoration, we get to read an account of  the conversation the Lord and Job are having. The following verses are seen in the midst of God being very clear about who He is and how intimately involved He is in the lives of His creation: “Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.” (Job 41:10b&11)  Job’s “friends” were not men of wisdom. They were advising Job wrongly about the work of the Lord. The Lord rebuked them, saying to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7b) Although Job was struggling, he did not believe he was enduring punishment for sin or God’s abandonment. This is the same for us today.

Please hear me, we need to repent for sin – confess it, turn our backs on it, and never return to it. But I don’t want us to erroneously believe that every time difficulties come, we are hopeless and abandoned. Jesus assured us that in this world we will have troubles but that we can rejoice because the Savior of our souls has overcome this world! (John 16:33) Further, we know that the Lord knows us intimately (Psalm 139:1-18), loves us dearly (John 3:16, John 15:13), and has great plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). The trouble that the believer endures is not because the Lord has removed His covering from our lives, but because there is a purpose in the trouble. And the trouble that He allows (as he did in Job’s life) will be for our good and His glory…and quite possibly for the good of many others!

Be encouraged, our Father God is always with us…especially in the midst of the storm. No plan that any enemy has against us can override the wonderful plans God has for our lives.

Psalm 33:10&11 - The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Proverbs 16:4 - The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.

Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 21:30 - There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

Our Identity in Christ

A couple of days ago we looked at the loving behavior of the believer. Today I just want to briefly explore some of the other truths we see in God’s word about who we are as believers. Unlike other meditations we’ve gone through, today I invite you to look at and meditate on these scriptures on your own. An easy website to access for that purpose is https://www.biblegateway.com/

1. WE ARE CHOSEN & HOLY. See Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 1:15&16, 1 Peter 2:9

2. WE ARE DEARLY LOVED. See John 3:16, Colossians 3:12, 1 John 4:7, 1 Thessalonians 2:13

3. WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. See Ephesians 1:6

4.  WE ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. See 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:22

5. WE ARE UPRIGHT AND HONORED. See  Ecclesiastes 7:29, Proverbs 3:32-34, Psalm 37:36-38.

6. WE ARE GENTLE & PATIENT. See Galatians 5:22&23, Romans 2:7. Romans 5:4, Romans 15:5.

7. WE ARE FORGIVING & LOVING. See Ephesians 4:32

God is With Us

“What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning and test them every moment? Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? (Job 7:17-19)

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? (Psalm 8:4)

In the Job passage and in this Psalm of David, we see almost identical sentiments. However, they are written with very different background.

In Job 7, we see Job lamenting the tragedy of life and his current struggle. Job had just lost his children, flocks and herds, servants, property…and now his body was under the attack of the enemy and he suffered with “painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head”. At this point, Job was feeling as if God had removed His loving care and instead was trying him, was pushing him, was making a target of him – for some destruction. This severe affliction did not make sense to Job who saw himself as being in good standing with God.

Today we know that Job was, in fact, in good standing with God. God said that Job was blameless and upright and that he was a man of integrity who feared God and shunned evil. And it was God who allowed the enemy to try Job. God did not allow the enemy to have free reign but He allowed some room for trial.

Now, let’s move forward about 400 years to when David penned Psalm 8. Again, David almost quoted what we see in Job 7, but from a different perspective. David is marveling at the awesomeness of God’s creation – the heavens, His works, the moon, the stars. 

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us?     Why take a second look our way? (Psalm 8:3&4 MSG)

David is amazed to understand that the God of the universe, in His awesome power, and considering all that He’s ordained, would even be concerned with mankind. Would provide for mankind. Would care about us. Matthew Henry expresses it this way: "Lord, what is man (enosh, sinful, weak, miserable man, a creature so forgetful of thee and his duty to thee) that thou art thus mindful of him, that thou takest cognizance of him and of his actions and affairs, that in the making of the world thou hadst a respect to him! What is the son of man, that thou visitest him, that thou not only feedest him and clothest him, protectest him and providest for him, in common with other creatures, but visited him as one friend visits another, art pleased to converse with him and concern thyself for him! What is man—(so mean a creature), that he should be thus honoured—(so sinful a creature), that he should be thus countenanced and favoured!’’

Yes! Both Job and David were right. God does concern Himself with our daily affairs. He is involved in the life of the believer in an intimate way. However, He is not pursuing our destruction or making a game of hurting and torturing us.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

The circumstances that God allows in our lives may not always be what we consider to be pleasant but we are assured from His word that they are profitable for us.

In the midst of it all, we know that our loving God is with us. 

Odd…but Appropriate Empathy

Repeatedly in scripture, we see Paul’s consistent persecution by the Jews who opposed him (actually they were opposing God’s work). Everywhere he went it seemed that some group of opponents would whoop up a crowd to oppose the disciples, seize them, accuse them of false things before leaders, or just try to kill them without any type of legal process!

It hit me today as I was reading Acts 22, that Paul would have understood very well the enthusiasm some of these haters had. Some of them hated what the disciples were teaching because they truly believed it was blasphemous.

At the beginning of this chapter, we see Paul’s ability to relate to the enthusiasm of his haters. He is addressing them from jail, having just been seized by yet another angry mob who tried to kill him but were interrupted in their efforts and then made false accusations before law keepers. When Paul was jailed, he asked that he may address the angry crowd outside, was granted permission to do so – and this is how that address began:

“Brothers and fathers, listen to me as I offer my defense.” (When they heard him speaking in Hebrew, the silence was even greater.)  “I am a Jew,” he said, “born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, at whose feet I learned to follow our Jewish laws and customs very carefully. I became very anxious to honor God in everything I did, just as you have tried to do today. And I persecuted the Christians, hounding them to death, binding and delivering both men and women to prison.  The High Priest or any member of the Council can testify that this is so. For I asked them for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, with instructions to let me bring any Christians I found to Jerusalem in chains to be punished.” (Acts 22:1-5)

Paul goes on to tell them about his Damascus Road experience with Christ. But when Paul says that God instructed him to go to the Gentiles to teach them the truth, the crowd went crazy! They were unhappy about this and demanded that he be killed. The commander in charge brought Paul back inside and intended to whip him in order to get him to confess his crime, but he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen and relented. Craziness!

But the beauty in the beginning of Paul’s address is that he says, “I became very anxious to honor God in everything I did, just as you have tried to do today.” Wow! Once again he had an angry mob trying to kill him and he is able to say he was just like them…he understands. Beautiful words of empathy towards those who hated him and wanted to see him dead. A great example to us of loving our enemies. And Paul even went as far to as to identify himself with them! Beautiful.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45)

Opportunity and Anguish

For to you has been given the privilege not only of trusting him but also of suffering for him. (Philippians 1:29 TLB)

Suffering for the sake of righteousness.  It is a privilege. As we walk in relationship with Christ, we can expect opposition…even persecution and suffering. But Paul, in this letter, gives the Philippian believers a fresh perspective on this matter of suffering. Along with the privilege of trusting in our precious Savior, we have the privilege of joining Him in suffering.

It is a privilege to be able to trust in Christ because only those who are in intimate relationship with Christ can do that. You cannot trust in someone whom you are not in relationship with. And in this case, we get to trust in the Savior who loves us extravagantly.

As for suffering with Him, it is a privilege to be identified with Christ – to serve Him and to partner with His purposes on earth. And with this association with Christ, inevitably suffering will come. Christ is hated and those who love Him will be hated as well.

His [Gamaliel’s] speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:40&41)

Here is a trustworthy saying: if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. (2 Timothy 2: 10-12a)

There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. (Philippians 1:29 MSG)

Do you consider the suffering that you endure because of your righteousness to be a gift?  Be encouraged, Jesus says this… “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11&12)

Amen!

Your Wealth

Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; so shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9&10 AMP)

It is a very familiar command to those of us who have been in the Church for many years - honor the Lord with our wealth, with the first fruits of our crops. This scripture passage is often recited in the context of giving/tithing/offerings. It is a great command of God for His people to be givers -  not grudging givers, but cheerful givers. Further, we are to give first and foremost to God. To honor Him with our sufficiency - those essentials which the Lord has given to us. We won’t go in to the more in-depth teachings about giving practices here.

But I’d like to look at the beauty of the promise that is attached to God’s command to honor him with our possessions. Our storage places will be filled with plenty. Some translations say that our barns will be filled. That’s huge! When we are in trusting, faithful relationship with God, He will supply all of our needs according to His riches, which are endless in Christ Jesus. He’s got us covered. I like what Matthew Henry says about this promise:

“A promise which makes it our interest to serve God with our estates. It is the way to make a little much, and much more; it is the surest and safest method of thriving.” - Matthew Henry

Amen! And as we honor Him, we partner with His purposes to draw others to Himself, to meet needs, and to bring us into loving fellowship with one another.

May we each strive to honor our Lord with all that we have. 

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I'm so glad you have found us here at Simply Christian. We post a biblical meditation six days per week and I invite you to bookmark this blog or subscribe so that you can receive the blogs daily. We are also on Facebook so I invite you to visit our page, comment, and follow us at Simply Christian. You can also see some teaching on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHsrga8Fssk.
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Love Confessions

We read in Deuteronomy 6 that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength. Jesus, later will quote these words saying that this is the first and greatest commandment given. He will go further on to say, “And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We see that command in Leviticus 19.

Today, I want us just to focus on these commands to love God and our neighbor. And as we do so, I encourage you to join me in embracing the following words from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and speaking them over yourself. The truth is that God’s love is a gift given to us and we can give that love to others as we submit ourselves to the precious Holy Spirit living within us and empowering us to be all that God has designed us to be.

As we live by the power of the Spirit...

We are patient,

We are kind,

We do not envy,

We are not boastful,

We are not proud (displaying ourselves haughtily),

We do not dishonor others,

We are not self-seeking,

We are not easily angered,

We keep no record of wrongs,

We do not rejoice at injustice,

We rejoice with the truth,

We always protect,

We are always ready to believe the best of others,

We have a hope that never fades (even when circumstances are tough),

And we always persevere.

The love of our God never fails. 

Walking Well

As we live in relationship with one another, it is imperative that the mature Christian is aware of him/herself just as much as they are aware of those they are in relationship with. There is a risk, as we grow in knowledge of the Lord, that we may lose some of the humility we started with - not realizing that although we are growing in Him, we must hold to the same humility that Christ modeled. The apostle Paul said this, “We all possess knowledge. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1b&2)

So we must move forward with an awareness of those around us and interact in love. Paul, in this passage, gives the example of the eating and drinking practices of these believers in that time. He encouraged mature believers to be mindful that although they may have an understanding of where the Lord stood on the eating and drinking practices, not all believers yet did. And their understanding, in some instances, contradicted the cultural customs. So while they were free to eat and drink as the Lord permitted, Paul admonished them: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” He did not want the freedoms of these believers to be destructive to the walk of others.

In the same way, we who are believers need to be mindful of how our walk impacts those we interact with - from family and friends to the guy at the checkout counter. Believers, non-believers, strangers, or those we are in close relationship with - all need to see the Spirit of the precious Savior reflected in us.

Further on in Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul said, “I have the right to do anything,” you say - but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” - but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23&24)

Let’s do well - building others up with Christ’s love. 

Just a Quote I Like :-)

Saw this the other day on Instagram and thought I’d share it with you. 

"This morning, LET GO of everything you didn’t do right, the negative things people have said, and focus on all you’re becoming."

Social Justice

Matthew Robinson, PhD shares that social justice is “promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity”. Further, we see descriptions as “justice in terms of distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society” and “The fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion, etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice”. This last definition sounds very similar to our understanding of civil rights.

In line with the definition Robinson offered, I’d like to challenge those of us who are followers of Christ to promote a just society, not only in our local areas but abroad, by taking part in challenging injustices that are perpetrated against those who are being preyed upon. 

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this; to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. (James 1:27AMP)

Brother James gives a solid word to us in this passage. The socially powerless are to be cared for, loved, and nurtured by believers. In James’ time, orphans and widows had no direct means of support or any legal defenders so these specific members of society were addressed. Moving forward into the 21st century, we still see that opportunities to care for others absolutely abound in our world. It may look a little different than in James’ day but we cannot ignore the encouragement given here as it relates to those in today’s world who are symbolically equivalent to these named.

I encourage all believers to ask the Lord where He desires for you to involve yourself for the good of others and for His glory. God loves every one of His created beings. And His desire for all of us is good. How can you partner with God and your brothers and sisters in the faith to bring the good news of Christ to others and come alongside those who need support, equipping, rescue, and other practical resources?

“The call to the work of justice is therefore not God sending His church out to a place where God cannot be found. Rather, God is inviting us to a place where He is already at work. It is here, among the world’s most vulnerable, that the Good News of God turns out to be very good indeed. In the work of injustice, God is beckoning us to experience His profound love for us and for the vulnerable of this world. The call to fight against injustice is therefore the call to intimacy with God and to deep discipleship.” - Jim Martin, author of The Just Church

When Things Are...Weird

Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. (Acts 28:3-6)

When things happen that seem “weird” we can be quick to default to non-godly assumptions based on what we’ve seen, forgetting that we are to live this life by faith; not by sight. God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts - they are higher than ours. With our limited minds, we are unable to fully understand, to see, to anticipate, or predict what God is doing and how He will move or is moving. So our interpretations of what we see can be severely off. We would do well to pray and consider how the Father may be moving in a particular situation – being open to hearing Him. And ultimately, we must trust and believe in Him - no one and nothing else.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. So don’t throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. (Hebrews 10:23&35)

The God Who Made Everything in the World…The Creator….Our Source of Life

He made the world and everything in it, and since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples; and human hands can’t minister to his needs—for he has no needs! He himself gives life and breath to everything, and satisfies every need there is.  He created all the people of the world from one man, Adam, and scattered the nations across the face of the earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and when. He determined their boundaries. His purpose in all of this is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.  For in him we live and move and are! As one of your own poets says it, ‘We are the sons of God.’ (Acts 17:24-28)

We find ourselves in the book of Acts again today. I was brought to tears revisiting how Paul described to the Athenians the “unknown God” they had set up an altar to worship. The Athenians had many gods they were worshipping but acknowledged there was one they didn’t know. Paul seized the opportunity to share the true God with them and many believed. Absolutely beautiful. 

Words of Wisdom - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

***This concludes our words of wisdom series. See you tomorrow!!!!

Words of Wisdom - St. Teresa of Avila

“Believe me…in the presence of Infinite Wisdom, one act of humility is worth more than all the knowledge of the world.”

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I'm so glad you have found us at Simply Christian. (Now that I have access to a working computer again) we post a biblical meditation six days per week and I invite you to bookmark this blog or subscribe so that you can receive the blogs daily. We are also on Facebook and I invite you to visit our page, comment, and follow us at Simply Christian. Know that I am praying for you daily. I pray for all of our readers on a daily basis.
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Blessings to you!

Words of Wisdom - Mahatma Gandhi

“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.”

I'm back and I've missed you!

I've missed you all! My computer took a dive. Hoping I can keep using this borrowed one...
:-)

Words of Wisdom - Helen Keller

"Defeat is simply a signal to press onward.”

Words of Wisdom - Abraham Lincoln

“All through life, be sure and put your feet in the right place, and then stand firm.”

 

Welcome Spain!!!!

To our readers in Spain, we say WELCOME!!!!!
I'm so glad you have found us at Simply Christian. We post a biblical meditation six days per week and I invite you to bookmark this blog or subscribe so that you can receive the blogs daily. We are also on Facebook and I invite you to visit our page and follow us at Simply Christian. Know that I am praying for you daily. I pray for all of our readers on a daily basis.
SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
Blessings to you.

Words of Wisdom Series

This week we’ll look at some powerful words from historical men and women of influence and wisdom.

Let’s start with Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.”

Phenomenal Resilience

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. (Acts 14:19&20)

He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace. But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” (Acts 16: 34-37)

In the first scenario we are examining, Paul and Barnabas were teaching the truth in Lystra and miracles happened. Those who saw the miracles wanted to worship and offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas told them not to do so – that they were only men and to worship God -  but they still wanted to. We pick up the story here when others came from surrounding areas and were opposed to the work of Paul and Barnabas. They were familiar with the followers of Christ in Antioch and Iconium. And some were opposed to the work that God was doing through them.

So these visitors to Lystra whooped up a hostile crowd and they stoned Paul, and thinking he was dead, they dragged his body out of town. How hostile and uncivilized is that?!?!

But God either did not allow Paul to die or breathed life back into him and Paul went back into the city and stayed another day! That’s pretty gangster if you ask me. Gangster, of course, meaning Paul was hardcore and about his business – the business of Christ. (not that he was at all criminal)

In this second scenario, Paul & Silas had been beaten and placed in jail because they had cast a demon out of a young woman. The woman had a spirit by which she predicted the future and she was a slave. When Paul casted out this demon, her owners were livid because Paul had ruined their money-making scheme. So, as we see over and over again in scripture, they (the enemies of God) started a ruckus, whopped up the crowd, seized Paul and Silas, and brought them before the law keepers of that time – saying “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice”. These magistrates are the ones who had Paul and Silas flogged and then thrown into jail.

That night, while Paul and Silas were in jail, they were praying and singing. The scriptures tell us that all in the jail were listening. And at midnight, the Lord caused an earthquake and released all of the prisoner’s restraints. When the jailer in charged realized all the prisoners had been unrestrained, he assumed they’d escaped and he was getting ready to kill himself. Paul told him not to do that, that they were all there. In response, the jailer wanted to know about this God they were serving and how he may be changed. They began to share the truth with the jailer. This is where we pick up. The jailer took them to his home and all of his family was saved!

In verse 35, we pick the story up in the next morning as see that Paul and Silas were back in jail and the jailer had returned to his post. Amazing! Again, we see that Paul (and Silas, in this instance) was not deterred by the persecution of the enemy. They returned to prison! And they continued to speak according to the Spirit’s move in their lives.

Paul and Silas did not shy away from the persecution of the enemy. They were all about glorifying God and loving the people He created – regardless of how they were mistreated.

Are we like that? Serving God and loving others without regard for how we are being hurt? That’s a tall order but we can do it.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3&4)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles [non-believers] do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

SUIT UP! Prayer & Fellowship

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

Paul concludes this particular section of admonition to the Ephesian believers by telling them to pray. Pray all the time, in the Spirit, and for others. He even asks in verse 19 for them to pray for him so that he may be strong and courageous and know what to say and how to say what he is called to.

Prayer is a critical part of our spiritual defense. By prayer, we are able to talk with the Father, He is able to talk with us, we are strengthened, we are able to work through the matters concerning our lives, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and transparent with God (and others!) through prayer, we are able to see what is in our own hearts.  Our prayers are part of fortifying ourselves for the battle we are engaged in.

Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). (Luke 8:1 AMP)

Further, we looked at two scriptures regarding fellowship at the beginning of the week:

Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

In fellowship with one another, we can be strong for one another and we can help each other to grow in our walk with God. And since the concept of fellowship is alluded to in this passage, I believe it is worth a quick moment of focus.

We see the perfect example of fellowship with the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Then we see Jesus on earth with 12 close relationships but even closer to Peter, John, and James – His “roll dogs” if you will allow me to use a bit of slang. Beyond that we see Jesus sending the disciples out with one another; not alone. Once Jesus had returned to heaven, we see the Holy Spirit given to every believer, to live in daily fellowship. And finally, we see the ministers of the gospel living in and teaching believers to be in fellowship with one another.

So I encourage you today to pray, be in fellowship with other strong believers, and to SUIT UP!

SUIT UP! Combat Helmet & Sword

And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

Regarding our helmet, Matthew Henry says: The helmet secures the head. A good hope of salvation, well founded and well built, will both purify the soul and keep it from being defiled by Satan, and it will comfort the soul and keep it from being troubled and tormented by Satan. He would tempt us to despair; but good hope keeps us trusting in God, and rejoicing in him.

Amen!

The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is the only offensive weapon named in this passage. The rest of our gear is defensive – a way of defending ourselves against the tactics of the enemy. The Word, however, is an offensive piece of weaponry. By the Word we are able to cut down what the enemy is attempting to resurrect in our lives. You will remember that in Luke 4 we see Satan coming to Jesus to tempt Him. He was tempting Him for the 40 days that Jesus was in the wilderness, and once He completed this time of fasting, the devil made one last unsuccessful attempt at temptation because Jesus was hungry and would have been vulnerable. But Jesus’ response to the enemy was to speak the Word of God to him. And we see the conclusion of this time in verse 13, which reads: And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time. 

Let me encourage you: brandish that sword!

SUIT UP!