Salt & Light Blog

Questioning Romans 8:28: What Good Comes out of Pain?

8/17/2017

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

If you are a Christian or have Christian friends then I do not doubt that at some point, some person attempted to comfort or encourage you with Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
When I was younger, I had no idea what that verse meant. I imagine there are many new Christians or less spiritually mature, or those who do not have the chance to read the Bible on their own who are in the same boat I was in. What does it mean? Out of context, the verse gave me a picture of a genie, using the ill-fortune of one man for the benefit of another. I did not find comfort in that. So today, as I begin a series attempting to answer the tough questions, I’ll try to answer this one, “What is the good in Romans 8:28.”
First then, let’s put the verse back into context. Romans 8:24-30 reads,
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What is the hope for which we were saved? It is our future glory, our redemption with Christ becoming fully His when it is revealed that we are the sons of God (Romans 8:18-23). To put it more plainly, one day, Jesus will return to gather the saved to Himself. All the dead Christians will resurrect and those still living will join them as they are raised up in the air to meet Jesus. In an instant, every one of us will be transformed, we will be made perfect and as the old earth is destroyed a new earth will replace it. That new earth will have a city called New Jerusalem and there, we will live as one with Jesus and one another (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 21,) Revelation 21:3-4 reads,
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

That hope is not only for the future, it sustains us now and it begins now here on this earth. We are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ and that is the good that all things work toward. The more we are like Jesus, the more God is glorified. Let me interrupt myself a moment to explain what glorifying God is. It is a special sort of praise and honor to God, one in which the world can see a glimpse of the God we know and love, the God who knows and loves all of us. It means we reflect God, we look and act like Jesus because the Holy Spirit indwells us and is day by day transforming us to be more and more like Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 in the Message explains glory this way,
7-8 The Government of Death, its constitution chiseled on stone tablets, had a dazzling inaugural. Moses’ face as he delivered the tablets was so bright that day (even though it would fade soon enough) that the people of Israel could no more look right at him than stare into the sun. How much more dazzling, then, the Government of Living Spirit?
9-11 If the Government of Condemnation was impressive, how about this Government of Affirmation? Bright as that old government was, it would look downright dull alongside this new one. If that makeshift arrangement impressed us, how much more this brightly shining government installed for eternity?
12-15 With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back. Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us. He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn’t notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn’t notice. They didn’t notice it then and they don’t notice it now, don’t notice that there’s nothing left behind that veil. Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can’t see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there’s nothing there.
16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

He does not save you and then leave you as you were, He saves you and changes you. He works hard in you and we cooperate with Him in that work. Philippians 2:9-13 describes it like this,
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

If all things work together for our good, then how can the very worst circumstances possibly be for our good? Consider this, when is it that a person is more likely to turn to God in desperate need? Is it when she has a full belly, big bank account, perfect health, and plenty of friends? Or is it when she is suffering? Our suffering can work for our good, if we allow it to do so. James wrote,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:2-8).
Paul wrote to the Romans something very similar,
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5).
As we mature, it is not only the bad situations that should bring glory to God through our transformation but all conditions. In Philippians 4:11-13 Paul puts it this way,
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Whatever this broken world brings our way, be it good or bad, The Holy Spirit can use it for our good, our transformation and His glory. Let me leave you with this reminder from 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, this time in the English Standard Version
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

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The Eye is the Lamp of the Body

11/30/2015

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The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:22-23

Matthew 6:22-23 reads,
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this, but I have never really considered its meaning. Today I want to consider what it means. So, for the first step after prayer for finding out what it means is looking at its context. Matthew 6:19-24 says,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money”
Now this context tells us then about what the eye looks, desires, and takes in. If our eye, or our vision is concerned with being as rich as Joe Greengrass or as famous as Jane Itgirl, then that is where our heart is going to be, that is what we will pursue. But if our vision is set on the Kingdom of Heaven, if our eyes are on Jesus then that is where our treasure is, then we will pursue Christ. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t pursue worldly riches and heavenly riches at the same time. But Jesus promised us that if we pursue heavenly riches in the Kingdom of God, all our needs would be taken care of. (Matthew 6:33). We do not have to serve money, our faith reminds us that God is our All Sufficient God.
The eye shows the world what it is we seek. What we care about, pursue, and desire reveals our heart, soul, and mind, which is lived out by our strength or actions. If we are genuinely seeking Christ’s glory and not our own, our eye, the lamp of the body reveals that we are full of light, the light of Jesus Christ, the Truth, and our Righteousness. Earlier in Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus talked about the right way to pray, to do good deeds, and fast. Matthew 6:1 is the thesis statement of these verses.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
Verse 4 says this about doing good deeds,
“so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Verse 6 says this about praying,
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Verse 18 tells us about fasting,
“that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
When we try and glorify ourselves, our eye is obscured with the desire for our own fame, popularity, and flesh. We make look good on the outside but only darkness will fill us up. When we pursue Christ and His righteousness, we don’t need to prove our goodness to the world, our eye shines, and we are filled with God’s glory. Our eye reveals our heart, it reveals Jesus.
People are watching us, they can tell if we sincere. They can tell if we are of the world or of something they do not understand. We can’t worry about making ourselves look good to them and at the same time walk righteously as Jesus told us to do. We are members of a long family line beginning with Abraham. Children of faith whose lives of faith glorified God and birthed us and each and every other believer. (Hebrews 11). What if Abraham had not believed God? What if Jacob had not obeyed God? What if Joseph had not kept His eye on The Lord? Their lives are testaments of faith and ours should also be. Our lives are testaments to something. Our focus tells the world who we are, the Light of the world or darkness indistinguishable from the world. The author of Hebrews says it this way in Hebrews 12:1-2,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Our eye is set on The Kingdom of Heaven and our eye is fixed on Jesus. Jesus entire focus was our salvation, our reconciliation to a relationship with God. His eye was fixed on our salvation so much that He considered it a joy to give up His perfect life for us. Our holy righteous Lord considered it a joy to become sin and suffer horrifically all so we could know Him.
The world cannot see Jesus, except through us. God surrounds them, Creation speaks to the truth, but they do not recognize Jesus. (Romans 1:19-23). We are the ones to shine, to glorify Christ and so show them The Way. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
They will see your sincere Christ glorifying good works, not because you do them as an announcement of your goodness, but because as you do them in secret, God will reward them and the result of Christ’s goodness in you will bring people to Him.
Our eye, or our focus and our purpose is the lamp of the body. The only way that lamp is going to be lit so that it fills us with light is if it the lamp and light of Truth. We have to know what the focus is in order to maintain that focus. Psalm 119:105-108 reads,
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.”
Believer, fix your eye on Jesus. Be the Light of the world. Protect your eye. Do not focus on Joe Greengrass, focus on The Kingdom of Heaven. Do not let the darkness obscure the Light. Glorify Jesus, you may be the only way a person will ever see Him.

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Glory to Glory

10/19/2015

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From Glory to Glory….

What exactly does this mean to us as we follow Christ?

Is this a group of words that you have heard a few times and passed it off as something you will understand later? Or is it something that has even come off in a way as Christianese that someone made up? Have you heard it overused and/or abused? Or possibly underused to the point you barely recognize the words??
Is it even possible for us to comprehend what His Glory is to begin with…? What does it mean to you?
The word for Glory in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word   כָּבֹוד "kabowd" which carries the idea of heaviness and weight. In the New Testament the Greek word is δόξα "doxa" which carries the idea of opinion, judgment, estimate, splendor, and brightness It is used to speak of great honor, praise, value, wonder, and splendor.
Who is Glory in reference to? It’s spoken of in reference to people such as in Proverbs 16:31 which says,
Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained in a righteous life.
And toward God in such as in Psalm 3:3
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Who is Glory given by? Glory is given by God Psalm 84:11 reads,
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
Glory is also a manifestation of God's greatness and presence that is awesome to behold Exodus 40:34 reads,
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
The phrase “Glory of the Lord” occurs 38 times in the NASB, 36 in the KJV. The phrase is used to describe the manifestation of God's greatness (Exodus 16:10) and is seen as a consuming fire (Exodus 24:17), a cloud (1 Kings 8:10-11), radiance (Ezekiel 1:26-28and brightness (Ezekiel 10:4). It fills the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) and can be seen (Numbers 16:42) and can bring fear (Luke 2:9). Ezekiel 1:26-28 describes the Glory of the Lord this way,
“And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”
So if this Glory of the Lord can BE so many things and DO so many things, how is it possible for us to behold such an idea, an incomprehensible presence? And yet he wants us to desire it and to crave it. He actually willingly offers us to be in this Glory if we have turned to His son Christ Jesus and accepted His death for the salvation of our sins. Until then, a veil lies over our hearts and we are not able to receive this Glory, or the freedom that comes with it. Let’s see what 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 says.
“But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Let me share my testimony with you. I recently went to the God Encounter in Boston. I didn’t know if I should go. I finally chose to because I wasn’t feeling a definite NO from God. I went partially in support of and the others who were attending, not that they needed me, but also for a filling from God and to receive from Him something new and deep. So I went, and Friday night right after arriving, he showed me right away as I began to read the prophecy that was written for me by a total stranger, yet again how deeply He knows me and reminds me who I am, and what I need. We all had a different and meaningfully appropriate letters as the Lord led those who wrote them. Mine was addressed “My Companion”, As I read on he showed me what I needed to pray for regarding my expectations for the retreat. He showed me as I prayed with the first person, there are many times we pray there, that I had been stifling His Spirit from flowing out. I needed that to stop and be released from that. As we prayed he showed my prayer warrior some words that matched my Spirit. Then He gave me something huge, yet so basic. I heard the words “You Are Sealed”. I began to weep because apparently I still walked in a type of doubt. What it had been causing me to do is compare my Spirit with the Spirit of others. He said, “You’re past comparing yourself in the physical and fleshly realm, delivered.” Praise God. But now I’ve been saying my Spirit is not as good as theirs (ultimately) by referring people to others and lifting up others who have obvious strong giftings. SO….I continue in knowing I’m sealed in Him forever, knowing he has begun to overflow me because I was already full with the Spirit. At the very last session on Sunday morning, I was praying with the same Blessing of a woman, and as I began to pray she had me praying out loud as she listened. She began to fall over as she listened to me and giggled a little, but I plowed forward in my prayer seeking for God to know my heart. When I was done, she laughed and said, “I apologize for giggling but you have to know I almost fell over due to the fullness and overflowing of your Spirit while you prayed.” Now, did I feel that? No. But I knew God’s presence was with me. So He was giving me more confirmation as far as the fullness. She then prayed for me with her hands on my head, my arms instantly hung heavy and somewhat numb, my hands feeling sort of strong and hard. My head felt strange but good. Afterwards I felt light and with an overflow of peace. So all that to say, as we left there, and flew home, I was able to see why God led me there, even I didn’t “need” to go for a deep radical change. It was to bring me into the knowledge of going from “glory to glory”. As I asked the Lord what that experience was all about, I just kept hearing “from glory to glory” Glynda. “This is what it’s all about. Now go and do as I ask. Don’t miss Me, and come higher, keep coming higher. Don’t’ worry when this “feeling” goes away, you are still safe, and you are still SEALED. And your Spirit is still full and fully intact. But keep seeking me more ALWAYS.” By Wednesday, I knew my head had come out of the God cloud. I didn’t get upset or wish it hadn’t. I just had to remember his words. “Don’t lose me...come back up..don’t miss me...You’re fine...”
You may not “see” the Glory of the Lord being in you, but He does, and He knows it is there.
Do you believe that the Lord’s Glory resides in you? If not, why not?
And if you do, and you know that to believe and to walk in this Glory is what we SHOULD be doing, have you experienced a time in your life when you felt God bring you from one degree of glory to another? Usually after a time of turning TO him for the first time, turning to Him again after a time period of possibly neglecting to recognize Him in your life? Are doing anything that you are aware of to stunt or stifle the transforming growth that He so desires for you?
Or maybe you are seeking Him wholeheartedly, daily, and know His glorious presence well...either way, as it says we are constantly being transformed into the same image from one degree to another...or from “glory to glory”, which comes from the Spirit.

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Psalm 72 Glorify Jesus the Righteous King

8/1/2015

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Psalm 72

This psalm of Solomon is a prayer to The Lord as Solomon became king in his father’s place. But his prayer holds more meaning than a simple prayer for himself. As believers we can take this prayer to encourage ourselves as well. And it is messianic prophecy as Solomon describes the ideal king, Jesus. Verses 1-7 describe the Righteous King.

“Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the children of the needy,
    and crush the oppressor!

5 May they fear you while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth!
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
    and peace abound, till the moon be no more!”

True righteousness comes only from God. Jesus lived, died, and resurrected to give us His righteousness. The Holy Spirit works in us to make us more like Jesus and so more righteous every day. And The Father calls us to be holy as He is holy.

Jesus is the ultimate Judge and He is our justice. He makes us righteous so that we can be reconciled to God, know Him, and have a relationship with Him. Jesus cares deeply about the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the prisoners. He has compassion for all the needy. And He avenges us against the enemy who oppresses the people. We may not prosper financially or in any way that the world would notice but we prosper spiritually and we prosper in the Kingdom of God.

One day the children of God, the faithful followers of Jesus Christ will be forever with Him in the mansions of Mount Zion instead of the tents of this world. There will be no sun to light the day nor moon to light the night. The Glory of God, Jesus Himself will be our light. (Revelation 21:22-24).

We are royalty as well. We are righteous kings and queens in Jesus. He has given us His name in adoption. We walk with His authority and that means we walk with His love and mercy. If we are to be like the King of kings then we walk with compassion and justice for the oppressed, the poor, the needy, the widow, and the orphan. We love them as Jesus loves them. We want the lost to know peace with God. We want the tyrannized to know freedom. We want the persecuted to know justice. Jesus is our Peace, Freedom, and Justice.

Solomon wanted to be a good king. He wanted to rule well. We too want to be the best royal priests we can be. When the Lord asked Solomon what he desired most in order to be a righteous king, Solomon asked for wisdom. God granted him that as well as wealth, long life, and military victory. (1 Kings 3, 1 Kings 4:29-34). He gives us wisdom as well when we ask. He is happy to grant us the gifts that will make our walk that much more glorifying, loving, and effective. James 1:5 reads,

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

And 1 Corinthians 12:

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.”

Love is that more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 13). We are to love as Jesus loves us. We do that by being the royal children of God that we are called to be. We manifest the traits of Jesus described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love, patience, kindness, humility, justice, joy in righteousness, faith, and steadfastness, the fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus is Judge and King over all the earth. There is nothing He does not have sovereign authority over. Verses 8-11 read,

“May he have dominion from sea to sea,
    and from the Rive] to the ends of the earth!
9 May desert tribes bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations serve him!”

Every person on earth whether they acknowledge Jesus as Lord or not must submit to His rule. One day every knee will bow to Him. One day every person will acknowledge that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of all. Philippians 2:8-10 reads,

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Even nature must obey Jesus. He created the world and the world concedes to His authority. Jesus spoke and storms stopped and seas calmed. (Mark 4:35-41).The Lord spoke and trees grew and trees died. (Jonah 4:5-11, Mark 11:12-25). He even gave us the authority to command nature as His royal and righteous ambassadors. Mark 11:22-25 reads,

“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

We are not arrogant in our royalty. We like Jesus are humble. We don’t boast or take pride in great works, because they are not ours, they are Jesus’ works. We know that we are completely in need of God. We can’t even breathe without Him. We can’t have faith without Him. (Isaiah 42:5). The Lord has mercy on those who need it and ask for it. The Lord died for sinners, not for righteous men. A king has no kingdom if people do not submit to his authority. So we submit to Jesus, our Righteous King. He frees the prisoners, provides for the needy, and feeds the hungry. Verses 12-15 describe Him.

“For he delivers the needy when he calls,
    the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
    and precious is their blood in his sight.”

These verses describe Jesus. Do they describe us? They should. As His followers we should have His compassion, mercy, and longing for justice. We should act in Jesus’ love for people. His love wasn’t lip service it was action. He brought people to salvation. He healed, He spent time, He taught, and He served. He is our King, we should exemplify Him.

Do we long for His name to be known throughout the earth? Do we cry out “Long live the King!” Are we making disciples of every nation? Verses 15-19 read,

“Long may he live;
    may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
    and blessings invoked for him all the day!
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land;
    on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
    may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
    like the grass of the field!
17 May his name endure forever,
    his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
    all nations call him blessed!

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

Believer, you and I are the glory of God! You and I are the ones to make Jesus’ name famous. Our ancestors have passed away and passed the job onto us. David worshipped God. He brought light to Israel. When David died the torch was passed to Solomon. We carry that torch now. Let us light the world on fire for Jesus. Verse 20 says,

“The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.”

David could no longer be the king. That job fell to Solomon. Now it is we who must take on the responsibility and glorify The Lord.

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Psalm 57 Let God’s Glory Fill the Earth

7/17/2015

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Photo Credit: Denise Hogan Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Psalm 57:5

Psalm 57

What is glory? What does glorified mean? To glorify God is to honor Him through our sanctification, our transformation to become perfect in His image. Imagine that glory is a mirror we hold up. We glorify God by reflecting His image to the world and back to Him. It is a pleasing worship for us to praise Him through our lives as we respond with godliness, with the fruit of the Spirit. To glorify God is to act with Love because God is Love. (1 John 4:8). It is to speak and act with Truth because Jesus is the Truth. (John 14:6). It is to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, because that is the nature of The Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).

How is The Lord glorified? Is He glorified when we suffer and moan? Or is it when we suffer and sing His Praises that He is glorified? Is He glorified when our enemies hate us and we curse them? Or is He glorified when our enemies try and trample us and we bless them and pray for them?

In this Miktam titled Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth, David expressed his anguish over his enemies to The Lord. But through his distress, he glorified the Lord. Verses 1-4 read,

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
    he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
    I lie down amid fiery beasts--
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
    but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah”

David praised God for His mercy. Mercy is God’s loving kindness, his compassion in knowing we are fallible, yet showing us favor regardless. God shows us His mercy in many ways in this verse, God showed David His mercy by letting David take refuge in Him, by being a shield from the furor of his enemies’ attacks and the evil they tried to inflict upon him. God is our refuge through everything. No matter what our enemies do to us, we know our future, we know that God is with us and that nothing the enemy does to us can succeed. (Isaiah 54:17).

David, a man after God’s own heart showed mercy to Saul. He could have killed him when Saul came entered the cave where David was hiding. But instead he bowed down to King Saul and declared he wouldn’t kill him even though he could have. (1 Samuel 24).

David was hiding in a cave from Saul who was desperate to kill him. God surrounded and protected David like the mountain. David was even able to sleep knowing Almighty God was His refuge and that God had anointed Him to be the next king of Israel. He trusted God to sustain him and keep him alive so that he could be the king God called him to be. Believer, you have been anointed to a royal and magnificent calling, a great purpose, and an eternal hope. God is your shield in order to fulfill your purpose for His glory.

David glorified the Lord by showing mercy to Saul, by trusting God to be His refuge, and praising God and giving Him the credit for his safety instead of taking that acclaim for himself. David didn’t keep God’s great work to himself. He told people, wrote a song, sang and danced, and he praised The Lord. Verses 7-11 read,

“My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8     Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!”

David didn’t only praise the Lord when things were going well for him. He didn’t only pray when things were going poorly. He praised and prayed constantly. His faith in God didn’t waver. He wasn’t tossed around like a buoy on a tumultuous sea. God is steadfast. His love is steadfast. His commitment to us is steadfast. We glorify God with that same steadfast faith in Him.

When we manifest God’s character toward Him and to the world we glorify Him. The world can’t help but take notice. It isn’t the Christianese t-shirt or bumper sticker that says we are followers of Christ. It is our love. It is not a patronizing pretentious piety that says we are royal heirs with Jesus. It is our active and intentional love. It is walking in the Spirit and so demonstrating His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control which glorifies God. John 13:31-35 in The Message says it this way,

“When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God’s glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!

33 “Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I’m telling you: ‘Where I go, you are not able to come.’

34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

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1 Peter 1:1-12 Rejoice in the Eternal, Imperishable, Undefilable, and Unfading Hope of Christ.

3/28/2015

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1 Peter Chapter 1 Verses 1-12

Peter wrote this letter to Christians scattered across Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, modern Turkey. He calls the believers elect exiles of the Dispersion. Just as in the days of the Old Covenant when Israel was exiled to places that were not the Promised Land, their home, today during the New Covenant believers are exiles because our Promised Land is Heaven, our home is New Jerusalem and we are exiles among the world. But we are not hopeless. We know where our home is, we know who our family and fellow pilgrims are, and we know who our Lord is. He keeps our citizenship for us. Verse 2 describes believers.

“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Our Father knew us and chose us from the beginning. The Spirit consecrates and purifies us. He makes it possible for us to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ who saved us by His blood. That is wonderful news. And because of that we have hope. Not some distant fantasy, but confidence we live in and with, in the everyday. Because God is with us. He loves us, sanctifies us, and saves us. That is a living hope.

Peter describes that hope beautifully in verses 3-5.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jesus is alive! His life gives us life. Peter describes eternal life as an inheritance, the legacy or bequest we receive from our Father. Normally to leave an inheritance the father would die, but in this case God rose from the dead and it is through His life that we live and receive eternal life. We died to our previous life, to sin and eternal death and live as new creations, sons of God eternally. Romans 6:8-11 reads,

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Our salvation, our eternal life is kept safe for us by God. Peter describes it as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. Imperishable means permanent, eternal, and enduring. It cannot be destroyed. Undefiled means pure spotless and unpolluted. It remains perfect. It can’t be corrupted. And unfading means it can’t even lose a little of its richness or vibrancy. And it is being kept in Heaven for us. Not far from us, not for one day but for us now, since we live in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is protected and will remain safe until Jesus is fully revealed in us on The Day when we are in New Jerusalem face to face with Jesus.

That awesome hope, our eternal life, which we live now and it is guarded and protected by The Lord Almighty is what gives us reason to rejoice. Life is messy, hard, and difficult. Tragedy and calamity happen. But because we have Jesus Christ our hope, we can celebrate and be glad though all of it.

Do you realize that the precious treasure of eternal life can actually become more pure, more vibrant, and stronger? It does. It does when we go through the fires of life clinging to our Hope, rejoicing in our Peace, and remaining faithful to our Lord. Can you imagine what the world sees when you go through some awful experience and rather than break and curse God, rather than grumble and whine, you praise the Lord and allow the Spirit to build you, strengthen you, and make you more like Jesus? They see Jesus revealed in you. They hear about the awesome power of God’s Spirit. They see the proof of El Shaddai. And so do you. He becomes more concrete to you. Verses 6-9 say it this way,

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Think about what an awesome gift salvation is. There is no earning it. There is no buying it. The only way to get it is by the grace of our Father, the blood of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit. It is eternal, guaranteed, and perfect. Eternal life is a wonderful legacy. It is ours now. It can only get better, stronger, and bigger. It is an inheritance that we receive not through our Father’s death but because Jesus lives and brings us out of death. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Bless the Lord! Praise Him forever. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He is keeping it safe for us with Him, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

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John 19:16-42 Jesus' Crucifixion

1/5/2015

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John Chapter 19 Verses 16-42

After His trial Jesus was delivered to be crucified. He bore His own cross to Golgotha, the place here He would be crucified and there in between two other men, He was lifted up. (Verses 16-18). It was customary to have the condemned man’s crime written on a sign and carried for all to see as an added deterrent to wrong doing. So Pilate had a sign written for Jesus and attached it to the cross Jesus carried. Verses 19-22 read,

“Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

The exchange between Pilate and the Jews showed what a childish pathetic man Pilate was. The weak governor could finally stand up to the council since he had given them what they wanted and they could no longer threaten his job. But in his insistence for his own way, every person who would witness the gruesome crucifixion would see, not what Jesus was accused of, but a declaration of who He is. They would bear witness to the crucifixion of the King of the Jews, the King of kings, their Messiah. Pilate, like Caiaphas while working for Satan, was used by God to bring about His will and His glory.

Even the hardened Roman soldiers, many who seemed a bit sadistic and who took a sick pleasure in the grisly events were used by God. Verses 23-24 say,

“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things,”

It was Passover, and many of the Jews witnessing the crucifixion had already eaten their Seder. During the meal there are many scriptures which are read. One of those is Psalm 22. The first line of that Psalm is “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The gospels of Matthew and Mark both recorded Jesus cry from the cross. “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Immediately Jesus words would have brought the Psalm to mind. Right away they would recall phrases such as verse 14, “I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint;” And verses 16-18,

“For dogs encompass me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and fee]--
17 I can count all my bones--
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Even on the cross, Jesus was telling them who He was and giving them a chance to believe in Him.

Jesus was giving away His life on the cross which has been recorded as an incredibly horrible and painful way to die. Yet He still cared about people. He looked at His loved ones among the crowd and saw His mother, His aunt, Mary Magdalene, another Mary, and John. He didn’t think of Himself, He thought of His mother. From the cross through His agony He told John to treat His mother Mary as his own mother and told Mary to look at John as a son. Even in through suffering Jesus glorified the Father and carried out His will that we care for widows and orphans and that we love one another. He formed the community and family of the church as is final act before dying.

Verses 28-29 read,

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.”

When the soldiers gave Jesus the sour wine they fulfilled the scripture of Psalm 69:21,

“They gave me poison for food,
    and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.”

The soldiers didn’t know the scripture, they were enjoying their torture. They didn’t care who Jesus was to the people or themselves, but in their cruelty they continue to serve God’s will. They used a hyssop branch to give Jesus the wine. The same type of branch used to sprinkle sacrificial blood and cleanse and purify in sacramental rites as well as the branch that was used in the first Passover to put blood on the doors of the homes of the people who would be saved from death.

Now that Jesus earthly ministry was done, He could complete it. Verse 30 reads,

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Jesus declared His ministry and God’s plan finished. God’s plan of course continues but Jesus giving up His life as the perfect lamb was the core of it. Jesus gave up His life. No one took it. He bowed His head in submission to the Father and gave up His spirit, His life’s breath. He was an example for us to follow. We are too submit to the Father and give our lives to Jesus. He did after all pay a hefty price. Matthew 10:39-39 reads,

“And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Jesus willingly gave up His life so that you could know God and have salvation. Even through His crucifixion He told people He was Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. God made it clear that He was the Messiah. He called people to Him even at that terrible time. He used people who wanted to be used, like John. And He used people who thought they were working against Him like Pilate and the soldiers. He used them all for His glory and for your good.

Jesus paid for your salvation with His life. God loves you so much that He gave up His Son just for you. Pay attention to the call and give your life to the One who created you and paid for you.

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Questioning Romans 8:28: What Good Comes out of Pain?

The Eye is the Lamp of the Body

Glory to Glory

Psalm 72 Glorify Jesus the Righteous King

Psalm 57 Let God’s Glory Fill the Earth

1 Peter 1:1-12 Rejoice in the Eternal, Imperishable, Undefilable, and Unfading Hope of Christ.

John 19:16-42 Jesus' Crucifixion

Donna Campbell

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