In the fracturing? oh! yes............ there is so much of that....... More and more I hear the words tumbling out of my heart and out past the reach of my lips - - again and again.....:
"We live in a broken world."
He called out to us and said, "Despise not...... Despise not the least of these!"
But each of us knows down deep, that we are each the least of these....... Yet we are all despised........ and each of us in our own turn, we despise......
And in the despising and being despised, and out from the despising and being despised, the fracturing was begun...... and the fracturing continues, ........ more fracturing day after day.... for out of the despising arises......... the offense........ and out of the offense......... all is hindered....... all are hindered........ from coming to Him........
But that is not a fracturing He is willing to leave to itself........
And so He whose love does not end........ who does not despise though He is despised........ He moves to end the fracturing, to establish the place of healing........
And that's where we might begin to see the clearest glimpses of the mist of His shroud....... His Holy shroud......
The beauty of His holiness........... has a heartbeat.......... a heartbeat of love....... a True Love that could not be conquered....... a True Love that by dying another's death conquers all.........
?.... By dying......... Aye, because True love conquers even death........ In conquering death for Himself, He conquered it for his bride!
And as the earth shuddered and broke in despair when the purest of all hearts stood still.......... and became quiet......... It was then that only living blood was finely sprinkled on the mercy seat...... - - no one saw it done....... but it was the most holy thing ever to grace this world......... And the Holy of Holies was never the same again.......
Yes, the veil was rent! But...........
The walls did not fall............
And now, this week, when He asked me to drop to my knees and ponder why the walls did not fall....... when this astonished heart kept asking Him how this amazed heart could know ---- How could the heart of this broken child give answer for the intricacies of His handiwork? ...... But He asked again....... and His words echoed back to Him - but not void.....................
While listening to the echoes ....... it was heard again! What was it? Oh! It was His heartbeat again..... His heart! Beating again and again and again and again and again! For True Love truly does conquer all. True Love even conquered death. The heart of True Love could not remain stopped...........
And that's when He took this aching heart back....... back in a flashback........ back in time......... back to the gate of the tabernacle........
And standing back in awe, looking in through the gate - where the one, the only, the singular veil, the only way in........ the Dalet....... The Door ------ opened ......... the light of hope clearly glowing inside......... glowing warmly and welcomingly....... the light of His promise of so long ago......... the light of the promise of providing Himself a lamb............. the light of hope held out to a broken people........... a people utterly fractured...........
Yes, The Door opened to the people........ to the fractured, weary, broken people..... and in the brokenness, they began to see the beauty of true love......... reaching out to heal........
So they saw the hope! And in the midst of that hope, He called to them - - - to enter His gates with Thanksgiving! and they entered His gates with thanksgiving and praise............ that they may see Him!
But how could they dare to come before the Holy of Holies......... without their own heart stopping - with no hope of life again........ unless they came before the mercy seat for others........... and not only for themselves............
But who can stand before such holiness when we are, oh!, so... fractured............ who can do such a task? It is fraught with utter danger...............
So He called on only One to finish the work............. but while we, in brokenness waited for Him....... one by one........... one would dare to to answer His call, and to come before the mercy seat.......... utterly unworthy, but in hope, coming on behalf of others............ while everyone else prayed for mercy upon mercy upon mercy, not only for themselves, but also for that one........ and also for that One!
..........
But when He came....... When He came to that Holy place...... When He came with that Holy heart.......... When His heart was breaking for us........ When He was torn for us.......... When He was broken for us........? Then who prayed for the one coming to sprinkle precious, pure lamb's blood upon the mercy seat?
He was so despised............ So rejected........ So offended.......... So hindered from gathering Jerusalem as He so longed to do.............. to be in their midst....... with them! But, alas, .......... He was sent out from the midst of them instead...............
And who prayed for Him?
Ahhhh! But who lifted Him up!?!
The one who loved Him........ who loved Him forever ago......... who loves Him still.......... and who will ever love Him forever and ever......... with an undying love!!!!! Who knew Him as holy long before any created one knew Him or called Him holy!
The Father who must surely have felt the piercing in His heart of hearts! Certainly that beloved Father must hold that blood which was let out for others as ................ Holy, Holy..........
Worthy of service in the Holy of Holies..........
And now, with His most holy and precious blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat........ blood poured out when His heart skipped ---- to a stop, .............. for us..........
And now, with His most holy heart renewed! .......... still aflame with love for us, with His most holy heart beating in heaven yet again ..........
Those of us from a world of brokenness; Those of us who are ourselves utterly broken; Those of us who are...... fractured?
Those of us in desperate need of hope?
Now we dare to enter His gates with victorious thanksgiving! With victorious thanksgiving and praise!
And what do we see upon entering the gate? What do we see in the warm and welcoming light of true hope - utter hope - which brings comfort to every weary heart that enter?
We begin to see a little..............
A little of the glory of His majesty.
A little of the glory of His goodness.
A little of the glory of His sacrifice.
A little of the glory of His love.
And we begin to see.........
A growing sense of the travesty.
A growing sense of the deadness.
A horrid sense of the depth of vice.
The horror of the characteristic....... of...........
...........us.
And if it were not for the light, our hope would utterly fade. But as our eyes become accustomed to the light of His hope, we sense the Spirit of the Sanctuary.........and we see........ yes, we behold......... everywhere we turn............. the power of His Testimony.........
His Testimony of......
The Way.....
The Truth......
The Life......
The way of lowering one's self for others.........
The way of not being 'as God'........
--Rather than lifting up one's selfs for one's self........
--Seeking to vault ourselves up as God........
The truth that love bears one another's burdens.........
--Rather than loading another with our burdens..........
The life that comes by giving one's life for many.........
--Rather than using up the life of others for one's gain.......
And on and on it goes..............
.............
And in this we see the unity of the Father and the Son and the Spirit........
And now, we are finally drawn in by the beauty of the holiness and purity of His sacrifice.......
Drawn in now.......... no longer afraid........
Drawn in........towards the holiness.......... towards the holy place.........
Drawn in............ And we begin to weep with joy, knowing He will dry our eyes! And we sing the Song of Isaiah.......
O Lord, I will praise thee:
though thou wast angry with me,
thine anger is turned away,
and thou comfortest me.
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid:
for the Lord Jehovah is my strength
and my song;
He also is become my salvation.
And in that day shall ye say,
Praise the Lord, call upon His name,
Declare His doings among the people,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
Sing unto the Lord;
for he has done excellent things:
this is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout,
thou inhabitant of Zion:
for great is the Holy One of Israel.......
...........in the midst of thee!!!!!
Cry out and shout!
For great is the Holy One of Israel.........!!!!!!
Into the dwelling of the Most High!
Drawn to the heart......... of God
Showing posts with label Mom's Commentary - Genesis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mom's Commentary - Genesis. Show all posts
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
Alive! Raised Up! Together! LGG: Week 1: Ephesians 2:6-7; Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 2:5-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.
Our God, who is rich in mercy, has indeed made us who were dead alive together with Christ!
What amazing grace that proclaims! ......but that was not all He did!!!!........
He raised (us) up together!
*******......and............*****
He made (us) sit together in the heavenly .... in Christ Jesus!
Amazing.......... My mind cannot quite wrap itself around all of that heavenly togetherness.... How could anyone here on earth really begin to grasp that? It's other worldly! Still.......... Whatever that is, it must be amazing! (more on that in a bit.....surprising bits, that is.......in the meantime.....)
Praise His Name! Praise God Who is Rich in Mercy!
...........
Just be still and know....... Be still before God! God Who is Rich in Mercy! Oh! He sent His Son to die......... to die.......... so that we might live!
In order that we might have Life, and that more abundantly!
So, while it is good that my mind knows these things (at least in part)......... do I live Life more and more abundantly?
...........
It's time to live more of Life ...... each. and. every. day! So.......... How do I do that?
What is The Way? Where is The Way? Do I know the answers to those questions fully enough?
What is The Truth? Where is The Truth?........ The Way and The Truth .......... It is time to find out more....... much more about whatever this thing is......
.........this thing called The Life!
...........
So what now? Really....... So, ........ like........ well.......
Who really knows what else to do? ...........
Our mind might say something like, "Let's simply say our Hallelujah's and be done with it, right?"
After all He said He gave us life (past tense). He said He raised us up (past tense).
And He has..... but am I walking in all he means me to walk in? In all of that 'life more abundantly' kind of living that He ....... well, that He died to share with us!
My mind might be quick to say:
'Yes, I've been (somewhat) changed already.
'What more of that?
'He also said that He made us sit. What more could there be.....???
'Besides........ Again........
'This is all past tense...... He already did all of...... all of whatever that is...... for us! Yeah! That's it! He did it ......... for us! And....... again...... He made us sit, right?
'It's a done deal. Relax! ........ right.........., right?'
...........
But wait, is there more? and.... should we take this for granted?
What is it to be fully alive? Really, think about it a bit.....
Is it to be:
In a spiritual coma maybe? That would be 'alive', wouldn't it?
.....to be........ Spiritually handicapped maybe? That would also be 'alive', no?
So let's ask again: What is it to live? What is it to live..... in the moment to moment -- moments....... what is it to live The Life? To be IN the moment...... to be IN...... The Life?
....... I don't think I've begun to scratch the surface of it all.
Now, if I am honest, I can admit humbly that.............
I have begun to live..... And what's more........ at least in my mind, I do seek more life.
To be more specific, the spirit in me has indeed begun to live. That life force which only comes from him? ...... that life force has indeed been birthed in my spirit! In my spirit? It's kinda cool...........
But is there more? And............ Should I find....... you know....... Should I find even more?
Really, should I learn about more of life, and.. ...
Like......... well...... finally moving on to other questions worth asking....... that are all related to The Life......
What is this thing? Raised up? Raised up together!? Raised up together with Christ!? .......and........ Does even my mind know enough about that, let alone my feet and hands?
And whether or not I know enough about that... am I living what I know about...... about being raised up together?............
And........... oh!..... more questions......
What is this? Made (to) sit together in the heavenly....... in Christ Jesus?
I don't know about you, but by now I've rather noticed that this world is a broken place, and it seems very much as if chaos, suffering, pain, death, and destruction are all about us!.........
Worse yet...... chaos, suffering, pain, death, and destruction......... they all....... all of them......... break. my. heart. every. day!
How is it, then, that we are 'raised up together with Christ', and yet more.... 'made to sit together in the heavenly........ in Christ Jesus'?
What all can this mean? At least, how much of that can we understand while we are here on earth? Is it just a matter of faith,.... or is there more to it that the great Hope!? ..........and.............
Even if one does find the answers (the real answers) to those questions (or any portion thereof)........
There are the more troublesome questions! Aye, much more troublesome, indeed........
Who am I that I should be raised up? Who, me? I would willingly bow low before Him for eternity just worshiping Him for the majesty of His grace that brought life to me! -or- I would willingly scurry to the recesses of His kingdom to serve in the corners with all due diligence if need be.
For me that could be so much more than enough!
Yet God wants more of me to live more of Life, and to live it together with Him!........ He does not simply want me to live before Him! He does not simply want me to live for Him! He wants me to live together ........... with Him.......!!!!! ............?
Perhaps that makes sense in some promised dream of an ethereal, perfect world..........
Yes, perhaps so.
However, promises of that longed for utopia can seem......... like so many things in this world......... just another wished for promise......... just a pipe dream......... another dream to be crushed, right?
I mean, so many of us have noticed by now that........ well....... After all, this is such a broken world! A broken world filled with chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying.
In this place of suffering, death, and dying, how can we really become more and more familiar with life and living? What can it mean, this idea that "He wants me to live together with Him"........
Who? Me!? I know all to well what it is to be dead in trespasses..........
Do I really know what it is to be alive in any way..........?
Alive together with Christ!?
What can that mean today!? Here!? Now!? When we live here, in the midst of the pain and struggle?
Ahhhhh, but if we have bowed down low before The Passion of The Mighty Warrior?
If we have seen the majesty of His love which He demonstrated for us so clearly by fighting, dying, and being raised up from that death again for us........ If we have seen through the Word, how he faced down chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying? How He allowed Himself to be broken by chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying? I mean, really .......... dying!
But then overcoming death and dying! ......... By Living!?
Then perhaps we can finally at least begin to ask how it is to live, and to grow in living, and even, through Him, conquer the power of death and dying in our *lives*, even in the midst of our own chaos, pain, and sufferings.
............
Just this week, when visiting with the mother of some of my students, the young mother made the comment that she didn't really start living until she reached her thirties. My eyes lit up, and I listened intently, wondering what treasures she must have unearthed. I listened eagerly as she described Life and her path to finding how to finally begin to live Life.
This precious young mother had begun to find Life when she walked away from one lie-of-this-world, and then another, and then another and more and more...... In place of the lies, she sought out and began to find out a small, little bit about the Truth, and then more of the Truth, and then more and more....... Then she sought the means to follow this Truth. The more she did so, the more she knew that she finally began to live Life! She is still seeking to know more truth. She knows she has not arrived, but she knows when she finally began to live Life!
What a blessing she must be to her young family! She has begun to learn to walk with Him! to be raised up together with Him! ........ and in that she has learned to rest in Him!
........
Oh, and what a thing to rest in Him! Is this not 'seated with Him in heavenly realms'?
Hmmmm. What does that really mean? After reading the English rendering, it's surprising to look more closely at the Greek.........
kai synekathesin en
and / caused to be seated together (within & operating in) [us]
tois epouraniois
the heavenly realms "properly, heavenly, referring to the impact of heaven's influence on the particular situation or person"
en
from within which operates
Christ Jesus
Jeshua HaMeshiach
My mind asks, "How can this be?"
My spirit cries forth, "Hallelujah!"
This precious young mother had opened herself up to being guided by the 'impact of heaven's influence' on the particular situation(s) or person(s) in her life. Moreover, Christ Jesus was the one which has been and continues to be operating from within that heavenly realm which is having such an impact within her, and within the situations in her life, and within the people in her life!
This new Life in her, yes, The Life - in her - is so clearly an expression of the work of His love in her life! I couldn't help but hear (without resorting to legalism, I assure you....... I rather hate it.....), anyway, I couldn't help but hear one particular joyous song resounding in the hinter-choir-chambers of my mind, "God's law* is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies! God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise!" (Psalm 19:7 - as per the Scottish Psalter - punctuation altered - oh, and personally, I usually sing this psalter setting using the Kingsfold melody - though I sing it much faster than this recording)
My heart rejoiced at the work of His hand being manifested in this young mother!
.........
How then do we begin to learn more of what it is to live Life?
Oh....... we begin to learn to live Life when we walk as those Raised Up Together!
What are we raised out of? Sin and Death!
Who are we raised up 'together' with? The Mighty Warrior who conquered Sin and Death!
Sin and Death are no longer:
.......seated together (within & operating in) [us] ----
Sin and Death are no longer:
..........the impacting influence on any particular situation or person...... ......... in The Life ........ which lives in me!
They were embedded within us! Deeply embedded within us!
But thanks be to God, The Mighty Warrior conquered them, and credited us with righteousness for our faith, as He did with Abraham.**
Because of that, we may meet with Him... with the new life in our spirit! Life in our spirits which had been dead in trespasses, but which have now been made alive in Him!
And now, we not only meet with Him in our minds..........
We meet with Him........ spirit to Spirit!
And His Word illuminates our spirit! And our spirit takes in more of life......... and more of light!
And our spirit begins to walk........... in........... life...........
.............even though.......... we are in a world of chaos, suffering, pain, death, and dying.
.............even though.......... our hearts and minds, and yes, even our spirits, carry the burdens of chaos, suffering, pain, death, and dying.
And as I reread these last several lines, I can feel a rather tremendous dance, a noble dance, yes....... but...... a resounding stomping dance, which announces the defeat of death in our Life!
But we are not alone. We are not dying!
We are given life in Him!
We are raised up in Him!
We have in us, seated in us, the full force of the heavenly realms, which have within them......... the life force of Jesus Christ Himself! Jeshua HaMashiach! The Savior! The promised one!
A promised one whose promise could not be overcome by death any more than He could be vanquished by death!
And now, ......... in celebration ......... yet in closing for now........
Keeping in mind that it is as we seek The Way, The Truth, and The Life that ... The Life is manifested in us, step by step........
Here is my prayer for (us):
May He cause the heavenly realms and their influence which He has already caused to be seated within each of us, so that Christ Jesus, who operates within the heavenly realms, Christ Jesus, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life ........ May The Life in all of that heavenly togetherness guide each of us with the Light as He works His will in each situation with each person in our lives!
Amen! ........ and ........ Amen!
Glory be to The Living God!
Glory be to The God Who is Rich in Mercy!
Glory be to The Way, The Truth, and The Life!
.................
* - "God's law is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies"? God's law? Yes, the law......... the direction.......... the instruction.......... That which the Jews tell us is the way to restore fellowship. This is what Jesus fulfilled........ the way to restore fellowship! We have no idea just how much it can mean to be fully restored to fellowship with God. We do know that back when God made man in His image? ....... yes, back then? We walked with Him! What must that have been like? We do not know! What will that be like in heaven, rather than a lovely, but rather finite garden? Who can fathom?
But He promised it! What grace!
What is it again that helps bring about that restoration? A restoration that provides something more magnificent than what we broke? What can restore any of that brokenness? God's law:
God's direction........ His instruction.......
** - It's not a matter of keeping the law, Abraham couldn't do that, but God credited righteousness to Abraham simply because he trusted God. Did God call upon Abraham to walk justly? Yes, of course, but if Abraham had to be responsible for His own righteousness, he would have utterly failed.
Rather, God extended 'credit' to Abraham. Abraham had a debt with God from the time God 'credited him' righteousness. It was a debt that he couldn't begin to pay, but that was okay with God (because Jesus was going to pay the debt), so that was okay with Abraham....... It was humbling for Abraham, but he was willing to receive hope from ...... well, from the only source of any real hope.
Are you?
If you are, believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins that you might receive the righteousness of God.
Then seek the Way, the Truth, the Life....... the Light.
........
*** - Life and Light!
John 1:1b, 4 "....... and the Word was God. ...... In him was life, and the life was the light of all men."
This young mother? Praise God for His work in her life! She heard the truth from the Word, from Him, which brought life and light!
In this scientific age, we believe that light brings about life, but the light that is vital is that light that makes it into the soul and spirit and mind and heart. No light can enter the soul of a dead man. No light can enter the spirit of a dead man. No light can enter the mind of a dead man. No light can enter the heart of a dead man.
But, praise God, He has given us Life through Christ Jesus....... Jeshua Ha-Meshiach, and thanks to that Life, we can receive light into our whole being!
...............
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Ephesians 2:1-10 "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
..................
S - Ephesians 2:(5), 6-7 "(But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His indness towards us in Christ Jesus."
O - By God's grace, we have been raised out of sin and death and into life!
By God's grace, we have been raised up together with Him and with the power of the heaveny realms within us.... (and with His Kingdom...... that is, * together with * those who believe in Him)!
By God's grace, by God's influence, we have seated (much as in a county 'seat') within us the heavenly places, with Christ Jesus operating as the influence/ruling-force within the heavenly places - and Christ Jesus is the power behind the heavenly realms' influences the situations in our lives....... and thus He is together with us in those situations in which He is, by His loving kindness and by His grace, tending to our every need, to every circumstance, and to every person in our life......
A - First, I am to be like Him, extending the influence of His kingdom in grace and love.
Secondly, I am to walk as one alive, not as one walking in sin and death (which He conquered for us).
Thirdly, I am to walk as one raised to living Life in light of the Light of His glory!
Lastly, I am to seek fellowship with Him and with those in His kingdom whom I am called upon to encourage. I am to pray for all those I cannot reach out and touch.
But Constantly: I am to constantly be a witness that:
"He (has shown and continues to show) the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus."
P - God, help me to watch for little lies in my life which I might not have yet detected, because they can produce great harm. Help me also to watch for ---- The Way, The Truth, and The Life..... so that I know which way to be heading. Send me The Light each step of the way, and open my eyes that I may see any dangers along the path, so that I may avoid them or call upon you for deliverance as need be, all for your glory's sake.
Then, as I walk along in your Light, help me to love those whom you have raised up together with me ....... together with Him. And help them to love each other..... me too..... So that......
Others may know we are Christians by our love...... that they may see what you have shown: 'the exceeding riches of Your grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.'....... that they may receive the great deliverance you have offered all of us......... that they may be raised up ....... together with Him........ grow in your truth, and shine the Light and Life.......... the exceeding riches of Your grace!
Our God, who is rich in mercy, has indeed made us who were dead alive together with Christ!
What amazing grace that proclaims! ......but that was not all He did!!!!........
He raised (us) up together!
*******......and............*****
He made (us) sit together in the heavenly .... in Christ Jesus!
Amazing.......... My mind cannot quite wrap itself around all of that heavenly togetherness.... How could anyone here on earth really begin to grasp that? It's other worldly! Still.......... Whatever that is, it must be amazing! (more on that in a bit.....surprising bits, that is.......in the meantime.....)
Praise His Name! Praise God Who is Rich in Mercy!
...........
Just be still and know....... Be still before God! God Who is Rich in Mercy! Oh! He sent His Son to die......... to die.......... so that we might live!
In order that we might have Life, and that more abundantly!
So, while it is good that my mind knows these things (at least in part)......... do I live Life more and more abundantly?
...........
It's time to live more of Life ...... each. and. every. day! So.......... How do I do that?
What is The Way? Where is The Way? Do I know the answers to those questions fully enough?
What is The Truth? Where is The Truth?........ The Way and The Truth .......... It is time to find out more....... much more about whatever this thing is......
.........this thing called The Life!
...........
So what now? Really....... So, ........ like........ well.......
Who really knows what else to do? ...........
Our mind might say something like, "Let's simply say our Hallelujah's and be done with it, right?"
After all He said He gave us life (past tense). He said He raised us up (past tense).
And He has..... but am I walking in all he means me to walk in? In all of that 'life more abundantly' kind of living that He ....... well, that He died to share with us!
My mind might be quick to say:
'Yes, I've been (somewhat) changed already.
'What more of that?
'He also said that He made us sit. What more could there be.....???
'Besides........ Again........
'This is all past tense...... He already did all of...... all of whatever that is...... for us! Yeah! That's it! He did it ......... for us! And....... again...... He made us sit, right?
'It's a done deal. Relax! ........ right.........., right?'
...........
But wait, is there more? and.... should we take this for granted?
What is it to be fully alive? Really, think about it a bit.....
Is it to be:
In a spiritual coma maybe? That would be 'alive', wouldn't it?
.....to be........ Spiritually handicapped maybe? That would also be 'alive', no?
So let's ask again: What is it to live? What is it to live..... in the moment to moment -- moments....... what is it to live The Life? To be IN the moment...... to be IN...... The Life?
....... I don't think I've begun to scratch the surface of it all.
Now, if I am honest, I can admit humbly that.............
I have begun to live..... And what's more........ at least in my mind, I do seek more life.
To be more specific, the spirit in me has indeed begun to live. That life force which only comes from him? ...... that life force has indeed been birthed in my spirit! In my spirit? It's kinda cool...........
But is there more? And............ Should I find....... you know....... Should I find even more?
Really, should I learn about more of life, and.. ...
Like......... well...... finally moving on to other questions worth asking....... that are all related to The Life......
What is this thing? Raised up? Raised up together!? Raised up together with Christ!? .......and........ Does even my mind know enough about that, let alone my feet and hands?
And whether or not I know enough about that... am I living what I know about...... about being raised up together?............
And........... oh!..... more questions......
What is this? Made (to) sit together in the heavenly....... in Christ Jesus?
I don't know about you, but by now I've rather noticed that this world is a broken place, and it seems very much as if chaos, suffering, pain, death, and destruction are all about us!.........
Worse yet...... chaos, suffering, pain, death, and destruction......... they all....... all of them......... break. my. heart. every. day!
How is it, then, that we are 'raised up together with Christ', and yet more.... 'made to sit together in the heavenly........ in Christ Jesus'?
What all can this mean? At least, how much of that can we understand while we are here on earth? Is it just a matter of faith,.... or is there more to it that the great Hope!? ..........and.............
Even if one does find the answers (the real answers) to those questions (or any portion thereof)........
There are the more troublesome questions! Aye, much more troublesome, indeed........
Who am I that I should be raised up? Who, me? I would willingly bow low before Him for eternity just worshiping Him for the majesty of His grace that brought life to me! -or- I would willingly scurry to the recesses of His kingdom to serve in the corners with all due diligence if need be.
For me that could be so much more than enough!
Yet God wants more of me to live more of Life, and to live it together with Him!........ He does not simply want me to live before Him! He does not simply want me to live for Him! He wants me to live together ........... with Him.......!!!!! ............?
Perhaps that makes sense in some promised dream of an ethereal, perfect world..........
Yes, perhaps so.
However, promises of that longed for utopia can seem......... like so many things in this world......... just another wished for promise......... just a pipe dream......... another dream to be crushed, right?
I mean, so many of us have noticed by now that........ well....... After all, this is such a broken world! A broken world filled with chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying.
In this place of suffering, death, and dying, how can we really become more and more familiar with life and living? What can it mean, this idea that "He wants me to live together with Him"........
Who? Me!? I know all to well what it is to be dead in trespasses..........
Do I really know what it is to be alive in any way..........?
Alive together with Christ!?
What can that mean today!? Here!? Now!? When we live here, in the midst of the pain and struggle?
Ahhhhh, but if we have bowed down low before The Passion of The Mighty Warrior?
If we have seen the majesty of His love which He demonstrated for us so clearly by fighting, dying, and being raised up from that death again for us........ If we have seen through the Word, how he faced down chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying? How He allowed Himself to be broken by chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying? I mean, really .......... dying!
But then overcoming death and dying! ......... By Living!?
Then perhaps we can finally at least begin to ask how it is to live, and to grow in living, and even, through Him, conquer the power of death and dying in our *lives*, even in the midst of our own chaos, pain, and sufferings.
............
Just this week, when visiting with the mother of some of my students, the young mother made the comment that she didn't really start living until she reached her thirties. My eyes lit up, and I listened intently, wondering what treasures she must have unearthed. I listened eagerly as she described Life and her path to finding how to finally begin to live Life.
This precious young mother had begun to find Life when she walked away from one lie-of-this-world, and then another, and then another and more and more...... In place of the lies, she sought out and began to find out a small, little bit about the Truth, and then more of the Truth, and then more and more....... Then she sought the means to follow this Truth. The more she did so, the more she knew that she finally began to live Life! She is still seeking to know more truth. She knows she has not arrived, but she knows when she finally began to live Life!
What a blessing she must be to her young family! She has begun to learn to walk with Him! to be raised up together with Him! ........ and in that she has learned to rest in Him!
........
Oh, and what a thing to rest in Him! Is this not 'seated with Him in heavenly realms'?
Hmmmm. What does that really mean? After reading the English rendering, it's surprising to look more closely at the Greek.........
kai synekathesin en
and / caused to be seated together (within & operating in) [us]
tois epouraniois
the heavenly realms "properly, heavenly, referring to the impact of heaven's influence on the particular situation or person"
en
from within which operates
Christ Jesus
Jeshua HaMeshiach
My mind asks, "How can this be?"
My spirit cries forth, "Hallelujah!"
This precious young mother had opened herself up to being guided by the 'impact of heaven's influence' on the particular situation(s) or person(s) in her life. Moreover, Christ Jesus was the one which has been and continues to be operating from within that heavenly realm which is having such an impact within her, and within the situations in her life, and within the people in her life!
This new Life in her, yes, The Life - in her - is so clearly an expression of the work of His love in her life! I couldn't help but hear (without resorting to legalism, I assure you....... I rather hate it.....), anyway, I couldn't help but hear one particular joyous song resounding in the hinter-choir-chambers of my mind, "God's law* is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies! God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise!" (Psalm 19:7 - as per the Scottish Psalter - punctuation altered - oh, and personally, I usually sing this psalter setting using the Kingsfold melody - though I sing it much faster than this recording)
My heart rejoiced at the work of His hand being manifested in this young mother!
.........
How then do we begin to learn more of what it is to live Life?
Oh....... we begin to learn to live Life when we walk as those Raised Up Together!
What are we raised out of? Sin and Death!
Who are we raised up 'together' with? The Mighty Warrior who conquered Sin and Death!
Sin and Death are no longer:
.......seated together (within & operating in) [us] ----
Sin and Death are no longer:
..........the impacting influence on any particular situation or person...... ......... in The Life ........ which lives in me!
They were embedded within us! Deeply embedded within us!
But thanks be to God, The Mighty Warrior conquered them, and credited us with righteousness for our faith, as He did with Abraham.**
Because of that, we may meet with Him... with the new life in our spirit! Life in our spirits which had been dead in trespasses, but which have now been made alive in Him!
And now, we not only meet with Him in our minds..........
We meet with Him........ spirit to Spirit!
And His Word illuminates our spirit! And our spirit takes in more of life......... and more of light!
And our spirit begins to walk........... in........... life...........
.............even though.......... we are in a world of chaos, suffering, pain, death, and dying.
.............even though.......... our hearts and minds, and yes, even our spirits, carry the burdens of chaos, suffering, pain, death, and dying.
And as I reread these last several lines, I can feel a rather tremendous dance, a noble dance, yes....... but...... a resounding stomping dance, which announces the defeat of death in our Life!
But we are not alone. We are not dying!
We are given life in Him!
We are raised up in Him!
We have in us, seated in us, the full force of the heavenly realms, which have within them......... the life force of Jesus Christ Himself! Jeshua HaMashiach! The Savior! The promised one!
A promised one whose promise could not be overcome by death any more than He could be vanquished by death!
And now, ......... in celebration ......... yet in closing for now........
Keeping in mind that it is as we seek The Way, The Truth, and The Life that ... The Life is manifested in us, step by step........
Here is my prayer for (us):
May He cause the heavenly realms and their influence which He has already caused to be seated within each of us, so that Christ Jesus, who operates within the heavenly realms, Christ Jesus, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life ........ May The Life in all of that heavenly togetherness guide each of us with the Light as He works His will in each situation with each person in our lives!
Amen! ........ and ........ Amen!
Glory be to The Living God!
Glory be to The God Who is Rich in Mercy!
Glory be to The Way, The Truth, and The Life!
.................
* - "God's law is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies"? God's law? Yes, the law......... the direction.......... the instruction.......... That which the Jews tell us is the way to restore fellowship. This is what Jesus fulfilled........ the way to restore fellowship! We have no idea just how much it can mean to be fully restored to fellowship with God. We do know that back when God made man in His image? ....... yes, back then? We walked with Him! What must that have been like? We do not know! What will that be like in heaven, rather than a lovely, but rather finite garden? Who can fathom?
But He promised it! What grace!
What is it again that helps bring about that restoration? A restoration that provides something more magnificent than what we broke? What can restore any of that brokenness? God's law:
God's direction........ His instruction.......
** - It's not a matter of keeping the law, Abraham couldn't do that, but God credited righteousness to Abraham simply because he trusted God. Did God call upon Abraham to walk justly? Yes, of course, but if Abraham had to be responsible for His own righteousness, he would have utterly failed.
Rather, God extended 'credit' to Abraham. Abraham had a debt with God from the time God 'credited him' righteousness. It was a debt that he couldn't begin to pay, but that was okay with God (because Jesus was going to pay the debt), so that was okay with Abraham....... It was humbling for Abraham, but he was willing to receive hope from ...... well, from the only source of any real hope.
Are you?
If you are, believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins that you might receive the righteousness of God.
Then seek the Way, the Truth, the Life....... the Light.
........
*** - Life and Light!
John 1:1b, 4 "....... and the Word was God. ...... In him was life, and the life was the light of all men."
This young mother? Praise God for His work in her life! She heard the truth from the Word, from Him, which brought life and light!
In this scientific age, we believe that light brings about life, but the light that is vital is that light that makes it into the soul and spirit and mind and heart. No light can enter the soul of a dead man. No light can enter the spirit of a dead man. No light can enter the mind of a dead man. No light can enter the heart of a dead man.
But, praise God, He has given us Life through Christ Jesus....... Jeshua Ha-Meshiach, and thanks to that Life, we can receive light into our whole being!
...............
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Ephesians 2:1-10 "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
..................
S - Ephesians 2:(5), 6-7 "(But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His indness towards us in Christ Jesus."
O - By God's grace, we have been raised out of sin and death and into life!
By God's grace, we have been raised up together with Him and with the power of the heaveny realms within us.... (and with His Kingdom...... that is, * together with * those who believe in Him)!
By God's grace, by God's influence, we have seated (much as in a county 'seat') within us the heavenly places, with Christ Jesus operating as the influence/ruling-force within the heavenly places - and Christ Jesus is the power behind the heavenly realms' influences the situations in our lives....... and thus He is together with us in those situations in which He is, by His loving kindness and by His grace, tending to our every need, to every circumstance, and to every person in our life......
A - First, I am to be like Him, extending the influence of His kingdom in grace and love.
Secondly, I am to walk as one alive, not as one walking in sin and death (which He conquered for us).
Thirdly, I am to walk as one raised to living Life in light of the Light of His glory!
Lastly, I am to seek fellowship with Him and with those in His kingdom whom I am called upon to encourage. I am to pray for all those I cannot reach out and touch.
But Constantly: I am to constantly be a witness that:
"He (has shown and continues to show) the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus."
P - God, help me to watch for little lies in my life which I might not have yet detected, because they can produce great harm. Help me also to watch for ---- The Way, The Truth, and The Life..... so that I know which way to be heading. Send me The Light each step of the way, and open my eyes that I may see any dangers along the path, so that I may avoid them or call upon you for deliverance as need be, all for your glory's sake.
Then, as I walk along in your Light, help me to love those whom you have raised up together with me ....... together with Him. And help them to love each other..... me too..... So that......
Others may know we are Christians by our love...... that they may see what you have shown: 'the exceeding riches of Your grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.'....... that they may receive the great deliverance you have offered all of us......... that they may be raised up ....... together with Him........ grow in your truth, and shine the Light and Life.......... the exceeding riches of Your grace!
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Isn't this man a burning stick snatched from the fire? - - - Genesis 22:8 - God Will Provide Himself a Lamb for a Burnt Offering
God Himself Provided the Lamb......... the Lamb of God who came to die for our sins.
God Himself provided a lamb *for a burnt offering*? Was this 'burnt offering' only the ram caught in the thicket in Genesis 22?
And what of Zechariah 3:1-3, which says, when speaking of Y'hoshua, "Isn't this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Why am I even asking such a question? Well....
Of late, I've been thrilled to use ScriptureTyper online to help me with re-establishing old memory work which I had done in the past.
In my own life, one of the most foundational books in the Bible has been Genesis. Way back when my oldest son was in 2nd-3rd grade and we were homeschooling, I had planned on using Greenleaf's Guide to the Old Testament - running through the O.T. quickly with my son. As it turned out, our oldest son learned deep ideas (very deep for his young years), but not many names of characters, - or even specifics of scripture, if we went too quickly.
So we set aside the Greenleaf Guide to the O.T. and simply started to work through Genesis very slowly. We went so slowly that we began memorizing quite a few verses from Genesis (in great part to help more of the depth of the ideas he was reading about have a better opportunity to settle deeply into his heart..).
Along the way, we read about Abraham's faith when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Upon reading verse 22:8, an old sermon from my past came to mind. Dr. David Cotton was the main pastor from my youth, and he was quite specific in exegetical teaching, going through the Bible verse by verse. He delighted in lingering on this verse for quite a while. His delight caught my attention even then. I have delighted in memorizing and meditating on that verse for a number of years now.
I treasure that delight more every year:
God Himself became the lamb.........
But now that I'm reviewing this verse on my own on a regular basis, the eyes of my heart have been lighting more and more upon this idea that the lamb provided by God was a *burnt* offering........
How might that be?
Was it just the ram in the thicket?
Well, Genesis 22:14 takes the idea of the provision into the future: "And to this day it is said, On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."......, not that it *was* provided, but it *will be* provided.
What will be provided? Was it not that the burnt offering was to be provided by the will of God?
I visited with a friend about it briefly this week, and she responsed simply that she understood that such ideas were only in Catholic literature...... It turns out that one version of the apostles creed (allegedly not the original version?) includes the phrase "he descended into hell". All I have done thus far in seeking an answer to my various questions on the subject is to have googled for some input from others who have thought about these things online.
What I have found to date is that scripture does seem to indicate some interesting things. I think that an indepth study of the original text might illuminate things more fully. In the meantime, at least according to the English renditions referenced below, it appears to be that:
1) Sometime during the Passion of Christ, our sins were placed on Him. He became sin, who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. (II Cor 5:21)
2) Luke testifies that at the end of His time on the cross, Jesus commended His Spirit into God's hands and then he breathed His last. (Luke 23:46) According to the testimony of John, at about the same time, that is, just before He died, Jesus said, 'It is paid in full', then gave up His spirit. (esp. John 19:30) .... So, where did His spirit go? Did His spirit necessarily go straight into God's hands? Perhaps so. Did His spirit go through more trial before God loosed Him from the pains of death (see below)? That is part of the question at hand. We might not know for certain in this life - - - - but when I consider Genesis 28:8 and 28:12 - in which it says that God, 'Will provide Himself a lamb for a *burnt* offering......' and that 'On the mountain of God, it will be provided,' it seems that perhaps Jesus did carry those sins beyond the cross before God loosed Him from the pains of death.
3) We do know that the sin which was placed upon Jesus, separated Him, for a short while, from full fellowship with God, His Father. (Matthew 27:46)
4) After His death and before His resurrection, Jesus descended into the deep (so did His spirit not descend while he was dead?) (Romans 10:7) This 'into the deep' has almost unanimously been understood to mean the netherworld, the abode of the dead..... That makes sense to me, but I do want to see more in scripture on the matter. (of course, there is the parable of Lazarus and the rich man...in Luke 16...wherein Lazarus is, or at least seems to be, as much as I understand to date, in sheol; and the rich man is in torment in hades....see vs. 23... and there is a great gulf between those in Hades, and those in sheol, but not in hades..... see vs. 26; there is also the passage in Revelation 20:11-15, particularly vs. 14 that differentiates 'hades' from 'the lake of fire'....)
5) Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.... (esp. Matthew 12:40-41); which must be reconciled with Jesus having told the thief on the cross that 'today you will be with me in paradise'! (Luke 23:43); which has been explained various ways; e.g. - it has been explained by saying that only His body was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights....., which is not as much my inclination; it has also been explained by saying that the thief was on the non-hades side of sheol.....; I'm personally inclined to wonder about the definition of 'this day'....., though I seem to be alone on that point....... *blush*; I also wonder about how long it takes for a 'burnt offering' to be directly affected by the fire - that is, how long is a 'burnt offering' on the fire.....)
6) Jesus likely suffered, or so many argue.... - - - if He did, was it in brief while the thief was in a safer place? (the idea that Jesus suffered when He descended into the deep is debated in some circles, but there's strong inclination to argue that He did suffer - e.g., as in Matthew 12:40-41, Jonah, it is argued, must have suffered in the belly of the whale....). /// If, on the contrary, one reads the arguments that Jesus did not suffer, they seem to be based on the idea that the work on the cross was all that the Lamb of God had to do......, that it is the blood, afterall, that is needed for cleansing. They are inclined to reference verses such as I John 1:7-9, and II Cor. 5:21. That was my whole understanding throughout my life, and my faith is in Christ's loving sacrifice, not in specific details of what all God did or did not have to do in order to fulfill His plan precisely as He planned..... However, I wonder at the parallel between the Lamb of Atonement and the Passover Lamb - and Christ. I do not have those answers, but I do wonder about them.
7) Whatever one believes about Jesus suffering or not suffering when he descended....., He was specifically not 'abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption' (Acts 2:27-31)
8) He was 'loosed (from) the pains of death', and when God 'loosed the pains of death', there was no way that the pains of death could hold Him.... but note, that the pains of death tried to hold Him, otherwise He would not have had to have been 'loosed'...... was He not impacted by the pains of death? What might the 'pains of death' have been (merely the throws of physical death on the cross, or also the throws of spiritual death)? (Acts 2:24)
9) He preached to those held captive (I Peter 3:18-20). The assumptions are that Jesus either preached redemption, and/or that Jesus declared His triumph over death and the pending judgment, or that Jesus did not physically preach to those held captive (with a reference to Eph 2:17). Many people reference I Peter 4:6 which states (in the past tense), "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the Spirit the way God does." to advocate for the interpretation that Jesus, at least on one occasion, gave a second opportunity for redemption to those who were in hades, Jesus having preached to those held captive at that time. Those who hold to the finality of death, with no further opportunity for redemption, reference Hebrews 9:27 most emphatically. They also reference Psalm 49, though this psalm is addressing a much broader topic....., that of the conflict which the poor and oppressed experience at the hands of selfish, fleshly minded people who 'succeed' in this world - with that theme's main thrust being found in vs. 15. Others reference the passage in Revelation dealing with the Great White Throne Judgment, in which those whose name is not found in the Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire...., though that will occur in the future, which is certainly after the time when He preached to those held captive per I Peter 3:18-20.]
10) He ascended (and is now at the right hand of God the Father - many believe this to be the reincarnated Christ after He showed Himself to the women and the disciples.....in great part because that is what He Himself said to the women at the tomb John 20:17) - (I Peter 3:22); He even ascended high above the heavens (Eph. 4:8-10 - ESV)...... and while doing so:
11) He both led captivity captive and gave gifts to men (esp. Eph. 4:8-10) - that is, in the ESV, He led a host of captives with Him when He ascended! (Eph. 4:8-10 in the ESV)
12) He ended up with the keys of death and hades (not hell, but hades; death and hades will be thrown into the lake of fire Rev 20:13-14). (Revelation 1:18)
God Himself provided a lamb *for a burnt offering*? Was this 'burnt offering' only the ram caught in the thicket in Genesis 22?
And what of Zechariah 3:1-3, which says, when speaking of Y'hoshua, "Isn't this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Why am I even asking such a question? Well....
Of late, I've been thrilled to use ScriptureTyper online to help me with re-establishing old memory work which I had done in the past.
In my own life, one of the most foundational books in the Bible has been Genesis. Way back when my oldest son was in 2nd-3rd grade and we were homeschooling, I had planned on using Greenleaf's Guide to the Old Testament - running through the O.T. quickly with my son. As it turned out, our oldest son learned deep ideas (very deep for his young years), but not many names of characters, - or even specifics of scripture, if we went too quickly.
So we set aside the Greenleaf Guide to the O.T. and simply started to work through Genesis very slowly. We went so slowly that we began memorizing quite a few verses from Genesis (in great part to help more of the depth of the ideas he was reading about have a better opportunity to settle deeply into his heart..).
Along the way, we read about Abraham's faith when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Upon reading verse 22:8, an old sermon from my past came to mind. Dr. David Cotton was the main pastor from my youth, and he was quite specific in exegetical teaching, going through the Bible verse by verse. He delighted in lingering on this verse for quite a while. His delight caught my attention even then. I have delighted in memorizing and meditating on that verse for a number of years now.
I treasure that delight more every year:
God Himself became the lamb.........
But now that I'm reviewing this verse on my own on a regular basis, the eyes of my heart have been lighting more and more upon this idea that the lamb provided by God was a *burnt* offering........
How might that be?
Was it just the ram in the thicket?
Well, Genesis 22:14 takes the idea of the provision into the future: "And to this day it is said, On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."......, not that it *was* provided, but it *will be* provided.
What will be provided? Was it not that the burnt offering was to be provided by the will of God?
I visited with a friend about it briefly this week, and she responsed simply that she understood that such ideas were only in Catholic literature...... It turns out that one version of the apostles creed (allegedly not the original version?) includes the phrase "he descended into hell". All I have done thus far in seeking an answer to my various questions on the subject is to have googled for some input from others who have thought about these things online.
What I have found to date is that scripture does seem to indicate some interesting things. I think that an indepth study of the original text might illuminate things more fully. In the meantime, at least according to the English renditions referenced below, it appears to be that:
1) Sometime during the Passion of Christ, our sins were placed on Him. He became sin, who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. (II Cor 5:21)
2) Luke testifies that at the end of His time on the cross, Jesus commended His Spirit into God's hands and then he breathed His last. (Luke 23:46) According to the testimony of John, at about the same time, that is, just before He died, Jesus said, 'It is paid in full', then gave up His spirit. (esp. John 19:30) .... So, where did His spirit go? Did His spirit necessarily go straight into God's hands? Perhaps so. Did His spirit go through more trial before God loosed Him from the pains of death (see below)? That is part of the question at hand. We might not know for certain in this life - - - - but when I consider Genesis 28:8 and 28:12 - in which it says that God, 'Will provide Himself a lamb for a *burnt* offering......' and that 'On the mountain of God, it will be provided,' it seems that perhaps Jesus did carry those sins beyond the cross before God loosed Him from the pains of death.
3) We do know that the sin which was placed upon Jesus, separated Him, for a short while, from full fellowship with God, His Father. (Matthew 27:46)
4) After His death and before His resurrection, Jesus descended into the deep (so did His spirit not descend while he was dead?) (Romans 10:7) This 'into the deep' has almost unanimously been understood to mean the netherworld, the abode of the dead..... That makes sense to me, but I do want to see more in scripture on the matter. (of course, there is the parable of Lazarus and the rich man...in Luke 16...wherein Lazarus is, or at least seems to be, as much as I understand to date, in sheol; and the rich man is in torment in hades....see vs. 23... and there is a great gulf between those in Hades, and those in sheol, but not in hades..... see vs. 26; there is also the passage in Revelation 20:11-15, particularly vs. 14 that differentiates 'hades' from 'the lake of fire'....)
5) Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.... (esp. Matthew 12:40-41); which must be reconciled with Jesus having told the thief on the cross that 'today you will be with me in paradise'! (Luke 23:43); which has been explained various ways; e.g. - it has been explained by saying that only His body was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights....., which is not as much my inclination; it has also been explained by saying that the thief was on the non-hades side of sheol.....; I'm personally inclined to wonder about the definition of 'this day'....., though I seem to be alone on that point....... *blush*; I also wonder about how long it takes for a 'burnt offering' to be directly affected by the fire - that is, how long is a 'burnt offering' on the fire.....)
6) Jesus likely suffered, or so many argue.... - - - if He did, was it in brief while the thief was in a safer place? (the idea that Jesus suffered when He descended into the deep is debated in some circles, but there's strong inclination to argue that He did suffer - e.g., as in Matthew 12:40-41, Jonah, it is argued, must have suffered in the belly of the whale....). /// If, on the contrary, one reads the arguments that Jesus did not suffer, they seem to be based on the idea that the work on the cross was all that the Lamb of God had to do......, that it is the blood, afterall, that is needed for cleansing. They are inclined to reference verses such as I John 1:7-9, and II Cor. 5:21. That was my whole understanding throughout my life, and my faith is in Christ's loving sacrifice, not in specific details of what all God did or did not have to do in order to fulfill His plan precisely as He planned..... However, I wonder at the parallel between the Lamb of Atonement and the Passover Lamb - and Christ. I do not have those answers, but I do wonder about them.
7) Whatever one believes about Jesus suffering or not suffering when he descended....., He was specifically not 'abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption' (Acts 2:27-31)
8) He was 'loosed (from) the pains of death', and when God 'loosed the pains of death', there was no way that the pains of death could hold Him.... but note, that the pains of death tried to hold Him, otherwise He would not have had to have been 'loosed'...... was He not impacted by the pains of death? What might the 'pains of death' have been (merely the throws of physical death on the cross, or also the throws of spiritual death)? (Acts 2:24)
9) He preached to those held captive (I Peter 3:18-20). The assumptions are that Jesus either preached redemption, and/or that Jesus declared His triumph over death and the pending judgment, or that Jesus did not physically preach to those held captive (with a reference to Eph 2:17). Many people reference I Peter 4:6 which states (in the past tense), "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the Spirit the way God does." to advocate for the interpretation that Jesus, at least on one occasion, gave a second opportunity for redemption to those who were in hades, Jesus having preached to those held captive at that time. Those who hold to the finality of death, with no further opportunity for redemption, reference Hebrews 9:27 most emphatically. They also reference Psalm 49, though this psalm is addressing a much broader topic....., that of the conflict which the poor and oppressed experience at the hands of selfish, fleshly minded people who 'succeed' in this world - with that theme's main thrust being found in vs. 15. Others reference the passage in Revelation dealing with the Great White Throne Judgment, in which those whose name is not found in the Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire...., though that will occur in the future, which is certainly after the time when He preached to those held captive per I Peter 3:18-20.]
10) He ascended (and is now at the right hand of God the Father - many believe this to be the reincarnated Christ after He showed Himself to the women and the disciples.....in great part because that is what He Himself said to the women at the tomb John 20:17) - (I Peter 3:22); He even ascended high above the heavens (Eph. 4:8-10 - ESV)...... and while doing so:
11) He both led captivity captive and gave gifts to men (esp. Eph. 4:8-10) - that is, in the ESV, He led a host of captives with Him when He ascended! (Eph. 4:8-10 in the ESV)
12) He ended up with the keys of death and hades (not hell, but hades; death and hades will be thrown into the lake of fire Rev 20:13-14). (Revelation 1:18)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Mom's Commentary - Genesis 1:1a+
Genesis 1:1a+ In the beginninng, God
" 'In the beginning God . . . ' (Genesis 1:1). Not matter, for matter is not self-causing. It requires an antecedant cause, and God is that cause. Not law, for law is but a name for the course which all creation follows. That course had to be planned, and the planner is God. Not mind, for mind is a created thing and must have a creator back of it. In the beginning God, the uncaused cause of matter, mind, and law. There we must begin."
My son has been collecting the AmblesideOnline books for a little while now so that they will be in his own library as an adult, and we added The Pursuit of God by Tozer to his collection for Christmas.
He just finished reading it and had to share this quote with me, and now I just had to share it with you.
From A. W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God, Chapter 5, "The Universal Presence", which begins with a quotation from the Psalms:
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Psalm 139:7
.
" 'In the beginning God . . . ' (Genesis 1:1). Not matter, for matter is not self-causing. It requires an antecedant cause, and God is that cause. Not law, for law is but a name for the course which all creation follows. That course had to be planned, and the planner is God. Not mind, for mind is a created thing and must have a creator back of it. In the beginning God, the uncaused cause of matter, mind, and law. There we must begin."
My son has been collecting the AmblesideOnline books for a little while now so that they will be in his own library as an adult, and we added The Pursuit of God by Tozer to his collection for Christmas.
He just finished reading it and had to share this quote with me, and now I just had to share it with you.
From A. W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God, Chapter 5, "The Universal Presence", which begins with a quotation from the Psalms:
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Psalm 139:7
.
Mom's Commentary - Genesis 1:1a (Part 2)
Genesis 1:1a In the beginning
[In Part 1, the last questions revolved around what God was beginning to do in us as individuals. What new works has He begun? What new songs might He have given us might be another good question to explore in that entry someday.......?
Now let's consider the same questions about 'us' as one body.]
What is God up to now? What is God doing universally (not politically or in the cosmos so much - but what is going on in the 'our/us' mentioned in the Lord's prayer)? What is God doing in 'our' life as one body (Romans 12:15)?
Do we need any new beginnings with Him as a body?
If so, in what does God want 'us' to begin to grow next?
For one thing, 'we' certainly do need to purpose to grow in unity!
Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13
In order to grow in unity, we all need to grow in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God. Certainly we can grow in the knowledge of the Son of God. Can we grow in faith?
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of everyone of you all toward each other aboundeth. II Thess. 1:3
So do unity, faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, and love all grow and mature together? In searching for answers directly from the scripture to answer that question, it seems that the Bible does directly relate faith and 'hearing the word of God' - as per the writings of the apostle Paul.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (see also Galatians 3:2)
Is hearing the word of God all there is to it, then? No!
Hearing the word of God and receiving faith by hearing is only 'a beginning'!
According to II Peter 1:3-9:
--We have been given promises which have produced the beginnings of faith (Hallelujah!)(faith - fido.....a rope or cable which makes fast - draws...... 'to believe, to obey')
--that we might partake in the divine nature! (Amazing! - what an opportunity! - the definition of divine that would pertain to our 'partaking in the divine nature' would seem mostly to be: proceeding from God, as in divine sayings or works, apparently above that which is human! - Does it not seem, then that we should be, in our new nature in Him, something above the human nature - via the nature He wants to share with us - knowing this, that the 'above human nature' all comes from Him, not us!)
--we are to give all diligence (constant effort to accomplish without unnecessary delay or sloth!)
--add virtue to our faith (faith is a gift, it enables us to add virtue - and what a definition! 'strength from straining, stretching, extending'....etc. - - faith empowers us to strain, stretch, and extend beyond ourselves, particularly to be in keeping with God's desires, which produces strength, aka virtue! What a hope and power there is in His Word! But some strain, stretch, and extend themselves for their own purposes, such as those who have fasted for vain reasons. God's reasons for fasting include more than being sensitive to His spirit in intellectual worship, or even open to direction about 'change' in one's heart. God's reasons include giving the bread not eaten to those who are oppressed and poor, along with releasing the bands of wickedness not only in our lives, but through prayer and fasting, God releases bands around us, etc. Isaiah 58:1-8)
--then add knowledge to that (more knowledge than what produced the initial faith.... 'a clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact, the perception of the connection and agreement or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas!)
--then add temperance (We may satisfy our appetites if we have the means, but not indulge them, as indulging them increases them yet never satisfies them - increasing them over and over again, which dulls our spiritual appetites. How much do we really need in order to satisfy healthy appetites pertaining to our physical selves? That differs from person to person. We each need to learn to listen to our appetites to take note when we are actually satisfied, as they are able to inform us as to how much we need in order to be 'satisfied' with regards to sleep, activity levels, diet, etc.... (Here is an example: What we eat can be an uncomfortable topic: but it is an important one. Health issues can impact weight gain, that is a different issue altogether. If one actually struggles with listening to his/her own appetite to learn to recognize when they are satisfied, there are ways to learn how to listen more attentively. One way is to calculate the approximate caloric need for a given person using a scientific equation that is fairly accurate. That would provide a starting place. One could use that as a ballpark figure, then increase or decrease food intake to the appropriate amount of food in order to either gain, lose, or maintain weight as decided in prayer and praise. Next, notice when requirements change due to change in activity levels, physical cycles, age, health, etc. In working this way, many have learned to watch for subtle indicators that help to signal 'satisfied' to the brain.) This does not require austerity and long faces. Even fasting is not to be accomplished with long faces. (Matt. 6:16) So no groaning allowed! Replacing the groaning with praise for what we do have (which might focus on non-food items) would help to increase spiritual sensitivity, and decrease an appetite on overdrive. Developing healthy appetites in non-food interests helps as well. Diligence and strength-of-will (or virtue) is often required when changing the appetites and drives from 'overdrive' or even 'underdrive' to 'normal-healthy' levels. Again, no long faces! Satisfying our fleshly appetites may be done joyously, with thanksgiving to God, and with love towards those with whom we have opportunity to fellowship, in order to help meet their needs with love and joy as well. It is important to note that no more attention should be given to our appetites than that. For example, as Charlotte Mason, an incredible English educator from a century or so ago, said in her book Ourselves (written to inform students regarding basics of applying good character), "while you are eating, talk and think of something more amusing than your food," and "Never think of your meals till they come" (save for the cook who should think how to prepare, not how to eat what is being prepared; and we should also take time to thank God for the food He does provide). [Volume 4, pg. 14 of the Original Homeschooling Series (highly recommended reading!)] But enough on temperance for now!
--and thereby be enabled to add patience (...endurance without murmuring.... submission to the divine will..... constancy in labor.... bearing offenses without anger.... Each of these goals is more attainable when we are not expecting to fulfill lusts of the flesh, but merely meet our fleslhy needs with thanksgiving when we are able to do so, and being thankful for what we do have even when we are unable to fulfill our fleshly needs. Patience is also more accessible when we recognize that we need to give up ownership of everything we have, even our reputation. As Bill Gothard puts it, our reputation doesn't matter, and God is big enough to deal with His own reputation. (paraphrased version of Gothard's take on the subject)).
--which results in increasing ability to develop godliness (...reverence for the divine character...obedience. To be Christ-like - which includes bringing glory to God, obedience in all things; sacrificial love, even to the point of death if need be - for the benefit of others).
--leading then to brotherly kindness (affection, kindness...syn. tender.....) To be kind, we actually invest our time, energy, and/or our resources in others' lives... 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also' Matthew 6:21. As Bill Gothard shares in his videos, if we are kind to others, it develops a real love in us towards them, because we have invested treasure into their lives.)
--resulting ultimately in love (.....devoted, .....strong attachment to.....)
Would this not then result in unity within the body, with the 'we' who love Him and serve him?
..............
Okay, with the verses and definitions that was a bit choppy. So what would be a paraphrase of II Peter 1:3-9? How about this?
Due to God's gift of faith which binds us to Him and draws us after Him, we are able to give constant attention to exerting our will towards strength/virtue in the realms of moral excellence, helping us to have more knowledge about God, ourselves, others, and proper stewardship of those things which we have use of to serve Him - being humbled before Him by the strength of our various fleshly desires, we can trust him to provide us yet more virtue/strength to be patient in well doing and patient with others, producing godliness, inspiring brotherly kindness wherewith we invest treasure into their lives, producing in our own selves, love for the brethren.
Which produces unity.
So, does faith, knowledge of the Son of God, love, and unity increase and grow together?
When the faith is from God, yes, it must.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.... that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27
.
[In Part 1, the last questions revolved around what God was beginning to do in us as individuals. What new works has He begun? What new songs might He have given us might be another good question to explore in that entry someday.......?
Now let's consider the same questions about 'us' as one body.]
What is God up to now? What is God doing universally (not politically or in the cosmos so much - but what is going on in the 'our/us' mentioned in the Lord's prayer)? What is God doing in 'our' life as one body (Romans 12:15)?
Do we need any new beginnings with Him as a body?
If so, in what does God want 'us' to begin to grow next?
For one thing, 'we' certainly do need to purpose to grow in unity!
Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13
In order to grow in unity, we all need to grow in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God. Certainly we can grow in the knowledge of the Son of God. Can we grow in faith?
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of everyone of you all toward each other aboundeth. II Thess. 1:3
So do unity, faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, and love all grow and mature together? In searching for answers directly from the scripture to answer that question, it seems that the Bible does directly relate faith and 'hearing the word of God' - as per the writings of the apostle Paul.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (see also Galatians 3:2)
Is hearing the word of God all there is to it, then? No!
Hearing the word of God and receiving faith by hearing is only 'a beginning'!
According to II Peter 1:3-9:
--We have been given promises which have produced the beginnings of faith (Hallelujah!)(faith - fido.....a rope or cable which makes fast - draws...... 'to believe, to obey')
--that we might partake in the divine nature! (Amazing! - what an opportunity! - the definition of divine that would pertain to our 'partaking in the divine nature' would seem mostly to be: proceeding from God, as in divine sayings or works, apparently above that which is human! - Does it not seem, then that we should be, in our new nature in Him, something above the human nature - via the nature He wants to share with us - knowing this, that the 'above human nature' all comes from Him, not us!)
--we are to give all diligence (constant effort to accomplish without unnecessary delay or sloth!)
--add virtue to our faith (faith is a gift, it enables us to add virtue - and what a definition! 'strength from straining, stretching, extending'....etc. - - faith empowers us to strain, stretch, and extend beyond ourselves, particularly to be in keeping with God's desires, which produces strength, aka virtue! What a hope and power there is in His Word! But some strain, stretch, and extend themselves for their own purposes, such as those who have fasted for vain reasons. God's reasons for fasting include more than being sensitive to His spirit in intellectual worship, or even open to direction about 'change' in one's heart. God's reasons include giving the bread not eaten to those who are oppressed and poor, along with releasing the bands of wickedness not only in our lives, but through prayer and fasting, God releases bands around us, etc. Isaiah 58:1-8)
--then add knowledge to that (more knowledge than what produced the initial faith.... 'a clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact, the perception of the connection and agreement or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas!)
--then add temperance (We may satisfy our appetites if we have the means, but not indulge them, as indulging them increases them yet never satisfies them - increasing them over and over again, which dulls our spiritual appetites. How much do we really need in order to satisfy healthy appetites pertaining to our physical selves? That differs from person to person. We each need to learn to listen to our appetites to take note when we are actually satisfied, as they are able to inform us as to how much we need in order to be 'satisfied' with regards to sleep, activity levels, diet, etc.... (Here is an example: What we eat can be an uncomfortable topic: but it is an important one. Health issues can impact weight gain, that is a different issue altogether. If one actually struggles with listening to his/her own appetite to learn to recognize when they are satisfied, there are ways to learn how to listen more attentively. One way is to calculate the approximate caloric need for a given person using a scientific equation that is fairly accurate. That would provide a starting place. One could use that as a ballpark figure, then increase or decrease food intake to the appropriate amount of food in order to either gain, lose, or maintain weight as decided in prayer and praise. Next, notice when requirements change due to change in activity levels, physical cycles, age, health, etc. In working this way, many have learned to watch for subtle indicators that help to signal 'satisfied' to the brain.) This does not require austerity and long faces. Even fasting is not to be accomplished with long faces. (Matt. 6:16) So no groaning allowed! Replacing the groaning with praise for what we do have (which might focus on non-food items) would help to increase spiritual sensitivity, and decrease an appetite on overdrive. Developing healthy appetites in non-food interests helps as well. Diligence and strength-of-will (or virtue) is often required when changing the appetites and drives from 'overdrive' or even 'underdrive' to 'normal-healthy' levels. Again, no long faces! Satisfying our fleshly appetites may be done joyously, with thanksgiving to God, and with love towards those with whom we have opportunity to fellowship, in order to help meet their needs with love and joy as well. It is important to note that no more attention should be given to our appetites than that. For example, as Charlotte Mason, an incredible English educator from a century or so ago, said in her book Ourselves (written to inform students regarding basics of applying good character), "while you are eating, talk and think of something more amusing than your food," and "Never think of your meals till they come" (save for the cook who should think how to prepare, not how to eat what is being prepared; and we should also take time to thank God for the food He does provide). [Volume 4, pg. 14 of the Original Homeschooling Series (highly recommended reading!)] But enough on temperance for now!
--and thereby be enabled to add patience (...endurance without murmuring.... submission to the divine will..... constancy in labor.... bearing offenses without anger.... Each of these goals is more attainable when we are not expecting to fulfill lusts of the flesh, but merely meet our fleslhy needs with thanksgiving when we are able to do so, and being thankful for what we do have even when we are unable to fulfill our fleshly needs. Patience is also more accessible when we recognize that we need to give up ownership of everything we have, even our reputation. As Bill Gothard puts it, our reputation doesn't matter, and God is big enough to deal with His own reputation. (paraphrased version of Gothard's take on the subject)).
--which results in increasing ability to develop godliness (...reverence for the divine character...obedience. To be Christ-like - which includes bringing glory to God, obedience in all things; sacrificial love, even to the point of death if need be - for the benefit of others).
--leading then to brotherly kindness (affection, kindness...syn. tender.....) To be kind, we actually invest our time, energy, and/or our resources in others' lives... 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also' Matthew 6:21. As Bill Gothard shares in his videos, if we are kind to others, it develops a real love in us towards them, because we have invested treasure into their lives.)
--resulting ultimately in love (.....devoted, .....strong attachment to.....)
Would this not then result in unity within the body, with the 'we' who love Him and serve him?
..............
Okay, with the verses and definitions that was a bit choppy. So what would be a paraphrase of II Peter 1:3-9? How about this?
Due to God's gift of faith which binds us to Him and draws us after Him, we are able to give constant attention to exerting our will towards strength/virtue in the realms of moral excellence, helping us to have more knowledge about God, ourselves, others, and proper stewardship of those things which we have use of to serve Him - being humbled before Him by the strength of our various fleshly desires, we can trust him to provide us yet more virtue/strength to be patient in well doing and patient with others, producing godliness, inspiring brotherly kindness wherewith we invest treasure into their lives, producing in our own selves, love for the brethren.
Which produces unity.
So, does faith, knowledge of the Son of God, love, and unity increase and grow together?
When the faith is from God, yes, it must.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.... that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27
.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Mom's Commentary - Genesis 1:1b (part 1)
Genesis 1:1b God created (part 1)
Here is the report per the Bible:
No one else created the heavens or the earth. Just God.
Yes, that is the report:
That God created everything we see, from the world which we see and touch and smell and hear, to the macrocosm beyond our largest telescopes, to the microcosm too small for our most powerful microscope. An intricate design from the grandiose to the infinitesimal.
It is also reported that He created the spiritual realms we do not see (though Elijah and others have had at least glimpses into that world). (Col 1:16, II Kings 6:17 - and some of those principalities are spiritual Ephesians 6:12)
But did He finish with creating at the end of Genesis 1?
No! For example:
He creates in us a clean heart when we call upon Him with sincere hearts - ready to obey Him as god! (Ps. 51:10)
He also began to create, and continues to perfect, out of chaos: 'Us' (that is, the body - the church). (Phil. 1:6)
Oh how I long for the perfecting of 'Us'.... not just myself - but 'Us'.
'We', the church, might seem to be too chaotic for anything to reign us in, but He has promised that even now He is holding us together and perfecting out of 'us' - a new 'Us.' (Phil. 1:6)
God created!
God IS creating!
Hallelujah!
............
If you would like to become a part of those of 'Us' whom God has saved, and in whom He has begun to raise up a more perfect love, you can learn more about how to do that here.
.
Here is the report per the Bible:
No one else created the heavens or the earth. Just God.
Yes, that is the report:
That God created everything we see, from the world which we see and touch and smell and hear, to the macrocosm beyond our largest telescopes, to the microcosm too small for our most powerful microscope. An intricate design from the grandiose to the infinitesimal.
It is also reported that He created the spiritual realms we do not see (though Elijah and others have had at least glimpses into that world). (Col 1:16, II Kings 6:17 - and some of those principalities are spiritual Ephesians 6:12)
But did He finish with creating at the end of Genesis 1?
No! For example:
He creates in us a clean heart when we call upon Him with sincere hearts - ready to obey Him as god! (Ps. 51:10)
He also began to create, and continues to perfect, out of chaos: 'Us' (that is, the body - the church). (Phil. 1:6)
Oh how I long for the perfecting of 'Us'.... not just myself - but 'Us'.
'We', the church, might seem to be too chaotic for anything to reign us in, but He has promised that even now He is holding us together and perfecting out of 'us' - a new 'Us.' (Phil. 1:6)
God created!
God IS creating!
Hallelujah!
............
If you would like to become a part of those of 'Us' whom God has saved, and in whom He has begun to raise up a more perfect love, you can learn more about how to do that here.
.
Mom's Commentary - Genesis 1:1a (Part 1)
Genesis 1:1a In the beginning,
In?
Wow, not 'at', or 'for', or 'to start the beginning', but 'in'. So..... the question begs to be asked:
What else was going on in the spiritual realms 'in the beginning'? I long to sit at His feet someday after I am finally put back together (I figure I'll fall apart when I first finally enter His glorious presence).... anyway, I do long to sit at His feet someday and find out what else was going on 'in' the beginning.
In the meantime:
Have we all had a spiritual beginning with God? If not, that is the place to start.
If we have, where are each of us headed? What has been, and what is going on in each of our spiritual realms?
Do we need any new beginnings in Him? (in this post, the discussion revolves around 'we' as individuals......... in the next post, we'll address 'we' as a body........)
Each of us has a 'beginning' to physical life, and we are all also invited to begin a spiritual life through which we learn to walk with God - through which we learn to glory in Him - through which we learn to glorify Him.
When/if we respond to that invitation, we have a 'beginning' to a spiritual life.
God has moved over the course of the last year to show His provision for my spiritual life through the course of time-past. That is being penned in a separate file, but through that process, He has emphasized the 'beginning' of my own sense of the peace of God.
My first memories are of playing under a laundry basket in Olga Reebie's backyard where the peace of God first dawned in my life - while she shared the love of Christ with my mother, who, up until that time, was struggling in life without Him.
That first sense of the peace of God was His first calling to my heart. I didn't know how to respond fully back then, but the peace of God was something towards which my soul aimed ever since until He finally birthed in me a new life - in the spirit. That was when His Spirit began to bear witness with my spirit that I was indeed finally born with a new life (Romans 8:16). I was finally a child of God - a child of the God of peace. What grace and mercy.
Over time God has encouraged me and challenged me in wonderful ways. I hope to give a brief overview of that in a more formalized version of my testimony later this year.
In the meantime, the short of it all is that, upon looking back, it is plain enough to see that when I spent time studying and meditating on His Word, He caused my life to prosper. When I was not faithfully meditating on His Word (due to less study, less sensitivity, more focus on issues in my life, etc.), circumstances came along which have impacted my life (and other lives such as those in my family and church) in contrary ways ever since those periods of time.
He has at times 'given back the years the locusts have eaten.' (Joel 2:25) At other times, He has allowed circumstances to set in that are having a cumulative strain on our family or etc.
Of late, there has been some rewarding and significant study and meditation in my life, but it was sporadic at best.
With the encouragement from Bill Gothard's Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar, it is clear that study, and particularly meditation needs to have a renewed emphasis in my life.
There are other 'beginnings' (and/or renewings) that need to occur in my life as well. At the end of this entry, I've included a list of things I need to begin and/or renew efforts towards finishing.
That list includes 'Mom's Commentary', being written more for my own study, but with an eye towards providing any grandchildren I might have some day a chance to meet their granny more spiritually. This is the first entry towards that end. (but since I'm not a granny yet, I'm not calling it Granny's Commentary yet either.......)
Now, with a new beginning in the study of His Word, may He grant the grace and peace in which to walk in His love more fully each day. May He help me to not resist His grace with pride, but transmit His love with humility (But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:6-7a)
May He do the same for you too!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
................
Recently, He has been calling me to 'begin' new studies, and to begin to pick up old projects in my life.
--setting Colossians to music....... (!? .....yeah......! - Not quite half done...... )
--reviewing hymns (and psalter settings of psalms) I've learned with my children
--reviewing Bible verses and passages I have learned in the past
--spending specific time meditating on His Word
--writing out a commentary for my children's children to get to know their granny some day.... (this is the first entry towards that end)
--getting back to organizing the music lessons He put on my heart (which I left at the cabin...*blush*)
--printing out the family cookbook that's almost organized, and binding it one way or another
--mind-mapping the reading lessons that finally make utter sense to me!!! (woohoo! - that was a breakthrough straight from God....... wow!)
--helping our sons who are still home to set spiritual goals (began writing lists of things they should be attending to, such as taking on the task of ordering their memory work and review more independently, addressing struggles they might face due to 'sins of their fathers' (and mothers), etc.)
--getting back to work with 'godly-lady' lessons in a more pointed way with our daughter
--finding the hard copy of the rough draft of my testimony and reworking that
--etc.
In?
Wow, not 'at', or 'for', or 'to start the beginning', but 'in'. So..... the question begs to be asked:
What else was going on in the spiritual realms 'in the beginning'? I long to sit at His feet someday after I am finally put back together (I figure I'll fall apart when I first finally enter His glorious presence).... anyway, I do long to sit at His feet someday and find out what else was going on 'in' the beginning.
In the meantime:
Have we all had a spiritual beginning with God? If not, that is the place to start.
If we have, where are each of us headed? What has been, and what is going on in each of our spiritual realms?
Do we need any new beginnings in Him? (in this post, the discussion revolves around 'we' as individuals......... in the next post, we'll address 'we' as a body........)
Each of us has a 'beginning' to physical life, and we are all also invited to begin a spiritual life through which we learn to walk with God - through which we learn to glory in Him - through which we learn to glorify Him.
When/if we respond to that invitation, we have a 'beginning' to a spiritual life.
God has moved over the course of the last year to show His provision for my spiritual life through the course of time-past. That is being penned in a separate file, but through that process, He has emphasized the 'beginning' of my own sense of the peace of God.
My first memories are of playing under a laundry basket in Olga Reebie's backyard where the peace of God first dawned in my life - while she shared the love of Christ with my mother, who, up until that time, was struggling in life without Him.
That first sense of the peace of God was His first calling to my heart. I didn't know how to respond fully back then, but the peace of God was something towards which my soul aimed ever since until He finally birthed in me a new life - in the spirit. That was when His Spirit began to bear witness with my spirit that I was indeed finally born with a new life (Romans 8:16). I was finally a child of God - a child of the God of peace. What grace and mercy.
Over time God has encouraged me and challenged me in wonderful ways. I hope to give a brief overview of that in a more formalized version of my testimony later this year.
In the meantime, the short of it all is that, upon looking back, it is plain enough to see that when I spent time studying and meditating on His Word, He caused my life to prosper. When I was not faithfully meditating on His Word (due to less study, less sensitivity, more focus on issues in my life, etc.), circumstances came along which have impacted my life (and other lives such as those in my family and church) in contrary ways ever since those periods of time.
He has at times 'given back the years the locusts have eaten.' (Joel 2:25) At other times, He has allowed circumstances to set in that are having a cumulative strain on our family or etc.
Of late, there has been some rewarding and significant study and meditation in my life, but it was sporadic at best.
With the encouragement from Bill Gothard's Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar, it is clear that study, and particularly meditation needs to have a renewed emphasis in my life.
There are other 'beginnings' (and/or renewings) that need to occur in my life as well. At the end of this entry, I've included a list of things I need to begin and/or renew efforts towards finishing.
That list includes 'Mom's Commentary', being written more for my own study, but with an eye towards providing any grandchildren I might have some day a chance to meet their granny more spiritually. This is the first entry towards that end. (but since I'm not a granny yet, I'm not calling it Granny's Commentary yet either.......)
Now, with a new beginning in the study of His Word, may He grant the grace and peace in which to walk in His love more fully each day. May He help me to not resist His grace with pride, but transmit His love with humility (But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:6-7a)
May He do the same for you too!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
................
Recently, He has been calling me to 'begin' new studies, and to begin to pick up old projects in my life.
--setting Colossians to music....... (!? .....yeah......! - Not quite half done...... )
--reviewing hymns (and psalter settings of psalms) I've learned with my children
--reviewing Bible verses and passages I have learned in the past
--spending specific time meditating on His Word
--writing out a commentary for my children's children to get to know their granny some day.... (this is the first entry towards that end)
--getting back to organizing the music lessons He put on my heart (which I left at the cabin...*blush*)
--printing out the family cookbook that's almost organized, and binding it one way or another
--mind-mapping the reading lessons that finally make utter sense to me!!! (woohoo! - that was a breakthrough straight from God....... wow!)
--helping our sons who are still home to set spiritual goals (began writing lists of things they should be attending to, such as taking on the task of ordering their memory work and review more independently, addressing struggles they might face due to 'sins of their fathers' (and mothers), etc.)
--getting back to work with 'godly-lady' lessons in a more pointed way with our daughter
--finding the hard copy of the rough draft of my testimony and reworking that
--etc.
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