Category Archives: Amazing Grace

I Hope That Works For You??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 08

25 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Are you ready?, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Is Small Insignificant?, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Redefining Christianity?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Salvation, Saved by Grace Through Faith, The Crucified Life, The Gospel, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, Time Is Grace!, To Me To Live Is?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 08   I Hope That Works For You???

It is very easy to get caught up in the craziness of this world—the sin, the ungodliness, the temptations, the ease, greed, even forgetting God, and the total rejection of The Lord Jesus Christ!  How, you might ask?  I love Jesus, you might say; I’d never go against HIM!  Yet, we are often so ignorant and neglectful of HIS Word that we fall for the lies of the enemy.  After all they abound on every hand—they are in the music, on the TV, on social media, in the latest popular movies—just a little ‘Kool-Aid’ that has a bit of poison, and a little more, and then a little more until you don’t even notice it.  It is why Paul warned us to put on our armor and be ready to “withstand in the evil day”; and my friends it is here—it is now!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not

against

flesh and blood,

but against

principalities,

against

 powers,

against

the rulers of the darkness

of this world,

against

spiritual wickedness

in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

 in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.”  Ephesians 6:10-13

It seems that we have so much imitation “Christianity” today, that many have bought the convenient version, rather than the real; yet the real was described by Jesus:

“And when he had called the people unto him

with his disciples also,

he said unto them,

Whosoever will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it;

but whosoever shall lose his life

for my sake

and the gospel’s,

the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me

and of my words

in this adulterous

and sinful generation;

of him also

shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he cometh in the glory of his Father

with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:34-38

Jesus clearly calls us to follow HIM and obey HIS WORD, and to do that we must know Jesus through saving grace, forgiveness of sin, and redemption through HIS blood.  And if I truly know HIM, I am called to surrender my will as well as my heart to HIM—take up HIS cross—which is what Paul also called us to do, yet so many today preach and teach and “easy believe-ism” that negates the cross, sin, repentance, and regeneration.  Jesus still saves and changes lives today…but only through the blood; for SIN my friends IS the issue!  If we deny our sin, we’ll never need a Savior!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

Did you get it?  Salvation delivers us “from the power of darkness” for by God’s saving power we are “translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”!  CHANGED—from darkness unto light—The Light—JESUS!!!  Redeemed by HIS blood unto new life, a new creation.  (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

We are called to take up our cross, live a crucified life, being dead to “self-will” and surrendered to “God’s will” by the power of the cross, Jesus’ blood, and the indwelling Holy Spirit!!!  How’s your choice working?

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

 yet not I,

but Christ

liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

So, back to our question, ‘Do you belong to Jesus?”; or are you simply shouting “Lord, Lord”, and replaying the ‘days of Noah’?

“But as the days of Noe were,

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood

they were eating

and drinking,

marrying

and giving in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came,

and took them all away;

so shall also the coming

of the Son of man be.”  Mathew 24:37-39

If I may make a personal observation, and one that I truly believe fits, and have taught for many years, after studying these things for years:  I don’t think Jesus is pointing just to the sin of the days of Noah, but just as importantly, the fact that they were so busy doing “life” that they were oblivious to the message of the impending judgment of God!  America—we need to wake up to the impending judgment and get busy about “my Father’s business”!   Whose business are you taking care of?   Will you be like those in Noah’s day, and just carry on like there’s no tomorrow?  Like Jesus isn’t returning?  Not concerned about the coming flood of judgment, where the lines will be drawn, and if you have rejected Jesus, there will “be HELL to pay”!  No cursing, just fact.

“Even him, whose coming

is after the working of Satan

with all power

and signs

and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness

in them that perish;

because they received not

the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause

God shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure

in unrighteousness.”   2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

You have this life to choose Jesus or reject HIM, and believe me, my friends, you might fool the world around you, you may fool your friends, you may fool your mother, you may fool yourself—but YOU won’t fool JESUS!

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many

wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”   Matthew 7:21-27

I close with a burdened heart asking that you examine yourself to see how your choices are working out for you?  Have you chosen Jesus?  If not, you can choose to bow before HIM and open the door of your heart to HIS transforming salvation, by repenting of your sin, and believing and receiving HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice made for you and me.  And if you’ll notice above, the rains, floods, and winds came to each house—but only the one founded on “The Rock”—Jesus—stood!  The houses looked the same on the outside, but the foundation made the difference.

Remember the question isn’t “will you bow before Jesus”, but when?  For every knee will bow—either now in this life in repentance and faith, or “then” you will bow before Jesus the Judge with no recourse of salvation.  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test—and it may be coming sooner than you think!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Who Are You Running With??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 07

10 Sunday Jul 2022

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Forgetting or Remembering?, Forgiveness, Prodigal Son, Staying Son, The pig pen?, The prodigal or the Stayer

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 07 Who Are You Running With???

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the parable of the “Prodigal Son”; which could also be called the parable of the son who never left; but our focus today will be on the “Prodigal” and hopefully we’ll address the other at a later time.  Yet the thing I’d like to do today, is a bit of an overview of the main points in the passage I have posted below.  The main point being your choices will determine your results, and Jesus Himself gave us such a poignant and powerful portrait of the choices of this life.  And contrary to popular opinion those you choose as companions will make a difference in your life.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications corrupt good manners.”                                         1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV

Or as the New American Standard Bible says it:

“Do not be deceived:

‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’”

So, Luke records this picture that Jesus painted so beautifully:

“Likewise, I say unto you,

there is joy in the presence

of the angels of God

over one sinner that repenteth.

 

11 And he said,

A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father,

Father, give me the portion of goods

that falleth to me.

And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after

the younger son gathered all together,

and took his journey into a far country,

and there wasted his substance

with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all,

there arose a mighty famine in that land;

and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself

to a citizen of that country;

and he sent him into his fields

to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly

with the husks that the swine did eat:

and no man

gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said,

How many hired servants of my father’s

have bread enough and to spare,

and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father,

and will say unto him,

Father, I have sinned

against heaven,

and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy

to be called thy son:

make me

as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose,

and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off,

his father saw him,

and had compassion,

and ran and fell on his neck,

and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him,

Father, I have sinned

against heaven,

and in thy sight,

and am no more worthy

to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants,

Bring forth the best robe,

and put it on him;

and put a ring on his hand,

and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf,

and kill it;

and let us eat,

and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead,

and is alive again;

he was lost,

and is found.

And they began to be merry.”  Luke 15:10-24

Jesus begins this chapter by describing the urgency with which people look for those things which are lost: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.  Painting a beautiful picture of the “joy in heaven” over “one sinner that repenteth”!  The importance of the comparison seeming to be that only when something is lost do we look for it; and until we, as sinners, see our lost condition and repent of our sins, and are ready to trust in/to the substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice that Jesus was about to provide for “the world” on Calvary!  The issue is our choices and those we allow to influence us.

In this parable we see the father (a picture of God The Father) and the two sons—one who openly wanted to go his own way, the other who stayed, but was angry and bitter when his “brother” returned with a repentant heart and a desire to “serve” his father willingly.  Who are you/I wanting to serve?  Self or God/our Father God?  Do we want only His blessings (our inheritance) with no compunction to obey or follow Jesus, or have we seen our sin, and come to God as the prodigal did—in recognition of our sin and a desire for restoration and the opportunity to serve, rather than demanding our own way, indulgence, or greed?

In verse 13 we see the father grant the son’s request and give him a portion of his wealth; then the son departs and goes off to do “his own thing”, with the implication that he squandered his resources with riotous living, also implying that he was probably surrounded by ‘friends’ so long as his generosity lasted, but when his resources had come to an end, he began to “be in want”.  And it comes to mind that his want must have been because all of his ‘temporary friends’ were no longer interested in his “welfare”!  He was alone, destitute and without food because of a famine in the land.  How interesting that we are often persuaded by those ‘friends’ who are looking for ‘something’, usually ‘for nothing’, but leave when it’s no longer convenient or profitable!

Then as we go on, it’s my favorite part, the “pig pen”!  Here is a fine young Jewish man—a wealthy one, and remember to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, wealth meant “God’s favor”—who had chosen foolishly, demanded “his portion” of his father’s wealth, took it, left town, found new friends, spent the wealth foolishly, if not in immorality, indulgently, and in self-importance until the money ran out—the friends ran out—the food ran out—but his belly was now hungry! So, where did he wind up?  In the pig pen! This fine, formerly upstanding, Jewish young man has now been reduced to the “pig pen”, not only feeding the pigs, but being so hungry, he was fain to eat from the very “pig trough”!  But here we have the whole point of the parable—until we see our circumstances in reality—a pig pen of our own making—we have no hope of restoration.

In verses 17-20 we see the key to salvation—recognition of sin—a willingness to see our own sin and be willing to repent (turn from our sin to God), and come to God with no conditions, no demands for blessings or provision of anything but salvation in Jesus!  Oh, what a different message than we often hear around us today!

But then, the most beautiful part of this story, when the son was on his way home, the Father (implying that HE has been looking for his son for all this time) seeing the son, a long way off, ran to greet him, and welcome him home; even before the son made his declaration of repentance—the Father knew!  God knows, when you take that first step.  Don’ let the enemy of your soul prevent you from taking that first step!

I invite you to recognize your pig pen, recognize those people who are holding you in the pig pen, recognize that sin is contagious, and there are those who are willingly sinning and want you to join them in that pig pen, and the judgment it brings.

Paul describes it in a different way, those who are pleased to be in sin, want company.

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over to a reprobate mind,

to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness, fornication,

wickedness,         covetousness,

maliciousness;     full of envy,

murder,                debate,

deceit,                  malignity;

whisperers,         30 Backbiters,

haters of God,      despiteful,

proud,                  boasters,

inventors of evil things,   disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding,   covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,        unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure in them

that do them.”  Romans 1:28-32

Who are you running with?  Are you caught in a pig pen that you think you can’t get out of?  Remember that Jesus is greater than anyone or anything that may be holding you.  If you don’t know Jesus, you can call on HIM today.  If you do know Him and belong to Him but have let the enemy have a stronghold in your life—you can repent and call on Jesus who will forgive, deliver, and cleanse your sin!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  Come to the Father while there is time.

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return

unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

Don’t run with the pigs—The Father is waiting for you!

Amen and Amen!!!

Who’s Grace, Peace And Love??? Bible Ballistics: BBs 786

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Choices And Consequences, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Love, Love Is Action, Peace, Peace Of The Rock, Salvation, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way, The Word Or The World?, TODAY, Trusting Jesus?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #786   Who’s Grace, Peace And Love???

 

I was thinking this morning about the profound theology that we often miss from the Apostle’s letters, and I’d like us to just consider the simple truth that we may often miss.

“To all that be in Rome,

beloved of God,

called to be saints:

Grace to you

and peace

from God our Father,

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ

for you all,

that your faith is spoken of

throughout the whole world.”  Romans 1:7-8

What is grace?  Grace is often defined as “unmerited favor” and while that is true, it is so much more in our biblical understanding of the favor of God to extend to us the act of forgiveness of our SIN through the blood of Jesus.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”   Colossians 1:12-14

So, Paul was praying God’s continued grace upon the Romans not just for saving grace but grace to daily live for Jesus!  We need the same today!  Even as Paul prayed for the Corinthian believers as well.

“Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from God our Father,

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always on your behalf,

for the grace of God

which is given you by Jesus Christ;

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him,

in all utterance,

and in all knowledge;”   1 Corinthians 1:3-5

Our life should reflect the grace that we have received from our Lord Jesus—saving grace—but also the “living” grace which we are to grow in daily—in fact moment by moment.  Peter also mentions this grace.

“Ye therefore, beloved,

seeing ye know these things before,

beware lest ye also, being led away

with the error of the wicked,

fall from your own

stedfastness.  

18 But grow in grace,

and in the knowledge

of our Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ.

To him be glory

both now and for ever.

Amen.”  2 Peter 3:17-18

We are to be aware of those who are deceivers, liars, and false teacher/preachers, knowing The Word of God for ourselves; growing in this grace that God imparts to those who come to Him through Jesus!  And Jesus Himself told us the import of love!

“By this shall all men know

that ye are my disciples,

if ye have love

one to another.”  John 13:35

“If ye love me,

keep my commandments.”  John 14:15

As we pray for one another may we spread the faith, love, hope and encouragement of God’s Word one with another.  It was important for the Apostles, and it should be important to us.  Remember ‘love’ here is “agapao” or agape love—the heart that does that which is best for the recipient—be it Jesus or those around us!  Lord help me see through the eyes of your “love”?

“But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

And one of scripture’s greatest reminders:

“For now we see through a glass, darkly;

 but then face to face:

now I know in part;

but then shall I know

even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these is charity.”   1 Corinthians 13:12-13

Amen and Amen!!!

‘Nuff said…….!

 

Seizing Jesus, Or…..??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 11

06 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Amazing Grace, Before the foundation of the world, Believe IN Jesus, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Follow Jesus, Full Of what?, seizing Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 11   Seizing Jesus, Or……???

 

“Wherefore

seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”   Hebrews 12:1-2

This is one of my favorite passages, for it is so chocked full of instructions that we can apply practically to our lives.  Hebrews 11 is nicknamed “The Hall of Faith” for it not only describes what faith “IS”—”the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”—it also tells us what ‘faith’ looks like in the lives of believers.  Yet, all the pictures aren’t the same, contrary to a lot of popular teaching; not everyone who is listed in this “Hall of Faith” was rich, not all were famous, some men, some women, children; and the last part of the chapter deals with those who suffered persecution, did without, died without fanfare but they loved their God, and HE found them faithful!  That’s what matters, not just what other people think of us!  While we are to care about and preserve our testimony, we are to do that by “looking unto Jesus”!  Why?  For a lot of reasons, but the author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus IS the “author and finisher of our faith”—that’s reason enough!

That means more than just what HE did at Calvary, but also that it was God’s plan from “before the foundation of the world”—in other words, HE (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) created us knowing that we would “sin” yet had already made a plan for our salvation that would cost “His only begotten Son” on a cruel Roman cross! All so that we could have life—abundant life here and eternal life with HIM later.  And in the interim (here on earth), we are instructed to remember those who set the examples that are mentioned in chapter 11, to “lay aside” the sin that trips us up, running our own race—the race that JESUS sets before us—with our eyes on the prize, JESUS!  All knowing the price that my salvation cost Jesus, with gratitude, love, and devotion to serve my KING!  The ONE who was “the plan” from “before the foundation of the world”!

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us

with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places

in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him

in love:  

5 Having predestinated us

unto the adoption of children

by Jesus Christ

to himself,

according to the good pleasure

of his will,” Ephesians 1:3-5

What a joy and delight to know that HE chose you/me to be HIS children, it’s the only way to heaven! To seize JESUS and HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for our salvation!

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:12-13

Jesus is the joy of my heart, and I truly want to please HIM, yet I fail so miserably some days, but Praise His name, HIS grace is sufficient to make me more and more into HIS image, when I cling to HIM and HIS Word.

“And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image

of his Son,

that he might be

the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say

to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:27-31

As we seek Jesus, we will find that others don’t always like what we’re doing, and not everyone who brags on you has your best interest at heart.  Not everyone who smiles, or seems to be listening to you, is necessarily really hearing what you have to share, or wanting to learn what God has called you to teach, or follow the Jesus that you follow.  And in our culture, believe me, everyone doesn’t follow the “biblical Jesus”—or HIS cross.  But we must keep our eyes on the prize—our Lord’s pleasure, His grace, and His glory when we seek HIM—not worldly popularity, or financial prosperity, or positive “press” coverage!  Where are my/your eyes?

“Brethren,

I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14

What are we treasuring; seizing; focusing on?  Let’s press on together for our King Jesus!  HE is my Lord and King?  How about you?  Are we acting like it?  Let’s commit to “deny…self, and take up…(my) cross daily, and follow…(Jesus).”

Amen and Amen!!!

A Confidence Beyond Weariness!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #773

07 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by in All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Approved Unto God, Beauty of Holiness, Choices And Consequences, Doubt and Confusion?, Trials, Troubles, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Walking With Jesus, Weariness

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #773 A Confidence Beyond Weariness!!!

 

While I haven’t posted much lately, I have had the faithfulness of God on my mind.  We’ve had some severe health issues facing us lately, and through all of the strain and the weariness, God is ever faithful.  On that I will ever stand, for with Job I count the faithfulness of God above all things

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms

destroy this body,

yet in my flesh

shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

 and not another;

 though my reins be consumed

within me.”  Job 19:25-27

I shall see GOD, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Job knew it, and so do I.  How about you?  We who belong to Jesus shall behold HIM, and yet even more importantly, in this earthly life, is the necessity that we “behold” God here and now, that through HIS Word we come to know HIM more and more personally and intimately!  James reminds us that it is by beholding the reality of God’s person, character, and truth that we can know and behold HIM more and more, here, and now!

“Wherefore

lay apart all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

 into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.”  James 1:21-25

As you/I know more and more of God’s Word, and learn to trust to His faithfulness, we can come to know more and more of our/my GOD, my Lord, and my KING.  We can simply glance at truth, without considering its import.  As Paul told his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, we are to “study” to know God’s Word that we might find ourselves approved before GOD, knowing that God’s Word is perfectly sufficient unto all our needs, especially teaching us of Himself!!!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

In our vernacular, mature (not sinlessly perfect), and equipped for all that God calls us to be and do!

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

As Paul also tells us about salvation and good works—they work together, by God’s faithful provision.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And as we draw near to HIM, we can learn to be more of what God calls us to be, HOLY, and able to fulfill the “good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”. (And you’ll note below that our call is to “holiness” not “happiness”, not a very popular thought today!)

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

 at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

It is this confidence in God, HIS Word, and HIS call, that sustains me and will sustain you, if you will but delve into it, and take the truths of God into your heart.  Much like what the Proverbs say:

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

So, if I may sum it all up, we are all faced with trials, crises, difficulties, and times of extreme weariness; we must each choose what we will do with our crises—will we keep our eyes on Jesus, or on our own resources.  It’s your choice, but remember, there is a test.

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher of our faith;”  Hebrews 12:2a

Amen and Amen!!!