Do We See What God Sees???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #365

“Blessed be the LORD,

that hath given rest unto his people Israel,

according to all that he promised:

there hath not failed one word

of all his good promise,

which he promised

by the hand of Moses his servant.

57 The LORD our God be with us,

as he was with our fathers:

let him not leave us,

nor forsake us:

58 That he may incline our hearts unto him,

to walk in all his ways,

and to keep his commandments,

and his statutes,

and his judgments,

which he commanded our fathers.

59 And let these my words,

wherewith I have made supplication

before the LORD,

be nigh unto the LORD our God

day and night,

that he maintain the cause of his servant,

and the cause of his people Israel

at all times,

as the matter shall require:

60 That all the people of the earth may know

that the LORD is God,

and that there is none else.

61 Let your heart therefore be perfect

with the LORD our God,

to walk in his statutes,

and to keep his commandments,

as at this day.”  1 Kings 8:56-61

As Solomon and the people of Israel celebrated the completion and dedication of the temple that Solomon had been called to build in his father’s place (See 1 Chronicles 28:3); all had gathered to offer sacrifices and offerings as they rejoiced at the presence of God in their midst.  Solomon praised God and prayed for His continued blessings on the people—sadly many failed to continue in God’s ways, including Solomon (See 1 Kings 11:3), because they chose to go their own way and disregard the law and commands of the God they were praising ‘today’!  How about us?  What are we doing today—both inside and outside of the ‘house of The Lord’!

What does our life say to the world? Why did Solomon proclaim all of these things?  Why was he challenging his people to be found faithful to God?  I think verse 60 says it all.

“That all the people of the earth may know

that the LORD is God,

and that there is none else”

What is my life telling the world about my God?  Is God seeing a true reflection of Himself and Jesus in me?  Jesus said something similar Himself as He prayed for us in John 17, just before going to the cross for us.

“That they all may be one;

as thou, Father,

art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.”   John 17:21-23

Again, what does the world see in me?  Do they see Jesus or a carbon copy of the world with a “Jesus t-shirt” on?  What does God see in me?  Is He saying of me the same thing He spoke to Jeremiah?

“Declare this in the house of Jacob,

and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this,

O foolish people,

and without understanding;

which have eyes,

and see not;

which have ears,

and hear not:” Jeremiah 5:20-21

God is talking to this same people who praised His name at the dedication of the temple, yet now they have defiled it with idolatry, immorality and wicked hearts. What are we doing to/in the physical house of The Lord?  What are we doing in, with and to our bodies which, if we are genuinely born again, are the Temple of God (See 1 Corinthians 6:19)?  Have we ignored God’s call to holiness and said of our wicked life choices, “…but I’m under grace…”!  James had something to say to those who claim His name but live under their own power; James says it so much better than I can, I’ll let God’s Word speak for me; God sees the heart inside of every choice we make, be they for Him or against Him—even when we profusely claim “grace” over our sin! I’m not talking about genuine repentant hearts, but presumption on God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. Ask Jesus to search your heart—I can’t, but HE can and will.

“From whence come wars and fightings among you?

come they not hence, even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;

and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

Are you drawing near to God or the world?  Are you judging yourself with God’s judgment or the “everyone is doing it” line?  As I often say, “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!”, it isn’t simply claiming the name of Jesus, and living our own way, but being transformed by the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin…”!  Have you been washed in the blood or are you trying to work your way to heaven—won’t work!  Here’s what Jesus has to say, it’s what God sees that counts—for He sees the heart not just the words!

“Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 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.”  Matthew 7:20-23.                (Be sure and read 24-27 as well)

The Apostle John gives us some wonderful insight, and if we will heed his call to walk in the light, we will not wander around in the dark.

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10

What is God seeing in you and me?  The reflection of His Son or the world?  Please read through this passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans slowly and prayerfully. God will speak, if we but listen.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 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 8:26-31

May God guide your heart to Himself.

Amen and Amen!!!