Tags
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, By HIS blood, Delighted in JESUS, Fret NOT!, God's glory NOT mine!, Jesus Saves!, John 7:16-18, Psalm 105:1-4, Psalm 37:3-8, Romans 5:1-11, The Desire of MY Heart, To God be the glory, Trust in the Lord
The Desire Of My Heart??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 05
I have a simple word to share with you today. I pray that God will touch your heart and mine and draw us close to Himself that we might be a reflection of HIS glory and not our own!
“O give thanks unto the LORD;
call upon his name:
make known his deeds
among the people.
2 Sing unto him,
sing psalms unto him:
talk ye of all
his wondrous works.
3 Glory ye
in his holy name:
let the heart of them rejoice
that seek the LORD.
4 Seek the LORD,
and his strength:
seek his face evermore.” Psalm 105:1-4
The Psalms always encourage my heart and reading, rehearsing, and memorizing them is worthy of our time and effort, for they remind us continually of the faithfulness of our God and our need for HIS presence, grace, power, and love. Jesus also reminded us that it is God’s glory we are to pursue not our own–oh, how far our culture has come–and usually in the opposite direction (due in great part to the media–social, broadcast, movies, and music!)!
“Jesus answered them, and said,
My doctrine is not mine,
but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will,
he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God,
or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself
seeketh his own glory:
but he that seeketh his glory that sent him,
the same is true,
and no unrighteousness is in him.” John 7:16-18
Yet, where do we find ‘righteousness’? Only in Jesus, through the blood that cleanses us “from all sin”! Oh, thank you Jesus for the price that you paid for me, that I might have your righteousness, peace, and love. It’s so hard to not just give you pages of scriptural evidence of HIS power and provision, but I pray that God will lead you to Himself through HIS Word, and one of the most powerful pictures of what God does in us when we come to Jesus is found in Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth! Its context is amazing, and I pray that it will encourage your heart.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God,
who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation;
19 To wit,
that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses
unto them;
and hath committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ’s stead,
be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him
to be sin for us,
who knew no sin;
that we might be made
the righteousness of God
in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Have you received the blood-bought righteousness of Jesus? He came that we might “have life…more abundantly…”, all because “God so loved…” you and me! Again Paul makes this so clear in his letter to the Roman believers.
“Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access
by faith
into this grace
wherein we stand,
and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God.…
….5 And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength,
in due time
Christ died for the ungodly…
…. 8 But God commendeth his love
toward us,
in that,
while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
9 Much more then,
being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath
through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled,
we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so,
but we also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have
now received the atonement.” Portions of Romans 5:1-11
Even as Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15, that he could only share that which he had received–so it is for every genuine believer in Jesus–it’s all of God, and we are to praise Him, for HIS amazing gifts–
HIS glory–
HIS grace–
HIS love–
HIS peace–
HIS atoning sacrifice–
HIS joy–
HIS Holy Spirit–
HIS reconciliation–
How could we take HIS glory for ourselves? I would like to leave you with a portion of one of my favorite Psalms, to ponder on and draw strength, wisdom, grace, and encouragement from, that we will be able to stand fast in this “evil day”, being a reflection of the glory of our God–not self!
“Trust in the LORD,
and do good;
so shalt thou dwell in the land,
and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;
and he shall give thee the desires
of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;
trust also in him;
and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness
as the light,
and thy judgment
as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD,
and wait patiently for him:
fret not thyself
because of him who prospereth
in his way,
because of the man who bringeth
wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger,
and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise
to do evil.” Psalm 37:3-8
May your day be filled with the “joy of the Lord” and His sweet presence, glory, and grace; for if HE is my delight, His will and purposes will be a delight to me and the desire of my heart will be to walk with HIM today…and today…and today!!!
Amen and Amen!!!