Tag Archives: Romans 8:28-31

I Wish I’d Known The Cost??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 11

29 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Children, Choices And Consequences, Darkness or Light?, Let You Light So Shine, Lies

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 11 I Wish I’d Known The Cost???

 

I would like to share some things that have been on my heart and mind lately.  As most of you know (those who follow my blog) it’s coming up on a year since my daughter was murdered, and while I miss her terribly, my thoughts have gone in a different direction recently, and I’d like to share a few of them with you.  I pray that my insights will bring hope, help and healing to some besides myself.

I was raised in a Christian home, and was blessed to have parents who loved me, taught me and had expectations for my life.  I was a young woman in the 60’s and 70’s and I bought into many of the lies of the enemy—the “me” lies—that my wants and desires were the most important thing in life.  I made some poor—no sinful—choices that followed that mindset; and while I chose to follow my “heart” in a fleshly sense, at the same time I defied the principles of God.  Sadly, many of the people I listened to (even faithful believers and pastors) counseled me unbiblically that “God” wanted me to be “happy”, and if a divorce would make me “happy”, then I should “go for it”.  I chose to pursue my selfish, fleshly lusts and desires dragging my children along for the ride—to their detriment and mine.

Without going into all the gory details, suffice it to say that God’s Word proved true when the counsel that I chose to follow didn’t!  Just like God’s Word said!

“But if ye will not do so,

behold, ye have sinned against the LORD:

and be sure

your sin

will find you out.”  Numbers 32:23

Much like the prodigal son (or daughter), I learned the hard way that while God is merciful and long-suffering, He is also pure and holy, and we must face our sin, repent and come to Jesus, as the song says, “Just As I Am”!  But praise God, HE never leaves us “As” we were!  But there are consequences to our sin; and while we have quoted this verse again and again, it is ever true and apropos in our culture today.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8

My choices caused my children harm that I can’t forget, but by God’s grace I have tried to face them with truthfulness and hope for the future.  But one of the choices I made led to an abuse of my daughter, the effects of which followed her and me into her adulthood and ultimately led to some poor choices that ended in her death.  I can’t describe how I have wrestled with these issues of my past; and maybe you’ve had issues from your past that haunt you as well.  I’m here to tell you that God forgives, heals and restores as we yield to HIM, giving God the opportunity to transform us into the image of our Lord Jesus.  There is a verse in Joel that has brought me such comfort and courage on this journey of life, because as God promised Israel a time of restoration, HE gave that same assurance to me many years ago.  Many have asked through the years, how I can go on serving God so faithfully with a past that was so checkered, and I always reply, “It’s God’s grace!”, and I can go on because of God’s righteousness, power and grace as HE enables me to be and do all that HE saved me to be/do.  I can walk in the light of HIS forgiveness and cleansing, knowing that He forgives and cleanses as I keep the lines open between HIM and me!

“And I will restore to you the years

that the locust hath eaten,

the cankerworm,

and the caterpiller,

and the palmerworm,

my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty,

and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the LORD

your God,

that hath dealt wondrously with you:

and my people shall never be ashamed.”  Joel 2:25

I have a relationship with Jesus based on His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin—and HE has imparted to me HIS righteousness, and called and equipped me to walk in it—in confidence of HIS adequacy not my own!

“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 5:21

Do you know Jesus?  Have you made a mess of your past? Is your present questionable?  Well, my friend, when you belong to Jesus, HE is ever working to make you a vessel of honor in HIS kingdom!

“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 8:28-31

If you don’t know Jesus, you can come to HIM today.

“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

When we belong to Jesus, we are called to march to the “Jesus” drumbeat and not the world’s.  So, my friends where ever you are in life—look up—walk forward—and press on for, with and through Jesus.  He has won the battle for our LIFE, and in HIM—we WIN!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”   Romans 12:1-2

In closing, a mighty word from the Apostle Paul!

“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

Press on dear ones—yes, I wish I’d known—but God did, and HE has picked me up, dusted me off (by the blood of Jesus) and sent me forth in HIS service.  But the price of choosing poorly can be high.  I wish I’d known, yet I know that HE is still waiting for you, and HE is a forgiving, life-changing God!

I simply remind us all to please choose wisely, so that you won’t have to live with regrets of the past.  If you listen to God today instead of the enemy of your soul, the regrets will be few, and the blessings abundant (and even if you’ve already made those poor choices—God is here to lift you up, restore you to usefulness, and glorify HIMSELF in YOU!). Jesus still saves and changes lives today—

HE is ready to transform your life today—

Because of His sacrifice on the cross!

Open that door—HE will come in!   Amen and Amen!!!

The Question Of The Pearl??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #680

16 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in A Father's Love, Pearls, The Question of the Pearl?, Trust

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #680  The Question Of The Pearl???

 

“And the twelve gates

were twelve pearls;

every several gate was of one pearl:

and the street of the city was pure gold,

as it were transparent glass.

22 And I saw no temple therein:

for the Lord God Almighty

and the Lamb

are the temple of it.

23 And the city had no need

of the sun,

neither of the moon,

 to shine in it:

for the glory of God did lighten it,

and the Lamb is the light thereof.”  Revelation 21:21-23

I am going to do something that I seldom do, and that is take the liberty of offering some food for thought that is purely conjecture.  It is just a thought that I can’t get out of my mind.  As you’ve probably noticed I haven’t written as much as I normally do, but we took some time away to get some rest and refreshing; as most of you know it’s been a hard 9 months for us with the murder of my daughter, and seemingly just one crises after another, and the enemy so busy wreaking havoc and spiritual chaos on every hand.  Friends and loved ones going through great spiritual warfare, health issues, crises of faith, as the song says, “fightings within and fears without” (from Just As I Am, written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835—and as true today as it was then!)!  It is a busy time of spiritual warfare, but I don’t want to talk today about the warfare, but, in a sense, about the joys of victory!

In the passage above, we see the description of the New Jerusalem—the bride (see Revelation 21:9-11)—and its splendor, and as I was praying for a friend the other day, I was brought to this passage, and had the thoughts that I would like to share with you today (and I shared some of them with my friend already) concerning this reference to these gates of pearl.  We’re told that there are twelve gates, and each gate is a single pearl.  Now that is most mind-boggling in and of itself, but I want us to consider the pearl.  What is a pearl?

A pearl is an irritant.  I come from the Gulf Coast and love oysters—and a time or two I’ve gotten a surprise in my mouth, the beginning of a pearl!  When a grain of sand or some other irritant makes its way into the oyster and isn’t washed out, the oyster begins to deal with the irritant by secreting what God gave it, to begin to surround this unwelcome ‘irritator’ and layer upon layer is formed around this irritator until it eventually loses its ability to irritate due to the work of God’s design within the oyster, it becomes a smooth jewel that we call a pearl!  A priceless gem used to adorn the greatest of mankind.  This irritant has become a treasure rare, yet it cost the oyster time, effort and the ability to endure until the work was accomplished.

What does this have to do with me?  With you?  Well, I just happened to think about this process of earthly oysters and pearls, and I can’t help but think that the heavenly pictures that God gives us, have a purpose (which we often don’t understand this side of heaven); yet, I’d like to offer a premise for you to consider!  I’m not making a great theological foundation, but hopefully some food for thought about the great wonders of our God’s ways; and they are never fruitless or purposeless, so I was just thinking, could those pearls (those enormous pearls) be the picture of all of our trials, sufferings, and the “irritants” that God has allowed to come into our lives?  Could God be telling us that we will rejoice throughout all eternity for the things that HE used to conform us into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus?

“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 8:28-31

Our God is working all, yes that’s “ALL”, things for our good.  He never says “OOPS”, and He never slips, or takes a nap when we find ourselves in the midst of horrible trials, sufferings and/or human disasters!  God is ever at work to make “you” and “me” who are HIS, into the image of the son!  Oh—glory, glory, praise be to our LORD!  This is that pearl of great price that Jesus talked about, and HE said that the one who found it, sold all that he had to purchase it!  What are you and I doing for HIM—with our “irritant”—with our present distress?  God wants us to give it all to HIM and watch HIM add to those amazing pearls an eternal reminder of HIS unseen purposes!  Can you see it?  We can if we will but stand fast in the truth of HIS sovereign grace, goodness and love for us!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven

 is like unto a merchant man,

 seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who,

when he had found one pearl

of great price,

went and sold all that he had,

and bought it.”  Matthew 13:45-46

So, what am I saying?  I’m simply asking you to consider the true value that God has placed on you!  HE gave Jesus to die for our sin, so that we could spend eternity with HIM; but He also saved us to be of value in this world to increase HIS kingdom.  What are you doing for Jesus?  Have you given up because the road is hard?  Have you thrown in the towel, and taken to yourself a ‘god’ of your own making?  And, no it doesn’t have to be a ‘little statue of gold or silver’, it can be your passions, your greed, your “acceptable” addiction, your bitterness, or unforgiveness, you name it, the list could go on and on, but suffice it to say, God is waiting for you/I to look up and stop looking at the lions but look up to Daniel’s God who delivers, for HE never fails.

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel,

Thy God

whom thou servest continually,

he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords;

that the purpose might not be changed

concerning Daniel…

… 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel,

O Daniel,

servant of the living God,

is thy God,

whom thou servest continually,

able to deliver thee

 from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God

 hath sent his angel,

and hath shut the lions’ mouths,

that they have not hurt me:

forasmuch as before him

innocency was found in me;

and also before thee, O king,

have I done no hurt.”   Portions of Daniel 6:16-22

Are you standing confident in God, as Daniel did even when he was falsely accused, or (as my former Pastor Brad often says) are you “doubting, pouting, and dropping outing”?  You can choose to cave, or you can choose to determine to live in truth NOT the lies of the enemy of your soul, he who comes only to “steal…kill…and destroy”!  Please don’t let him steal what’s NOT his!  You belong to Jesus (and if you don’t yet, you can call on Him in repentance and faith to forgive your sin and save your soul, giving HIM your all), and HE IS working if you will but look up, stand fast on what you know, NOT what you “feel”.  God is there, you’re just not looking, not opening your eyes.  I implore you to consider the price!  Whatever you are mad about, hurt over or fed up with—tell God about it, HE CAN HANDLE IT (you and the problems!)!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Let God work on your irritant—HE makes pearls out of them!

Amen and Amen!!!

Looking Ahead With Confidence??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #518

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Grace, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Perseverance, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY, Tomorrow, Trust God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #518 Looking Ahead With Confidence???

 

As we approach a new year ahead, let’s take a few minutes to assess our progress. It is helpful to look back and consider our successes and our failures, and while I’m not much on making “resolutions” for the New Year, I do think we can benefit from asking God to help us see where we can improve our walk with HIM! As we seek His face and the leadership of His precious Holy Spirit, we can press on faithfully. And while not dwelling on it, we can consider our past while we pursue the present that God is calling us to! But remember that the enemy will try to keep us focused on our failures, paralyzing us to going forward with Jesus—don’t listen to him! Paul gives us some good advice in this arena.

“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

We must accept the past as just that—passed! While our past will always affect our present and our future it doesn’t have to dictate our direction or paralyze us from serving our Lord! God has called us to be a reflection of HIS glory to a lost and dying world, and He will supply our every need as we walk forward in HIS service.

“But ye are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises

of him who hath called you

out of darkness

into his marvellous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people,

but are now the people of God:

which had not obtained mercy,

but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

When we receive the mercy of God, we are equipped for HIS service, by His power and might—so we can go forward in confidence regardless of our past, for it has “passed”.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you

that ye walk worthy

of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,”    Ephesians 4:1

We are His called, and He will accomplish His purpose in us as we yield to His Spirit, and walk in His strength, according to His Word and His grace. He is ever at work making us more like our Lord and Master, Jesus. You can take heart, for God is ever at work in and through His own.

“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 8:28-31

I pray that you know HIM, and will commit yourself anew to yield to His working in you. He is your shepherd and His voice is ever leading you, and if you haven’t been listening—you can change that today!!!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30

If you don’t know HIM—I pray that you will hear His voice and invite Him in to sit on the throne of your heart! He is calling—won’t you open the door today? I pray that God will make Himself real to YOU today, for as Jesus says:

“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