Reflections in The WORD

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Jesus Cleanses a Leper: A Revealing Healing

⁴⁰And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ⁴¹And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. ⁴²And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. ⁴³And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; ⁴⁴And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. ⁴⁵But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.” ~ Mark 1:40-45

In this encounter with Jesus, a leper comes to Him and makes an impassioned plea for healing. Jesus, moved with compassion, heals the leper, but then makes His own “request”. He instructs the leper to keep the miracle a secret. However, the leper fails to reciprocate Jesus’ compassion. Instead, he broadcasts the news of his healing so much that Jesus was unable to enter openly into the city. This report illustrates for us two key challenges that face us every day. The first is avoiding self-absorption and the second is activating faith.

Me, Me, Me it’s all about Me.

This passage shows us that the leper was greatly concerned about his condition. Who wouldn’t be? The physical and mental anguish of leprosy is real. It was both rotting away his body and robbing him of the comfort of friends and family. He either had to suffer his slow painful death alone or, at best, with others in the same depressing predicament. His pain was real. Likewise, many of us are dealing with truly difficult circumstances—gravely ill children, joblessness, impending homelessness, mental illness, and so on. And, like the leper, we cry out to Jesus for relief.

However, the leper had a problem he wasn’t aware of. He was struggling with leprosy, but he was also ravaged with the disease of self-absorption. The leper was preoccupied with what he wanted Jesus to do for him. But, he was oblivious to doing anything for Jesus. Even when Jesus gave him a clear instruction, he was so caught up in the joy of his healing that he plunged headlong into direct disobedience to his Healer. We should ask the leper and ourselves this question: “Is what Jesus can do for us more important than what we can do for Jesus?” In other words, is our emphasis on receiving from God, or serving God?

Scripture clearly teaches that it is better to give than to receive

“I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ~ Acts 20:35

Moreover, our purpose here on earth is to carry out God’s agenda which includes loving our neighbor and walking with God.

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” ~ Micah 6:8

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” ~ Matthew 22:37-40

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven… He must increase, but I must decrease.” ~ John 3:27-30

Therefore, it is crucial that we get our lives in relation to God in perspective: the important thing is not what I want; the important thing is what God commands. As real as my difficulties are, God’s will far supersedes my desires.

Nevertheless, there is more. Believers have already received the greatest miracle possible in their lives: salvation: the new birth. One day, overwhelmed by the sin disease that doomed to an eternal life of darkness and anguish, we called out to Jesus: asking Him to make us clean. And out of his great compassion and mercy, He did. He removed the curse of sin from our lives, washed us clean and reunited us with God. Then just like the leper who was healed, Jesus gave us a command: “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21). In that one command, Jesus instructs us to leave our agendas behind, to put aside everything and make Him our ‘one thing’.

What has our response been to that command? Have we, like the now-healed leper, succumbed to the dreaded disease of self-absorption? Are we so deeply involved with fulfilling our desires, ambitions, goals and/or plans that we forget Jesus’ command to follow Him, to conform to His agenda?

In broadcasting the news of his healing, it probably was not the now-healed leper’s intention to hinder Jesus’ ministry. The now-healed leper was probably possibly just overcome by his desire to share his joy/excitement. But the fact is that he did hinder Jesus’ ministry by his actions.

Similarly, we don’t usually set out to hinder God’s plan when we choose to go our own way. Like the now-healed leper, we too are often overcome by the pressing desire to change our situation: to escape our troubles or to reach our goals. However, whenever we go our own way we are then not going God’s way and so we inevitably ‘get in the way’ of God’s perfect plan.

Therefore, if we are to accomplish God’s will instead of our own, we must constantly seek to do things His way and follow His commands as outlined in His Word, The Bible. We must always seek to subjugate our goals and aspirations to His goals and aspirations for us. Unlike the now-healed leper, we must accept by faith that it is more important to obey Jesus’ commands than for Him to fulfill our requests: we are here to serve Him.

Perplexed Perspectives (can) Foster Faith.

From the now-healed leper’s point of view, Jesus’ request must have sounded quite strange.

Why would Jesus want him to keep quiet about the greatest thing that ever happened to him?
Why wouldn’t Jesus want everyone to know how great He (Jesus) was?
Why shouldn’t everyone know that there was a solution to their health problems in the community?

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. ” ~ Isaiah 50:10

Unlike the now-healed leper, we are privileged to have the ‘back story’. As we have discussed previously, Jesus’ main aim was to preach the Word to the people (Mark 1:38). Yes, Jesus cared much about their physical sickness, BUT He was much, much more concerned about their spiritual sickness. As much as they were suffering physically, their spiritual suffering was greater still. Though their physical ailments imperiled their bodies here on earth, their spiritual ailment put in danger where their spirits would dwell for eternity.

But the fact that the now-healed leper was ‘in the dark’ about the reasons behind Jesus’ instruction is exactly what enlightens us. Specifically, we too are usually unaware of the reasons for God’s commands or the reason’s we are in certain situations. Why does Jesus forbid divorce (Matthew 19:3-9) when He knows how awful my husband/wife is? I worked hard and did what was right, why did God allow me to lose my job? How can I trust Him now? However, it is when we don’t understand that we exercise faith. And that’s exactly what God wants from us, faith.

“…The gospel of Christ… is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth… therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:16-17

The now-healed leper had been freed from the disease of leprosy, but Jesus also wanted to free him from the disease of sin. And so, for that to happen, the leper needed to exercise faith. The Gospel of Christ first works in us salvation by faith. Then it works in us sanctification by faith. We might not understand the way God does things, but that’s okay because He wants us to accept His way by faith, not by sight, not by human logic. That’s what pleases Him!

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” ~ Hebrews 11:6

¸¸.•¨•¸¸.•¨•¸¸.•¨•

Let us therefore, commit ourselves to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Let us submit to His will and purpose. Let us concern ourselves far more with what we must do for Him, rather than what we want Him to do for us. And, when we are confused, as we almost inevitably will be, let us use the opportunity to exercise faith in Him. In so doing, may we not become hindrances/obstacles to His will, but instead channels/conduits of His love and Divine purpose.

Amen.

The Believer’s Battle is Spiritual (not Political)

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“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

This verse instructs us to pray for all men, especially for those in authority that we (Believers) may live in peace and quiet. Sadly, the sentiment of this verse seems quite dissonant with the tones emanating from the church today. The strains of political activism welling up in the Body of Christ are antithetical to the principle outlined in our text.

Paul was writing to Christians living under the tyranny the Roman government had become. Christians were deemed a subversive anti-Roman rebel group to be put down. Thus, their lives and livelihood were under constant threat from those with political power.

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ… To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” ~ Ephesians 3:8, 10-11

The Jews at the time frequently exploited this sentiment to get Christians in trouble: to have them beaten and expelled from their homes/cities. There was no democracy, no way for the common man to express his political will. Caesar, made his edicts and you either “toed the line” or suffered the consequences. Taxes were high and rights for non-Roman citizens were unheard of.

It is under these conditions that Paul encouraged Timothy to PRAY for the authorities. Paul recognized, as should we, that the battle to be fought was not political; rather it was (and still remains) a SPIRITUAL battle. He alludes to this in 2 Corinthians 3:5 and Ephesians 6:12,

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” ~ 2 Corinthians 3:5

“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.” ~ Ephesians 6:12

Indeed, Jesus did the same. When the people tried to make Him King (John 6:15), he resisted, because the solution they needed was not political but SPIRITUAL. Even if He, Jesus, became their political leader their problem still would not be solved. The solution to the sin problem that plagues mankind is not political, it is SPIRITUAL. Does anyone think that a change in government (of any type) will bring about a change in the hearts of men?? Does anyone believe that righteousness can be legislated??

Josiah and Jeremiah

The greatest king of Israel was Josiah (2 Kings 23:25). Josiah eliminated idol worship during his reign. He led the greatest Passover celebration since the time of Moses. He was a king on fire for God. Yet, as Jeremiah (who began preaching during Josiah’s reign) explained, the hearts of the people were not for God (Jeremiah 3:6). Despite all of Josiah’s reforms, despite his great leadership he could not solve the sin problem of his people. The solution they needed was not political; it was SPIRITUAL.

Daniel and the Angel

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” ~ 1 Peter 2:13-17

To get another perspective on this issue, consider Daniel 10:12-14, 20. In the tenth chapter of the book of Daniel, Daniel sees a vision which puts him in great spiritual and physical distress. Eventually, an angel comes to his aid, to explain the vision and encourage Daniel.

However, the angel also relates that he had been delayed in coming to Daniel because he had been in a battle with “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” for 120 days. Eventually, the chief angel, Michael, had to come and help him overcome the “prince of the kingdom of Persia”.

In addition, as this angel was about to leave Daniel, he further explained that he was going back to fight the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” before the “prince of Grecia (Greece)” would appear.

Now, to be clear, these “princes” were the rebellious angels that had been thrown out of heaven with lucifer (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:9). However, we also know from (Biblical and secular) history that there was an ongoing battle between Persia and Greece, in which Greece eventually prevailed under the leadership of the famous Alexander the Great.

Therefore, the scene in Daniel gives us a peek into the SPIRITUAL war that rages behind the scenes of what appears, from a purely human perspective, to be a geopolitical struggle. That battle then, just like the battles now, was SPIRITUAL and they can only be won SPIRITUALLY.

The Spiritual Battle

It is with this in mind that Paul urges us to look beyond the political façade and fight SPIRITUAL battles with SPIRITUAL weapons. Vote as you desire, but don’t be fooled: it is NOT the power of the poll that prevails. For Christians to lead a “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” we must rely on the power of PRAYER.

The Wonderful not-so-Secret Secret to Knowing, Loving and Doing God’s Will

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“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” ~ Psalm 40:8

If we ever wonder how we can be motivated to do the will of God, this verse explains it clearly. The delight, the pleasure, the eagerness to do the will of God arises from having His Word, His Law, The Holy Scriptures in our hearts. When we study God’s Word, we will desire to do His will, we will want to obey Him.

An equally beautiful “sister” verse is

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” ~ Psalm 119:11

It complements our text, in that it declares that having (hiding), storing, keeping the Word of God in our hearts keeps us from sin, which is just another way of saying it keeps us doing God’s will.

There we have it, the KEY to doing God’s will, the KEY to avoiding sin, is studying, memorizing, meditating, contemplating God’s Word. The question is, “Will we do it?”

Unlike others, Believers have an unfailing light to guide our steps in this dark world we live in:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105

We CAN know the way to go, we CAN know what path to take, IF, and only IF, we will use the light God has given us.

Moreover, the narrow way the believer follows CAN be joyful, a delight, IF, and only IF, we will commit ourselves to knowing God’s WORD.

Believer:

“Are you feeling confused?” …Study God’s Word, and keep on studying God’s Word.
“Have you lost your zeal, your passion, for the Kingdom of God?” …Study God’s Word, and keep on studying God’s Word.
“Do you want to know what path to take?” …Study God’s Word, and keep on studying God’s Word.
“Do you want to overcome sin?” …Study God’s Word, and keep on studying God’s Word.

When the devil wanted to trick Eve into sinning, the first thing he did was to challenge the veracity/truthfulness of God’s Word. Eve took her focus from God’s Word, and focused on the fruit instead… and thereby fell into sin.

Let us not make the same mistake. Let us keep our focus squarely and continually on the Word of God. Let us not be deceived by the opinions of men, or the lures of the devil. Let us affix the Word of God in our hearts, so that we can be rooted, steadfast, in His Will.

What a DELIGHT!

Meditating on The Mercy of God

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“I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” ~ Psalm 52:8b

Meditate a little on this MERCY of the Lord.

It is TENDER Mercy.
With gentle, loving touch, he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of his mercy as in the matter of it.

It is GREAT Mercy.
There is nothing little in God; his mercy is like himself-it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God.

It is UNDESERVED Mercy (as indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice).
There was no right on the sinner’s part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself.

It is RICH Mercy.
Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart.

It is MANIFOLD Mercy.
As Bunyan says, “All the flowers in God’s garden are double.” There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies.

It is ABOUNDING Mercy.
Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted; it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever.

It is UNFAILING Mercy.
It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be
…with thee in temptation to keep thee from yielding;
…with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking;
…with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance;
…and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

When “The Thrill is Gone”

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“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” ~ Psalm 51:12

Psalm 51 was written after David’s adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11). The eventual consequences of David’s sin (the death of his favourite son, Absalom, the stillbirth of his child by Bathsheba, the murder of another son Amnon, the suicide of a daughter, Tamar, the temporary loss of his throne, etc.) were great. But Psalm 51 indicates that the most painful loss was his intimacy with God and with it the joy of God’s salvation.

We note here that David never lamented about losing salvation, because sin doesn’t take away our salvation, otherwise we would ALL be lost.

However, sin does steal from us the ‘joy of salvation’. And this has always been so. When Adam and Eve sinned, their first reaction was to cover themselves from each other and hide from God (Genesis 3:7-8).

Specifically, for believers–who all have consciences that are sensitized to sin by the Holy Spirit (John 15:26-27; 16:5-15)–sin leaves us feeling exposed and vulnerable. That’s why we try to keep our sins secret from others and that is why we find it hard to talk to God when we are conscious of sin in our lives; we can’t enjoy God’s Word, we can’t enjoy fellowship with Him and we sometimes even find it difficult to truly fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters… “what if they found out??” “what if they knew who i really am?” “what if they knew my weaknesses, my habits, my thoughts, my true beliefs?”

Psalm 51 outlines for us a solution to the “sin problem”. In earlier verses, David confessed his sins to God unreservedly, without excuse, and sought forgiveness. But, in verse 12, David didn’t stop there. For him, forgiveness was not “enough”. He didn’t just want ‘fire insurance’, he wanted to regain the intimacy he once had while walking daily with God.

The challenge for us is this: “Are we (believers) simply satisfied with forgiveness for sin?” “Is ‘forgiveness’ enough?” “Do you/I/we desire that close fellowship with God that produces “joy unspeakable” and is “full of Glory”?”

Finally, in our text, David acknowledged that it is God that will both “restore” and “uphold” us. Despite our best efforts we cannot restore intimacy with God, only He can. Joy is produced by The Holy Spirit working in us (Galatians 5:22-23). And we have no power of our own to stop ourselves from falling into sin again, it is God who must sustain us (Jude 1:24). We overcome sin as God supplies us with the strength and we yield our wills to Him.

Let us, like David, seek not only God’s forgiveness, but let us desire to be close with God. Let us pray for that intimate relationship with God that will give us true joy and keep us away from sin.

When God cannot be Found

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‎”Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” ~ Isaiah 55:6

The striking message from this verse is that God is not always find-able; that there comes a time when we cannot find God… even when we seek Him. This truth tells us that God does not operate on our schedules; rather, we must conform our schedules to His.

When God reaches out to us we have a finite window of opportunity to respond to His call. If we are not saved, we must realize that salvation is not always available to us. There comes a time when the Father will not draw men unto Himself; and we cannot come to Him unless He calls us. Consider these awesome truths:

►“No man can come to me [Jesus], except the Father which hath sent me draw him…” ~ John 6:44a

►“Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me” ~ Proverbs 1:28

►“But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear… Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:” ~ Zechariah 7:11, 13

Clearly, we fool ourselves when we delay in responding to God’s call. We fail to realize what an insult it is to turn God away when He knocks at our door. He will not knock forever.

Nevertheless, there is another side to this coin of truth that has to do with us:

“…but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.” ~ 2 Chronicles 36:13b

While we are rejecting/resisting God’s call, we ourselves are changing. Think of a bottle of milk that decides it’s not ready to go into the refrigerator/fridge. While it delays, it is slowly going sour (spoiling). If it delays long enough it won’t be milk anymore and its place will not be in the refrigerator; it now belongs in the trash. AND, the good refrigerator will not open to let it come in.

Scripture puts it this way:

►“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” ~ Proverbs 29:1

►“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush…” ~ Jeremiah 6:15 and 8:12

While we are resisting God, we are also changing; till eventually we are not even embarrassed/ashamed that we treat God “like dirt”, till we don’t even care that we now prefer our sin to His Holiness.

Finally, our text also has a message for Believers. The saved are also called to be sanctified. We are called not just to accept Jesus as Saviour, we are also challenged to accept Him as LORD of our lives, the One who reigns over our day-to-day, minute-to-minute decisions.

God has already planned out our lives, He has something specific for each of His children to do/accomplish every day. He calls Believers into constant fellowship with Him. That fellowship allows us to get to know Him. That knowledge of Him inwardly transforms us. That transformation makes it possible to discern His will and do it (Romans 12:1-3).

But, sadly, we who are believers often reject His call to communion and go our own way because we are too busy pursuing our own agendas: “we have work to do, bills to pay, people to see, places to go…”. But, God does not operate according to our schedules. We, believers, have a window of opportunity to serve Him. Jesus put it this way:

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” ~ John 9:4

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” ~ Ecclesiastes 12:1

The opportunities that God set aside for us to serve Him today, will not be there tomorrow, or twenty years from now.

The stranger on the bus/subway that God wanted you/me to share the Gospel with, will not be on that bus/subway tomorrow.
The young man/woman who needed some encouragement today, will have hardened his/her heart just a little bit more by tomorrow and won’t even listen to you next year.
The child you could have adopted this year, might already be adopted by a homosexual “couple” next year.

Similarly, the depth of fellowship with God that could be achieved over a twenty-year span of communing with Him, will (most likely) not be available over a one year span. The spiritual growth possible for an individual in a lifetime of studying God’s Word, will not be possible for that person in a year of study towards the end of his/her life. Time spent out of fellowship with God is time spent in misery and frustration; time spent with God is time spent in perfect peace.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” ~ Isaiah 26:3

God is not always find-able; we can only see Him according to the time He sets on His schedule. Therefore, let us seek Him now, IF we still have the opportunity.

Sanctification Secures Supplication

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‎“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” ~ Psalm 37:4

This beautiful verse is a favourite of many: one of God’s precious promises that we hold on to. However, it is quite easy to miss the conditionality of the statement as our focus is drawn, almost exclusively, to the part that tells us what we will “get”/”receive” from God.

In other words, many of us only hear “He [God] shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” But that is only true if the condition stated in the first part of the verse are met “Delight thyself… in the LORD”. It is true that God loves us unconditionally, but it is also true from Scripture that God blesses us CONDITIONALLY.

God doesn’t promise to Bless us, unless and until we are in harmony with Him. This is aptly explained in the following Scripture passage:

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” ~ James 4:3

God does not give us the desires of our un-yielded hearts! God does not give us the desires of our flesh/human-nature.

We petition God for all kinds of gifts and outcomes, and they seem so pure, altruistic and necessary. However, if we have not “delighted ourselves in the Lord” we can’t even begin to see/understand what is good and noble and imperative, because we can only see life through our deeply flawed human perspective.

Therefore, our petitions to God very often fail, or seem to go unanswered. And, at best, we find rationalizations to validate God’s “unfavorable” response (“it was for the best, she’s in a better place now…”). At worst, we grow increasingly disappointed with God and, sometimes subtly/unconsciously, decide to make our way in life without Him. Sure, we keep going to church as a good Christian should, but we quietly go about our business without expectation of God’s desire to bless us, to meet our needs.

But God DOES want to give you/me “the desires of thine heart”, IF we will FIRST fill that heart with Him. That’s the KEY: sanctification secures our supplications.

To be clear, God is merciful; and in His provision many of our needs are fulfilled. Similarly, our petitions can “inadvertently” coincide with God’s will. However, this is entirely different from the purposeful prayer that produces perceivable results; as we are told:

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” ~ James 5:16

Believers don’t have to live impotent or conflicted lives. We don’t have to wonder about God’s character: whether or not He really cares about us.

We can discover the truth of God’s tender mercies if we will FIRST delight ourselves in Him.

IF we will set aside time, much time, for prayer, for Bible study, for meditating on His word; IF He truly becomes the source of joy in us, THEN we will have hearts/minds that are changed/sanctified (Romans 12:1-3): that are conformed to His will: that see life from His perspective: that can pray for the will of God rather than the will of flesh/man. THEN, when our hearts are at-one/in-tune with God, we WILL receive the desires of that pure heart. As Jesus said:

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” ~ Matthew 5:8

It is when our hearts are purified from human, self-centered desires that we will see, truly see, plainly see, God at work in our lives fulfilling every desire of our sanctified hearts.

The Pattern of Grace

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Habits can be very hard to break. For some reason, this is especially true with unhealthy ones. Human nature, in its fallen state, tends to lean towards its baser tendencies, like muddy water running into a sewer.

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” ~ Proverbs 26:11

We see this pattern in the lives around us. Dysfunction within families tends to be transmitted to the next generation. Children of alcoholics often follow their elders into the bottle. Abusive behaviors often turn victims themselves into perpetrators. Generational sin is a real and observable phenomenon on our world.

“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” ~ Exodus 34:7

But, there is more to the picture than just the pattern of sin. There is also the pattern of grace.

“Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” ~ Luke 21:28b

Left on our own, our species would undoubtedly swallow itself whole in greed and debauchery. But there is One who comes to us with a different way. Like the sun breaking through the clouds, he brings warmth and life and a way out of the mire. We need only to raise our heads and take the hand of help that is extended to us; and even for that, He provides us the strength! The cost is nothing more than to leave the mud and walk with Him on the heights. The rest has been already paid for through His infinite love and wealth.

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Paul describes the new life as one who has been widowed from one husband and then married to another (Romans 7). As the bride of a new and infinitely better husband, we are free to live a new life, free from the obligations to sin and degradation under which we once suffered. That freedom is real and present; but the patterns we learn under the old way of being can be hard to break. Like an abused spouse, we believe the lies our old owner told us: that we are worthless; that we are doomed to failure; that we are sure to wear out our new Lord’s patience and will be returned to the gutter from which He rescued us.

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” ~ Revelation 12:10

Jesus rescues us not only from our sin, but from the one who constantly throws that sin in our faces. He did not come to condemn us, but to save us through His own blood. More than once during His ministry here on earth that He assured us that did not come as a judge, but as a redeemer (John 5:45, John 8:10).

I confess to having struggled many times through the lies told us by our enemies. It is easier to believe that we are unworthy, because we are! It is easy to believe that we are hopeless because in our own power we are completely without hope of pleasing God. The thread of truth that runs through the deception makes it hard to distinguish reality from fiction, and we so often cave to the pressure of trying to bear our own sins.

But there is One Who does not condemn us, Who does not accuse us, Whose conviction only ever serves to point us towards the hope we have in Himself, never to turn our faces away in shame. Jesus is standing at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34), constantly interceding on our behalf (Isaiah 53:12). We just need to deafen our ears to the wheedling lies of the accuser and place our hope and faith in the One who purchased our freedom.

We are not obligated to fall to the lies of Satan. The very fact that he constantly assails us speaks to their deceptive nature; God does not constantly nag us with the truth, He places the truth there for us to embrace and receive. If you are struggling with constant feelings of worthlessness, frustration and despair I can guarantee that you are not being harassed by the voice of God, but rather burdened by the hissing of the serpent.

Jesus always leads us to hope and love, constantly encouraging us to “Fear not!”, entreating us to mercy and forgiveness. Jesus knew the price He would pay for you, and He was willing to pay it; and what is good enough for Him is good enough for us also; Not just good enough, but rich in blessings and abundance of life!

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ~ John 10:10

So lift up your head, weary saint! Your salvation is VERY close, and it is held secure in the hands of One Who loves you. In your faith you will please Him, so do not wallow in shame. Let go of the pattern of corruption, and embrace the Pattern of Grace!

Contributed by Joelle Heilemann

Precious Promises Prevail over Persistent Problems

Published by reflectionsintheword

“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” ~ Psalm 121:7-8

These verses give yet another assurance to every child of God, that nothing happens to us by chance or happenstance. As The Holy Scripture also tells us:

"...be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." ~ Hebrews 13:5b

“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.” ~ Romans 8:28

So one might ask, “Why do bad or even tragic things still happen to us as His children then?”

Even though God is not the author of sickness, suffering, or death (these are the result of sin in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3:14-24), He overrules and harnesses them in our lives to accomplish His purposes. While this is taking place we can be trusting children; knowing that we have His promises to ever care for us and that these unpleasant or even seemingly tragic circumstances can be worked out for our eventual good.

God has given us His indwelling Holy Spirit to give us comfort and peace through even the most harrowing happenings in our lives. But we must choose to stay in communication with Him through these times, not shut Him out because we are sad or angry at the events in our lives.

This is where the “rubber meets the road” for us: our faith in God may be tested to the ultimate. How will we come out on the other side of difficult situations? Will we emerge from our troubles and trials giving Christ the victory for having clung to Him and the promises in His Word? Or will we give satan the victory by doubting God’s love and care for us through it all?

Oh, that we would always remember and be confident in His love and keeping of us. Oh, that in our tribulations we would hold closely, in faith, to Scripture; knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5); knowing that He is ever watching over our “comings and goings”; knowing that we have His guarantee and we can rest assured that He will always back up His promises for He is God who cannot lie (1 Samuel 15:29)!

Thank You Father God for Your constant watch over me and all that touches me in my life. Thank You for sending Jesus, Your one and only Son, to die for my sins so that I can spend eternity with You in heaven when I leave this earth. I love You my precious Lord God and I give You praise this day!

~ Contributed by Mary Heuss Nelson

Hope for the Future gives us Hope for the Present

Published by reflectionsintheword

‎”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” ~ 1 Peter 1:3

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, gave birth to us, but sin destroyed us; condemning us to death. Hence, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gave birth to us (Believers) again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Hallelujah!!!

There are two aspects to this resurrection:

The first is that Christ’s resurrection gives us hope (steadfast confidence) that we too will be raised from the dead one day to join our Saviour. Death, for the Believer, is not the “final bell”; death is not just an end. Death is also a beginning. When our physical bodies fail us through age, disease or trauma, our spiritual bodies remain intact; ready to continue life in a place where there is no aging (Heaven is timeless), disease (Heaven is sinless) or trauma (Heaven is tear-less).

But there is a second aspect that instructs us for the “here and now”, long before death comes. When Christ died He (though Himself sinless) was laden with the sin of mankind as the sacrificial Lamb of God. However, in His resurrection He was “sin free”. God, who was pleased with The Perfect Sacrifice, removed the burden that was man’s sin.

Jesus’ resurrection, therefore, gives us hope that we too can live our lives unburdened by sin/sinfulness/the sin-nature. We have a hope for the present, for our day-to-day walk, that sin does not have to rule over our lives: Jesus’ resurrection means we are free. As Paul put it:

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” ~ Philippians 3:10

Notice the use of the present tense. Paul wasn’t waiting till death to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection, and neither should we. God mercifully re-birthed us through Jesus’ resurrection so that we would have hope not just in the future but also in the present, especially in the present.