The Reward

The “end” is over,
Timeline erased.
Life ran o’er its course;

Heart completed the race.

One last beating.

One last exhale.
One final eye-blink.
Life ends its brief trail.

What more can be done?

What remains beyond?
Mere mem’ries recalled
At setting of sun.

A psalm said o’er life.

A psalm said o’er death.
Prophecy fulfilled,
Shepherd’s love begets.

Mem’ries of Shepherd’s love;

What was now and not yet,
Becomes now and always
As with Shepherd, they sit.

The Lord is my Shepherd,

Said with understanding in full.
He laid them down in green pastures,
Just as He led them by waters still.

He refreshed and restored them

And led them on righteous paths.
The Shepherd gave them peace and calm,
Walking with them, with His rod and staff.

Before eyes of their enemies

Made He a table for His own.
Anointed their heads with oil;
Son and daughter, He made it known.

Faithful and faultless,

Merciful and good,
The Shepherd never left them;
Through their days of life, He always stood.

Breath and heartbeat gone forever.

Timeline faded away.
Eternity stretched before them,
Because of the Ancient of Days.

Surely goodness and mercy followed them

Through the length of their days.
The “not yet” is now theirs,
To God, we now praise.

     For being their Shepherd,
     the One who gave rest and led.
     For being their Savior,
     their Restorer and Righteousness.
     For being their Conqueror,
     their Peace, Rod, and Staff.
     For being their Provider,
     their Defense and Holiness.
     For being their God
     all their days and night.

To them, all that was, their timeline ran out.

The days of their “not yet” have begun without end.

The reward of a life consecrated by God?

Forever hearing “well done” and eternity with the King,
Singing with the angels, “Praise God and Amen!”

In their lives, they sang with men.

Now with the angels, this song never ends:

The Lord is my Shepherd;

I did not want.
He laid me down in green pastures;
He led me beside still waters.
He restored my soul.
He led me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yes, though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I did not fear evil because You were with me;
Your rod and staff comforted me.
You prepared a table for me in the presence of my enemies.
You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflowed.
Surely goodness and mercy followed me all the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Unity or Discord

 

“Now may the God, who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement, grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

— Romans 15:5

 

My Interpretation of this verse after reading the Greek words is:

“Now May God, who gives you His strength to persevere and who inspires you, give each of you together the same mind, according to Christ Jesus, who made you one in mind (not discordant), with Him through the salvation He gave you.”

 

Notice that God gives His strength to persevere and His inspiration for how to be and live. 

 

Notice, also, Jesus gave the believers salvation and gave them the ability to be of the same mindset, not in opposition. 

 

What did Paul say the Roman Christians were to do? Choose to be of the same mind with other believers. Choose to seek and receive from God the strength to live in unity like Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Choose to live life as God divinely inspires. Choose to be united/harmonious with the other Christians.  Recognize the three main verbs—choose. 

 

Being in harmony with other people is a matter of your will. Will you choose to be like the Son, Father, and Spirit, to be unified? Will you accept and use the strength God offers His children? Will you choose to live your life as God inspires and guides you? 

 

Jesus chose to follow the will of the Godhead, of which He is a part. He gave up His human will of preservation of self. He chose to follow the divine will of offering Himself as the holy sacrifice needed to redeem people from their sins and the guilt of their sins. He gives believers the power over temptation with His strength.

 

Jesus chose to be united with God. Their love for humanity, though unlovely we are, led them to provide this sacrifice. Jesus willed for each of us to be united with God, to be in harmony with Him. 

 

Do you choose to be in harmony with God?

Will you choose to have the mind of Christ? 

Will you be united with God and other believers in mind and purpose?

 

Consider Philippians 2:5-11:

 

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Will you choose unity with God or discordant chaos of life and mind?

 

Romans 15:6 gives us the reason we should be in unity. It says, “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (AMP).

 

You have a choice to make today.

Bread, Fish, and Egg

Bread, Fish, and Egg

 

“So, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

— Luke 11:13

 

We’ve all heard and read of Jesus teaching that a good father would give bread, not a stone, fish, not a snake, and an egg, not a scorpion. A good father will give good things to his child—life, food/longevity (descendants), and freedom/solace/joy. 

 

Jesus had this in mind as He taught His disciples about prayer. When the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, He taught the Lord’s Prayer. He said,

 

“OUR FATHER” (God is the summa of goodness and love, the example of summa parenting. When we say this, we acknowledge our recognition of Him as Creator of all, our Abba of our heart, soul, mind, and body.)

 

“IN HEAVEN” (The supreme God, Creator of heaven and earth reigns eternally on His throne. He is not limited to earth but rules over all that is from His throne in His highest heaven.)

 

“HOLY IS YOUR NAME” (YHWH’s name is so magnificent that it tells of the only Almighty One, YHWH. It thrills our soul. Our spirit sings when He is near.)

 

“YOUR KINGDOM COME” (As You reign in heaven, bring Your good, pleasant, and magnificent kingdom to dwell among us. This part of the prayer addresses our spiritual need of God to reign around and in us, to give us renewed spiritual life through and in Him, 

which means…)

 

“YOUR WILL BE DONE” (only You, YHWH, are supremely good and cause only good to occur. LORD, may Your will alone be done)

 

“HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” (as recorded in Matthew 6:10) (We recognize Your goodness, greatness, and omnipotence. I AM. Have Your throne among us, Lord.)

 

“GIVE US EACH DAY OUR DAILY BREAD” (This prayer now addresses our physical earthly needs and recognizes our need to remain in God’s family. We fool ourselves thinking we can go off on our own and live life for ourselves. We are dependent on God for His good gifts of life-sustenance.)

 

“AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS” (Recognize only God is able to absolutely forgive, pardon, and remove the stain and guilt our sins place on and in us. This is our recognition God is Savior and Redeemer. We confess we are aware God made our spirits and we need His nurture and cleansing spiritually. We are dependent on God spiritually whether we recognize it or not. Jesus led the disciples to recognize that through this prayer. This statement comes from our heart, soul, mind, and body.)

 

“FOR WE OURSELVES ALSO FORGIVE ANYONE WHO IS INDEBTED TO US” (We are only able to do this because God has shown us how to do it through His forgiveness of us and has put this goodness in us when He did. He began making us like Him and drawing us into a right relationship when He did. We also need to be in right relationships with other people. This affects our hearts, too.)

 

“AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION” (Remind us that You, YHWH, give us hope, daily bodily sustenance, forgiveness, and daily right relationships with YOU and other people. What more do we need. You provide for our bodies, spirits, minds, and hearts. Make us content with these summum donum—supreme gifts. Nothing a temptation offers is better than what You, YHWH, give us though we don’t deserve anything from You.)

 

God gives better than bread, fish, and egg. He gives Life, Eternality/Food (life and family forever), and Solace and Freedom (forgiveness of our sins and power over temptations). Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the Way to eternal Life. Jesus is the Redeemer who gives freedom from the death of eternal mourning because of our separation from God forever. 

 

God gives even better than the best earthly father. He gives supremely good gifts—summam donum. His gifts give us life and freedom for our bodies, minds, souls, and hearts. The Lord’s Prayer expresses that. It expresses God’s supreme greatness and our absolute need of Him in our whole being. So much more will the Father in heaven give those who ask of Him. 

 

Seek. Knock. Ask. (Luke 12:10)

Ask YHWH for faith in Jesus. 

Ask Him for forgiveness and freedom. 

Ask Him for the Living Bread. 

Ask YHWH for the Holy Spirit. 

Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking. 

 

Our ABBA in heaven, holy is YOUR name!

The River Between Us

A spark, a stir, and itch to scratch,

A need to write with no theme upon my mind.

Always thinking of God, about whom I write.

That theme, my greatest interest all the time.

I want more, reflect feelings, to call soul to soul.

Reaching out, reaching for more, want to know what;

Upon what should I reflect, write, offer a thought;

My mind queries, fumbles, grapples, deeply it sought.

Feelings available, at hand, there are many

On whom to focus, consider love, different with each one.

Sister, mother, brother, husband, son and daughter,

Each spark a primary color, the major flame, of that dear one.

Love, the balloon, around each family member,

Crackles, envelopes, embraces, as life evolves.

Rarely does a feeling burst the outer boundary.

Comfort, cushion, life’s safe-haven, love covers all.

When in time storms arise and we falter,

Seeking strength, steady hands and arms, hearts embrace.

Calling out in fear and hope, the light of love’s aglimmer,

Fainting, shaking, sweating, fear’s erased.

What one says cannot remove a life’s experience,

Even if strong winds and actions blur the lines.

As a son or daughter of God almighty,

Love’s never vanquished but stands the test of time.

Those strained boundaries of heart relations,

Bound and strengthened by the might of God’s hands,

Keep the love alive when hope seems vanquished,

Pulsing stronger as God calls His own to stand.

Reaching forward, grasping with His strength,

How can they be here at my deepest need?

God the Father, never leaves or abandons;

His depth of love flows through His child from His mercy seat.

No matter the pull or strain of a loved one,

God’s love still can flow through one straying, but never gone.

Each, if honest, recognizes this eternal truth;

For God is the Model of faithful, enduring love.

Though straying never snatched forever,

God won’t allow His child to be lost, alone;

Just as we turn our backs to Him and He loves us,

So we can love holding strong to our loved one.

Ruptured relations, broken hearts and promises

Don’t break ties forever with those we love;

Because God’s love is the river we share between us,

When in need, our relations know our love’s there to carry them on.

How Can You Learn to Believe?

          John chapter 5 ends with Jesus main question of the resistant unbelievers, the Pharisees. The main question.

How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who are content to seek and receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God?” (John 5:44, AMP).

This chapter begins with Jesus going to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. While in the city, He noticed a man at the pool of Bethesda, which means “mercy,” who was lying on a pallet waiting for the angel of God to stir the curative waters. In this way, we hear from Jesus regarding who He is and what His purpose is. In this chapter, Jesus moved from one witness/testimony to another and ended with a searching question to the religious leaders.

            Jesus’ encounter with the sick man began with Him noticing the man and asking him, “Do you want to become well?” (vs.6, AMP). We notice that the man did not answer that question but answered with a reason why he had not become well. He replied with a statement of disbelief in his ability to get to the curative waters because no one helped him. Jesus did not ask why he was not well. He knew why the man was sick and what kept him from being well. Jesus asked if he wanted to become well. After the man’s response, Jesus commanded strongly, “Get up! Pick up your bed (mat) and walk!” (vs.8). Jesus left him with no excuse but unbelief. The man chose to believe, get up, and walk. Jesus walked off after that and the man did not know Jesus performed the miracle. The previously ill man encountered Jesus again in the temple a while later (vs. 14). The man identified Jesus. Jesus told the man, “See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Jesus knew this man, though the man did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. After the second encounter, the man may have begun wondering more about Jesus. What is more important is that, with Jesus’ second comment to the man, we see the possibility that the man was ill because of God’s disciplining him for some sin in the past. Jesus, by making the man well, showed that He has the power to judge, give mercy, and offer pardon. Jesus also stated a warning to the man.

            The Pharisees entered the scene after the man was healed by Jesus. Notice they did not ask who made him well. Instead they confronted the man about his working on the Sabbath by carrying his mat. They chose not to confront the man about his healing, a miracle, but about his working, a man-made rule. The man then passed the blame for his “working” on the Sabbath back to the unknown man. The man did not declare the miracle of his health either. It was only after he learned of Jesus’ name that he told the Pharisees who made him well. The man was no longer thinking in terms of blaming someone since Jesus approached him about his sin. This man now admitted that Jesus healed him.

            After this healing and admission that Jesus was the One who did it, the Pharisees were more determined to persecute and kill Jesus because He was “working” (healing) on the Sabbath (vs. 16). This feels a bit of an extreme reaction for just healing someone. These Pharisees were brewing over something far bigger than this issue. The next encounters with the Pharisees show us their hearts and minds. In verse 18, John tells us that they were willing to kill Jesus. He was working on the Sabbath and He was making Himself out to be equal with God, to be God’s Son. Verses 19 and 20 state that Jesus can only do what the Father does, as He learns from the Father. Jesus even went so far as to say He would do even great work so they (the people) would marvel. He was able to do this because He and the Father are one and love each other. The next statement by Jesus irritated the Pharisees more. Jesus said that just as the Father gives life to the dead, so the Son gives life to whomever He wills. Jesus was claiming power over life and death. (The Pharisees only heard the literal side of this.). Jesus next stated that the Father does not judge, but Jesus has the sole responsibility to judge. There are three things Jesus has already said to the Pharisees: 1) Jesus is equal to the Father because Jesus is the Son; 2) Jesus has power over life and death; and 3) Jesus has the sole responsibility of judging people.

            Why are these three facets of Jesus’ so difficult for the Pharisees? Let us start with the first one. Jesus equating Himself with the Father, that He is the Son and has the same power and authority, was difficult for them because that meant the Pharisees  would have to honor and praise Jesus, this man from Galilee. Remember, it was said that no good thing came from Galilee . (John 1:46). They looked down on people from Galilee. In actual fact, they looked down on anyone who was not a Pharisee and they built themselves up. They did not want someone to usurp their power and authority. If they recognized Jesus as being special, then they would have to honor and praise Him, which meant they would get less praise and would not be the leader of the Jewish people. That just could not be.

            Second, Jesus statement that He has power over life and death was significant because it definitely showed His authority is from God. Who, in their knowledge, could bring someone back from the dead except God? This was testified in Ezekiel with the valley of dry bones returning to life. It also occurred when God created Adam and Eve; He formed them out of nothing, ex nihilo, and blew His breath, His Spirit, into them. Here Christ goes farther than the Pharisees were willing to understand. Jesus said that He will give them Life, eternal life. For this to occur, that meant Jesus has to be the Messiah, the Savior, because the Pharisees knew that no one would have eternal life until the Messiah came. This they did not want to acknowledge for the same reason as number one above. Also, they did not want to recognize it because it meant they had to acknowledge that Jesus is what He stated next, the judge of mankind.

            For people to have eternal life through Jesus, they must pass through judgment by Jesus. Jesus stated in verse 27 that God gave Him the sole task of judgment. If the person believed Jesus is the Son of God, then he or she would have forgiveness for their sins and eternal life in heaven. If, however, they did not believe Jesus is God’s Son, then they would also have eternity, but one of unforgiveness, one of eternal punishment. Jesus is the judge. He has provided the forgiveness for sins to those who believe He is the Son of God. For those who do not believe, there is no forgiveness of sin and they cannot be in the presence of God for eternity. They must go to eternal hell.

            These three things Jesus brought immediately to the attention of the Pharisees. Jesus did not dance around the topic. He was pointed with them. The question though is why does He do it this way. Well, the reason is Jesus knows the urgency of people needing to believe He is God’s Son. He stated it Himself in verse 34, “I simply mention all these things in order that you may be saved.” (AMP). In just 15 verses, Jesus made it plain so they could not say they did not know. What is difficult comes next; they chose not to believe. In verse 31, Jesus stated, “If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is not valid and cannot be worth anything.”

            From this statement by Jesus, He set forth how they can know He is who He says He is. Also from this statement, He put holes into their faith in themselves and humanity. Jesus gave four ways people could know He is the Son of God: through John the Baptist’s testimony, through Jesus’ works, through the Father, and through Scriptures. Jesus went from least important to most important. Basically, Jesus told them to put less weight on the testimony of man and the works/signs of which they hear and put more weight on what the Father and Scripture say. This will be a common theme throughout John’s writing.

            First, John states in verses 33-35 that John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness. Jesus called John the Baptist a lamp in the wilderness in whose shine they delighted (AMP). Jesus stated that their faith should not rest on the testimony of a mere man.

            Secondly, Jesus said that the works to which the Father called Him are witness to who He is. He said that this witness was greater than that of a man, even John the Baptist (vs. 36). The testimony of man is good and Jesus encouraged us to go and preach the Gospel in Matthew 28. Even better is witnessing the signs that Jesus performs. These signs point to something, as all signs point to something. That something is Someone, Jesus Christ.

            Third, the testimony of the Father is even greater than the signs, because the Son can only do what He has seen the Father do (vs.19). Jesus said,

And the Father Who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. Not one of you has ever given ear to His voice or seen His form. And you have not His word  living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent. (vv.37-38, AMP)

Jesus basically stated that the Father told mankind about Jesus, His Son, but because they did not hear the Father and they did not have His Word living in their hearts, they did not believe in whom He has sent, Jesus. I am sure this came as a slap to their faces. Jesus was saying they, the Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees) did not know Yahweh or His Word. They did not have His Word in their hearts. When we jump to verse 42, Jesus told them they do not have the love of God in them. This most likely was an affront to their sense of esteem as religious leaders and as men who are supposed to be part of the chosen children of God. No wonder they wanted to kill Jesus. He was attacking their faith, their personal integrity, and worth.

            The fourth testimony comes through Scripture. Jesus said they pore over Scripture as if it will give them eternal life, when it is those Scriptures that testify about Him. The Scriptures speak of the Messiah as being the One who brings eternal life. The Scriptures cannot give eternal life. Isaiah, Moses, and David, as well as others of Old Testament times, prophesied of the Messiah’s coming to earth and in what manner. They also spoke of what He would do and how the people would know it was Him. The Pharisees chose not to acknowledge these or that they pointed to Jesus. Instead, they would rather  have been seen poring over the Scriptures.

            From this point in John 5, Jesus pointedly showed that Jesus did not come in His own name, but in the Father, nor did He do miracles in His own power, but the Father’s. The Pharisees and other people chose not to believe He is the Son. Yet, if another man arrived talking about himself and touting his abilities, the Pharisees and people believed him and flocked to hear and see him. Jesus told them that their seeing him showed they accepted and approved him, but they would not approve Jesus who is witnessed of and testified to in these four ways, not by Himself. Jesus said then, “How is it possible for you to believe; you who receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him who alone is God?” (vs.44, AMP). How will you be able to believe if you do not trust the testimony of these four witnesses, but will trust the testimony of a person for himself? What will it take for you to believe that I am God’s Son? If they would not believe in the Son, then they knew from the Scripture that Moses would judge them. Moses believed that Jesus would come. Why could they not? It would be Moses who judges their unbelief because they did not believe his testimony either. (See Genesis 3:5, 12:3, Deuteronomy 18:15.) By their not believing Jesus is the Messiah, they were not believing Moses whom they hold up as their standard. It will be Moses who will accuse them. If they cannot believe the man who testified to them, who led them out of Egypt, who spoke with God for them, and who brought the Ten Commandments to them, how would they believe Jesus with all those witnesses?

            It all comes back to that one verse. Verse 34 brings it all back to the main point. Jesus says, “I simply mention all these things in order that you may be saved.” Jesus, like the Father, does not want anyone to be lost to eternal hell. He made each of us so we could be in relationship with Him. He desires to have a relationship with us. Yahweh provided a way for us to return to Him through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. Through the witness of these four, Jesus tells us three things about Himself: 1) Jesus is equal to the Father because Jesus is the Son; 2) Jesus has power over life and death; and 3) Jesus has the sole responsibility of judging people. The question comes to each of us in Jesus’ own words in verse 44, “How is it possible for you to believe?” (AMP). What will it take for you to believe?

Being Certain in Uncertainties

1 John 3:1-2

 "SEE WHAT an incredible quality of love the Father has given us that we should be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him. Beloved, we are even here and now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be hereafter, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall as God's children resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He really is" [AMP]. 

******

This resemblance to Christ is not something we earn as a goal where we set out today and tomorrow to make a $1000, do a job, or meet with a person. Being Christlike is not something we can grasp with our hands. Yet we can become God’s children by choice of will through faith. Even this, though, cannot become the goal of man as a means to avoid eternal death. Becoming a follower of Christ must be a choice of the soul (heart, mind, and spirit), a whisper of the being, to want something more than this world can give.   

We chart our days and say, “Today I will clean, work, and cook. Tomorrow I will do the same. In thirty years I will take my leisure and be taken care of by what I have saved as surety for my life.” We cannot be sure of that for which we plan and grasp. Things change in this fallen world on an hourly and daily basis. We cannot put our stock and faith in the world’s ways. We cannot be so precise in this living of the earthly, human life. Planning is commonsense, we say, to prepare for the next or the inevitable. Even the rich man made plans, but we still saw him in hell pleading with God to let Lazarus touch his lips with a cool drop of water (Luke 16:19-31)? Our commonsense cannot be what drives us. Commonsense is human, fallible, and changeable.  

We can be certain of one thing that is not commonsense. We can be sure of God - who He is and what His plans are. We can throw away our commonsense and rely on that which makes no sense and sounds impractical. We can be confident in God though we are uncertain in our human sense (commonsense). Is it impractical to be certain in our uncertainties? We do not have knowledge of what tomorrow will bring, but in our humanity, we presume to plan our tomorrows. God is certainty. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God, we have certainty. In our conviction about God, we recognize who has ultimate control. Our uncertain future has an excited anticipation of what God will do and where He will call us to join Him.   

People in our world and the world at large misunderstand the abandon we have, this faith we can have in an unseen God. They do not accept us and we should not be surprised by this. Did they not reject the Son, too? Jesus said since people rejected Him those who follow Him can expect to be rejected. Yet their gain as His followers is to be called the children of God. We followers of Jesus become heirs of salvation and the kingdom of heaven upon our step of faith towards what looks to be uncertain into the arms of our certain God. God is not an uncertainty; what God will do next is uncertain. This uncertainty is where the breathless anticipation exists.  

Will we abandon our plans and our fallible race for the future and grasp with our hearts and souls the certain God with a sure future even in the face of uncertain days? This is relationship to the Father. This is the faith of a child of which Jesus spoke in Matthew 18:3. If our certainty is just in ourselves, we become self-righteous, smug, and sarcastic. By being in a right relationship with God, we receive joy in uncertainty and certainty in the future.

Be joyful because God will break in to humanity and the world and

be excited about how He will do it.

Be thankful God calls you His child and you will resemble Him.

You can be absolutely certain He will come.

Remain faithful.