The Hill of Love ~

Good evening~ I feel that you and I are making this long journey together through the valleys and up the hills of life. This study takes us up the Hill of Love, a hill which has many challenges even though we may assume it's an easy one. As always, we take a deep breath as we make the plunge into a deeper spiritual life.

You may be surprised if I ask you, "What is the greatest gift?" And you already know that the answer is love. In one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible that question is answered. And even though you've heard it many times, I wouldn't let any conversation about love go without mentioning it. It's in 1 Corinthians 13, which says:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
~

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails....And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 

Those words speak a definite conclusion as to what is the greatest gift. This is such an important subject because I'm not sure there is much true love in the world today. And without going into all the reasons why I feel that way, I'll simply say that love has to be practiced and practiced again. It isn't always easy to show love or to give love, but doesn't it seem to you that it is--at the very least--a requirement for following Christ? And in an effort to give us another look at the way love behaves, it may help us to look at some scriptures on love. 

                                      

First, let's look at some thoughts about God's love for man. Ron has something to say about this: "God has demonstrated His love for us. What a hill to look up to as we walk through the valleys of life! How uplifting to our spirits! Some things about which we are concerned become so trivial when compared to what God has given for us. Often we must meet someone with greater problems than our own before we appreciate the blessings we have, e.g., the man who had only one hand met a man who had no legs." This graphic mental picture reminds us to count our blessings every day. And Ron has also been with people in Russia, South America and Mosambique who have few choices in food, or places to live, or ways to stay warm. We are truly blessed!  

Then looking at Ephesians 3, beginning with verse 17, it says: "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Now what exactly does all that mean to us? Width refers to the fact that God is available to everyone who believes in Him. Length refers to how far God would go for our sakes: to the extent of giving His only begotten Son. Depth refers to the fact that our very souls are pulled out of hell so that we will not perish. And height refers to how high we may rise: we will be exalted to heaven's glory and to eternal life. Breathtaking in its simplicity and profound in it's message!

Now let's look at Jesus' love for man. Besides the verses in Ephesians we just looked at, which include comprehension of the love of Christ, we can look at John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." And that's what Christ did for us.  He gave the ultimate gift of Himself! Matthew 27:35 tells us: "Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: 'They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots'." Jesus died for you and He died for me. Not in the lap of luxury or convenience, but among criminals and thieves. Christ paid for our sins. What are we willing to do for Him? Are we "looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"? It was Jesus "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." While Jesus was on earth, He endured poverty, humiliation, insults and pain so unjustly. All of this, He did for us because of His love for us. And now that He is in heaven, we can look up to Him for salvation.

Now we've looked at the love that God and Jesus have for man. What is involved in showing our love for God and Jesus? We take for granted that our inward man must love God completely. How many times have you read these words: "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Everyone who is a child of God must embrace its meaning and live by it.

And that's not quite all we need to be doing to show our love. 1 John 1:3 says that we should have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Later, in verse 6, he says, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." So, basically, it's sharing our lives with the Holy Ones. And not only do we have fellowship with God and Jesus, but we have love for others. Later on in 1 John, it says: "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." Almost everyone I know believes it's different for them...God won't notice that they don't get along with others--perhaps feeling self-righteously that God will understand because it is them. Do they have a right to feel the way they do? Haven't they been wronged and mistreated? We should all give more thought to our relationships.

Because this study is getting too long, I'm going to stop and say more later--perhaps giving a more complete idea about how we can more easily show our love for God and Jesus, as well as other people. Climbing the Hill of Love sounds easy and familiar to us because we hear the word love so often, but practicing true love is harder when we look at it from a deeper context. More on this another time.

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings...Mimi

The Hill of Faith: Trusting in Jesus ~

Hello again~ We've looked at scripture about having faith in God, and I mentioned having faith in Jesus, but in this lesson, I want to wrap up our thoughts about climbing the Hill of Faith by looking at a few scriptures which specify faith in Christ. Jesus, as the promised Messiah, qualifies as the perfect object for our faith. And there are wonderful connections to be made between the Messiah and the psalmist David.  In Romans 15:12, that tie is given to us in poetic form: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope." David was the son of Jesse, whose lineage runs straight through to Jesus the Christ.

What does this mean to us? It means David foreshadowed Jesus the Messiah. As I said in a blog I wrote over a year ago, the magnitude of his life is hard to grasp. No king before or after him loved God as much. He was a man after God's own heart. And when he failed to please God and sinned, he was humble and contrite, begging forgiveness. But David was not only a king, a warrior and a ruler, he was also a prophet. In II Samuel 22:23, as David was about to die, he spoke these words: "The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his word by my tongue." The importance of David and his forshadowing of Christ is seen in these 10 facts about his prophecies.

1. David's prophecies are Messianic.
2. David's prophecies refer to the suffering of Christ.
3. David's prophecies refer to the persecution of Christ.
4. David's prophecies refer to the triumphant deliverance of Christ.
5. David's prophecies refer to the hereditary rights given Jesus by the Father.
6. David's prophecies were written 1,000 years before Christ, but many make reference to and foreshadow Him.
7. David was a king after God's own heart; his qualities are of the Messiah.
8. Two facts that foreshadow Christ: David & Christ both born in Bethlehem; David's shepherd life points to Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
9. Both David and Christ were betrayed by friends and had to make a sad passage.
10. The Davidic Psalms are clearly typical of the future Messiah, of which David was a type.

As I said, David's last words acknowledge that he was a prophet. Many of the 100 direct references to Jesus in Messianic passages of the Psalms are quoted in the New Testament. They are used to explain the character and message of Jesus as Messiah and refer to all of the above. When we think of David, we should think of him as a man after God's own heart, and a type of the Messiah. Does it create faith and trust in your heart when you hear such amazing details as these? It does for me!

                                 
And it doesn't stop there. John 20:30-31 gives us the reason the book of John was written: "...but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." Why did Christ come? We would all answer that question by saying that Christ had to come and die on the cross so that we could have forgiveness of our sins. And, as I've gotten older, I have begun to realize that it isn't quite as easy to have the kind of faith and trust we need as I once thought. When you get down to the truth that is presented in the New Testament, we have been trained to accept it from our youth. But sometimes I find that if it isn't getting stronger, with a deeper understanding, then we're missing the boat. So I'll suggest that maybe we all need to scrutinize our beliefs from time to time. If a Muslim jehadist told you to reject Jesus or have your head cut off, what would you do? What would you say? We haven't been persecuted for our beliefs very much--maybe an argument with an opposing brother or neighbor. It might do us some good to challenge our faith and see whether we're trusting in Jesus.   

In John 8:22-24, there is a revealing sequence. Jesus is misunderstood by the Jewish leaders. So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where I go you cannot come'? And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." In my simplified view of these words, it's relevant for us to grasp the message that the fatal, unforgivable sin is rejecting Christ. The Messiah had finally come, but was mostly rejected by the Jews. I say mostly because some of the Jews accepted Him--even some of the priests, who helped to teach and preach the gospel with all their wisdom and understanding. Should we do less?

                                                                                                      

And so we can look at the One who gives us strength. One of my favorite lines in the Bible is the first part of Jeremiah 20:11, which says: "But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior...." When I come home alone from my daughter's, and it's late and dark outside, those words go through my mind over and over. I have to trust that God is with me or I would be too fearful to leave the house. And in that same vein,  2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 says,  "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." This time the protection is from Satan and his angels, but we can rest in this guardian presence. When we are following Christ, trusting in His ability to lead us, guide us, and guard our hearts and minds, then our lives will be what God planned for us from the beginning of Creation!

                                                                                                           

And because I love the parable of the mustard seed, I'll remind you once more that: "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." If you believe this statement, you are climbing the Hill of Faith!

Blessings...Mimi   

The Hill of Faith ~ Trusting in God & Jesus Christ

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You,

Trust in the Lord forever,

For in YAH, the Lord, is

              everlasting strength.

You put your trust in all kinds of things--yourself, money or the money market, and even false idols--which can range from sports to rock stars--or simply other people, as I talked about in the last lesson. And since we've looked at the things you can't put your trust in, then the question becomes, where should you put your trust? 

Looking at the words of the psalmist in Psalm 141:8, he tells us: "But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; in You I take refuge: do not leave my soul destitute." Does that give you an idea what's in David's heart and mind? It isn't difficult to see that David depends on God completely. As in Psalm 118:8-9, he says, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." Did you hear what David says to us from across time and space? In loud and clear terms, he says, don't trust man, trust God. Don't trust princes, trust God. And what are we told in Proverbs 28:25 from the man of wisdom: "He who is of proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered." So the conclusion from David and Solomon is: Trust in God! 

And, of course, Christians are always willing to listen when Jesus speaks. And so we look at what Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21 about this subject: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." How's that for a way to cut through all of our protesting and look at trusting in heavenly blessings!? And before you think smugly that you don't trust in earthly things, make a reality check. Not for me or anyone else, but for yourself. Be honest with the way you look at where your fears and anxiety have taken you. There is usually a way to improve upon our attitudes, and that's partly what this series is about. Climbing the Hill of Faith is all about learning to depend totally on God and Christ--not just in what you say, but in what you do.

                                                     
So I'm going to give you one more lesson on the Hill of Faith, which involves our trusting  in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Think about these ideas as you make decisions in your everyday life. There is no point in reading about biblical principles, if we don't give them a place in our decisions. No, it isn't easy to question our motives or our attitudes or our decisions, but if you want to be a follower of Christ, it is an absolute MUST! Remember that if you have faith as a mustard seed, you can move mountains! And we're promised that nothing will be impossible to us--now that isn't anything to take for granted, is it? 

I hope and pray that your week is going well. 

Blessings...Mimi    

The Hill of Faith ~

If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  Matthew 17:20

Hello everyone! This picture is appropriate because these are mustard trees growing below a hill, representing both of  my thoughts today. Friday always feels good to me, and today is especially good because my brother Ron has returned from Russia. I'm thankful to God and want to hear about his trip. As I've said, I'm using Ron's material to generate these blogs, but I'm writing them myself.

                                                                                                                     

And it's also a good Friday because we're moving out of the valleys and climbing into the hills of the Christian life. Today you and I will begin climbing the Hill of Faith together, and there will be other hills which will lead us toward a victorious life.  Here, I want to quote what Ron says about the Hill of Faith: "Man is confronted with many problems and difficulties in this life: 'Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.' (Job 14:1-2) Does this seem to be pessimistic? Man faces valleys in life which are not pleasant: discouragement, depression, persecutions and trials, and death, etc. But let us remember that God has promised a time when there will be no tears or sorrows--'There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.' Hebrews 4:9 says that life on this earth is brief (of few days)."
       

And he continues: "Therefore, we should walk wisely through the valley of decision. We are able to do this by lifting up our eyes to the hills and receiving the help which the Lord provided for us. WE MUST TRUST IN HIM AND TRUST HIM!

Job 15:11 asks, "Are the consolations of God too small for you?"

And, simplified, Job 11:13-20 says:

1. Prepare your heart~
2. Stretch out your hands toward Him~                                                      
3. Then you could lift up your face without spot~
4. You could be steadfast, and not fear~
5. You would be secure~
6. Because there is hope!                                                                 

No wonder we're ready to climb out of the valleys and into the hills! But just to remind us of our inclinations, let's look at where we place our trust and confidence. Even though we may not realize it, we often put our trust in the things in and of the world. This is something we should all consider carefully, because we tend to believe that we are above this kind of behavior.

1. Trusting in SELF.  Proverbs 28:26 says that "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered." And in Luke 18:9-14, Jesus uses the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to show what attitude we should have. Listen to this: "Also He spoke to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess." And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Have you actually given some thought as to your arrogance or humilty toward your spiritual life? We should all take time to examine our deeper concepts and beliefs. No one is fooled but you if you're wrong.
2. Trusting in OTHERS. Sometimes it's easier for us to trust in others rather than in God. Remember what Paul says in Acts 20: 28-31--that after he was gone, savage wolves would come in, not sparing the flock? And he warned that men would rise up and teach perverse things that would draw away the disciples of Christ. So his advice is to watch for these false teachers. See also Colossians 2:18-23 and 2 Peter 2:1-3. And remember that false teachers  might be reaching you on a television screen. Sometimes in this chaotic world, we turn to those who sooth our anxiety. But be careful about giving them your heart and mind without seeing their true position. Be mindful that they may be trying to draw you away.  
3. Trusting in IDOLS/FALSE GODS. And I'm sure you remember Elijah when he came to all the people and said: "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people answered him not a word." And then the contest between God and Baal was carried out, so that all the people knew that the Lord was God. And as to the futility of false gods, read Psalm 115:2-8. False gods or idols can be found in surprising places. And they don't necessarily have the look that we expect. Money, position, fame, sports, and even food  or entertainment can become something we worship. Watch your interests!
4. Trusting in RICHES: The Proverbs always provide you with wisdom, and in 11:28, it says: "He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil." And looking in 1 Timothy 6:17, there are some instructions to the rich: "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." And in Luke 12:16-21 is the parable of the rich fool who saw that his barns weren't big enough, and so he determined to build bigger barns. What does he say to himself? He says: "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him: "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" And  then you can see that "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  Again, you reach the end of the point and find that it's up to you...your choice to serve God or yourself.

I've given you enough to think about today. Next, as we climb the Hill of Faith, there are some passages about trusting in God and in Jesus Christ. It's where faith the size of a mustard seed comes in. It doesn't have to be all that big to become something that grows and matures into a faith that influences the world. What you might think about is how your faith affects you, your life, your family, and your friends. Is it deep enough to change your attitudes, your decisions, and your way of life? 

Blessings...Mimi         

The Valley of Death ~ 2

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

There are so many people in the Old Testament who came to a bad end--not only individuals, but whole nations at times. So let's look at someone who came to a good end. David is a man whose sin changed the course of his life, but not his inevitable death. David is the shepherd boy who fought and killed the giant Goliath, because he had so much faith in God. When Saul told David that he was too young to fight a man of war, he said: "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Faith and trust are two of David's strongest characteristics.

And when Saul was struck with depression, it was David who played the harp and brought him out of it. Saul's advisors had told him that "the Lord is with him." And when Saul, as the first king of Israel, decided to follow his own way instead of God's, God rejected him as king and chose David. As king, David began building the greatest empire that had ever existed, but because there were so many enemies to conquer, which put blood on his hands, God wouldn't allow David to build the temple. But David didn't sit on his hands--he collected money, materials and plans for the building of the temple. There are so many significant facts about David, but for our lesson, we want to look at his death. Here are a few of his last words, which can be found in 2 Samuel 23.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,

And His word was on my tongue.                                                                  

The God of Israel said,

The Rock of Israel spoke to me:

He who rules over men must be

             just,

Ruling in the fear of God. 

All of his last words are there, if you want to read them. I simply wanted to reflect the fact that David was within God's embrace at the time of his death. In fact, David left a legacy which continues, and which I list in a blog written September 21, 2010--10 Things You May Not Know About David & Prophecy. He was truly "a man after God's own heart."  

                                                                            

Now let's move to the New Testament, where you can learn about the life and death of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and grew up to be a carpenter, but he was a child who spent time in the temple, talking to the scribes and Pharisees. When Jesus was ready to reveal His purpose as the Son of God, John the Baptizer was sent to make way for Him. He chose 12 apostles to spead His gospel, and He had many disciples. Jesus had multitudes of people following Him as He taught them and healed them, and sometimes even fed them. Jesus had a message that had never been heard before--a message of hope, love, mercy, and victory in life and over death. And when His words and deeds proved that He was the Son of God, it made the leaders of the Jews indignant, and they decided He had to die.

When it came time for Jesus to die, and after the supper with His apostles, Jesus went into Gethsemane and prayed: "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." The agony that Jesus suffered is impossible for us to imagine, but by His willingness to die for our sins, we can have that same hope and trust in God's will to save us.

And when He died on the cross--a miserable, criminal death--He cried out to His Father. And at the moment of His death, the veil in the temple was split in two pieces, and there was an earthquake. Then He triumphantly rose again and was seen by His disciples, some of whom watched Him ascend into heaven. Our Savior's death was full of anguish, bitterness and sorrow, but he bore it all for you and for me. These truths, which show the love of God and His Son, should give you pause. God's great love should create a desire in you to live with Him forever.    

                                                            

Now after the death of Jesus, His apostles continued to teach, even though they were commanded by the Jewish council not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But they ignored the Jewish leaders and were persecuted because of their belief and teachings. In Acts 4:19-20, Peter and John answered the council's commands, saying: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." They were threatened and let go because the miracle they'd performed made the people glorify God. And the leaders were afraid of the people. Then the disciples came together, and Acts 4:31 says: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." 

And when the apostles were again brought before the Jewish council, Peter was asked why he had continued to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and the other apostles said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."  Naturally, this infuriated the council and they determined to kill them. All of the apostles except John died because of persecution.
                            

And Paul willingly went to Jerusalem, knowing that "the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me." But what did Paul say as he faced his own death: "...nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." What an attitude! And, of course, that's just the smallest example of Paul's life preaching Christ. He traveled and taught the gospel of Christ until his death, which he knew was coming, and accepted with the knowledge that his home was in heaven. Something for us to contemplate. 

This is a grand subject, which I have rather butchered in order to give you some thoughts to chew on. I encourage you to read and study further to strengthen your knowledge on the subject of death. While you are still living, you have the chance to enhance your life and prepare for your death through the study of God's word.

I hope you're all enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon with your family!

Blessings...Mimi  

The Valley of Death ~

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  Psalms 23:4

No one wants to think about death! And yet, death is one of the great realities of life, so shouldn't we think about it, talk about it, and plan for it? The question is: Are you prepared to walk through the Valley of Death? You and I can be, but it doesn't happen by chance. It happens because we look at the truth in the scriptures and take steps to make sure that we can bravely face the Valley of Death. Remember that we weren't created to live on earth eternally; we were created for another place, a place of the spiritual, a place for the soul.

The Son of God came to earth to make it possible for us to live eternally with God. And because we're too sinful without the blood of Christ, He was crucified so that our sins could be forgiven. Remember what 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 says: "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." So with this in mind, we boldly look at the subject of death!

                                                        

How many times have we looked at the conclusion of the whole matter with Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:14? But it applies so fundamentally that I don't want to leave it out of this lesson: "Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." That should get your attention every time! And Ecclesiastes 9:5 says that while we're still living, knowing that we're going to die, why not take advantage of that fact and prepare. The living still have hope! And Solomon gives some thought to the fact that we don't know when we're going to die, so we should prepare and not be taken unaware. And that is the point of our lesson.

                                                      

Why don't we look at some people who were caught off-guard--not because they weren't warned, but because they just didn't believe their ears. Most of us have heard the story of Noah, how he built an ark to God's specifications when he was being jeered and ridiculed for building a boat when there was no rain. It must have looked ridiculous to the people in Noah's world. But why did God destroy most of His creation? Because "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." Do you think that Satan has the ultimate weapon in television--that it provides an opportunity for "evil continually?" I'm not saying don't watch television, but I AM saying that you should take care as to which programs you watch.

That is very strong commentary on the people in Noah's day, isn't it? "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." I know we're living many centuries after God saved Noah and the eight other people with him, but do you think we might be grieving the Lord today? Can you say that God is NOT sorry He made you? God put this in your hands. He established a beautiful covenant with mankind--a rainbow that appears in the clouds after a rain--a promise to us that every living thing would not be destroyed again as in the flood. That is a sign that should make everyone marvel at God's grace and mercy!

And do you know about Korah and those who rebelled with him? In Numbers 16, he and 250 leaders of the congregation rose up and said to Moses and Aaron: "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" Now Korah was of the tribe of Levi, the ones chosen to lead the people. But here he gathered men from other tribes, as well as some of the priests, to say to Aaron that he and other priests were "taking too much upon themselves." But in saying this, they were setting themselves against the Lord. Moses had Korah and those with him to come before the Lord at the tabernacle. God was going to consume the whole congregation, but Moses asked God to punish only those men who had sinned. So all the men who rebelled with Korah--these were of the tribe of Reuben and had complained that they'd been brought out of Egypt only to die in the wilderness--were swallowed up by the ground on which they stood. And the 250 Levites who rebelled, and who were offering incense at the time, were consumed by fire.

And so Moses and Aaron were proven to be the chosen ones to lead the people. Rebellion is a behavior that we don't take seriously sometime. Maybe you just can't believe that you're rebellious. But do you realize that each time you choose your way rather than God's, you ARE being rebellious! Korah and all the people that rebelled with him were self-righteous--wrongly believing they were right. And they died because they didn't actually believe God. So it's worth examining your heart and mind to see if you're guilty of rebelling against the God you profess to believe in.

There are many acts of rebellion in the Old Testament beginning with Adam and Eve, Cain killing his brother Abel, and all the rebellions of the children of Israel. But what about the Christian age? Are there any examples of a rebellious spirit? We can look at what Paul says in Colossians 1:21-23 to see something of those who were once rebellious, now being brought back to God. Paul says:

"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."

                                
Is that your wish...to be always reconciled to God so that you can live with Him eternally? Then think on these things! What does Hebrews tell us: "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: 'Today, if you will hear my voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion'."

                                                             

Knowing the tendency of mankind to rebel and follow their own heart and mind, God has given us examples of those who turned from their wicked ways to listen to God. Sometimes we may forget that God wants us to be saved; He wants us to be perfected so that we can live with Him. God has prepared a place for us and wants us to enter His rest. The people of God should hear this: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." The message is:  you can't escape. You'll enter His rest or you'll never live with Him.  

                                                                                            

God has done His part in giving us the way of life. And if we follow God's plan for us, we'll be pleasing to Him, and we'll be so much happier being full of faith. So what does all of this have to do with death? We have to understand that if we want to face death fearlessly, we must be pleasing to God. So tomorrow, we'll look at some examples of those who were prepared to face death, knowing that God was with them. These include David, Jesus, the apostle Paul, as well as the other apostles.

Have a beautiful Saturday!

Blessings...Mimi 

The Valley of Persecutions & Trials ~ Perfecting Our Faith

Do not fear any of the things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison,  that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.   Revelation 2:10     

You and I often walk in  the torturous Valley of Persecutions and Trials. These are times in our lives when we feel off-balance and fearful, because we've been attacked in a way that feels especially unkind or even vicious. We're caught off-guard because trials can come unexpectedly from anywhere, and are often caused by people we know, even family or friends. But trials are also caused by a lack of money, food, clothing or shelter--what we call "the necessities" of life. Many trials are caused  by sickness, misery and pain.  And then there are trials caused by the more subtle influence of Satan and his demons in their unseen world.

But my point is, wherever trials and tribulations come from, we must face them and deal with them, because our eternal destiny depends on it. You can expect your faith to be tested and tried by sorrow, illness, or persecution,  along with many other unexpected strivings and stresses in your life. You and I must be ready to fight through all of these in order to have eternal life with God.

We aren't used to suffering for our beliefs in this country, but we are living in unsettled times. At any time, we may be subjected to a surprisingly hateful effort by those who don't believe as we do. And so I want to remind you of what Peter said to those followers of Christ: "...you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom not having seen you love." Before the trials come, we should already know how we'll deal with them. And, as always, that means we should be filling our hearts and minds with the word of God. 

                                                                             

I'm sure you're familiar with the Beatitudes listed in Matthew 5. Verses 11 & 12 say: "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Remember that we're the salt of the earth, a city set on a hill, and a lamp that shines before men. Our physical trials can help us keep our saltiness, can help us be a shining example, and help us be a lamp of enlightenment!

We are to show those who are  lost and hurting the way of life. If we suffer in the process, our reward is greater. Big words, I know, but they're true. All the apostles except John were killed while standing for Christ and with Christ, openly proclaiming His gospel. We aren't likely to lose our lives, but are we even proclaiming the gospel?

So what more can trials do for us? The Christians in I Peter were suffering escalating persecution, so Peter was writing to show them how to live victoriously in the middle of hostility--without losing hope or becoming bitter--while keeping their trust in their Lord, and looking to His second coming. So we can look at trials as giving us a purpose for our earthly existence, while helping us to appreciate God and our blessings. And trials also help to bring our faith to perfection by alleviating doubt, fear, anxiety, depression, and discouragement--all those emotions and feelings we find so disturbing. As believers, we are constantly exposed to a world in which Satan and his demons hold sway. But, like the Christians Peter was addressing, we too can live victoriously.
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 Remember Job's loyalty to God? His faith was definitely put to the test. Job was going along with his life, a rich man who sanctified his children daily, when he suddenly lost everything that was important to him--his health, his home, and his children. But he didn't lose his faith, even though Satan was expecting him to curse God and die.  But the story of Job shows his  attitude  when bad news kept coming to him: "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."                                                                                  

                                                         

Job was tested by the most accomplished tempter the world has ever known--Satan. Notice that Job was not being tempted by more wealth, but by trials and tribulations bringing all the pain and anguish mankind can experience. And when his friends asked him what he'd done wrong to be punished like he was, he refused to agree with them. When his wife turned on him and told him to curse God, he wouldn't listen. Job's faith was firm and strong no matter what happened in his life. He is an example to all of us!

Hebrews 11 has a list of people whose faith was strong like Job's. And the beginning of each verse says that their actions were "by faith." Let's look at these characters who had strong faith:

1. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain...God testifying of his gifts...and through it he being dead still speaks.
2. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death...for he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him....
3. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
4. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. By faith...he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country...for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
5. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she had judged Him faithful who had promised.

And the verses end by telling us: "These died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."    Heb. 11:13

I John 5:4 says: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." So what is the answer to any trial or tribulation or persecution? Of course, it's our faith. People following Christ are not always free from sorrow, pain, and the stress of this world, and may even suffer persecution before life is over. But we must prepare for assaults on our faith when we enter the Valley of Persecutions and Trials. We must be ready to stand steadfast in our belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God--our Lord and Savior!

Blessings...Mimi