Sharing photos by Steven and Darlene Faucette of God's Natural World. We miss so much that God has to tell us about Him and about our relationship with Him by not taking time to really look at this beautiful world He has given us to enjoy. I hope this blog will inspire you to explore nature up close and be reminded of how God loves you so much for you are the pinnacle of His creation!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
God's Natural World: The Lord is My Shepherd
God's Natural World: The Lord is My Shepherd: "Are you familiar with the 23rd Psalm? It is written by King David of Israel many years ago. Before he was annointed by the proph..."
The Lord is My Shepherd
Are you familiar with the 23rd Psalm? It is written by King David of Israel many years ago. Before he was annointed by the prophet Samuel as Israel's second king, he was a shepherd. I'm sure he spent many days and nights tending his father's sheep for they were many. David was the youngest of his brothers so that meant he got the most unpleasant of the family jobs. Tending sheep would be a very difficult job as the sheep would fall over and had to be righted or they would die. Sometimes the sheep would wander off and get caught in thickets or down in some ravine. David also had to protect the sheep from animals. On more than one occasion he used a sling shot to kill off predators such as bears and lions.
In addition to all this, David was responsible for leading the sheep to green pastures and good, clean drinking water. The 23rd Psalm (song) really takes one though a year in the life of a shepherd. Though it is only 6 verses long, there is much to be learned from this psalm of David.
Let's start with verse 1: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."
Wow! That short verse tells us so much!!!
David here is putting himself in the place of a sheep. The Lord is his personal shepherd. David belongs to all the sheep under God's care. God is personally responsible for the well being of David (and all His sheep.)
Because the Lord is David's shepherd, He supplies all David's needs. God is the "all in all" for David.
We who are under God's care don't need to go anywhere else to have our needs met. He amply supplies ALL our need so that we are not in want for anything. The grass is not greener in any other pasture. The water is not sweeter in any other stream. The care we get being under God's care as His "sheep" cannot be any better anywhere else. Is it any wonder that God didn't want his chosen people to have any other gods before him? Why should we worship anyone or anything else when God (Jehovah) loving cares for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep?
The rest of Psalm 23 describes in detail just how God provides for us.
vs 2 "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters."
Sheep won't lie down unless they are full an content. God fills us with good things, green pastures if you will.
Sheep also won't drink from a running stream. They have to have still waters. Thus God leads us his sheep to "quiet waters." So we see in verse 2 that God, the good shepherd, knows what we need to satisfy us. He understands what we his sheep require so that we can be content and satisfied.
vs 3 "He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
When we are weary, God restores our soul. He makes all things new. He re-energizes us so that we can keep on going. He gives us rest. He gives us peace. God leads us in places that will bring Him glory.
But sheep have to be humble and wiling to be led. What if a sheep goes astray and does not stay on the path the shepherd desires? That is the sheep that must be disciplined, carried, sometimes its legs must be broken as well.
Isn't it great that God leads us or guides us in paths of righteousness?
In order for God to lead he has to go ahead of us. That means he has already been where we are going.
And where does God lead us? In righteous paths or right going places. In the Lord's prayer there is a line that goes "and lead us not into temptation....." God isn't going to lead us astray. No! Instead He leads us in the way He intends for us to go. Why does he do this? "for his name's sake." God has a reputation to uphold! If God were to ever once mis lead us, his reputation would be runined! But for God to lead us, we have to be willing to follow. He didn't leave his sheep to find their own way, to develop their own paths of right living. We have a guide to help us live rightly before God.
vs 4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me."
The sheep would be guided with the staff of the shepherd. In this way, though a sheep might be fearful of predators, he would know his protector is nearby and be comforted. The rod and staff of the shepherd could be used to rescue a sheep with its crook or help a sheep up that had fallen over which happened often I'm told. The rod and staff could be used to fight off predators as well. Sometimes they were used for discipline, but even in discipline, the sheep would be comforted for they knew the shepherd cared for them enough to help them not do wrong.
vs 5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Sheep needed oil applied to their heads to keep flies away from them. They would not rest or eat if they were constantly bothered by flies and other pests. We have a Shepherd who triumphs over our enemies and shares a meal with us. This would designate a sealing of a covenant and a bond of friendship. What a wonderful thing to know we are invited to eat at God's table!! We are considered His friends and He makes covenants with us.
vs 6 "Surely goodness and love (some say mercy) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." David concludes with this wonderful thought. The good things God provides are eternal. We get to enjoy them not just for a season but for always. God's goodness never runs out. He never tires of taking care of us. His riches are so vast that we will never exhaust them. Best of all we get to live in the same house as God!!!! Only the kings sons and daughters could come and go as they pleased.
With God as our Shepherd, we have access to all his wealth. We are heirs to the throne!
So ask your Father what you need and be amply supplied. Be comforted, be at peace, be content, be filled, and be in want of nothing!!!
In addition to all this, David was responsible for leading the sheep to green pastures and good, clean drinking water. The 23rd Psalm (song) really takes one though a year in the life of a shepherd. Though it is only 6 verses long, there is much to be learned from this psalm of David.
Let's start with verse 1: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."
Wow! That short verse tells us so much!!!
David here is putting himself in the place of a sheep. The Lord is his personal shepherd. David belongs to all the sheep under God's care. God is personally responsible for the well being of David (and all His sheep.)
Because the Lord is David's shepherd, He supplies all David's needs. God is the "all in all" for David.
We who are under God's care don't need to go anywhere else to have our needs met. He amply supplies ALL our need so that we are not in want for anything. The grass is not greener in any other pasture. The water is not sweeter in any other stream. The care we get being under God's care as His "sheep" cannot be any better anywhere else. Is it any wonder that God didn't want his chosen people to have any other gods before him? Why should we worship anyone or anything else when God (Jehovah) loving cares for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep?
The rest of Psalm 23 describes in detail just how God provides for us.
vs 2 "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters."
Sheep won't lie down unless they are full an content. God fills us with good things, green pastures if you will.
Sheep also won't drink from a running stream. They have to have still waters. Thus God leads us his sheep to "quiet waters." So we see in verse 2 that God, the good shepherd, knows what we need to satisfy us. He understands what we his sheep require so that we can be content and satisfied.
vs 3 "He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
When we are weary, God restores our soul. He makes all things new. He re-energizes us so that we can keep on going. He gives us rest. He gives us peace. God leads us in places that will bring Him glory.
But sheep have to be humble and wiling to be led. What if a sheep goes astray and does not stay on the path the shepherd desires? That is the sheep that must be disciplined, carried, sometimes its legs must be broken as well.
Isn't it great that God leads us or guides us in paths of righteousness?
In order for God to lead he has to go ahead of us. That means he has already been where we are going.
And where does God lead us? In righteous paths or right going places. In the Lord's prayer there is a line that goes "and lead us not into temptation....." God isn't going to lead us astray. No! Instead He leads us in the way He intends for us to go. Why does he do this? "for his name's sake." God has a reputation to uphold! If God were to ever once mis lead us, his reputation would be runined! But for God to lead us, we have to be willing to follow. He didn't leave his sheep to find their own way, to develop their own paths of right living. We have a guide to help us live rightly before God.
vs 4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me."
The sheep would be guided with the staff of the shepherd. In this way, though a sheep might be fearful of predators, he would know his protector is nearby and be comforted. The rod and staff of the shepherd could be used to rescue a sheep with its crook or help a sheep up that had fallen over which happened often I'm told. The rod and staff could be used to fight off predators as well. Sometimes they were used for discipline, but even in discipline, the sheep would be comforted for they knew the shepherd cared for them enough to help them not do wrong.
vs 5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Sheep needed oil applied to their heads to keep flies away from them. They would not rest or eat if they were constantly bothered by flies and other pests. We have a Shepherd who triumphs over our enemies and shares a meal with us. This would designate a sealing of a covenant and a bond of friendship. What a wonderful thing to know we are invited to eat at God's table!! We are considered His friends and He makes covenants with us.
vs 6 "Surely goodness and love (some say mercy) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." David concludes with this wonderful thought. The good things God provides are eternal. We get to enjoy them not just for a season but for always. God's goodness never runs out. He never tires of taking care of us. His riches are so vast that we will never exhaust them. Best of all we get to live in the same house as God!!!! Only the kings sons and daughters could come and go as they pleased.
With God as our Shepherd, we have access to all his wealth. We are heirs to the throne!
So ask your Father what you need and be amply supplied. Be comforted, be at peace, be content, be filled, and be in want of nothing!!!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Christmas Memories
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
Perhaps there is a favorite hymn you enjoy at this time of year or something your family does as a Christmas tradition.
When I was a boy there were many things we did at Christmas time. Mom would make us boys do a little Christmas pagent just for she and Dad. One of us would do the song "The Little Drummer Boy," another would sing "Silent Night," and still another might have to read the Christmas story out of Luke.
Eventually we all rebelled and got to where we didn't like "performing" for our parents and any guests that might come to our house on Christmas.
Decorating a Christmas tree is another memory I hold dear. We would go and cut down a cedar usually.
Sometimes we'd have more than one Christmas tree. There would be one on our porch, another in the living room, and then sometimes we'd get a little one all decorated for our bedroom. We'd decorate it with glass ornaments, lights, and tinsel. I'd end up throwing gobs of tinsel on the tree thinking I was really making it pretty. NOT!
We also had a little manger scene with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Shepeherds, animals, etc.
I think eventually the mice in the attic ate away at our little cresh and destroyed it for good.
Sometimes our little church would combine with the Methodist church and the children would sing Christmas songs for an evening worship service.
One neat thing the youth would do (I was way too young at the time) was to make baskets of fruit for shut ins and take them to them as they sang carols.
I had to stay home with Mom but that meant I got to see Red Skelton on our black and white Philco TV (rabbit ears.) He was soooo funny.
One time we went driving to see Christmas lights. Dad went into a subdivision that had one big circle of homes. He went round and round that subdivision! I thought perhaps he couldn't figure how to get out of there, but perhaps he was just being lazy and didn't want to drive us all over creation!
We used to love trying to guess what our presents were under the tree. I was quite mischievous and would tear the wrapping a little bit to see if I could tell what was under it. He he he.
Well no matter what your Christmas memory, I hope you remember the reason for the season.
God's gift to us of Jesus, our Saviour. He came to save us FROM sin, FOR a purpose, and OF grace.
When we see Jesus, we see God for Jesus is God with us. He is Emanuel!!
I hope this year you will make new memories and recall old ones.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Perhaps there is a favorite hymn you enjoy at this time of year or something your family does as a Christmas tradition.
When I was a boy there were many things we did at Christmas time. Mom would make us boys do a little Christmas pagent just for she and Dad. One of us would do the song "The Little Drummer Boy," another would sing "Silent Night," and still another might have to read the Christmas story out of Luke.
Eventually we all rebelled and got to where we didn't like "performing" for our parents and any guests that might come to our house on Christmas.
Decorating a Christmas tree is another memory I hold dear. We would go and cut down a cedar usually.
Sometimes we'd have more than one Christmas tree. There would be one on our porch, another in the living room, and then sometimes we'd get a little one all decorated for our bedroom. We'd decorate it with glass ornaments, lights, and tinsel. I'd end up throwing gobs of tinsel on the tree thinking I was really making it pretty. NOT!
We also had a little manger scene with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Shepeherds, animals, etc.
I think eventually the mice in the attic ate away at our little cresh and destroyed it for good.
Sometimes our little church would combine with the Methodist church and the children would sing Christmas songs for an evening worship service.
One neat thing the youth would do (I was way too young at the time) was to make baskets of fruit for shut ins and take them to them as they sang carols.
I had to stay home with Mom but that meant I got to see Red Skelton on our black and white Philco TV (rabbit ears.) He was soooo funny.
One time we went driving to see Christmas lights. Dad went into a subdivision that had one big circle of homes. He went round and round that subdivision! I thought perhaps he couldn't figure how to get out of there, but perhaps he was just being lazy and didn't want to drive us all over creation!
We used to love trying to guess what our presents were under the tree. I was quite mischievous and would tear the wrapping a little bit to see if I could tell what was under it. He he he.
Well no matter what your Christmas memory, I hope you remember the reason for the season.
God's gift to us of Jesus, our Saviour. He came to save us FROM sin, FOR a purpose, and OF grace.
When we see Jesus, we see God for Jesus is God with us. He is Emanuel!!
I hope this year you will make new memories and recall old ones.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Treasure in Jars of Clay
2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." NIV
I'm reminded when I read this passage of the story of Aladin's lamp. An all powerful genie resides in a dusty old oil lamp. That's kind of what Paul is reminding us of here in Second Corinthians.
Our bodies here on Earth are just like "jars of clay." They are imperfect, easily broken, earthly vessels that God chooses to use to bring glory to himself. Up in verse 6 Paul reminds us God said "Let light shine out of darkness." He made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Imperfect as we are, God resides in us if we have accepted his Holy Spirit. Therein resides all the power in the universe. With that power we can move mountains; call on God Almighty to heal, to change situations, to work in someone's life.
So remember this the next time you think of yourself as not worth much. God chooses the imperfect things of this world to bring him Glory and Honor.
I'm reminded when I read this passage of the story of Aladin's lamp. An all powerful genie resides in a dusty old oil lamp. That's kind of what Paul is reminding us of here in Second Corinthians.
Our bodies here on Earth are just like "jars of clay." They are imperfect, easily broken, earthly vessels that God chooses to use to bring glory to himself. Up in verse 6 Paul reminds us God said "Let light shine out of darkness." He made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Imperfect as we are, God resides in us if we have accepted his Holy Spirit. Therein resides all the power in the universe. With that power we can move mountains; call on God Almighty to heal, to change situations, to work in someone's life.
So remember this the next time you think of yourself as not worth much. God chooses the imperfect things of this world to bring him Glory and Honor.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Perfect Peace
Do you have peace? Maybe you're not in a storm at the moment but we all are there at one time or another.
When we are in one of those storms we are not at peace are we? We are tossed to and fro and feel out of control. Sometimes we even feel that we will be drowned or destroyed by the storm. I've been there more than once and I bet you have too. Things such as divorce, loss of a job, accidents, and numerous other things cause us to not have peace. But God wants us to have peace even in those "storms" of life.
Isaiah 26:3 says "You (meaning God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." vs 4 "Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal." NIV
In Mark 4 we read of a time when the disciples and Jesus were in a boat on the sea of Gallilee. Even though they had with them the creator of the world, the disciples were afraid they might drown. The storm was raging all around them and Jesus was asleep! To them it seemed as if Jesus did not care. Sometimes, when we are in the midst of life's "storms" we may also feel Jesus just doesn't care. Maybe he is asleep or dealing with some other catastrophe and doesn't notice we are about to go under. At times we feel that we have to face these challenges all on our on. "Where is God?, " we ask ourselves. "Doesn't He care?"
The answer to that is YES!!!! God does care. Storms of life can serve to refocus our attention on God.
We are like gold being refined by fire, being made pure.
There is an old hymn that says "be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid ROCK"..."this ROCK is Jesus, yes he's the one, this ROCK is Jesus, God's only Son." If your life is not anchored to the ROCK, then you can be sure there will not be peace. As Christians, we are not spared life's storms, but be very sure that God promises us we can have peace in the midst of those storms if our lives are in His hands. Peace, that assurance; confidence if you will, that God has it under control, that He cares for you personally, and that no matter what happens He is there with you to give you peace; peace that passes all understanding.
If you are not experiencing peace then "turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of life will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace." Give him praise in the midst of the storm for God inhabits our praises. Turn to him, cling to him, and anchor your life on the immovable ROCK!
Then you will have peace.
King David put it this way in Psalm 40
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."
I don't know about you but I'm anything but patient. When I'm going through difficulty I want out of the storm and NOW! Here David reminds us that we have to wait patiently on God to act. Do you trust Him?
Did you see what the result was after God had helped David through one of his storms of life?
It served to bring others to God so that they, too, put their trust in the Lord.
You may not realize it but others are watching how you do in the storm. You will either inspire others to come to trust in God or else they will see that you don't really have anything special and they may turn away from God. Your life is a witness for good or bad. I love the imagery David gives here of being in the mud and mire. Man, when I'm having a rough time it can seem as if I've lost my footing and am gettting pretty dirty and just falling back into the mire and muck. David couldn't get himself out of it. He had to rely on God to set his feet on a rock which gave him sure footing so he could stand firmly. When we do come out of the storms of life, be sure to give praise to God. Don't take credit for it as if you did it on your own.
When we are in one of those storms we are not at peace are we? We are tossed to and fro and feel out of control. Sometimes we even feel that we will be drowned or destroyed by the storm. I've been there more than once and I bet you have too. Things such as divorce, loss of a job, accidents, and numerous other things cause us to not have peace. But God wants us to have peace even in those "storms" of life.
Isaiah 26:3 says "You (meaning God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." vs 4 "Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal." NIV
In Mark 4 we read of a time when the disciples and Jesus were in a boat on the sea of Gallilee. Even though they had with them the creator of the world, the disciples were afraid they might drown. The storm was raging all around them and Jesus was asleep! To them it seemed as if Jesus did not care. Sometimes, when we are in the midst of life's "storms" we may also feel Jesus just doesn't care. Maybe he is asleep or dealing with some other catastrophe and doesn't notice we are about to go under. At times we feel that we have to face these challenges all on our on. "Where is God?, " we ask ourselves. "Doesn't He care?"
The answer to that is YES!!!! God does care. Storms of life can serve to refocus our attention on God.
We are like gold being refined by fire, being made pure.
There is an old hymn that says "be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid ROCK"..."this ROCK is Jesus, yes he's the one, this ROCK is Jesus, God's only Son." If your life is not anchored to the ROCK, then you can be sure there will not be peace. As Christians, we are not spared life's storms, but be very sure that God promises us we can have peace in the midst of those storms if our lives are in His hands. Peace, that assurance; confidence if you will, that God has it under control, that He cares for you personally, and that no matter what happens He is there with you to give you peace; peace that passes all understanding.
If you are not experiencing peace then "turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of life will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace." Give him praise in the midst of the storm for God inhabits our praises. Turn to him, cling to him, and anchor your life on the immovable ROCK!
Then you will have peace.
King David put it this way in Psalm 40
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."
I don't know about you but I'm anything but patient. When I'm going through difficulty I want out of the storm and NOW! Here David reminds us that we have to wait patiently on God to act. Do you trust Him?
Did you see what the result was after God had helped David through one of his storms of life?
It served to bring others to God so that they, too, put their trust in the Lord.
You may not realize it but others are watching how you do in the storm. You will either inspire others to come to trust in God or else they will see that you don't really have anything special and they may turn away from God. Your life is a witness for good or bad. I love the imagery David gives here of being in the mud and mire. Man, when I'm having a rough time it can seem as if I've lost my footing and am gettting pretty dirty and just falling back into the mire and muck. David couldn't get himself out of it. He had to rely on God to set his feet on a rock which gave him sure footing so he could stand firmly. When we do come out of the storms of life, be sure to give praise to God. Don't take credit for it as if you did it on your own.
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| Storms in our lives |
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Holy, Holy, Holy
In the 1960's there was a TV show called "Batman." Batman's sidekick in crime fighting was named Robin.
Robin would often use the word "holy" to help describe their predicaments. He might say something like "holy cow" or "holy jigsaw" or something else just as silly. Well today I'm not discussing that use of the word. Today I want us to think about God and what things are "Holy." We sometimes have our "Holy Bibles" around the house. Growing up we were taught to treat our Bibles with respect, with honor and with reverence. When I got married the preacher stated at the beginning that we were coming before God in "Holy Matrimony." And yet all too often we forget that marriage is a "Holy" union. In Exodus 3:5 Moses has an encouter with God at the burning bush. God tells Moses to take off his sandals for he is standing on holy ground. The ground was not holy in and of itself. No. It was made holy by the divine presence of God. The Bible says that Holy means Hallowed. Jesus when teaching his disciples to pray says "Hallowed be thy name" when speaking to his heavenly Father. Even Jesus is recognizing God the Father as Holy and He is His One and only Son! In Revelation 15 we see that God alone is Holy. In fact, he is the most Holy, He is Holy, Holy, Holy (Revelation 4:8.) Now for something to be Holy it has to be set apart, special, consecrated and used for worship. It also must be flawless. If God had any speck of sin, any fault of any kind, he would not be Holy. Everything God touches must be holy or become holy. When we are washed by the blood of Jesus, we become "white as snow." We become holy. It is the only way we can come before a holy God. Jesus was the perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice. He had to be without sin and that is why he was born of a virgin with the Holy Spirit impregnating Mary. If Jesus is only a man, then he could not be the atoning sacrifice for our sin. When we come before God in a marriage commitment we are coming before Him on Holy ground and asking Him to make our marriage holy, without blemish. That is why the bride wears white. She is supposed to be spotless, a virgin, kept only for her husband and for him alone.
This is also why we are to keep the sabbath day Holy. It is to be set apart for worship and rest from work.
So I challenge you today to be made Holy. Set yourself apart for worship. Be made spotless, cleansed from sin. And treat your marriage as Holy as well. Protect it from blemish. Guard it with all you have.
Cherish your spouse and hold your spouse in special honor. Most of all give to God what is due.
Come into the Holy of holies and worship Him.
Robin would often use the word "holy" to help describe their predicaments. He might say something like "holy cow" or "holy jigsaw" or something else just as silly. Well today I'm not discussing that use of the word. Today I want us to think about God and what things are "Holy." We sometimes have our "Holy Bibles" around the house. Growing up we were taught to treat our Bibles with respect, with honor and with reverence. When I got married the preacher stated at the beginning that we were coming before God in "Holy Matrimony." And yet all too often we forget that marriage is a "Holy" union. In Exodus 3:5 Moses has an encouter with God at the burning bush. God tells Moses to take off his sandals for he is standing on holy ground. The ground was not holy in and of itself. No. It was made holy by the divine presence of God. The Bible says that Holy means Hallowed. Jesus when teaching his disciples to pray says "Hallowed be thy name" when speaking to his heavenly Father. Even Jesus is recognizing God the Father as Holy and He is His One and only Son! In Revelation 15 we see that God alone is Holy. In fact, he is the most Holy, He is Holy, Holy, Holy (Revelation 4:8.) Now for something to be Holy it has to be set apart, special, consecrated and used for worship. It also must be flawless. If God had any speck of sin, any fault of any kind, he would not be Holy. Everything God touches must be holy or become holy. When we are washed by the blood of Jesus, we become "white as snow." We become holy. It is the only way we can come before a holy God. Jesus was the perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice. He had to be without sin and that is why he was born of a virgin with the Holy Spirit impregnating Mary. If Jesus is only a man, then he could not be the atoning sacrifice for our sin. When we come before God in a marriage commitment we are coming before Him on Holy ground and asking Him to make our marriage holy, without blemish. That is why the bride wears white. She is supposed to be spotless, a virgin, kept only for her husband and for him alone.
This is also why we are to keep the sabbath day Holy. It is to be set apart for worship and rest from work.
So I challenge you today to be made Holy. Set yourself apart for worship. Be made spotless, cleansed from sin. And treat your marriage as Holy as well. Protect it from blemish. Guard it with all you have.
Cherish your spouse and hold your spouse in special honor. Most of all give to God what is due.
Come into the Holy of holies and worship Him.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Playing with Fire
When I was a kid I loved playing with fire. Firecrackers that is. I would light bottle rockets in my hand and throw them way up while the fuse was burning just to see how much higher I could make them go!!
I would light firecrackers and put them in a hollowed out place in a tree just to see the ants go nuts when it went off. But one day I had unraveled a lot of the duds and put the powder and fuses in a pile. I lit them and all that hot fire went at the same time burning my hand. OUCH!! My fingers felt like they were on fire even after I soaked them in milk. For a long time I was reminded how foolish I had been for doing something like that, for "playing with fire."
Proverbs 6:27-29 says it this way "Can a man scoop fire into his lap and his clothes ont be burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished." NIV
This particular verse warns against adultery, even when supposedly no one but the two people physically involved knows of it. Sooner or later you reap what you sow. Its the law of the harvest. You plant a seed of unfaithfulness and you reap disease, divorce, discord,etc.
But there are other ways of "playing with fire" too. It may be playing the lottery or gambling in some other fashion. It may be lying or being dishonest in other ways. Whatever you are doing that you know is against what God would have you do is just asking for Divine discipline. Don't ever think you are getting away with something just because some bolt of lightning doesn't strike you down with immediate judgement.
One thing leads to another and then before you know it, you are in over your head.
Learn to listen to God's voice. The Holy Spirit is there to guide you and to help you make the right choices, but He isn't going to force you to do what is right. That is entirely up to you.
You might try to justify your actions before others but God is not to be mocked. You KNOW what is right.
Pray today that you will avoid temptations to do wrong. Don't play with fire, You will surely get burned in the end.
I would light firecrackers and put them in a hollowed out place in a tree just to see the ants go nuts when it went off. But one day I had unraveled a lot of the duds and put the powder and fuses in a pile. I lit them and all that hot fire went at the same time burning my hand. OUCH!! My fingers felt like they were on fire even after I soaked them in milk. For a long time I was reminded how foolish I had been for doing something like that, for "playing with fire."
Proverbs 6:27-29 says it this way "Can a man scoop fire into his lap and his clothes ont be burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished." NIV
This particular verse warns against adultery, even when supposedly no one but the two people physically involved knows of it. Sooner or later you reap what you sow. Its the law of the harvest. You plant a seed of unfaithfulness and you reap disease, divorce, discord,etc.
But there are other ways of "playing with fire" too. It may be playing the lottery or gambling in some other fashion. It may be lying or being dishonest in other ways. Whatever you are doing that you know is against what God would have you do is just asking for Divine discipline. Don't ever think you are getting away with something just because some bolt of lightning doesn't strike you down with immediate judgement.
One thing leads to another and then before you know it, you are in over your head.
Learn to listen to God's voice. The Holy Spirit is there to guide you and to help you make the right choices, but He isn't going to force you to do what is right. That is entirely up to you.
You might try to justify your actions before others but God is not to be mocked. You KNOW what is right.
Pray today that you will avoid temptations to do wrong. Don't play with fire, You will surely get burned in the end.
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