 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)
Throughout the word of God, we seem to find treasures and gems of pure light that are sprinkled with the breath taking beauty of enlightenment. I can still remember the first time reading these words, "with thy likeness." The body will catch up with the spirit of God that dwells within. Or is it more than that? When Jesus rose from the dead, he demonstrated a new fleshly body. In Luke 24:39, the Lord declared, "a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Jesus, in his resurrected body, entered the upper room although it was completely locked. He was able to sit down and eat a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb. Just previous to this event, Jesus was having dinner with two other disciples and vanish right before their eyes; possessing this new body, having flesh and bones. He died on the cross three days earlier; His lifeless body laid in a tomb. Here in Psalm 17, Father God comforts us with these compelling words; "you too shall awake, rise from the dead, with his likeness." Worth the wait? Righteousness is the key. Praise the Lord!
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 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:11-13)
Many believers would like to know what kind of crown they will have when they get to glory. The Lord will take everything that could not be burned by fire and make your personal crown. Everyone is forming his own crown. We need to be careful and not be all wood, hay or stubble. We have all experienced that these will be consumed with fire. There must be something left for the crown. Our fiery trials are certainly producing the materials needed to forge a most glorious and magnificent crown. There is a crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:4) Be sure that yours fits perfectly! Praise the Lord!  For mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7 & Mark 11:17) As some of the brethren continue to go out into the neighborhoods, highways and public places inviting others to partake in this, "our house of prayer," my thoughts are escalated into heaven. How pleased Father God must be to see the love of Jesus being emulated through his true Saints. His loving voice to all who are, "in need of prayer." God himself chose prayer to communicate our needs, desires and passions to his ever listening ear. Will there be obstacles? Will there be divine presence? Will hearts throb with excitement and joy to see what the Lord will do? Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:8 & 9). Praise the Lord!
 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and tender of mercy. (James 5:11)
Some years ago, a brother in the Lord was sent to my door to be an encouragement and support. Although he was motivated by the spirit of God, he reasoned the outcome of his mission. If he admitted that my plight was God's will, then it would have a vast effect on his life. But if he challenged, with success, what Almighty God was doing; then his life could remain exactly as it was, seemingly with God's blessing. So as it was with Job's accusers, I also felt the sharpness of his tongue cutting deep wounds into my spirit. His condemning words, "God doesn't expect us to leave everything known and dear to us and move halfway across the country. This can never be God!" These words added a heavier weight of loneliness and grief to my already overwhelming situation. It seems that when we reach out to God and start to get closer to our creator, having given so much, that someone will come along to help us according to their perspective of life's values. Beloved, don't let this overwhelm you. Put on the garment of patients, get into the vehicle of love, faith and praise. God will strengthen and comfort. And the Lord said to Job's accusers, "ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." (Job 42:7). "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10). It's the way of God. Praise the Lord!  Two things have I required of thee: deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. (Proverbs 30:7 – 9)
Once again, we find that our souls are stirred by the wisdom and spirit of God's word. Basic life seems to be the ingredients or props needed to express man's fallibility. Can you imagine that? Asking Almighty God to limit one's riches. We can understand not to be desirous of poverty, but riches! Then there is that tug of vanity, motivated by our natural surroundings. Someone once gave me this advice; "We all have a little larceny in us, otherwise life would not be worth living." He went on to say, you can't tell me that you don't want…….. naming several vices. Then there are those lies that seem to want to take up lodging in our tongues, to the extent that one may feel not only are lies unavoidable, but a necessary strength to conduct life. What is the antidote? The author of these Proverbs strongly suggests that we talk it over with him. Praise the Lord! |
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January 2019
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