The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:21) So sweet is the breathe of the holy Scriptures. All praise, honor and glory be unto Almighty God! Jesus and Jesus alone can give you the peace, comfort, happiness and joy sought after by all mankind. Yes, all mankind. However, so many are mixed up in their receiving of the same. Some seek it in fleshly desires. Others in a self righteous, self-willed environment. Still there are many whose appetite will only be satisfied through the ruling over of others. As we embrace this scripture, a reservoir of enlightenment concludes, "that Jesus and Jesus only can provide complete contentment." Let's take a close look. First of all, this is the last verse in the Bible. There are so many other closing statements that could have been written. However, here Father God chooses once again to establish that Jesus is the only way, truth and life. Always fulfilling, always comforting, always echoing that he wants you to succeed with God.Here, Jesus extends his personal grace to us. Now grace means, "having favor with God." Therefore, God's holy word concludes that he not only wants you and I to succeed; but has already given us the same favor with himself that Jesus had. Can you imagine that! You may say, "not for me." So let's judge for ourselves. The last two words are ALL and AMEN. Praise the Lord!
0 Comments
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverb 16:3) Can this be? Are we expected to have the Lord always in our mind; to so influence our thoughts to the point that we will see their reality? In the book of Isaiah, we can read this: that if our mind is stayed on the Lord, he will keep us in perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3) There seems to be two kinds of work in existence; the work of this world and the work of the Lord. Jesus was asked, how does one do the work of the Lord? His answer was this, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.(John 6:29) So, here is found our commitment to all our works under the sun; that as we perform any task that our minds are stayed on Jesus. In purity, in hope and love; revealing the reality of Almighty God's created purpose. Our thoughts will be transferred into our work for all the world to see. Can you imagine that? Praise the Lord! When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverb 16:7) Good morning in the sweet matchless name of Jesus. Although I am not here this morning in the natural, my thoughts will certainly be; along with my spirit. When surface reading this proverb, the words enemies and peace seem to capture the center ring of our attention. Of course, doesn't everyone have enemies? On the other hand, peace is a commodity most desired and probably the most lacking in such relationships; but let's go beneath the surface. As we travel into our inner man, our soulish pallet is offered this feast of paramount proportions; we can please the Lord! Yes, that is right! You and I can please God! All of the obstacles in our life will pale to this reality; that it is possible to please the Lord in all our ways. What then? The proverb goes on to say, "he maketh." Not you or I, but the Lord maketh our enemies to be at peace with us. Certainly worthwhile entertaining. Praise the Lord! For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17) Faith will stand amid the wrecks of time, Faith unto eternal glories climb; Only count the promise true, And the Lord will stand by you. Faith will win the victory every time! Where does this precious faith come from? How or where can someone gather up an overwhelming supply? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) In order to hear God's faithful voice, one must first unclog earthly ears with the hearing of God's word, the Bible. Only then will his voice be heard clearly. Almost too simple to be true? But it is! Praise the Lord! The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverb 18:10) Sound familiar? How many times have we worshiped Almighty God, with this very Scripture. Think for a moment, what this name engulfs. Names are descriptive: Caesar, Washington, Columbus and so on, seem to be more descriptive than the John Doe's of this world. Some names seem to carry a depth of meaning that others lack. Parents sometimes take the longest time to select a name for their unborn child. Perhaps, it is with hopes that the character or what that name represents will rub off on their child. Why even when Solomon was born, Father God reviewed his name; reclaiming the child with this name, Jedediah, "loved of God!" At the name of "Jesus," every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord! Yes, Jesus is the Lord's name! We know he was born in a manger in Bethlehem. Grew up in favor with God and man. Expose the powers of darkness along with man's sin nature. Revealed God's eternal purpose for all mankind through love. His precarious death and resurrection from the dead made this possible. Now, we find Jesus is also a strong tower of safety. Can you imagine all this in one name, Jesus! Praise the Lord! Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savior of his knowledge by us in every place. (II Corinthians 2:14) As we quickly approach the release of "I Am Yours," my thoughts seem to go directly to the awesome possibilities. Just think, Father God's sovereign unlimited authority, power, compassion and mercies all enveloped in one name: JESUS! His name will be held high. Thousands of voices singing, praising and glorifying God. Thanking him. Exalting him. Inviting him to hear and see just what his love has done. Even more profoundly, what his love is about to do. Look at the above Scripture, "always causeth us to triumph in Christ." See what I mean; the possibilities are awesome. Do you think he will forget about you? All your love and service to him. Your faith built strong and pure; founded on the living of his word. He maketh manifest the savour (excellent taste) of his knowledge. I can see nothing else but a complete satisfying of every hunger and thirst. Praise the Lord! But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26) Today in some cultures the celebration of Mother's Day is at hand. Encircled with mixed emotions, all mothers will receive different recognitions of honor. Does not the holy Scriptures command to honor thy father and mother? (Matthew 15:4). Yet, when Jesus was informed that his mother and brother were awaiting him outside, before his audience, Jesus immediately address the salutation this way, "Who is my mother, or my brethren?" (Mark 3:33) Beloved when God imparts into a life a "born again experience;" there must be a mother somewhere. Unlike Jesus' natural mother from without; this mother births from within. A spiritual mother, parenting a spiritual child. Engraving an image upon our hearts and minds of eternal life; vacating the premise of separation from God to an occupancy being filled with his spirit. Yes, the Jerusalem which is above is more than just an expression of words; but a reality of mother and child. Praise the Lord! And there are also many other things Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen (John 21:25) This Scripture concludes the Gospel of John; the fourth Gospel proceeded by Matthew, Mark and Luke. How fitting to end the series of "hands on experience" of the life and ministry of Jesus. The conclusion here is that there are many other things that Jesus did. In hopes that you and I might grasp what he is saying; the author goes on to paint this picture, "I suppose the world could not contain the books written." Can you think of any subject matter in all your experiences that could receive this credential? The apostle John is saying here that Jesus never stop being Jesus. All that has been written in the Gospels about him barely scratches the surface. Yet, in the Gospels we can see this man waken in the middle of the night to screams of help. (Mark 4:38) . Exhausted, overworked and pressed out; he is jolted with the screams of panicked men. How does Jesus respond? With anger, correction or being disorientated? His response, "peace, be still." (Mark 4:39). With their own eyes, they did see their troubles vanish! He fed his lambs, he bathed his sheep and he opens heaven for all that seek him. He never limits your unlimited God! Praise the Lord! And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:5) Can you imagine that? Talk about a second chance! "And he that sat upon the throne." This is God Almighty himself speaking. Oh! How he loves us. To tell us what will take place in the next creation, is to marvelous for words. Of course, there will be much more. But here, Father God wants us to know that all things, and he means all things, will be made new. Your mind, body, family, purpose for existence; even the world you live in. Why do you suppose that Father God would do this? Think for a moment. If Adam and Eve had not eaten from the tree of knowledge and had eaten instead from the tree of life; such a world would already exist. Perhaps God did not fail at all when Satan entered the garden of Eden. Could it be that the impossible has happened? That through his creation, God not only has succeeded in fathering an eternal family; but also will make all things new. The impossible made possible all because of Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord! rust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5 & 6)
As we embark into the global world of music, these Proverbs lend encouragement and Godly guidance. Some people are always worried. They are always concerned what tomorrow will bring for themselves and others. They never bring themselves into the full rest and peace of God. Their plans are sometimes opposed to the inevitable change that happens to us all. Happiness, contentment and peace of mind seem to be the elusive culprits they can never catch. On the other hand, there are the, "live and let live people." No substance in their lives, no past, no future, only a present. Processing a free will attitude that opposes responsibilities for themselves and others alike. There is no fear of God, leaving everything to "chance." They have been accustomed to large doses of self. However, we can see in the above Proverbs a guide; a friend, a counselor suited to take us through what ever this music will bring. To trust in the Lord with all your heart and to allow your understanding to be directed by the knowledge of the Lord; will always produce the journey Father God intended. Praise the Lord! |
Dr. Thomas SnyderArchives
January 2019
Categories |