The Name of the Lord - His Chosen Nation

 

God loves Israel, regardless of their behavior toward Him, because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He continually calls Israel to return to Him, to exalt His name and to keep His Word (Psalm 69:35-36).

He never abandoned Israel, even when she was not a nation, because it pleases Him to make them a nation for His great name's sake (Isaiah 12:22). This increases our faith in God's faithfulness.

God redeemed Israel continually through the generations to make a name for Himself, as He did great and mighty things for them. He even divided the waters before them (2 Samuel 7:23, 26).

He restored part of the Promised Land to Israel over and over through their history; and again in 1948, after the great persecution and judgement He sent on them because of their unbelief (2 Kings 21:4, 23:27).

He formerly scattered them among the nations of the earth, as He prophesied that He would; but now He calls them back to Himself for His own name's sake (Nehemiah 1:9; Jeremiah 3:17).

People wonder how God can turn to the Gentiles and shut up His Kingdom to Israel for 2000 years; but He gave Israel 4,000 years to turn their hearts to Him.

Even now, many Jews return to God and find completion through Jesus Christ. For His name's sake, He will use the Great Tribulation to give them yet another chance to take refuge in His name (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:9, 50:34; Micah 5:4; Zephaniah 3:9,12; 13:9).

Some people are blinded to God's true character and provision by Satan's lies and they curse Him, because they see only the trials, which come on us on this earth (Revelation 16:9).

Yet, people from every tribe, tongue and nation of the earth come before Him to worship His name and glorify Him, because of the blessings God pours out on His people (Revelations 15:4).

Prayer:

Father God, you are jealous over your people who glory in Your holy name (Exodus 34:14). Our heart is glad continually over Your provision for us in our life on this earth (1 Chronicles 16:10). We boast in You so that the humble will hear about Your provision in our life and come to You (Psalm 34:2).

There is salvation in no other name or means than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). As the perfect Lamb, He is the only way, truth and life (John 14:6). Whatever we ask in Your name, in order to perform the works You created us to do for Your glory, You will supply (John 14:13). There is no God like You, and we exalt Your name, which is great in power and might (Jeremiah 10:6).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus, the true King of Israel, is most highly exalted; and God bestowed on Him the name, which is above every other name; so that at His name, everyone who is in Heaven, on the earth and even under the earth will bow their knee to Him. - Philippians 2:9-11

Many thanks to Matt Milligan Photography for the photo.

http://www.mattmilliganphotography.com/

Never Grow Up!

 

Do you ever get tired of adult responsibilities? In Christ, we never “grow up”. You are His child, totally dependent upon our Father God’s divine power for everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). This is not an ethereal metaphor, but a simple, sensible and sincere relationship. As God’s children, we fully realize in spirit, body and soul – our thoughts, choices and emotions – that only He can sustain our life. He calls us to share in His glory and virtue.

God does not remove our free will, but simply loves us so much that we joyfully submit to His desires. We soon realize that we are totally incapable of supplying what we truly want and need from life. In total surrender to His will and ways, we find complete fulfillment that transcends anything this world, the devil or the flesh have to offer. We shed our molting skin of flesh and walk in newness of life by God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:16,25).

We can fully trust our Father God. We serve the God of nations, and there is no one like Him (Psalm 33:12; Jeremiah 10:6; 1 Samuel 2:2). He is greater than every one else (2 Chronicles 2:5). He is the God of angel armies (Malachi 2:16). He gives us rest all around us (2 Chronicles 20:30; Joshua 21:44; 2 Samuel 7:1). History proves the words of scripture, which diagram God’s hand in the lives of mankind throughout the ages. There is not one reason for us to distrust Him.

When we come into union with our Father God through salvation, His will becomes our will, His choices become our choices, and the objects of His love become the objects of our love. We exhibit His divine nature in us, as our old human nature diminishes, because it is dead and buried with Christ in God. Jesus Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4). This union through Christ inseparably binds us together in union with our Father and His.

Prayer:
Father God, we will rejoice in You, even if life throws at us one catastrophe after another (Habakkuk 3:17). You give Your angels charge over us, to protect us wherever we are and to keep us from harm (Psalm 91:11-12). If darkness dares to surround us, You come as our Light (Micah 7:8). Whenever we fall, You are right there to pick us up again (Psalm 37:24; Proverbs 24:16). No one can ever separate us from Your love (Romans 8:35). We praise You and give You all of the honor and glory due Your name (Psalm 29:2, 96:8).

Thought for the Day:
Our Father God may put us flat on our back, but it is only so that we will finally look up into His loving face.

 

 

Our Place in God's Kingdom

 

God walked with Adam in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). They had unbroken fellowship with one another. However, with Adam’s sin, this fellowship was broken. Then during the days of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God took up residence in the Holiest of Holies, also called the Most Holy Place. God fellowshipped with the High Priests (Leviticus 16:2,15). He also spoke to His prophets and used them to communicate His words to His people (Hebrews 1:1). He filled with His Spirit each of His anointed people throughout history so they could accomplish His work for them during their lifetime.

Then, with the ascension of Christ, God restored His original, daily communion with each of His children. The Holy Spirit moves into our spirit at salvation and He never leaves. We can quench the Spirit by our thoughts, choices and emotions (1 Thessalonians 5:19); but restoration comes with true repentance. With our new identity in Christ, we have access to the Holy of Holies and we may enter His presence with boldness (Hebrews 10:19). He gives us a new heart upon which He writes His commandments (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16).

God also calls us to cease from our labors and to enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:9-10). He gives us a special place in God’s Kingdom. Here is a list of a few of them. We are:

Acceptable in His Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)

Apple of God’s Eye (Zechariah 2:8)
Branch of the Vine of Christ (John 15:5)
Children of God (1 John 3:1-2, 10; John 1:12)
Chosen ones, dearly loved (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9).
Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10)
Forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14)
Free from sin’s hold and condemnation (Romans 6:23, 8:1)
Friend of Jesus (John 15:15)
Fruit bearer (John 15:16)
God’s possession (Titus 2:14; 2 Peter 2:9)
God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
Holy, blameless, irreproachable (Colossians 1:22)
Indwelt by God’s Spirit (Ephesians 3:17)
Justified (Romans 5:1)
Kings, reigning through Christ (1 Peter 2:9; Romans 5:17)
Members of God’s Household (Ephesians 2:19)
New creation (2 Corinth, 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephes. 4:24; Coloss. 3:10)
New Israel of God (Galatians 6:16; Romans 9:6)
One with Christ in Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17)
People of God (1 Peter 2:10)
Perfected in the Spirit (Philippians 3:15; Hebrews 12:23)
Priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6)
Reconciled (Romans 5:10-11)
Redeemed (Colossians 1:13-14)
Righteous (Ephesians 4:24; Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Saints (Romans 8:27; Ephesians 1:18, 4:12)
Sons of God through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26)

Prayer:

Father God, Jesus is standing outside of the door of our heart, asking to come inside. If anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He promises to come in and fellowship with us, giving us access to Your Most Holy Place (Revelation 3:20; Hebrews 10:19). In addition to all of this, we enjoy newness of life forevermore (Romans 6:4). Thank You for our daily bread, for forgiving all of our sins and for all of Your blessings. We look forward to living and reigning with Christ during the Millennium and to living in Your presence throughout eternity.

Though for the Day:

Because Christ shed His blood for the remission of our sins, God now has a personal relationship with every Born Again Believer. - Hebrews 9:12

Biblical Confirmations

Read: Job 12: 7-10

“For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, (even) his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.” Romans 1:20

While walking on our beach, I found the skull of a fish. On the underside of the jaw was a perfectly formed crucifix, making a clear presentation of the death of Christ on Calvary’s cross. This reminded me that the Wise Men saw the birth of Christ in a star. These are just two instances where creation clearly reveals the gospel story.

Not only are the Bible prophecies concerning the coming of Christ and end time events true, but nature also confirms the validity of its claims. Based on this natural evidence, we have no valid excuse not to believe the Bible. For instance, the Bible stated that the world is round before Columbus ever proved its spherical shape.

The Bible mentioned the existence of valleys and springs in the seas; yet, only until the past few hundred years did people have the technology to discover that there are deep valleys and fresh water springs in the oceans (Genesis 7:11,  2 Samuel 22:16, NIV). The Bible stated that kind words and laughter are good for one's health; yet, only in recent years have published reports stated that laughter releases chemicals within a person's body that can contribute to one's health (Proverbs 17:22, Proverbs 16:24, NIV).

In addition, every time an archeologist’s spade splits the earth, they find historical evidence proving the Biblical claims. Noah’s Ark, skeletons of giant men of old, Jericho’s walls falling straight down, gates and temples mentioned in the Bible, tablets of clay confirming Biblical characters, and so much more evidence all substantiate the words of the Bible. A shepherd even found proof of the veracity of the Bible when he discovered the perfectly preserved Dead Sea Scrolls hidden in caves.

Based on this evidence, we have no valid excuse not to believe the Bible. Clearly, God did not create us and then abandon us on earth. He gave us His Word to encourage, instruct, inform and predict His plan for mankind.

Prayer:

Lord, lead in Thy truth everlasting and allow me to serve You on the straight and narrow path throughout life. Continue to prove the authenticity of Your Word, so that others may see and believe.

Thought For The Day:
Wisdom is skill for living, which we obtain directly from the throne of God.