How does God’s #LOVE correspond to His CHASTENING? Chasten is defined by Webster as correcting by punishment; discipline – to purify or refine by freeing from faults. Psalm 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom Thou dost CHASTEN, O LORD, and teaches him out of Thy law” I think Hebrews 12 gives us additional understanding on perfect love. “do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they chasten us for a short as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good that we may share His holiness. Now no CHASTENING for the present seems to be joyous, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, will it yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Isaiah 53 tells us of the Father’s chastisement of our sins covered by His son, Jesus’s perfect love. “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we ourselves esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the CHASTISEMENT for our well being fell upon Him and by His scourging we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” What does Revelation 3 say to us? “As many as I LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. To him that overcomes will I grant to him to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.”
from Barbara’s Bible
The LIVING GOD #INCORRUPTIBLE
With the changing season, I got out a pair of enclosed cold weather shoes which I started to put on when I noticed the rubberized sole was sticky! As I looked more closely, the sole was cracked and crumbling even though the shoe looked impeccable. That seems to me to be a picture of many people around the world today. They look good, but what about the foundation upon which they walk? Our stock market is up then down; precious metals and commodities tumble; banks close. What can you trust? The word of a politician? I say, look to the LORD; read His WORD; PRAY; HOPE; REJOICE. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance INCORRUPTIBLE (which cannot decay), and undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for YOU, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time...Rejoice, even though now for a season you have distress by various trials: proof of your faith being more precious than gold which is perishable, though it be tried with fire, may be found to result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ; whom you have not seen, you love Him, and believe in Him…obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” 1PETER1:3-9 Those shoes are gone, but my soul is saved…walk with me in His Grace!
The LIVING GOD #REST
Did God #Work? Did God Rest? “We’ll work ’til #Jesus #Comes” is an old song that we sang joyfully many years ago. Today I see people avoiding work while they constantly complain. What does Hebrews 3:12 say about our LIVING GOD’S WORK AND REST? Today; urge one another to be partners with Christ, hear His voice, harden not your heart in unbelief by forsaking the LIVING GOD. 3:19 “So we see that they could not enter into His REST because of unbelief.” 4:3″For we which have BELIEVED do enter into REST,….. the works were finished from the foundation of the world…as God did REST the seventh day from all HIS WORKS. 10 For he that is entered into his REST, he also has to cease from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor to enter into that REST lest any man fall into unbelief. 6.See it remains that some still must enter (His rest) 7.harden not your hearts. 8,9 “For if Jesus had given them REST, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. THERE REMAINS A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.”
The LIVING GOD #BUILT
Building runs in my bloodline. My grandfather, ‘Barns’, was a #master #carpenter in the 1900’s who built beautiful churches, court houses, homes, and barns that I saw and attended while growing up in Texas. My father followed in his father’s profession and became a commercial contractor. I am still enamored with the building process and cringe when I see the wrecking ball hitting beautiful structures. I can see a parallel between God ‘s perfectly built creation of all things and Satan’s Wrecking Ball of Destruction. We are completing the Sukkah with booths of temporary shelter all the while looking forward to our permanent shelter with our Lord and Savior. “Members of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, CHRIST JESUS;…for every house is BUILT by some man; but HE that BUILT ALL THINGS IS GOD.…Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Heb.3
The LIVING GOD #HIGH PRIEST
Who or What is a high#priest? According to the word of God, the #Bible, a male descendent of Aaron was consecrated by divine appointment to the priesthood representing the people before Yahweh.(Ex.29) What does that have to do with #Jesus? So…how does that affect ME? (Heb.4-5) “CHRIST did not glorify himself to become a HIGH PRIEST; but HE who said to Him, ‘Thou Art My Son Today I Have Begotten Thee…as a PRIEST FOREVER after the order of Melchisedec’ Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered having been made perfect. He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great HIGH PRIEST, that is passed into the heavens, JESUS the SON of GOD, let us hold fast our confession. Heb. 7 tells us that Jesus is an unchangeable priesthood able to save us that come unto God by Him as He ever lives to make intercession for us. For we do not have an HIGH PRIEST who cannot be touched by our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. LET US COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.” Through His Grace, may we say like Job 19:25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I SEE GOD….
The LIVING GOD #MOST#HIGH
I am #amazed and #awed by #God’s #Word. As I read the Word today, it is for #today! In Daniel 7, as he tells his vision from the Lord, I get goosebumps that he saw ten kings and kingdoms that rise up to tread down and devour the whole earth; however another rises after them who subdues even them. 25.”he shall speak great words against the MOST HIGH, and shall persecute the saints of the MOST HIGH, and think to change times and laws; they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the court shall sit for judgment, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of all kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the MOST HIGH, whose kingdom is and everlasting kingdom, and ALL dominions shall serve and obey HIM.” Now what does Paul have to say about this in Titus 2? “Grace of God brings salvation and appeared to all men teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; LOOKING for that blessed hope, and the GLORIOUS APPEARING of the GREAT GOD and our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.” Keep Looking Up ^
The LIVING GOD #GATHERS
#Israel is at the center of our news, but what news does God give to us concerning Israel? Ezekiel 28:25,26 “The LORD GOD SAID; ‘When I SHALL GATHER THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL from the people among whom they are scattered, and sanctify them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. They shall dwell safely therein, and build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD.” I believe the Bible. Do You? Paul was telling us in 1Timothy 6 to hold on to eternal life; fight the good fight of faith and profess Christ Jesus before many witnesses. v.17″Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the LIVING GOD who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give to the needy; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Isaiah 40:10,11 “Behold the LORD GOD WILL COME WITH STRONG HAND, AND HIS ARM SHALL RULE FOR HIM; behold, HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM, and HIS WORK BEFORE HIM. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: HE SHALL GATHER THE LAMBS WITH HIS ARM, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young”
THE LIVING GOD #MEDIATOR
#Arguments, #shouting, #belittling, #lawlessness…sound like round the clock news? What you gonna do?… Get the best lawyer in town to mediate. Take it to court where the judge has the final ruling….Or does he? The Bible does give us the truth about the final judgment and the one who has the last word. You see the Living God actually loves you warts and all. Yes, even enough to die for your sins to give you a place in eternity eternally if you will only repent and ask Him to be your only Lord and Savior. Who is representing you in the final judgement? Webster says the definition of a mediator is ‘to interpose between parties as an equal friend of each to effect a reconciliation.’ There is only ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. 1Timothy2:3-6 “God our Savior will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the TRUTH. For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD and MEN, the MAN CHRIST JESUS; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy3:16 “without controversy great is the hidden truth of godliness; God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto Gentiles believed on in the world, received up into glory” Don’t you want to come too?