How To Know God's Will - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 12:2,

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Have you ever listened to someone tell you of a decision they have made that sounded goofy, off-the-wall, foolish, lacking "common sense" and then end their telling of it with "It is God's will for me." You are left with a feeling that they, too, know it sounds reckless or wacky and need to validate it, or avoid being challenged on it by playing what they feel is a trump card - its God's will! Who can argue with that? Meanwhile you can think of passages of Scripture, principles and truths within its pages this someone is going to run against, all the name of "God's will." Over the years there have been countless times I've witnessed that very conversation by fellow church members.

Additionally, how many times have you prayed in a group where someone is sincerely seeking the Lord's will in a matter or, you alone before the Lord, seek his will on something? And, how often, there appears to be less than pristine clarity when the time comes to plunge ahead on whatever the issue was? Did we find God's will? If so, why the nagging thought of uncertainty on it? Maybe you haven't had the experience, but I know I have - on more than one occasion.

Why so much uncertainty in seeking the Lord's will on a matter? Why the confusion, why the many opinions on God's will in a matter? Paul provides us very direct counsel on it here in this Romans passage. If we turn from the ways of the world, "the pattern of this world" for something else: being transformed by the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit, we will be able to "test and approve" God's good, pleasing and perfect will. Not until we put the ways of this world behind us to seek him do we begin to understand and know our God. Only by knowing our God do we understand his desires.

If we maintain our distance, if we fail to draw near him, if we snub what we know he desires for us in other areas, to think we will receive a special message from him on something that will give us advantage, we are most likely fooling ourselves. I am reminded of James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." I am persuaded God wants us to know his desires and I am persuaded that is obtainable for us… but not from a distance. How can we know God's will on anything if we know so little of him? It seems to me the more I know of him by drawing close to him, leaving this world's ways behind me, the more I will know of his will.

Just a thought. What do you think?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Tragedy of Rejecting Jesus Christ - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 11:2b-5,

"Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 'Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me'? And what was God's answer to him? 'I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace."

One of the challenges Paul faced as he took the gospel to the Gentiles was the authenticity and veracity of the gospel message being questioned due to Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ as a nation. After all, if those of whom Paul acknowledged, "Theirs is the adoption [by God] as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!" (Romans 9:4-5) rejected Jesus Christ, doesn't that bring into question Paul's proclamation that Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Savior?

As part of his argument, Paul shows that historically Israel had been on the wrong side of things in the past. His point is that it is not surprising the nation of Israel would reject God's Son he had sent, as the nation had a history of rejecting those God had sent, just as in Elijah's day. Don't place any stock in Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ as a cause to question Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Given Israel's history, it might even be expected.

The sad reality in Paul's point is the truth that so many reject the only means to eternal life beyond the doorway of death. When here Jesus Christ said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Once in his ministry Jesus was asked, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" His response was frightening, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evil doers!' There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out." Luke 13:23-28. Tragically and horrifically, many will not enter into eternal life!

Jesus said, "make every effort" to enter into that narrow door. How difficult an effort is required? We are told that God offers his salvation freely, as a gift to anyone who will take it. The only effort the Lord asks is that we embrace him in trust and faith. "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Most people, as in Paul's day with the nation of Israel, refuse to do so. "For many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14. God has chosen only those who will embrace him in faith.

Salvation is simply by faith. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. Don't believe anyone who says you have to be good enough to earn it. Don't believe anyone who says salvation is by appointment. Don't believe anyone who says they are the custodians of God's grace, so you have to come to them. Just believe in Jesus Christ! He is the way, the truth and the life!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Faith comes from hearing the gospel. - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 10:17,

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

We read in Hebrews that faith is that trust or confidence in what is not perceived through the senses God has given us to relate to the world around us. As such, faith defines and expresses the attitudes and perspectives of our inner heart revealing what is in our spirit. The writer in Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.". He goes on to say that this certainty of what is unseen is what "the ancients" were commended for, verse 2. This reminds me of what I consider to be one of the most important statements in the Old Testament, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6. Paul quotes this passage and observes, "The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Romans 4:23-24.

Faith informs our thoughts on things and shapes our opinions and the choices we make. Most are well aware that information and education do not always persuade. As we have carefully and clearly presented the facts of an issue with someone we disagree with, we are all too startled to realize we are unable to persuade with truthful information. This is the case not just with things of a religious nature but also politics, morals, social issues, etc. Faith appears to hold a key role in our perspective on all sorts of things.

God has chosen it will be faith that determines if someone is given a place in his family. Faith and trust in him. It is belief in the resurrection and the embrace of Jesus Christ in faith that brings eternal life. As our verse above tells us, it is God's invitation through the gospel that provides the context for faith to exist. When we are offered eternal life through "the message" or the gospel, we can trust in it or reject it. Paul calls the gospel the power of God for salvation, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.: Romans 1:16.

Receiving eternal life is not a matter of my performance or good deeds. It is all about whether I trust in God. Because it is by faith, I receive it as a gift freely given me. Can you think of a greater gift than this?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Our Righteousness Is From The Lord! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 9:15-33,

"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy… Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden… What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

 

It becomes an astonishing reality to many of us when it finally dawns on us that the Lord's call is an invitation for us to join his family on the basis of faith, to embrace Jesus Christ in faith: it is not something we earn by establishing our own righteousness. Joining God's family is not an exercise in doing things; it is an exercise of faith. In Romans 4 we read about the faith of Abraham and how his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Here we read that the Lord has chosen those who will respond to him in faith as did Abraham. The Lord has not chosen those who attempt to establish their own righteousness, he is looking for those who embrace that same type of faith Abraham had in the Lord.

 

This means any of us can become children of God. Not just the educated theologian, not just the wealthy that have so much to give to good causes, not particularly those who are able to gain a great following, not just those who seem to have the ability to engage in religious disciplines with the passion of a zealot. Those whom the Lord has chosen as his are those of us who demonstrate a passion for him by embracing Jesus Christ in faith. Today I find this a wonderful theme of worship!! We are the ones who sail into the resurrection not based on what we have done but based on what he whom we have placed our faith in did!! Our righteousness is from the Lord himself!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Predestined To Be A New Creation! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 8:28-29,

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

Paul has made the point earlier in this letter that all people have a problem with sinfulness, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", Romans 3:23. As such Paul observes, "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness." Romans 6:20. Because of this, all who come to the Lord have the need to become fit for the kingdom of heaven. In another letter Paul says that for all who come to Jesus Christ, God makes a "new creation" of them, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17. A part of this "new creation" that comes is what Paul points to in Romans 8:28-29.

God predestined, that is, he determined beforehand, that all who love him will be conformed to the very likeness of his own Son, Jesus Christ! When we come into the kingdom of God, God takes us as we are and begins to do a beautiful work in our lives. He reshapes us, taking from us those old sinful ways of bitterness, anger, immorality, etc. and begins to shape within us the beautiful disposition and character of Jesus.

Where once might have been found, "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." Galatians 5:19-21, now is found, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" and the like. Galatians 5:22-23.

Paul tells us that the Lord uses difficulties we encounter in this life to bring about these wonderful changes. Things like "trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword", Romans 8:35. The very things that might be cause for discouragement, disappointment and despair now become the very tools that "God works for the good of those who love him". The end result is that in the resurrection Jesus Christ will be the firstborn "among many brothers"!

God works for the good of those who love him... even in the very difficulties we experience in this life! This tells me so much about the heart of the God we love and serve.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

--

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

"The wicked freely strut about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race." Psalm 12:8.

Jesus Christ Rescues Us From Our Bodies of Death - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 7:24-25,

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Many recognize, and rightly so, Paul's letter to the Romans is a presentation of salvation by faith. Often Romans 1:16-17 is observed to be a concise expression of the theme of his letter, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

What sometimes gets overlooked is that Paul's presentation of salvation by faith is a polemic against salvation by doing works of the law. As Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, his payment for the sins of mankind, and the invitation of eternal life by embracing him in faith, Paul had to deal with the prevailing conflict with the very nation Jesus Christ himself was from. His own people as a nation rejected Jesus Christ as her Savior. Rather than accepting the good news of salvation by faith, the Jews maintained their steadfast commitment to keep the law to find their righteous standing with God. It is against this backdrop that Paul's reasoning is developed throughout the letter to the Romans.

The Jews lived by the law of Moses and even codified it in an array of oral traditions that would insure compliance with it. In historical background studies of the early church, the Roman Empire and Israel, it is often observed that the Jews throughout the Diaspora were looked to as that ethnic group in any given locality that maintained the highest ethical and religious standards. As a nation of monotheistic worshippers committed to their adherence to the law given them by God in every facet of life, their expression of morality, ethical conduct and worship set them apart from all others.

Salvation by faith would mean abandoning what set the Jews apart from others, abandoning what had become the very fabric of the life and culture of the nation - a perceived higher moral ground the Jews maintained for themselves. Paul cut the ground right from underneath this perception by addressing the Jew's weakness. Although they subscribed to high moral standards in keeping the law, they were just as sinful as anyone else. Paul tells them, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1. He brings home this indictment very forcefully from verse 17 to the end of chapter two.

Paul points to the problem of sin. Where the Jews may have thought they held a higher moral standing than the surrounding peoples, they were sinful themselves. All mankind has an innate sinful nature with a proclivity for sinfulness. He used his own experience to make his case in this letter. He points out he is an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin, Romans 11:1. Yet he struggled with sin. In Romans 7:14-23 he outlines his struggle as someone who delighted in the law of God. As he summarizes the reality of his condition he finds himself to be "unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin... I have the desire to do what is good but cannot carry it out." Romans 7:14-18.

And so Paul raises the cry of despair in frustration and futility, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" He finds the answer in the next verse, "Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

I may think I am a pretty good person. I may think I ought to be regarded as not-so-bad in the courtroom of God when judgement day comes. But the sad reality is that my lot is the same as Paul's. As someone mastered by sin, the only relief and victory over that enslavement is found in Jesus Christ. He brings freedom! He brings release from the bonds of sin! He brings me a right standing before God so that on judgment day I will not be condemned. All he asks of me is to trust in him!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

God Sets Us Free! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 6:17-18,

"Thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

Atheists exult in their freedom from the shackles of religion. They feel free. Really? In the deception that unbelievers live in, they fail to recognize the enslavement of their lives to sin. To begin with, their sinful hearts leave them unable, incapable to embrace the obvious and elementary truth that our Creator exists. They are not free to contemplate the obvious. They are shackled, enslaved by sin.

Unbelievers live in a world cursed by God. Sickness, pain and death rule in this world and they are unable to comprehend why that is. They are shackled, enslaved by sin.

Unbelievers struggle with their own innate nature that often prompts them to do those things that are self-destructive, unhealthy and damaging, both to themselves and those around them. They are shackled, enslaved by sin.

Unbelievers are incapable of embracing the greatest of opportunities afforded to anyone: embrace God in faith and live eternally in the pleasures God gives, Psalm 16:11. They are not free to accept the offer. They are shackled, enslaved by sin.

I know of what I speak as this was me before the gospel gripped my heart, when God's love was shared with me by a faithful couple following the Lord. I used to be a slave to sin. Now I have been set free from sin.

Paul put it this way to Titus, "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

I used to be a slave to sin. How wonderful the kindness and love of God my Savior, that he set me free from my sin and provided me the great hope, the incomparable future of eternal life!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Appreciating the Death of Christ for me! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 5:6-8,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this..." Jesus Christ coming to die a miserable death on a cross is certainly an incomprehensible expression of love for me, just another sinner. It is so far reaching that the full dimension of God's love is unfathomable to me. I don't think the love of God can be expressed in comparison to mankind, as in "it is greater than the love man is capable of expressing" or something like that. It is of an altogether different order. God is God and we are his creatures. We are made in his image, but we are in no way God. The love God has for us is beyond my ability to conceive.

As I reflect on it this morning, I am reminded that God is not just a "bigger" person with a bigger heart. He has a God sized heart and I muse that every aspect of God is simply beyond that which is man. He is transcendent in a way I struggle to understand. Paul says, "The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25. But what about the other aspects of God's character and nature that we know of, that I rarely think of? We know God feels anguish and pain. What is that like within the heart of God? Is it beyond what human experience is as is his love? In Genesis 6:5-6 we read, "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain." How big was that pain? Can I even relate to it? If God has such a love in his heart that transcends the greatest love I could muster, how could I even understand the pain, grief and anguish God feels?

It is a thought that just stops me in my tracks. As I consider Jesus in Gethsemane, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death", Matthew 26:38, how can I begin to have an appropriate appreciation for that? If his love for me was so strong that he endured the cross with joy, Hebrews 12:2, how can I measure his pain and grief? When the two criminals died on their crosses on either side of Jesus they suffered a miserable and horrific death as Jesus did. But the pain, suffering and misery our Lord endured must have been in measure with how much greater his love is than that of the two thieves. As I consider it, it brings a whole new appreciation for his suffering and death on that cross for me. Just what manner of God is our God? 

Simply astonishing!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God Credits Us Righteousness For Our Faith Alone! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 4:18-24,

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations… Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."
 
God credits those of us who have faith in him with righteousness! Righteousness… what a precious currency!! Dollars will buy us goods and services, but righteousness will buy us a place in the family of God. Righteousness will buy us a life of eternity with God and one another. Righteousness will buy us an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade, keep in heaven for us!!
 
In John's gospel we read, "To all who received him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." I can think of a number of "hoops" God could require of us to make it into his family: be good, do good things for other people, serve him as a monk or nun or something… But he has decided that those who embrace his Son, Jesus Christ, will become his children, enter into his family: become heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ.
 
How wonderful our God has decided to give us so much if we but embrace him in faith! How wonderful our God credits us with righteousness as we place our faith in him!! The more I think of it the more astonished I am by the thought of it!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God Has Revealed Himself in the Scriptures! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 3:1-2,

"What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God."

As Paul explores the nature of the relationship Jews had versus Gentiles to the gospel of faith, he observes a tremendous advantage the Jews had: they have been entrusted with God's communication to mankind. God raised up prophets from among the Jews who wrote the Scriptures - the very words of God!

Peter makes an observation about this that is well worth looking at, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21. These were all Jews with the exception of Luke who wrote his gospel and the book of Acts.

As a nation, the Jews had a tremendous advantage over the Gentiles. Later in this letter, Paul explores some more of the advantages the Jews had, "Theirs [the people of Israel] is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Romans 9:4-5.

However, it is the revelation God made of himself, his intentions, his will, his redemption of mankind, within the pages of Scripture that captures my heart this morning. Our lofty God who stoops down to interact with sinful and fallen mankind decided to speak to us as he pursued his redemptive purposes among us.

I simply find it astonishing! I also find every motivation to pursue what he has provided us in the Scriptures by reading it - often. He had his prophets write it with the intention we read it so we can know what he is doing!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

The Patience of our Lord! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 2:4,

"Do you show contempt for the riches of his [God's] kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"

As Jesus spoke with his disciples about his coming crucifixion, he told them "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32. The wonderful grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ is expressed in his desire to draw all people to himself. He wants us all. Paul speaks of this when he tells us why we should live godly lives, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

The Lord's patience is an amazing thing. It is that very patience of his that allows sinners an opportunity to consider the claims of the gospel, and hopefully turn to Jesus Christ, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

Our Lord truly is kind, tolerant and patient! I would be remiss, however, were I not to recognize that there is an end to his patience. At the end of his patience, his judgment is to be found. Woe to the man who finds his way to the end of the patience of our Lord! "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:13-16.

For those who find themselves the object of God's judgment, the following describes, with certainty, their future, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

How wonderful our Lord's patience makes possible our escape from such judgment!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Gift of Brothers and Sisters in the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 1:11,

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."
 
Paul considered what each would receive by visiting together as a "gift". The mutual encouragement, (the gift), wrought by spending time together would result in strength. In my mind this is a spiritual strength that brings those wonderful qualities that can be ours in the Lord: spiritual maturity, tenacity in the faith, joy, excitement in our incredible hope, boundless love for God and one another, etc. How wonderful our God, still today, provides us with brothers and sisters he has gifted who bring this encouragement into our lives resulting in this spiritual strength!!
 
I am reminded of 1 Peter 4:10, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." How astonishing it is that God uses other believers in our lives to dispense his grace to us!!
 
Perhaps this is what the writer of Hebrews meant when he said in 10:24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Far beyond a proof text for insisting on acceptable church-going attendance on Sunday mornings as pastors attempt to fill their pews, I see here a need we have for spending time together for a loftier purpose. It is our wonderful Heavenly Father's design for vital, healthy spiritual growth as we spend time together – particularly in more intimate settings that result in our lives touching one another – resulting in "some spiritual gift to make you strong".
 
How wonderful our God is who has provided gifted brothers and sisters in the Lord - what an encouragement they are to me!!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God Has Provided Us A Remedy For His Judgment In Jesus Christ! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 28:3-6,

"Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.' But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god."

The islanders of Malta first thought Paul must have been a murderer when they saw an apparently poisonous snake hanging from his hand. They saw Paul was a prisoner and assumed "Justice", the personification of some god, was taking his vengeance since Paul escaped the sea. Next they thought he might be a god when he didn't drop dead from the viper's bite.

If anything, this account portrays the proclivity of man to look for the divine in life. With a clear posture of moral/ethical sensitivity these folks first looked for a divine judicial explanation for something that appears to us as simple happenstance: a snake bite. Knowing the snakes of the area, they next looked for an explanation of what seemed to be supernatural: no ill effects from a deadly viper's bite. Paul must have been a god.

If we take an honest look at the historical record as contained in Scripture (as well as the body of non-scriptural literature) and the culture around us in the world today, we find people looking for answers. In spite of the atheist/humanist outlook of a few, the vast bulk of mankind has always had a sense that God exists and that we stand morally responsible before him. Mankind has turned his collective back on God, and yet, burned into his psyche, is the distant memory of what his experience was in the Garden of Eden: God exists and we are morally accountable to him.

How thankful I am this morning that our righteous and holy Creator God has provided us a remedy to his pending judgment for our sin: Jesus Christ! And, how wonderful it is for us that he has made him known!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.