May 31, 2024 -- Psalm 104:1 -- Why are we commanded to praise God?

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great!
Psalm 104:1 ESV

Why do we praise God? Why is it the Psalmists are calling out for the people to bring to the LORD our God all honour and glory and to tell others how wondrous He is? Secretly some Christians may wonder, “Is God an egomaniac?” If I demanded you to praise me, you’d drop me off at he looney bin. It is unseemly. Recently I was pointed in a very helpful direction, to a quotation that makes it so clear why we are commanded to praise God.

“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. . . .”
C. S. Lewis

When the believer encounters the splendor of our God the only way to complete his joy is to express praise to God. When the believer realizes the depths of Jesus’ saving work and the totality of one’s new life in Christ, it is delight to tell others and then in wonder and thanksgiving to compete the utter enjoyment one has in Christ by telling Him. Singing to Him. Reciting Scripture back to Him. When the believer knows the work of the Holy Spirit, Who leads him to Christ, and by the accomplished work of Jesus Christ makes the believer know, in the very innermost place of his life, I—me—I am loved by God Who created the whole universe, then the fountains of exuberance cannot be contained, but flow out of him in praise to God and in telling others. Praise completes the enjoyment. God is the highest good in one’s life. God the Triune is life and health and peace. No wonder we want to share Him with whoever will listen.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoices in His works. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Amen.

Prayer is based on Psalm 104:31,33-34 ESV

https://youtu.be/vz-FkqobgXY?si=dnjNeXblpjEpDJXd “Tell Out My Soul”

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 30, 2024 -- Psalm 91:1 -- Hiding the Word of God in your heart

Celui qui demeure sous l’abri du Très-Haut
repose à l'ombre du Tout-Puissant.
Psaumes 91 NEG 1979

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 ESV

Dear friends in Jesus—how many of you are memorizing Scripture? I remember the first time I was required to memorize more than a single verse. I was going to be a camp counselor among men and women with mental and physical handicaps, I was told to memorize Philippians 2. I thought it was impossible. One of the counselors there, to my shame, a woman who hadn’t finished high school (and here I was preparing for college, feeling mentally superior) simply and without hesitation recited it. Funny. That was more than forty years ago. It stays with me. The power of the word recited from memory.

John Piper noted that our purpose on earth, as Christians, our purpose is clearly stated in I Peter. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” I Peter 2:9 ESV. There it is. Your life’s purpose statement. More than a rich retirement, more than plenty of friends, more than a happy life—over every single goal of your life, this over-arching purpose stands—you have been rescued from death, sin and hell, so that you can proclaim God’s praises.

Why mention that? Well, how are you doing with that? One way to proclaim God’s praises is to memorize Scripture. My friend Mike and I each challenged the other to memorize a chapter of the Bible. Since his first language is French and he said memorization in English is hard, I offered to memorize it in French while he learns it in English. Yes, Psalm 91 is our target. (We’re not doing great, by the way! But today is my shout-out to my buddy to work at it with renewed zeal and vigor!)

When one memorizes, one begins to know the text. One begins to love the text. One sees verbal linkages to other parts of Scripture. When looking at Psalm 91, one realizes God is Most High—there is nothing above Him, none greater than He Is. He is in a class and category all on His Own. The merest falling of His shadow on your life is protection and help and grace way beyond whatever you can comprehend. The Psalm will spell that out as you continue to see it and learn it. When one memorizes the Bible, one has prayer language with which to speak to God. One has wisdom from God on High, to know Him better.

Take up the challenge today. Find a chapter of the bible that is meaningful to you and memorize it. I guarantee you, it will be even more beautiful and precious to you. The constant repetition that is required when you memorize makes the Word sweeter to you and so deeply memorable that you will have access to it in your times of greatest need.

Spirit of the Living God, the Psalmist declared “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You”. Today we confess we find it hard to read the Bible, to make time to examine it, let alone to hide it in our hearts by memory. Forgive us our laziness. Help us to take up our life’s mission of declaring the Father’s praises and doing so unto the glory and honour of Jesus Christ, through Whom we have access to God our Father. Spirit of God, of Whom Jesus said, He would take Jesus’ words and bring them back to mind for us, kick start in us a desire to memorize Scripture and a iron-clad will to carry through with it. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

https://youtu.be/fFn6o-tv8hc?si=3Ie2_ftkFR2cQpEb

Scripture Singer John 1:1-5

You can use songs to memorize Scripture

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May 29, 2024 -- James 1:22 -- More than just hearing

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22 ESV

Anyone who knows me knows I am pretty useless in regards to putting things together. A memorable misadventure would be a case in point. My wife and I bought a TV stand which had a place for a storing movies and the player. The box it came in touted the fact it would take minutes to assemble. Ahem.

Well, I know I am very poor at assembling things, fixing things and so on. No matter. I didn’t start by reading all the instructions. Oh, that would have made too much sense! Instead I took a quick glance at the picture and scanned through it, very quickly. Then, after about an hour of intense frustration, I looked at the instruction manual—it had instructions in Asian, German, French and English. The English instructions might have well as been in that Asian language because I was too frustrated to read and put into action what I’d read. I perked a pot of coffee, Started free. I read through the instruction manual. Then I got to assembling it.

First one had to count all the pieces. One had to distinguish between various kinds of screws and inserts. At the start that seemed like really dumb advice. But, as I separated these items, I realized where I was going wrong. I was using the wrong sized screws at various pre-drilled holes and this was making the whole unstable. It was not until I read the instructions and put them into practice that the TV stand finally came together.

Dear fellow Christian, how often isn’t that the case with us as believers? We charge ahead, having scanned the Word or rushing ahead after half-heartedly listening to a sermon, thinking we know what is right only to find we have not even been using the right discernment for a situation clearly laid out by the Bible. We weren't prepared to truly hear. Instead we'll hurry along on our own without truly hearing the Word and putting it into practice.

God our Father has great love and mercy for His children. He has made the way to Himself open through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself teaches us how to yield ourselves to our Father in heaven so that our lives are put together exactly as our Father wills for us. He Who rescued us in Christ, knows our stubbornness and our inclination to go any which way but the right way. He provided the way of restoration. The Spirit of God will take the Word and make it living for all who ask Him. Perhaps things are more difficult in our lives right now, harder than they should be, because we are hearing the Word, not really listening, but doing our own thing?

Father in heaven, Your Word teaches us “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God Who gives generously to all”. We confess our need for Your wisdom and the need to have our heart cracked wide open by Your Spirit so that we will hear of the new life that is ours in Christ and then obey His instruction. Thank You, Gracious Father, that “every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down to us from the Father of Lights”. Amen.

The quotations in the prayer are from James 1:5, 17

https://youtu.be/aH1Wn4fTiBs?si=-VqsdfX-1M118MmG “Speak O Lord” Getty Music

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May 27, 2024 -- Psalm 33:20 -- The LORD is our Help and our Shield

Our soul waits for the LORD
He is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20 ESV

Interesting that the text says “our soul”. Earlier in the Psalm it is noted that the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him. So, the people who believe in Him, Who trust in Him alone for their salvation are under His watchful eye. It is those people who collectively wait on on the LORD. To wait on Him is to ask His advice and not move forward until He answers. The LORD our God answers His people through the Bible. It is His clearest answer. He speaks through the preaching of the Word. He speaks through the advice of Christian brothers and sisters. He speaks by His Spirit. He speaks when believers have confessed their sins, hating them and seeking the forgiveness of the LORD. One cannot on one hand love sin and on the other be asking the LORD for His blessing.

The LORD is the help of His people. When His people need to be lifted up from the pit of despair, from the wounds inflicted by sin, He is their help and salvation. What the Psalmist longed for is given in Jesus Christ—He is our help and our strength. In Him is forgiveness full and free.

The LORD is the shield of His people The shield is held close when there is fierce combat near at hand. When there is hand-to-hand fighting on the battle field it is the LORD Who is the shield of His people. He is your full protection against the lies of the enemy. He is your salvation so that to live is Christ and to die is gain. His Spirit lives in you, disarming the lies of the Devil, making Scripture come alive to you, shielding you even from your own sinful and wayward leading thoughts. Now wonder the Psalmist is rejoicing in the LORD His God.

Father in heaven, blessed and honoured be Your Name, now and always. At the start of this day, we have no idea what help we’ll need or what battles we’ll face. Thank You for the sure and tested promise that You are the help of Your people and our shield. Through-out the day may Your Spirit lead us to think on You, renew our trust in You, and this based on the accomplished work of Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, the Captain of our Salvation. Amen.

https://youtu.be/q6ErPbspVBI?si=Sldg4vYGXpN2A4J2 I Serve a Savior - Josh Turner

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May 26, 2024 -- Psalm 32:1-2 -- Blessing God with a heart that knows it is forgiven

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
   whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
   and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2

This Psalm is a “maskil” which means it is a teaching, set to music, so that one will memorize it and internalize the deep truth it contains. When I used to go to visit nursing homes and teach a bible lesson, many folks in the audience did not seem to understand much of what I was saying. When it came time to sing, before and after the Bible lesson, I could see many participants suddenly light up, and from memory sing choruses of the old familiar hymns. God in His grace had given these men and women the joy of remembering His beauty and glorious salvation.

Transgressions are those sins which we intentionally commit. Like the “No Trespassing” sign on a property, clearly marked, which we disregard and go ahead and trespass anyways. If you are anything like me, you shake you head at how often you climb over that fence and trespass anyways. The reason the Psalmist is singing springs from that exact situation. He knows he is still a sinner. He knows the grace of God shown him in Christ (to Whom all the Old Testament pointed) is greater than all his sin. The offerings offered at the Tent of Meeting, and later in Israel’s history at the Temple, repeatedly offered, pointed to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.

Notice that these sacrifices happened again and again. God knew the need for people to have visually represented so they'd finally deeply understand He is prepared to forgive His people to the full extent of their trespasses and to the widest margin of their guilt. It is wholly covered. When a believer truly understands that, he is happy. When a sinner knows her sins are no longer counted against her, she can’t help but bless the God of Glory Who is so rich in mercy.

The reason a forgiven believer has no deceit in his spirit flows from the fact that he knows as soon as he is confronted with his sin, he can confess it and he is forgiven. There is no deceitful practice of negotiating with God, or trying to hold onto sin and onto Him. No. One who messes up, fesses up and finds forgiveness full and free. What results is a believer who wants more and more of God and less and less association with the former sinful practices.

Faithful Father, with the psalmist we cry, “Love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD preserves the faithful”. By the presence of Your Spirit, assist us to proclaim Your praise, O God, and strengthen us to walk in the newness of life which has been granted to us in Jesus Christ. As we gather with believers this Sunday, may we all together encourage the weary, comfort the sinners who confess their brokenness and rejoice with the ones who are experiencing victory in Jesus. Again, with the psalmist we pray to you, looking for Your help so that we can “be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!” Amen.

quotations are from Psalm 31:23-24 ESV

https://youtu.be/tDb67u3BoBE?si=NepM4DsFPswT7Byy “O Day of Rest and Gladness”

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May 25, 2024 -- Psalm 27:7-9a -- Preach to your will and mind -- throw back from May 25,23

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
   be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to You,
   “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
   Hide not Your face from me.
Psalm 27:7-9a ESV

How many impulses do you have each day? Impulsively picking up a chocolate bar at the last second and putting it on the check-out conveyor. You didn’t mean to do it, but you didn’t check the impulse either. Or, say something mean? Your mouth opened and what you said just “popped out”. So much of what happens in your life and in mine is a result of a lack of self-discipline. Impulses that were not stopped or checked before they resulted in regrettable actions.

The LORD has said to the Psalmist (and by way of this psalm to us all) “seek My face”. It is a command. There are enemies all around. There are insecurities and fears that threaten to overwhelm him. In an earlier verse he has chosen to sing and make melody to the LORD (verse 6) so that his soul is reminded of the glories of the LORD which are greater than all his troubles. There are so many distractions. So many legit troubles. So many pressures. How does the psalm-writer respond? He decides to preach to his own soul and act. Cutting through everything else his heart says to the LORD, to You, “Your face do I seek”. What keeps him from impulses? What keeps him from sins that would seem to just spring up on him out of nowhere? It is the fact he is cultivating the awareness of the LORD’s presence.

The LORD our God has given us access to Himself through Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. When our soul tells our minds and will and desires to seek Jesus above all else, then we have a mighty army lined up against our impulses. We will be prepared to seek the face of Jesus Christ before everything goes awry. We will seek Him based on our past experiences of His graciousness. We will seek Him when we have failed again. All the while we have this deep and beautiful assurance: He prays to the Father on our behalf.

Our Father in heaven may Your Name be hallowed and forever blessed through-out the earth! You have given us, as New Testament believers, greater revelation than King David had. You have shown Your vigilance and faithfulness in seeking Your people by sending Jesus, the Deliverer. Now, Spirit of the Living God, teach our souls to cling to Jesus so that with the psalmist we continually choose to instruct our heart to cry out to our minds, to our will and to our desires “Your face, LORD Jesus Christ, do I seek”. Amen.

https://youtu.be/BA-Wi4fdcVE?si=mF30pbVg6WbX4hCs “Abide” Aaron Williams

May 24, 2024 -- Psalm 145:18 -- Is God near? Is He near to me?

The LORD is near to all who can on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18 ESV

A few days ago I was leading a Bible Study in a federal prison. One of the men asked how we can be near to God when He is so far away in heaven? I paused for a moment before answering. During that brief interlude, another man piped up. This is what he said,
We can’t touch God.
But with our prayers we touch Him.
Our minds can touch Him.
Our words can touch Him.
—Art

It was so moving. Please understand this is a man who had long struggled in his relationship with God. His past, his anger issues, his frustrations at life in prison all contribute to a very rocky walk with God. However, the men in that chapel were quite for a moment. We all heard a beautiful declaration of faith.

Does God seem distant to you today? Read the Bible. He assures you He is near. His Spirit lives in you. His has placed you among Christians where you can share your precious faith and be encouraged. He has given you to other Christians who might need to hear your confident assertion that God is near. In response, you can pray and touch the goodness of the God Who loved you so much that He did not leave you in your sin and shame, but has given you new life and forgiveness in Christ. The Father in heaven together with His Son have poured out the Spirit Who lives in you so that your words touch the God the Glory.

Father in heaven, high and exalted in splendor, thank You for the marvelous promise that You are near. Thank You that Jesus has opened the way so that this conversation is even possible. Thank You for the Spirit Who hears our every thought, word and sigh. Amen.

https://youtu.be/qr8QoQKmXfk?si=Va-6YYNaJWu5SbWN “Let the Words of My Heart”

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May 22, 2024 -- III John 4 -- Christians walking in the truth with Jesus

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
III John 4 ESV

The apostle John writes to encourage believers. His three letters are likely from the 80’s A.D., perhaps as late as the early 90’s. These are written more than four decades after Jesus had ascended to heaven. The context of today’s text is a short letter written to believers who are struggling with those who appear to be Christians but are not. Those are people in church who are fighting against the cause of Christ. This letter is written to a faithful elder who obviously has his hands full as he leads this people.

Already in the first four verses John uses the word "truth" four times. Truth is a hallmark of maturity. It makes sense that Christians who are walking in the truth give joy to this congregation's mentor John.

Before a Christian can walk, he is an infant in the faith. Bottle-fed spiritual truths, encouraged, closely watched. There is a long period of careful nurture necessary before a young Christian is old enough to walk in the truth and defend the truth.

Christian believers who are helping new Christians please realize how much time must be invested, patience, training in righteousness and aid given when the little one, learning to walk falls down.

Sure, there are people who, touched by the Spirit of God, grow incredibly fast and seem to understand the Word of Truth very quickly. Thanks be to God for such brothers and sisters. However, the pattern is infants in the faith to toddlers, to children who are walking. Think how much time a parent spends teaching a little one everything necessary to go from cradle to youth.

Mature Christian, to whom do you need to show more patience as your disciple learns to walk? Recommit yourself to the long term investment of prayer, teaching, love and time.

Young Christian, do not be discouraged by how hard it is to walk with God. Fast fact. Some babies become toddlers, learning to walk as early as 9 months, others are taking their baby steps at 20 months. Yet, in all that time there is mental growth, emotional growth, physical growth, spiritual growth. Trust that God is working in you. Consistently seek out a spiritual mentor who will lead you in our precious faith.

Faither in heaven, thank You for the new life You give Your people in Jesus Christ. Spirit of the Living God, help us to walk in Jesus Christ, each of us appropriately growing in maturity in the circumstances of life in which You have placed us. Amen.

https://youtu.be/BLDEt9KP2O0?si=6ky9m4VZv9YUosg_ “Abide”

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May 21, 2024 -- Hebrews 6:6-7 -- The Better Covenant Given Us in Jesus

 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Hebrews 8:6-7 ESV

So what is new about the Covenant Jesus brings in? Understand the first covenant, the covenant of works, required people to keep every aspect of the Law. It is impossible. When Jesus, the sinless one, walked this earth as our representative, He was perfect, without sin. Therefore He is the Covenant-Keeper Who can die in our place as the one, true acceptable sacrifice. Why is Jesus’ covenant more excellent?

Believers in Jesus are given the Holy Spirit, so that our heart’s affection for Jesus leads to better obedience.

Believers in Jesus are a new people. We are joined together by the Holy Spirit as one people. So from every part of the globe, across denominational lines, there is a unity that is ours and it is found in our love for and obedience to Jesus.

Believers in Jesus Christ have Him as their ultimate, true High Priest. He lives to pray for us (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25).

The clear implication is that we who are in Christ Jesus, continue to sin. We are learning to hate our sin more and more. We struggle against it. We turn to Jesus, confessing our sin, repenting of it, and in Him we are given the Holy Spirit so that sin is vanquished. That is a life-long process. Thanks be to God, He is all-powerful, He is all-wise and He is good. What He starts in us He will complete.

Grant to us, O heavenly Father, Your peace that passes understanding, that we, amid the storms and troubles of this our life, may rest in You, knowing that all things are in You, under Your care, governed by Your will, guarded by Your love; so that with a quiet heart we may face the storms of life, the clouds and thick darkness; ever rejoicing to know that the darkness and the light are both alike to You; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Divine Service Book for The Armed Forces, 1950, page 30

https://youtu.be/KqrqPGt11bA?si=C-l2nd2alDoceWGo Casting Crowns “Glorious Day”

May 19, 2024 -- Proverbs 19:27 -- Anchored so you do not shipwreck your faith

Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:27 ESV

Why bother going to church this Sunday? The Proverbs give a clear answer. When you stop listening to the word of God, hearing sermons and the heeding the advice of fellow believers, you will stray. Some of you who know me well enough to know that I wear a small gold anchor pendant on a golden anchor chain. For me, this is a clear reminder from Hebrews 2—do not drift! And Hebrews 6 Jesus is the anchor of our souls.

A fisherman in a boat puts down his anchor at a prime fishing spot. If he does not do so, the current, the waves and the wind will soon have him drift far from that spot. So it is with us and the word of God. It is the anchor for our souls. If we do not stay anchored to Jesus in the power of His Spirit, we will drift. Paul warns “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith” (I Timothy 1:19).

Are you finding it harder and harder to avoid sin? You are drifting from the word of knowledge.

Are you finding it difficult to stay focused on the Word? It is because you have not exercised your brain in the word of life.

Are you finding Christian friends boring and the worldly ones more exciting? You have rammed the rocky shore that will make shipwreck of your faith.

Today, if you hear His voice in these words, do not harden your hearts, return to the Word, join with God’s people in worship.

Thank You God our Father, for the One Mediator between You and men, the man Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all. Thank You for Spirit-led preachers and teachers, evangelists and missionaries who proclaim this good news, allowing people to anchor their hope firmly in Jesus Christ. Faithful Father, let those of us who are regular in our walk with You, welcome back to church, those who’ve drifted or hit rocky shoals, so that together we will rejoice in Jesus. To You, Triune God, belong all glory, praise and renown, now and forever more. Amen.

https://youtu.be/cjetZn5lrBc?si=vqzTm3Biy-IW7Hzr Tenth Avenue North “I Have this Hope”

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May 18, 2024 -- Titus 3:1-4 -- Living and loving as Jesus Commanded

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need and not be unfruitful.
Titus 3:14 ESV

Wait, is this the same text as yesterday? No. But it is a close parallel. In verse 8 believers are commanded to be careful to do good works. In that instance, the context showed the purpose good works was to demonstrate the fact the one doing them has already been saved. Thus, the good works bring glory to God. Good works demonstrate the unity among believers, which is evidence of God’s gracious presence among them.

Why repeat this command again? Do you remember the greatest commandment? Jesus commanded: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment and the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself” Matthew 22:37-38. Likely it was with this in mind, Paul was instructing Titus and the believers in his care to learn to devote themselves to good works so that the second part of Jesus’ commandment, love your neighbour, is fulfilled.

It is easy for believers to judge other believers and be hesitant to help out. Or even to deny help. But within the family of faith, it should be said of believers see how they love one another. This is learned. Those whom God the Father saves through our Lord Jesus Christ are people who were sinners. Manipulators. Swindlers. Sexually promiscuous. Thieves. Murderers. Rich. Poor. Healthy. Sick. Addicts. And so on. But thanks be to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that is what we were—yes, past tense action with the on-going result that we are now the family of God.

When we express our love for God, the love He has demonstrated to us fills us all over again and from the overflow of His love we in turn help the people around us. The Spirit of God softens our hearts so that we learn to ask for help. The same Spirit prepares believers to help each other out and share love. Ultimately we do not remember each other by our former sins, but we see each other through the lens of God’s redeeming love. Together, the helper and the ones blessed, are drawn closer to Jesus and closer to one another.

Is this idealistic? Absolutely! Is this hard to do? You bet it is! Not one of use deserves God’s grace. There is no person who can  stand up and say "I claim God’s mercy based on my own merits " (or goodness or natural-born impulses). We are, all of us, wretched sinners amazed by the grace shown to us from the Father and shown to us by those who having been saved in Jesus Christ are now excited to share His love. It is hard work. It is the only work worth doing.

Father in heaven thank You for Your electing love so clearly demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ. Blessed Father and Son thank You for the godliness You are working within us through the Holy Spirit Who is continually conforming every part of our life into every way that accords with godliness. Forgive us for the times we rejoiced in Your love and yet we were hoarding it ,refusing to share it with those around us even though they were in urgent need. Counselor Spirit motivate us to live as true children of the Father, bound together in a common faith which is continually supplied by the grace and peace which rest on us from the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
(This prayer is based on Titus 1:1-4)

https://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I?si=j424NAuleV93a7OE “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) Chris Tomlin

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May 17, 2024 -- Titus 3:4-11 -- Be Careful to devote yourself to good deeds

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Titus 3:4-11 ESV

Did you catch it? The Christian who has been saved from the useless and empty way of life (read here the sinful way of life) through the loving kindness God the Father demonstrated in Jesus Christ, he is washed by the Holy Spirit. I love how Trinitarian this passage is—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, their work in our salvation is clearly demonstrated.

What to do now? As people who are saved, not in order to earn salvation, but in a beautiful demonstration of the salvation that is already ours, look for things to do all things which honour God. Christians look for ways to please Him. Look for ways to demonstrate to others the love which you yourself have received in such abundant measure. When one is devoted to good works, then one isn’t offering his eyes and hands to former, sinful service.

Paul wrote to Titus to be careful to do good works. This is to ensure the works are not carried out for one’s own glory. So, you are not seeking the praise of men, but you are working these good deeds so that God is praised. Think of another way in which believers are to be careful to do good works. Sometimes in your haste to do good unto others, you have not considered if you are harming others instead of helping. Here is an example: governments that give healthy men and women hand-outs, instead of requiring them to work. It is possible that efforts to help someone actually cripples them and keeps them in a state of requiring more hand-outs.

Paul is writing his son in the faith. He is giving instructions on the way in which believers are to encourage one another. The result is clear. Those who are self-serving, who are not focused on good as it is explained in the Bible, will bring quarrels and divisions into a body of believers. It is important to realize that sometimes the Word of God acts like a two-edged sword. It will cut at your motives, it will hurt because you were clinging to some sin that needed to be rooted out like a bad tooth. By way of contrast, those who are acting like a bull in a China shop, well, their deeds are clear and the results of their actions speak for themselves.

As Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit carefully devote themselves to good works, the people around them will see the accomplished work of Jesus which has freed them to serve in this way, and they will join you in giving honour and praise to God the Father. Such a result only prompts and spurs the Christian onwards to ever greater good works.

Father in heaven thank You for Your steadfast love. Beautiful Savior, thank You for the new life that You have given us, one that is guarded by the powerful presence of the Spirit in us. Triune God, open our eyes to the good You would have us do and then direct us so that we will be careful to devote ourselves to it so that the habits of our old sins will no longer be the ruts we run in, but joyful obedience will characterize our new, deeper commitment to You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/y3gWwGDGgVA?si=9UKtJNIp42p8dDcj “Take My Life and Let them Be”

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 16, 2024 -- Proverbs 16:3 -- Roll Away that Spiritual Lethargy

Commit your work to the LORD,
    and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3 ESV

There are a thousand little decisions that need to be made each day. At the check-out counter, do I buy that chocolate bar? At the side of the social media account there is a sexy ad, do I click on it? Do I set my alarm for 6AM so I can spend time reading the Bible and praying, or do I set my alarm for 6:30, so I get up, shower and have my coffee and get to work early so that the big project can be completed?

Now, look again at today’s text. Read it once or twice. The word commit is odd. In Hebrew it means to roll, like to roll a heavy stone which covers the mouth of well. It makes sense. My own inertia will keep me from doing the good I know I need to do. When I roll away the stone of laziness, of indecision, of old, bad habits—I will instead commit myself to doing what God the LORD demands of me. So, having decided in advance, at the start of the day, that I will serve Him, all my decisions are in line with my commitment. I do not click on a sexy ad because I’ve already done the hard work of deciding I am going to live for Jesus. I do not impulse buy because I have already decided to serve the LORD. The offer of something that will pull me back into addiction will be waved off because earlier I decided in my heart to serve God with my mind, my heart and my body.

Notice the One to Whom all this service is offered. The LORD. When His Name is spelled out in all capital letters it is His Name of salvation. The LORD, the Name by which His people know they have been delivered from sin by the accomplished work of Jesus. God the Father has rolled away our reproach—He has committed Himself to us and our salvation. Our commitment to God the Father is made in view of Jesus’ work at the cross whereby our sins have been punished and the strength for us to live this way is granted to believers by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.

Father in heaven thank You that You have by the work of Jesus rolled away the reproach of our sins and removed from us the weight of Your just anger. Father in heaven, we bless You and thank You for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Spirit of the Living God make our minds and hearts strong so that we will both commit ourselves to responding to the Father’s love and strong enough to carry out this resolve in every decision of the day. Oh, blessed God, let our ways please You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/fqOqcTafPv8?si=BwkNFShTY5fhsZPN Selah “I Got Saved”

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 14, 2023 -- II Timothy 1:6-7 -- Drain from your mind the cesspools of sin then fan into flame the gift of God

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
II Timothy 1:7 ESV

Paul was writing to Timothy, his true son in the faith, reminding him of the faith that had taken hold of him through the faithful teaching of his mother and grandmother. Who influenced your faith? Who taught you the way of God? Memory is so important, so that you are not distracted from the pathway of God but setting aside and even putting to death whatever might keep you from following Jesus.

One of my favorite quotes is: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” This is a quotation from G. K. Chesterton. It describes why self-control is so rare. Christianity is hard. It requires a man to completely master his mind and his actions. The self-control that Paul was speaking of when he was writing Timothy is that strong, fierce, ruthless work of avoiding any sin, any wayward thought or any temptation that would douse the fire of devotion to God.

Look at the resources God the Father has given you in Christ. You have the power of the Holy Spirit living in you. When you name Jesus Christ as Lord, you are claiming the power of His Holy Spirit. You have all you need for fullest life in Him. You have love. The one who truly loves himself will not be doing things that will kill him. The pathway of Jesus Christ is the most loving thing one can do for God and for loving self and for loving neighbour.

The one who is walking in the love of Jesus Christ walks knowing He is loved. The Father in heaven has given the greatest treasure of heaven—His Son Jesus. The love of Jesus is such that He stood up in God’s courtroom and said, “Father, I’ll be punished for his sins, for her sins, for their sins.” The love of the Spirit is so great that one filled with the Spirit will have his conscience awakened to hate sin, knowing that sin is a baited hook used by the Devil to lure you from all that wholesome, helpful and healing. Once hooked, you’ll know the hatred of the Devil, self-loathing, and anger against those who joined forces with evil to lure you in.

Fan into flame the gift of God. Spend time with Christians whose walk with God you admire. Spend time reading the Bible. Listen to the Bible through apps so that you will hear the beauty of what God will speak to you. Confess your sin and admit to God how much you need His Spirit to drain from your mind and heart the cesspools of filthy words, thoughts, and deeds. Pray that the Spirit will pile on your spirit kindling so that your passion for God will burn brightly, consuming any sinful temptation.

Thank You, O God my Father, for the blessing of a clear conscience and a soul made right with You by the accomplished work of Jesus. Thank You, mighty God, for those in Christ who lead us to the joy of the Lord and inspire us to fight sin, battle addictions, hate old patterns. Thank You Faithful Father, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, by Whom fearfulness is torn out of us and is replaced with spiritual power, heaven-sent love and that blessed, new-life -in-Jesus affirming fruit of the Spirit—self-control. Amen.

https://youtu.be/fqOqcTafPv8?si=6fQj3WV70duig_QI “I Got Saved” Selah

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 13, 2024 -- Proverbs 13:20 -- Walking not as a fool but as one who is wise

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20 ESV

To understand this proverb one must know the difference between the wise and the fool. According to the Bible, “the fool says in his heart there is no god” (Psalm 14:1). The fool is one who has all kinds of worldly ideas, thoughts on god, or imaginings of what god must be like, but has not grounded such ideas in Scripture. The fool has made ultimate one aspect of life to the detriment of the rest of life. For example, there are so many foolish climate activists who are defacing art in an attempt to highlight the climate crisis. Their commitment to one cause has unbalanced them.

As you readers will know, much of my work is with prisoners and those recently released, many of whom are addicts seeking to break free from the chains of addiction. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous will make sobriety the greatest priority. As soon as this happens, one loses his way with the One True God. A commitment to a cause unbalances one’s sense of Who God Is. You can be sober but still rushing along the highway to hell.

The wise know this “for the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity” (Proverbs 2:6-7). Those who are wise are men and women who submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. Those who, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, read the Bible are informed how to live in view of the Truth of God. He is ultimate. God the Father is the ultimate good in one’s life. He may be approached only through Jesus Christ, this is the exclusive claim of Christianity that causes others to howl.

Be fair at this point. In a community forum, the Jewish man, an agnostic, and a believer in Islam, will state there are points of contact. They may even cooperate on projects like community foodbanks for those in poverty or immigration policies that unite families; but do not be fooled, they do not regard these causes as ultimate. There will be strenuous denials among them that all roads lead to God. The point is, people will absolutize that which is convenient or close to their heart.

The one who walks in the wisdom of the One, True God, serves Him alone. All other areas of life—sobriety, fitness, family, climate, finances, and so on—are brought fully into submission to Him. When one area of life begins to assert itself as more important, or equally important, such equivocations lead a person away from whole-hearted service to the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Him alone is all our joy; “a desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul” (Proverbs 13:19). Jesus is all our heart’s desire. Ah, in Him is found such sweetness and this world cannot comprehend any of this. I guess that is the point—Jesus is such sweetness the world cannot comprehend Him, unless the Spirit awakens the soul and shows a man both his mind and his desires are best filled in Christ alone.

Our Father in heaven thank You for the life and healing and grace You have showered on us in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that You, for the joy set before You, endured the cross, scorning its shame. Thank You, Spirit of the Living God, for the new life in Christ which You breathe into us. Thank You, Spirit of God, for the teaching of Scripture which is a fountain of life which exposes to us all the concealed, worldly snares of death. Faithful Father, thank You for the godly friends and wise brothers and sisters in the Lord whom You have given to us. Help us, by Your Spirit, to be godly counselors to all those who You put into our life. Amen.

https://youtu.be/72mzKbEAP5g?si=Ub_2NZ0BW4paXvgN Wonderful, Merciful Savior

May 11, 2024 -- Reprint of a favorite devotion from May 11, 2023

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
II Kings 5:1-5a ESV

The little girl is nameless in the story. Yet her faithfulness to the Living God, despite great suffering, is amazing. Naaman is a foreigner. Not of the people of God, but it is the LORD Who gives him victory over the King of Israel. Why?

The raids against Israel were exactly what the LORD, the Promise-Making and Promise-Keeping God had pledged would happen when His people rebelled against Him. The purpose of such hardships would be to draw His people back to Himself.

The faithlessness of Israel is being used by the LORD to bring a man, Naaman, to Himself.

The man Naaman presents himself to the King of Israel. That is amazing already. Naaman would be well-known as their oppressor. Yet the prophet, Elisha, will heal at the command of the LORD heal this man and show Israel the LORD is still present among His people. It is a call to repentance.

All these things happen because a young girl, nameless to us, known and loved by the Father, is faithful in a situation that is too hard to imagine. She has been stolen. Were her parents killed in the raid? She is pressed into servitude. Yet she wishes her master well and speaks how the prophet could cure him. We know Elisha to be the prophet of the Living God, in contrast to the gods of Syria which were not gods at all and their prophets all false. She points to healing which ultimately would lead the healing of his soul. Perhaps her mistress and this family would be saved through her bold witness.

Dear family in Christ, have you used every hard circumstance in your life to testify to the LORD? Perhaps the very hardships you are going through are given so that unbelievers will see your patient endurance and through this come to know the LORD. The nameless girl of the story pointed to the prophet. Then it was Elisha, now our prophet is Jesus Christ. He makes known to us, in all our hardships, the pathway to peace. The Prophet Jesus declares the Father. The Prophet Jesus, by His sacrifice has been punished in our place so that the way is open to full and true healing in the presence of the Loving Father.

You may think of yourself as nameless, unimportant, forgotten. Be assured of this today the LORD our God is using every circumstance of your life to build you up in our precious faith. He knows you by name. He is bringing you the fullness of His glorious salvation to you. He is using every circumstance of your life for His holy purposes.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name.
Thank You for Your great, vast, and extravagant love poured out to us in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the grace with which the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus graces believers. Thank You, Faithful Father, Beautiful Savior Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, in Whom we have everything we need in every circumstance so that we can live for Jesus.
Forgive us for the times we have wallowed in our circumstances rather than relied on the grace of Jesus and the strength of the Spirit. Let our lives shine out for Jesus, no matter where You take us, so that Your great Name will be made known far and wide. In all of this, and all the tangles and chaos of this world, we join our prayers with those of believers through the ages, asking of You: come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.

https://youtu.be/U8zWzw_Cc2o “Take Shelter” Keith & Kristyn Getty

May 10, 2024 -- II Thessalonians 3:11-13 -- Do not be busy-bodies, but bodies busy at work

For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
II Thessalonians 3:11-13 ESV

Type into your search engine “universal basic income” and you’ll get a huge number of websites which directly speak to this. Some explain what what it is. Others propose that all people in a society should receive a basic income from the government. The premise is this: doesn’t matter if you are working, or not working, you'd receive money that would put you above the poverty line. This would be yours even if you are not working. Crazy.

When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He gave them work to do. This was before there was sin, before the Devil had tempted Eve and the rebellion of humanity had started. Work is part of creation order. It is the command of God. It is the blessing of God. It gives to the one who works the glorious sense of accomplishment in a job well done.

What happens when someone is bored? Idleness leads men and women to create drama. In Thessalonians here the phrase is some people are “not busy at work, but busybodies”. We’ve all met those. People who can with one text stir up drama and anger and frustration.

In our prisons, so many men and women are bored and cause trouble because there are neither educational opportunities nor work opportunities. In our welfare system, healthy men and women are paid to do nothing. In our drug and alcohol recovery centres, so many men and women do time, get clean—but have no goal to be productive, working. Nor do many of these programs encourage healthy working habits.

The greatest and most glorious task any man or woman can undertake is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and His salvation. In the Old Testament, God had commanded Adam and Eve to extend the Garden of Eden to fill the earth. The Garden of Eden was the place where God met with His people. So, as the population expanded, there’d be more and more room for people to meet with God.

In the New Testament, Jesus, having borne the punishment of God against sin, commanded His followers to preach the Good News, freedom from slavery to sin, to addictions, to hopelessness, and new life in Christ. Believers work at their jobs as if working for Jesus because He sees their efforts and strivings and honours it. Believers have a work ethic that is noticeable, because it brings credit to Jesus. Work brings order to society. Believers are ordinary people. It is by the strength of the Holy Spirit that believers avoid becoming busy-bodies and we work pleasing the Lord. Those who have worked and are retired are a valuable resource to pray for and encourage those who are actively working. Retirees can volunteer at church and in the community. There is always something useful to do that builds the Kingdom.

Father in heaven, thank You for the new life which is ours in Jesus Christ. We pray for our government, leaders, and policy makers that there will be a recovery of the knowledge of the importance You have placed on honest work. Lord Jesus, thank You for the useful tasks You give Your people. Thank You for the Great Commission\ that as home-makers and retirees, as workers and students, we have the privilege of doing the work You have called us to do. Spirit of the Living God help us to fulfil the command of the Father, so that we will walk in fellowship with our Glorious Lord. Amen.

https://youtu.be/y3gWwGDGgVA?si=ie3DVeyPmuG0rt7A “Take My Life and Let It Be”

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 8, 2024 -- Psalm 18:25-27 -- Solid Christianity and a Good Memory

With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
    but the haughty eyes you bring down.
Psalm 18:25-27 ESV

First off, know that this Psalm was composed when David had been saved from the hand of all his enemies and from King Saul. That is important background. In fact, there were two times when Saul was completely vulnerable and David could have killed him, but he showed mercy. David was prepared to submit himself to God's agenda and timing. Those who know the mercy of God are prepared to show mercy to others.

Second, the story of David is convoluted. When his sins were pointed out to him, he admitted them and turned to God asking for His forgiveness. And David sinned. A lot. Why point that out? Like David, we are sinners. In so many ways we chomp against the bit and want to go our own way. It was David's desire to be blameless. As New Testament Christians we know that blamelessness is the result of Jesus' work on the cross.

Next, David sings to God Who is Pure. Those who delight in God are those who know they have been made pure. We live in an age that fears contaminants. There are all kinds of water filters available. They strain out all the impurities. In Jesus Christ believers are purified. All the stains of sin and the wickedness associated with the evil inclinations of the heart are continually strained out by the work of Jesus at the Cross. His Spirit applies this to believers. Believers who yield and submit themselves to walking in God's glorious salvation.

In the fourth place, look at verse 26, the reference to the crooked. There still is so much in us that fights the salvation of God. It takes great effort to walk in obedience to Him. Those who are crooked of heart (that is where we get the term “crook” from) are straining against the commands of God. They complain that following God is too hard. Precisely at this moment a good memory is most important. Remember how terrible, hard, sinful, corrupt life was before God swept in and saved you? Remember your broken, sin-filled condition before the salvation of God set you in a place of safety.

Finally, look at the distinction—the humble are those who, in view of the great salvation of God ask: “how can I follow Jesus Christ?” What are His commands so that I will not leave His protection? Christians do not toy with sin or get too close to non-Christians who can not understand the joy of our salvation. Non-Christian friends cannot help but pull a believer away from whole-hearted service to the Living God. They have not seen what the believer knows to be true: the rescue of God. The haughty are those who, having experienced the salvation of God and seen His goodness, decide now they know what they need to do and what feels good and instead of living for Jesus, they cherry-pick where they will be obedient and where the demands of God are too high, too hard, or too inconvenient.

Preachers banging the pulpit, or friends offering guilt-trips will never bring a man back into obedience. Look at the start of the Psalm, when you have time, read it. David declared God is his strength, Rock, deliverer. Because David remembered all the saving work of God, all the LORD’s deeds which rescued him, it was not hard for David to yield to God all obedience. So, dear family in our Lord Jesus Christ—have you spent time thinking about God’s story of rescue and salvation in your life? Duly humbled and renewed in gratefulness, walk with Him.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

https://youtu.be/NPlVhCZUR68?si=3qXEsOsaZX6rYIp_ Our Father

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 7, 2024 -- II Thessalonians 1:9-10 -- Marveling at Jesus

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
II Thessalonians 1:9-10 ESV

There are two paths that lead to eternity. Those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ will be see Him glorified and spend eternity with Him in the new heavens and the new earth. Those who reject Him now will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord, that is, in hell.

How do you distinguish between the two? Sometimes God-haters are obvious. Sometimes they are present in among the saints in churches and Christian fellowship groups. The question that distinguishes the child of God from the one heading for destruction is this: “can I get away with this?” One who is heading for destruction doesn’t care so much about the glory of God as for his own ego, pleasure and comfort. One rushing toward ruin and hell is content with “close enough” to be pleasing to God.

However, the child of God seeks to please God. An adopted son or daughter, realizing the blessing of living in the household of God will bless Him, praise Him, seek to honour Him. It is a joy to empty out one’s life in service to God because of the incomprehensible love of God given in Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God stirs up the believer so he will acknowledge God’s presence and His goodness in every area of life.

What originally caught my attention was that Jesus will be marveled at among all who have believed. This is the condition which starts at the moment a man is truly saved and grows. Marveling at Jesus will fill the mind and the imagination through-out eternity. It is wonder and awe, having begun when a believer is saved, prompting to ask how can I serve Him more? This joy-filled obedience only grows through-out eternity. As one begins to understand more fully the excellencies of Jesus, His splendour beyond description, then more thoroughly will the saint in heaven clap his hand to his mouth and continually marvel at the humiliation of Jesus, Who left heaven to take on flesh and become a man, a hated man, so that by His sacrifice those who are awed before Him and spend their time delighting in Him, would be saved. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, Who alone lives in unapproachable light, how great is Your mercy and love. Thank You for Jesus Christ, the wonderful Savior, before Whom we marvel, almost unable to put words together to express His magnificence and beneficence. Spirit of God, sent by the Father and the Son to live in us, teach us more of the glorious salvation that is ours in Jesus, so that with all the saints here on earth and those in the light of His presence will be deepened in our precious faith and continually grow in our capacity to marvel at Him. Spirit, incline our minds to serve Him more perfectly and our hands seek greater acts of obedience which express our loving devotion to Him. Amen.

https://youtu.be/fK6sYVQCqhs?si=o7ACAyP3wQe75LUH “Wonderful, Merciful Savior”

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 5, 2024 -- Various Texts -- One of the most important questions I've ever received

Dear Struggling Follower of Jesus:

Thank you so much for reaching out. That must have taken a lot of courage. Your honest question , “Can God really love me?” requires an equally honest answer.

First, know that everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This is important to understand. If someone doesn’t know the need for God’s forgiveness, nor realize the depths to which that healing forgiveness is needed, then the rest won’t make sense.

Second, it is God Himself Who can rescue the sinful. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us (literally, to rescue us)  from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-5)

When does sin infect us? What happens when sin infects us?

Well, sin is with us from the moment we are conceived (Psalm 51:5). This is true for every person, except for Adam and Eve, and Jesus Christ. Adam and Eve were created without sin, they were good. They chose to sin and rebel against God. So, the result is that all their children and subsequent descendants are stained with sin from the moment of conception onwards. Jesus is without original sin, that is, inherited sin from Adam and Eve because His conception happened at the command of the Holy Spirit. The stain of inherited sin was kept from Him.

When sin infects us, then the image of God in us is severely damaged. When Adam and Eve were created, the image of God in them consisted of true righteousness,  true holiness and true knowledge (Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10). In Adam we have fallen from true righteousness, true holiness and true knowledge. The point is no one can fully know oneself unless one has been reborn in the image of God. Sin stained the sense of self. The sense of acceptance. The sense of what one is like or what one should be. Sin pervades all of life. Those who are not walking with God will always have a sense of incompleteness, a sense that things are not right or good or going as they should. This awkwardness, called dissonance, is the grace of God, disrupting sinful patterns and calling people to look to Him to find true peace.

When anyone understands this, then one realizes every single person who ever lived, except Jesus, has been so infected by sin that one’s judgment, reason, emotions and spiritually are in severe need of God’s rescue. Rescue that Isaiah puts this way:  3 He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! 4 Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT).

Can God really rescue any sinner?

Look again at Romans 3 “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3:22b-25a ESV).

Everyone has sinned.

Everyone needs Jesus Christ to set aside God’s punishment on our sins, because our sins have been punished on the Person of Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Jesus, the One Whom God Sent, receive Jesus’ purity and even as Jesus was punished, having taken on our impurity and wickedness.

Everyone’s sexuality has been affected by the Fall. A long time ago I heard a counselor say “normal is just a setting on the dryer”. I chuckled. There are all kinds of ways in which we can dishonour God with our bodies. The point is, when God takes hold of your heart and mind, all things begin to change. There is a restoration of God’s image: true righteousness, true holiness and true knowledge.

Righteousness is making God’s way your way. The Scripture is the teaching on this.

Holiness is the submission of self to God and the desire to carry out the commands of God.

Knowledge is distinguishing between the advice of the world (which is in rebellion against God) and the advice of one’s old nature (which will pull against God, even Christians struggle hard to stay on track with keeping God’s way their way) and the advice of the Devil. The Devil is that old liar who used to have free range in our heads. When the knowledge of God enters the head and heart, then one will ask the very question you have been asking, Follower of Jesus “can God love me this way?” The honest and direct answer is no. If one remains in sin, accepting sinful practice as the way of life, then sin is the Master, not God.

The better question, is: Can God give you peace to live within yourself as He recreates you?

This might seem impossible. But read this:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolators, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV

Struggling Christian, it is not just those who struggle with trans-feelings , or homosexual fantasies, or gossips, or con-artists who can be rescued by God. Look at the list. It shows that all sins before God are sins that require His rescue. And look at the verb tense in the last two sentences “such WERE some of you” and “you were washed”. It is a past tense with continuing effect in the present. God has purified you and He will continually purify you.

Ultimately the question is this: do you love your life and therefore you will chose to live without God or will you hate the chains that bind you in your sexuality, or whatever sin has a hold on you, and will you choose to let God transform you from the inside out? To truly love your life is to hate it and turn from the emptiness of it and submitting every area of life to God, so that He will bring new life to you.

Paul is writing to people who struggle with old patterns of sin. They were struggling in that they’d expected Jesus’ victory would mean there is never a pull to old sinful way. Read on. There is hope because God rescues people, from whatever orientation, whatever sin, whatever in-born inclination to sin they had. Theft. Lust. Reviling. Addiction. Sex. This is the True Power of God. He is greater than all your sin, all the brokenness of your past, by His Spirit living in you, all the temptations can lose their power.

Does that mean a person never has to fight against the old temptations and old sins? No way!

An athlete has to keep training, eating right, and sleeping right and will fight the urges to binge eat and quit practicing, but keeps fighting those temptations because the goal is in mind.

So, too, a Christian, knowing the pleasure of God, knowing the hope and joy of belonging to God through the accomplished work of Jesus, will always have to fight temptations. Some temptations find their source in the stuff which the world throws up at them. Other temptations are pitched at you by the Devil. TBH, temptations can arise from one’s own old habits and laziness will trip you up and try to stop you in your tracks, keeping you from the work of living for Jesus.

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippines 3:14-15. See the work involved in this. One must put to death the old nature. One has to put to death the lies which are repeated in the soundtrack of your brain, the old tunes you’d listened to and begin listening to God. Make Scripture reading your highest priority. Listen to see what God says about you—who you are in Him. Know that others are praying for you. Others are honoured that you dared to share this struggle. Others have the same depths of battling that you have, just in different areas. All those who wonder “do you think He loves me?” can hear the loud, clear, wondrous answer of the Bible: Yes! He will defeat the sin in your life that is slowly killing you and He loves you enough to teach you the true and strengthen you to live for Him.

Ah, Dear Struggling Christian, keep asking hard questions. Keep searching for the help of God and the advice of Christians who love God.

May God the Father strengthen you by the Holy Spirit so that you will live in the power of Jesus’ reconciling work. Shalom to you.

Richard

https://youtu.be/UV8bv4QuDtM?si=E67FlGf3lDb5NUN6 “Behold our God”