"They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord."
~Ezekiel 34:28-30, NIV
First off, Merry Christmas! May your household be filled with the peace of our loving Father and His son, Jesus Christ.
I'll try to make this brief - God's ultimate will is that everyone would be able to live in a relationship with Him. On that day, He can bring peace on Earth and goodwill among all men. This verse describes the plan God has ultimately for Israel, that they will not be under attack from their neighbors, that they will live in safety, that they will have a fertile land and that the world will cease to hate them.
The one, vital step to that plan was the existence of one man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I've said it before, but we celebrate the day that our God's progeny came to die. On this day, remember what God's ultimate plan requires: that no one should perish, but that all might know Him and have everlasting life.
The way the verse is set up, it looks like it's a cause and effect verse - when God creates this paradise for Israel, then they will know He is their God and they are His people. But I would say it's the opposite. Because they know that the Sovereign Lord is their only God and Savior, He will be able to grant them that goodness. Either way, it works.
Has God given you prosperity? Then know that He is the Lord your God. Do you know He's God? Then know that His ultimate plan is to prosper you greatly, be that in this life or not.
He loves you. He sent His son to die, and today we remember that. May God bless you.
Showing posts with label deliverer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deliverer. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Day 323: Psalm 144:2
"He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me." ~Psalm 144:2, NIV
Friday, September 21, 2012
Day 265: John 6:20
"But he said to them, 'It is I; don't be afraid.'" ~John 6:20, NIV
This story should sound really familiar, since we've already heard the story from some of the other gospels... (wait for it!) It's Jesus walking on the water.
Here we go again. He's just fed five thousand+ people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. He knows the people think He's the Messiah - but in their terms, as that King who will overthrow the Romans. He knows these people don't want God, they want a worldly gift. So He goes off to a mountain on His own to pray, sending the disciples off.
They're on the lake, and so He decides to walk to meet them. Which is no big deal, except for, well, they're on the lake. Walking on water isn't something that's ever been done before, or ever since (that I'm aware of).
God wants to do a lot of stuff like that in your life. Maybe not literally bending the laws of physics, but things that haven't been done before. And it's pretty scary when that happens to you. But Jesus wants to reassure you, when that happens, that it's okay: it's His plan, His spirit prompting you.
This takes discernment, telling whether it's God telling you to do something or not. But take courage, and believe that when you step out in faith, God won't let you drown. Amen?
This story should sound really familiar, since we've already heard the story from some of the other gospels... (wait for it!) It's Jesus walking on the water.
Here we go again. He's just fed five thousand+ people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. He knows the people think He's the Messiah - but in their terms, as that King who will overthrow the Romans. He knows these people don't want God, they want a worldly gift. So He goes off to a mountain on His own to pray, sending the disciples off.
They're on the lake, and so He decides to walk to meet them. Which is no big deal, except for, well, they're on the lake. Walking on water isn't something that's ever been done before, or ever since (that I'm aware of).
God wants to do a lot of stuff like that in your life. Maybe not literally bending the laws of physics, but things that haven't been done before. And it's pretty scary when that happens to you. But Jesus wants to reassure you, when that happens, that it's okay: it's His plan, His spirit prompting you.
This takes discernment, telling whether it's God telling you to do something or not. But take courage, and believe that when you step out in faith, God won't let you drown. Amen?
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Day 264: Isaiah 11:2
"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—" ~Isaiah 11:2, NIV
A lot of times in old testament books, especially prophetic books, we can hear about the Messiah, the one to come and save Israel, the descendant of David that would rescue Israel. Isaiah 11 starts out talking about this Messiah - and we know he meant Jesus.
So when we read "the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him," we know it means that God's Spirit did rest on Him, and that thanks to His gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have that gift too. The Holy Spirit that fell on the day of pentecost and is now available to all who ask Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understand, of counsel and might, of the knowledge of the fear of the Lord - we can have that upon us too.
And that Spirit made Jesus who He was - fearless, God-serving, sinless, bold and absolutely certain of His message - we as Christ's followers and children of God are called to carry that same spirit about us. How else can we follow in His footsteps? How else can we experience the prince's peace?
How else if not by the same spirit, described in Isaiah that every Christian can have?
A lot of times in old testament books, especially prophetic books, we can hear about the Messiah, the one to come and save Israel, the descendant of David that would rescue Israel. Isaiah 11 starts out talking about this Messiah - and we know he meant Jesus.
So when we read "the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him," we know it means that God's Spirit did rest on Him, and that thanks to His gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have that gift too. The Holy Spirit that fell on the day of pentecost and is now available to all who ask Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understand, of counsel and might, of the knowledge of the fear of the Lord - we can have that upon us too.
And that Spirit made Jesus who He was - fearless, God-serving, sinless, bold and absolutely certain of His message - we as Christ's followers and children of God are called to carry that same spirit about us. How else can we follow in His footsteps? How else can we experience the prince's peace?
How else if not by the same spirit, described in Isaiah that every Christian can have?
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Day 255: Isaiah 12:2
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." ~Isaiah 12:2, NIV
Dear God,
today, I'm having a hard time believing you are my salvation. I don't want to trust an omnipotent person - someone who knows exactly where my weak spot is. But... choices. To trust and not be afraid. To be myself, to give it all. You, you were Israel's strength, defense. You can do the same for me.
If only I let you. So help me, so truly help me to trust you, dear God. Thank you that you love me, regardless of my distrust of you. Won't you change this heart, please?
Help me choose life?
Sunday, July 08, 2012
Day 190: Isaiah 43:1
"But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." ~Isaiah 43:1, NIV
Let's face it, guys: God created you so that you could fulfill His incredibly awesome purpose for your life. Whether you or your purpose came first, I don't know, but I do know that He who created you, He who formed you, doesn't want you to be afraid of your purpose!
You don't have to be afraid! God redeemed you and is calling you by name, because He made you, you are His, and He's got an awesome life ahead of you - if you follow Him. See, we choose whether or not we fulfill God's purpose, and when we do, life is a great, huge, totally awesome adventure! Now it's not going to be easy, but it's going to make you want to get up every morning so you can see what else God has in store for you to do.
But if you allow yourself to get afraid, you're less likely to step out and embrace your purpose, and you're more likely to end up living a placebo - thinking you're living life fully, even though you're not, not really living it the way God intended it to be fully lived.
God is calling you by name to take part in your destiny, if you will. You're the only one who can obey, discard your fears, and take up God's life for you.
May I just say...? It's worth the pain, the struggle, the ache. God's life is the best life, and anything else isn't good enough for you. You deserve the best, and God's waiting for you to take it.
Can you take it?
Image: Fotopedia
Friday, July 06, 2012
Day 188: Psalm 65:5
"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas." ~Psalm 65:5, NLT
When we're afraid, we often whisper a little breath of prayer. When facing conflict, our first reaction should be LOTS of prayer, because as this psalmist notes... God faithfully answers our prayers. Not only that, but with awesome deeds!
He can be our hope, He can give us a new name, He can reach us no matter where we are, and our prayers can reach Him from anywhere. God, our saviour, He rescues those who cry out to Him. When we bring our problems and our fears before Him and offer it up to Him, He can take it all away. He loves us. Prayers cause change.
So what are you waiting for? Pray!
Image: Fotopedia
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Day 116: 2 Samuel 22:3
"My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence." ~2 Samuel 22:3, NLT
2 Samuel chapter 22 describes a song David wrote once he had been saved from his enemies, including Saul. As you probably know, David and Saul had a really rough relationship, and David ended up living for fear of his life whenever Saul was around (and often when he wasn't). David never stopped trusting in God, as many of his psalms show, and this song shows a similar flavor.
The song itself is a testimony of praise to the fact that God saved David - it's a "thank you" for all that God had done, and all who He was. The above verse sums up that second thought nicely, don't you think?
WHO IS GOD?
David saw God as a rock of protection, his shield, power to save him, and a place of safety. Added to that description is an understanding of God as a refuge, David's savior, and the one who saves from violence.
Who is God for you? Sometimes when we're in the heat of the battle, we don't see God as a refuge, or a shield, or one who saves from violence. It's then, when we feel beaten and unable to rise up again, that we have to choose to believe that He is a shield, He is a refuge, He is worthy of praise and thanks! Those choices make us who we are, make us a better person, make us more similar to His image, make us stronger, and further His kingdom. Better than that, it makes those thoughts that we choose to believe true.
Image: Fotopedia
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