"Trust In God’s Goodness"

15, June 2017

"Trust In God’s Goodness"

‘The Lord is good.’  (Nahum 1:7 NIV)

The Bible says, ‘When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come … down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us … gods who can lead us”’ (Exodus 32:1 NLT).  Why did Israel make a golden calf?  Because they wanted a god you can see.  It’s harder to relate to an invisible God, and Moses, His representative, stayed on Mount Sinai so long they felt helpless and abandoned.  So they did what we do when we’re scared—resort to the comfort of the familiar.

Mark D. Roberts writes:  ‘How often do we find ourselves in a situation like the Israelites?  We hear God’s call to something new, and boldly step out in faith.  But when we don’t sense His presence and our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, we feel abandoned, scared, and helpless.  We grasp for the familiar’.  The Bible says, ‘The Lord is good … He cares for those who trust in Him’.

Nancy Ortberg says:  ‘The difficult parts of change are most often where God lives … All the things I glibly say, in change I have to live out … Most of us go kicking and screaming instead of moving into it with an assuredness that not only is God on the other side, but new facets of Him that we haven’t before understood are also there. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, a job loss, broken promises by others, a wayward child, a broken marriage, a move across the country, becoming an empty nester — if we allow ourselves to push through the difficult parts, we’ll discover God is there … and He’s entirely, wonderfully, amazingly, good.’

When God closes one door, He opens another — but you must be willing to walk through it.

"The Beauty of the Breastplate" (Part #2)

10, June 2017

"The Beauty of the Breastplate" (Part #2)

‘We have a great High Priest … Jesus the Son of God.’ Hebrews 4:14 NLT

Notice two more things about the breastplate worn by Israel’s high priest:

(1) It was close to his heart. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, he went into the ‘Holiest of Holies’ where God’s presence was, in order to obtain forgiveness for the people’s sins ... And he wore different things, each signifying different truths.  But of all the garments he donned, the breastplate was the closest to his heart. This speaks of how much God loves and values you, and His desire to be close to you. Today He’s saying to you:  ‘I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]’ (Hebrews 13:5 AMPC).  What a wonderful promise!

(2) The name of each tribe was not merely written on the breastplate, but engraved on it (see Exodus 39:14). When something is written, it can be erased or accidentally blotted out, but not when it’s ‘engraved’. There are two ways you can sin.  First by deliberately choosing to, and second by stumbling through weakness ... And God will chastise and correct you in order to get you back onto the right path, but He will never turn His back on you or throw you away.  No, you’re too precious to Him.

He remembers the price He paid for you and He says, ‘I will not blot out [your] name from the Book of Life’ (Revelation 3:5 NKJV).  As long as you are trusting in Christ, you can be sure of God’s love and acceptance.

"The Beauty of the Breastplate" (Part #1)

09, June 2017

"The Beauty of the Breastplate" (Part #1)

‘Twelve stones … engraved … according to the twelve tribes.’ Exodus 39:14 NKJV

As you look at the breastplate worn by Israel’s high priest, you see how precious you are in God’s eyes as His redeemed child. The Bible gives us very detailed information about what the high priest wore, and there are no insignificant details in God’s Word.

As we examine this breastplate we see something wonderful about the way the Lord sees us. There were twelve stones on it, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes. And since Jesus is our great High Priest, let’s look at this breastplate and see what we can learn. These were precious stones.  God didn’t use common rocks and pebbles found in abundance in Israel; He chose the most costly, rare and precious gems such as sapphire, topaz, emerald, amethyst, diamond, onyx and jasper to represent us. Note the word precious. The Bible says you are ‘precious’ in God’s sight (see Isaiah 43:4).  It also says that you were redeemed with the ‘precious’ blood of Jesus (see 1 Peter 1:19).

How do you establish the value of something?  By the price someone is willing to pay for it.  So here’s a truth you must keep in mind when you have blown it and Satan is condemning you because of your sins and shortcomings. With full knowledge of all your sins—past, present, and future—God loves you so much that He sent His Son to redeem you by shedding His precious blood.  And as long as you are trusting in Christ, your value in God’s eyes never diminishes.  Why does God think you are precious?  Because at all times He sees you ‘in Christ’.

"Write It Down—Then Tear It Up"!

28, May 2017

"Write It Down—Then Tear It Up"!

‘Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.’ Philippians 3:13 NKJV

There will always be people who speak ill of you.  ‘She’ll never amount to anything … His parents were nothing, his grandparents were nothing, and he’s going to be nothing too’!  The question is:  who are you going to believe, God or your critics?

According to Scripture: ‘ Anyone … in Christ … is a new creation; old things have passed away … all things have become new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). God says that by His grace you’re going to prove your critics wrong, so stop listening to their negative predictions.  Stop believing the family members, schoolteachers, employers, and so-called ‘friends’ who try to put you down. Turn a deaf ear to racism and sexism.

Jesus said, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' (John 8:32 NIV). Renew your mind daily with the truth of God’s Word (see Romans 12:1–2).  You may have been abused, misused, rejected, and neglected, but it’s time to forget those things that are behind and start reaching forward.  When God speaks a word over your life, as far as He’s concerned it has already been accomplished; it’s ‘a done deal'!  Now it’s your job to believe it, speak it, and walk in the reality of it each day. When someone says something that leaves a scar on your heart and mind, do this:

(1) Write it down on a piece of paper.

(2) Ask God to help you forgive them and to erase the scar.

(3) Tear up the paper, toss it into the trash, and ‘press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 3:14 NKJV).