How relaxing and refreshing it is to rely on God’s timing! ^_^ Hah! I’m not a slave to the world’s time. It is my Lord’s timing that matters. If He says ‘go’, I go. If He says ‘wait’, I wait. I only have to do what He says and even if the whole world is plunged into chaos, I won’t be shaken. The Lord is my Rock! I have nothing to worry about. Everything is in His hands. I only have to trust Him and do His bidding. He is a good Lord and He truly loves His children. His Name be honored forever!

Psalm 37:7a “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him”

                          

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

—Paul, Titus 2:11-3:11

                          

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

—Paul, Epistle to the Romans 7:21-8:11; 8:12-39

                          

It was a totally different experience. I know experience does not weigh much in the world of theology, but we can’t deny that praying is still a spiritual experience with the Lord. I just kept praying about the Lord – that His glory would sparkle amongst us, that His attributes would be revealed to mankind, that the gravity of His love would show His awesome nature, that His power will be manifested, that no one would misuse His Name or misrepresent Him, and so on! Its just all about Him. And you know what? I didn’t feel the weight of the world on my shoulders anymore. I’ve been going through some really tough times – issues with family, sanctification, relationships, friends, etc., but they didn’t seem to matter anymore. I can rest and be satisfied in Him alone.

I don’t know if I’m making sense but I just feel like I just want to spend my life worshiping Him. I don’t care much about what happens to me anymore. Whenever I focus on God alone, all my worries disappear. Knowing that Someone as magnificent as the Lord God truly exists just makes me want to smile and bend my knee in awe and worship.

He is a great God and though I’m not even close to worshiping Him as He ought to be worshiped, it gives me great comfort and joy to know that HE is my God. To have a God like the Lord to worship, adore, love and serve IS the greatest blessing in my life!

“Father, I thank you for quickening my heart! Now I can love, serve and adore you without despising Your Name!”

                          

The Lord loves me. He truly loves me and He will not forsake me. Not that I deserve it or earned it (no way!). He, Himself, declared this through His Son and I believe Him. No wonder the apostle Paul had prayed that the Ephesians would be able to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ“! The love of Christ is the cure to the diseases of our hearts! His love is the source of all comfort, joy, peace and many other things beyond our imagination!

Every creased brow or depressed mind is cured at the cross of Christ! When He says “Come those of you who are weary”, He meant it and He will – He REALLY will carry our load. Though we have always been reminded about God’s love through our daily meditations, its a totally different thing to experience it! God loves me and I trust Him (I hope I don’t sound prosperity-ish here). I believe He does and He will continue to do so because He keeps His Word. I am in good hands. I have nothing to fear. I have nothing to worry about. I am His! To Him be the glory!

                          

“Loving God for Himself and not for anything He gives us is the life of a Christian.”—Eric T. Young

“Joy in God is, ‘Christ in you the hope of Glory.’”—Craig Ireland

“Psalm 16:5-11″—Kevin Phillips

“knowing that some day I will be with Him forever! What a comforting thought!”—Aneta Costa

“Enjoying him.”—Max Tasker

“To take pleasure in knowing Christ, and rejoicing, not just once, not twice but continually joy in Him. The one thing Christ prayed for in the garden that the believer might have is joy. The Greek has a meaning like that of a fetus quickening in the womb, like when Elizabeth was with child, joy is life in Christ! Oh unspeakable joy! Sweet, sweet marvelous joy of my salvation. It only grows with each passing day!”—Celeste Rodriguez

“Knowing our name is written in the lambs book of life…and no one can blot it out!!!! WOW!!!”—Judy Monteer Vaughan

“Knowing that no matter how bad my life is…whatever trials I experience, this life does not determine my eternity with Him. I can lose all I have and still I have Him.”—Amy Hester

“Joy in God is… to live Coram Deo, before the face of God. Delighting in my King, and He in me. To be my Beloved’s and the dear Beloved mine. To comprehend the perfection of Christ’s righteousness imputed to our account that we are fully and perfectly adopted as sons of God. To realize the severity of God’s holiness and wrath against sin and see the blackness of who I was and behold the still the never changing love of God in Christ for me. To know that though I am failing and falling He ever loves me with an everlasting love. To look at the mirror of God’s Word, revealing all of my sin and stain, and yet see the all-surpassing glory of Christ’s love to me.

Joy in God is… the sovereign action of God in us, where He lifts up our minds and our heart’s affection to heavenly heights to see the grandeur of His everlasting sufficiency in all it’s extents. It is when our dear Father comes to us, closely, intimately and lovingly and takes us to see and feel the infinite ocean of His great love and grace for us. It is when the Son shows us the infallibility of the atonement, His weeping and His endurance in temptation and suffering, thus making known to us that He knows our sorrows and that in Him is an everlasting rest. It is when the Holy Spirit covers us with the love of His wings, the comfort of His oil, the peace of His presence.

In other words, Joy in God is the moment we can truly say, ‘God, my God, you are my God.’”—JM Vergara

“Simply to know Him.”—Anna Wood

                          

For the past weeks, my life has been marked with the scars of God’s discipline. But I am happy that HE is the ONE who is doing the disciplining and that no other hand could smite me without His permission. I find it very comforting that our God is sovereign and that He is in control of every event, situation and experience no matter how painful. What an amazing God! I believe only the regenerate can truly praise God for His sovereignty! Praise God!

                          

I fall flat on my face and worship.

A thousand chapters have been read.
A thousand chapters from Thy Word.
I wouldn’t want anything else for my sweet bed
than the whispers from my Lord.

A thousand chapters have gone by
yet still it’s memory rings clear.
A thousand chapters to one such as I
His Word to my heart so dear.

Thy sweet milk of Thy sweet Word
has nourished this feeble soul.
Sovereign joy in Your great strong Sword
in Christ I have been made whole.

What heights of delight, skies of gladness
is the oil of Your blessed precepts.
Warmth to my soul, the cold breeze of the air
is Your law which gives me rest.

I thank Thee for thy thousand chapters,
and I pray for a thousand more.
For there’s no strength that I can muster
than that in Your infallible Word.

‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Lou­i­sa M. R. Stead, 1882.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the way of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”—Psalm 1

                          

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand yin the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as ehead over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

—Paul, Epistle to the Ephesians, 1:3-23

                          

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him.

Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

—1 Peter 1:3-9

                          

Three times You asked,
“Lovest thou Me?”
My heart broke for long I’ve been
unfaithful to Thee.

Three times you asked,
but I remembered the times
tens and hundreds
of my hypocritical crimes.

I professed to love Thee,
confessed to love Thee,
yet innumerably I fail,
even knowing that You died for me?

Yet still You love me.
Still, You seek me.
And when I’m found
You see not sin but Your Son in me.

Yes you are my God, my light,
my sovereign delight.
My treasure, my peace,
my never-ending bliss.

You are my joy in pain,
my sun in the rain.
Though sin’s buffet come,
You drown me in grace in Your Son

Your grace is enough for me to sigh;
Your grace is enough for me to cry
in joy and gladness,
unspeakable words of
transcendent happiness.

I love Thee more than life,
I love Thee even through the darkest night.
Though pain and sorrows come
One place I will be, the bosom mine Beloved One.

You are my God, my light,
my sovereign delight.
My treasure, my peace,
my never-ending bliss.
My joy in pain,
my sun in the rain.

                          

Of late, my heart has wandered far from where it once was in it’s affections towards You. In my life of holiness and in my profession of faith in Christ, I am utterly in shame. Shamed for my apathy. Shamed for my lackadaisical attitude over the watching of my soul.

I feel my conscience to be seared at times, unfeeling and disappearing in the face of temptations and afflictions. I gave much way to my sin and the rebellion of my flesh that I have almost forgotten what it means to weep and be broken before You. I have, at a moment, forgotten what it means to fear You, God and grieve in anguish for my sin.

I despise myself in dust and ashes!

Oh, I have forgotten how it is to depend upon you, oh God! I remembered not your faithfulness, the steadfastness of Your love and the power of Your grace. Instead I went headlong running in a desert of forgetfulness. The wilderness of darkness and sin. My heart was held captive by the things of this world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. I gloried in my own strength. I gloried in my own selfish and temporal joys. I drowned myself in my lusts and sought to satisfy my sin like I never have before, all the while thinking that I will repent and find my way back to you?

What a despicable and vile, monster of iniquity I am! It’s not that I willfully thought that grace was a license for sin. But Lord, I didn’t give a care at all about grace, about the power of your Word and Spirit that works in us a life and heart of holiness. Oh, what grave rebellion I have done before You!

And yet Lord You have allowed me to live another day?

And yet You have given me a new opportunity to give myself in repentance back to You?

And though as vile and despicable as I am, still you see not my sin, you see not the darkness that I wasted my life and time in those hours, but you see the perfection of Your Son?

Instead of revealing your wrath against me in the exercise of Your justice, holiness and hatred against sin, You still see me as your child?

How is it Lord, that You would still even care to bring to bear the full weight of these things before my heart after all that I have done against You and You alone? How is it Lord, that after all that I thought, said and did, still by the Holy Spirit, You would bother to convict me of my sin and reveal to me the depth of the bloody blot darkness that I dwelt in?

And now Lord, I finally am beginning to understand the weight of the words of your blessed saint of time past:

“We are hidden in Christ. God seeks for us; and when at last He discovers us in our hiding-place, it is not we that He finds, but Christ; so complete is the exchange of persons, so perfect and so glorious the disguise. Yet it is not a disguise which shall ever be taken off, nor of which shall have cause to be ashamed. It remains ours for ever. It is an everlasting righteousness.”—Horatius Bonar, Everlasting Righteousness, p. 79-90

I fall in grief, in anguish lost
in darkness of my sin
Pardon shines upon the Cross
for one’s that who are His.

How can it be that He would still
count and see me as His son
Died He for me, a wretched man
accepted in the Beloved One?

Divine operation of Grace and Truth
I weep before mine Lord!
Tremendous grace in love pursued
confidence through His True infallible Word!

Dear heavenly, gracious Father, in the name of Thy dear Son I pray these things. Please show yourself to be mighty. As your grace was perfected in the weakness of Paul of old, do so as well in mine weakness. For dear God, my God, I am weak, terribly weak. And I confess that I have denied my weakness in the time of my rebellion toward you as I fell into sin. But now Lord, I again confess my utter helplessness. I need Thee every hour, my holy God. I need Thee in every moment, reminding me of the infiniteness of Your love and mercy, the reassuring love of the Truth of Your Word.

Please keep me in the way of holiness. Continue to work in me a love and a sovereign delight in You that I would never again prefer the things of this world above You.

You, oh Lord, are my sovereign Joy.

Amen.

                          

“How then can man be in the right before God?
How can he who is born of a woman be pure?

Behold, even the moon is not bright,
and the stars are not pure in his eyes;

how much less man, who is a maggot,
and the son of man, who is a worm!”

—Bildad, The Book of Job, 25:4-6

The Answer:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

—Paul, Letter to the Church at Rome, 5:6-11

                          

“Father, please continue to sanctify my wicked and doubtful heart. Oh so wicked is my heart that I cannot bring myself to trust You in spite of all the good You have done! Knowledge is not enough to create trust. Only You, oh Lord, can truly bring my heart into submission. Make me Your slave dear Father. Teach me Your ways and wrought faith in me that I may be clean and free from the sin of doubt. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.”

                          

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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.

—Paul, Pastoral Letter to Titus, 3:1-8

                          

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.

But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,  in all earnestness,  and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.”

—Paul, Second Epistle to the Corinthians 8:1-7

I long to build this sort of church that the Apostle boasts of to the Corinthians. How is it that these men and women would give according to their means and beyond their means to take part in the relief of the saints? Especially in a severe test of affliction? Not just affliction but also in extreme poverty?

Because it is not in affliction alone, or in poverty alone that such desire was given birth. But it is affliction and poverty coupled by the abundance of joy! Not apathy, not despondence, not lukewarmness. But instead, even a begging to take part in earnest for the people of God, Joy in the midst of pain and suffering; in loss; in weakness!

How many of us have a faith like that? Faith that talks and walks like Christ? Faith that clings so desperately to Him, all the while not holding back anything for Him?

Oh! may God break us and drive us to utter embarrassment of our profession of faith in Christ! Many of us do not even know how to blush anymore for our inconsistencies and our faithlessness that we desire so little for greater repentance and greater conformity to the image of Christ.

Oh, may God have mercy upon our souls, that in the context of the church, we may be that godly group of people that cares intimately for one another, so much that “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. v.15″

                          

Oh! for what depths of joys can such sovereign grace lead us to? What heights of gladness and contentment can this beholding of infinite Beauty lift us toward?

Yes indeed, give me that man who has been saved from infinitely well-deserved damnation, He knows what I mean!

                          

The bewildered hosts of heaven stare in shock
For the King of glory is back, standing behind the pearl gates
The doors opened at His command, every mouth is silenced
He walks among the holy, His victory is indescribable

Everyone who sees His face falls down and worships
“Who is like the One?” is the question with no answer
The serpent’s head is crushed, the bruise on His heel is gone
He has redeemed the rebels, the very ones who despised Him

As He continues walking, every tongue confesses His sovereign lordship
For He has rescued a portion of the depraved, whom He dearly loved.
The redeemed, those puny beings of dust who grieved His heart,
They all now follow behind Him, regenerate and clean.

The angels stare at the redeemed in amazement and whisper:
“They deserve judgment yet they walk among us because of His mercy,
They loved their sin more than anything yet the Lord loved them dearly,
They of all creatures received His graces – even by His precious blood!
Now we know who the Lord truly is, let us bow and never rise again!”

The One takes His rightful place, the redeemed fall prostrate and tremble
The heavenly hosts continue to worship, for the day has finally come
When there will be no more grief, loss or parting
The banquet has begun and it will be all rejoicing!

                          

We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

—Paul, Second Epistle to the Corinthians, 4:1-11

                          

But from mine eyes its different
For in my heart lies envy and jealousy
Yes, I envy the squirrels for they have no worry
I envy the sparrows for they are truly free
Such creatures, why no onerous destiny!
They live for the moment and in plain simplicity!

As I gazed on my window, observing every living thing
I heard a familiar voice that spoke to me gently
“The sparrows and squirrels do not labor
Yet your Father in heaven feeds them daily.
They live only today, but you will live for all eternity.
Are you not worth much more than sparrows?
Why envy such creatures,
When you have been redeemed beyond measure!
Man, the most wicked, became the most privileged
Shouldn’t your salvation be enough?
Or do you need more ego to keep you up?
You of little faith! Repent and rise from your tomb
And start looking at what’s ahead of you”

At that moment, I stopped, for I know I have offended Thee
You’ve rescued me from my own sin, yet I publicize my misery
You’ve given me everything, yet I always think negatively
You have always listened to me though I shut my ears to Thee
You have always answered me though I give up easily

For this I stop and turn from my lack of trust
For in the Lord’s kingdom, a steadfast faith is a must
I will be still and trust Thee alone
‘Til You come for me and carry me home

                          

“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:’The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’”—2 Timothy 2:19

What a wonderful passage this is, full of Gospel truth. This promise is not built on human confidence, or on the “possibilities of grace”. No, it is built on the surety of God’s firm foundation, in that it is God Himself who knoweth those who are His! What good is it then that the Lord knows those who are His?

“I am the good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”—John 10:14, 15

He knows those who are His and His layeth down His life for those who are His!

Then what? Oh, He takes up His life again for their justification! (John 10:18, Romans 4:25)

Oh, what a wonder. He knoweth us, He died for us, and He has risen again for us to purchase a full salvation! (Hebrews 10:14)

“And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”

                          

“…what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?”—Psalm 8:4

I am at a wonder. Why is it that God, the eternal Creator of all that is, sovereign, majestic and supernatural would spare even a single thought for man? What is man but dust? A worm? Nay, worse than the dust of the earth, and worse than the worms that slither about.

Dust didn’t sin against God. Dust obeyed God ever since it’s first point of existence. The worms of the earth didn’t sin against God. They do whatever God commands them to do. Man sinned. Man despised God. Yet we are counted worthy to receive care from the thrice Holy God?

What grace is this that fills the deep, pitch black pit of our souls to overflowing in eternal life? How is it that God in His divine decree did not let His Son, the only truly holy one, avoid the greatest outpouring of wrath possible and yet He, knowing and seeing our sin in every day and every moment, let us live another day?

                          

Yet we race not
in strength of ourselves
but alone in Christ
who made all things well

                          

Justified by Jesus’ blood and eternally saved from God’s wrath! (Rom 5:9)

Will be made into the likeness of God’s own Son! (Rom 8:29)

A saint with an inheritance in God’s Kingdom! (Col 1:12)

A cleansed believer with a new heart and a new spirit! (Eze 36:25-26)

A child of God! (Jn 1:12)

Cleansed from all sin – as white as snow! (Isa 1:18)

Under the discipline of the Almighty Father for our own good that we may share in His holiness! (Heb 12:6,10)

Have eternal life! (Jn 3:16)

Are eternally loved by the eternally glorious God! (Jer 31:3)

And so much more!!

Why oh why would you trade your inheritance to please your flesh? Why would you be insecure in your life? Why would you worry about tomorrow? Why would you allow anything to shake your faith? Why would you doubt the Lord’s goodness when He has given everything – even His Son? Why would you complain or question the Almighty? Why wouldn’t you be hasty in repenting and slow to sin? Why wouldn’t you seek Him, love Him, serve Him and honor Him with all your heart, mind and soul? Why oh why?

Do not be deceived! The good Lord owns you – rejoice and be glad!

                          

We must remember that
in every moment gone,
in the darkest of nights,
in the brightest of days
we are nothing but lost
condemned apart from His
mighty, sovereign grace.

                          

“Jesus answered them,

‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not part of My flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and the follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’”

—John 10:25-30

Oh, what joy unspeakable that this passage is truer more no matter what the dictates of the emotions of man would be! He gives eternal life and His sheep will never perish, and not a one of them will be lost from His hand!

We are sealed in the hand of the Son, never to be snatched away! (John 10:28)

We are sealed in the hand of the Father, never to be snatched away! (John 10:29)

We are sealed in the hand of the Holy Spirit, never to be snatched away! (Ephesians 1:13)

Oh, divine operation of the Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit!

                          

Oh, dear heart, cling close. Be a stranger no more to thy Lord and King. Fill your cup with Him. And thence see the beauty of this blessed Scripture truth:

“‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’
‘O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—1 Corinthians 15:55-57

                          

Jeremiah, in his despair and frailty, complained to God about the prosperity of the wicked. He questions God’s justice and argues that the wicked should perish.

Sometimes I cannot help but think like Jeremiah. Why do the wicked enjoy their lives? Why do they prosper? Why do they live at ease? Is this justice? These are some of the thoughts that have coursed through my mind in the past weeks. In the foolishness of my mind and the dullness of my own heart, I did not understand God’s will or the deception of the enemy. I prayed for answers and these are some of the things the Lord revealed to me in Scripture:

1. The wicked and faithless do not truly “prosper”. This is what the enemy wants me to think so that I would be encouraged to sin and discouraged in my walk with God. The truth is  – the wicked are under a great deception. They are sowing to their flesh and they are getting pleasure from it. Such is false prosperity and one that every Christian should avoid by all means. The wicked do not prosper, they only seem to prosper. In reality, judgment awaits them lest they repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. What good is it to gain the whole world but lose your soul in hell?
2. True Prosperity is to walk in the presence of God. There is nothing more liberating, nothing more fulfilling and nothing more satisfying than to know that you are eternally loved and saved by God despite your sins, and that you would be with Him forever! Unconverted people do not experience this joy and fulfillment. They are not even aware that they need God’s forgiveness and mercy. I have to stop thinking that the faithless are prospering, and start developing compassion towards them- that I may share the fullness of the Gospel.
3. Do not envy the faithless. It may seem that they are happier than Christians, but this is only what the enemy wants you to think. They are actually feeding their carnal desires and bringing more misery and emptiness in their lives. They may be living an easy life, but know that they are going through the broad way which leads to destruction. On the other hand, by God’s regenerating work, despite all the pains of following Christ, Christians are being renewed and transformed to His image each day. Rejoice and take pleasure in what the Lord is doing in your life!

I hope these guidelines would help you as they have helped me. Its difficult to follow Christ in this age because the road of the saved is steep and narrow. However, by His grace, we can uncover the enemy’s deceptions, repent of our unbelief, believe in His glorious work of salvation and find joy and contentment in all our sufferings – all for the glory of His Name.

                          

How is it that I who do not have clean hands can grasp the Bible? How is it that I who do not have clean eyes can lay my eyes upon it? Oh, I find myself the most worthy of judgments to have my hands melt and my eyes burn even in the slightest glimpse of His holy Word. And yet I am found worthy to hold it, to read it, to meditate upon it, to love it. What is it? Grace. Grace in Christ Jesus.