TRUE JUSTICE REIGNS

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The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:5-7)

Sometimes, it seems, many get the idea God has, in the New Testament, just decided to "love us as we are" and accept us sin and all as though He's changed His mind about sin and is not so strict as He was in the Old Testament. He loves us while we are yet sinners, it is true (Rom. 5:6-8), but He has made provision for that sin, not to keep us in it but to completely justify us from it and destroy its power in us. When we read in the Old Testament about God, we fear a God of strictness, a God that has no mercy on sin but punishes it immediately, and in our own corrupt minds, it seems way out of proportion to the sin. This is because we do not truly see the holiness of God, nor do we see the truth about sin and the utter depravity and destruction of it. If we saw sin as it really is, God as He really is, and understood justice we would hate sin with all our being, and we would be overwhelmed with the love and mercy of God and His plan to utterly destroy it. We would see ourselves for what we are. We would have a trembling fear of God knowing that there can be no sin in His presence. I recently heard the definitions of grace and mercy put this way...Grace is getting from God what we don't deserve. Mercy is not getting from God what we do deserve. Look at the comments below on the verses I just shared. Sin always has a penalty and can never be overlooked. It has to be dealt with, and that, God's way. God's love and His justice both, together had to be satisfied.

K&D:

But whereas on that occasion the burning zeal of Jehovah which visits sin stood in the foreground, and mercy only followed afterwards, here grace, mercy, and goodness are placed in the front. And accordingly all the words which the language contained to express the idea of grace in its varied manifestations to the sinner, are crowded together here, to reveal the fact that in His inmost being God is love. But in order that grace may not be perverted by sinners into a ground of wantonness, justice is not wanting even here with its solemn threatenings, although it only follows mercy, to show that mercy is mightier than wrath, and that holy love does not punish til sinners despise the riches of the goodness, patience, and long-suffering of God.

Hawker:

Reader! amidst all those precious declarations, that is not the smallest of them, that the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. For when, in the covenant of redemption, by the blood and righteousness of Christ, the Lord Jesus appeared and suffered, as a surety, and sponsor, for his people; the utmost exaction was made and paid to the righteousness of God’s law. So that to every true believer in Jesus, who seeks justification before God, in the finished salvation of the Lord Jesus, this perfection of God’s righteousness, which will by no means clear the guilty without a satisfaction, is as dear to the heart as his mercy. Here that scripture was fulfilled, Psa_85:10.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalms 85:10)

"Righteousness admits of no abatement: Peace by the cross satisfies every demand. " ~Hawker on Ps. 85:10

Jesus Himself Who knew no sin, does not clear sin or excuse sin, but became sin for us and took the penalty (2 Cor. 5:21). The curse is broken by He Himself becoming a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). No greater love is there than this!! God never changes His mind toward sin. He cannot. He is holy - perfectly pure with no sign of corruption anywhere in Him. If He would accept even the smallest sin, it would corrupt His holiness and He would not be Who He is. No, He never ever accepts our sin. In order to satisfy love (God IS love), He had to bring justice. True justice demanded a penalty. Sin brought a curse. He could by "no means clear the guilty." There was no other way other than God coming down to earth in the form of man, satisfying fully the demands of the law by living it out perfectly in righteousness, then as sinless man, taking on Himself the penalty of the law which had to be satisfied for true justice to be done. Your guilt is only taken away as by faith in the blood of Christ, you come to Him and trust in His finished work. To reject that perfect demonstration of love to the fullest, is the utmost sin. There is no substitute, and there is no clearing of those guilty of such, other than that they turn in repentance to Him and receive His righteousness for them.

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. 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, (Romans 3:19-24)

It is a gift. What love!! This is why it is so futile and actually degrading to the law of God, when men think they can find any righteousness by trying to keep the law themselves, or that there is still justification somehow for them by good works. They settle for their own level of achievement in thinking they are good enough, thereby lowering God's standard, which is not comparing themselves with other men, but with the perfect law of God. If one part of it is broken the whole of it is broken and God cannot allow us in His presence by our standard of goodness. He had to perfect us by His own righteousness, not our own, in order for us to have fellowship with Him and live with Him sharing His glory forever. It is only through the blood of Christ. It is God Who we will stand before, and be judged by His perfect law, not our fellow men. Not according to the world's standards of right and wrong. If we stand in our own "goodness" then we'll find it won't hold up against His standard. If we stand by faith in the work of Jesus Christ, we will have His righteousness to defend us in the court of God.

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. (Romans 8:32-34)

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:31)

Then the law is upheld...God's perfect standard is kept through Christ alone. He alone fulfilled the law's righteousness, and also its demand for justice. Now there is one way to be made right before Him, and that is faith in His finished work....He finished the work that the law demanded and all righteousness is through Him alone, God's perfect standard. To believe anything other than that is to cheapen His law and His grace both. But in Christ we see perfect love and mercy and justice fulfilled. Praise His name! His Spirit now can dwell in our hearts and make us a new creation that lives to know Him and please Him. We have a hope in full redemption and glorification to come.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

There is no justice in a world where God's law is disregarded and men impose their own power and laws on others for the purpose of controlling them. We see injustice all around us as evil reigns and gains power in the earth more and more. Good (according to God's standards), is called evil, and evil (living according to Man's standards) is called good. Leaders become dictators and more and more corrupt and full of lies for the purpose of their own greed and control. There is a great sense in our hearts of bitterness at the injustice we see as the righteous are imprisoned, persecuted, and slaughtered, and evil prevails. We watch in helplessness as our brothers and sisters are being killed and the world stands by and does nothing to help them. Those who have the power to do something, to take a stand, and to stop them do nothing. We can grow disheartened. We can grow faint. But as our hearts begin to understand our God of justice, we see that no matter what we suffer in this world as true justice and good are stomped on and the name of God blasphemed, that they have not won. They will not reign. The Lord is in control, and He reigns forever. Justice will come. Now is the time of grace and mercy. He waits. His longsuffering patience waits, but His children are not forgotten. We are more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us. No matter if they kill the body, they cannot take our soul. It belongs to Him and no one can snatch us out of His hands. Justice will reign (2 Peter 3:7-13, Psalm 37).

This age of grace is almost at its end. The time is short for those who persist in joining with the antichrist spirit. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. We need as never before to pray that all who are willing would have their eyes open to come now, while there is time, because soon God's judgment will come to this world in a time of terrible tribulation for the entire world. The book of Revelation speaks of it. So many signs tell us the stage is being set even now for that time to come. All is in place and happening just as the Lord told us it would. His Word is coming to pass before our eyes, if we care to understand and study it. God is just, and holds out His justifying grace to whosoever will, yet those who will finally reject it and choose rebellion against Him, He will bring justice against and end all evil finally and completely. Heaven will be a place where evil will never enter, nor will it ever bring anymore sorrow, or pain, or sighing anymore. People say, "If there is a God why does He not end all evil?" He will. completely. Forever. Will you join Him by freely accepting the grace you do not deserve from Him? Or will you be part of the evil that will be judged rightly and destroyed finally? What they don't know is that evil by definition, is all rebellion against God. That is the source of it and the cause of it. The only reason we have a sense of justice is because of the God of justice who put it in us.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:1-8)

True justice reigns, and no power on earth can thwart His plans for such and His plans for those He loves, who have believed in Him. Amen, Come Lord Jesus! May all those who have "ears to hear" receive His grace held out to them freely today and come and drink and eat and find life.

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Revelation 22:17)

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

CHRIST WHO BORE ALL

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CHRIST WHO BORE ALL

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. (Exodus 28:29-30)

As I read through the Old Testament, I am continually delighted and amazed at the many ways God reveals Himself, and in that, the perfect love and salvation He planned before the foundation of the world for mankind. Once again, as I have been reading through the book of Exodus, I'm seeing the love of God, just how dearly He loves us and cared for all concerning us. Many are afraid of the Old Testament, as though the God of the Old Testament were somehow more severe, angry, and unapproachable. Yet as I've been reading through it, I've seen the love of God - the God of both the Old Covenant and the New, opened up to me in so many ways that my heart is just full and overflowing. I encourage you to read through the Old Testament if you have not done so, and to pray as you do for the Lord to reveal Himself and His glory to you in it. There are many types and foreshadows. So many get hung up on the foreshadows themselves and try to incorporate them in Christianity, and totally miss what they are pointing to...Christ the substance! All God has done and will do reveals His love for mankind, His perfect plan of redemption, and His judgment which flows also out of that love, against evil and corruption, bringing us to the final purpose of freedom of all evil, and perfection before Him so that we may dwell in His presence and glory forever, sharing with Him in that glory. He never acts outside of Who He is, and He never changes. He paints for us, such a wonderful picture of His unfailing love in all of His Word, which is an endless treasure chest full of treasures for us to pull out of it and learn from.

The Old Testament all speaks of Christ to us, once we know the New Testament fulfills that through the coming of Christ into this world. It will ultimately be fulfilled through His second coming, and the final judgment of all evil in this world. The book of 1, 2, and 3 John speak of God as "love." John tells us God IS love. Yet we fail to see the many ways He reveals that love to us. I saw that love revealed to me this week as I was reading Exodus 28, and the garments of the High Priest. This all typifies Christ, our High Priest forever, and His love for us. I just wanted to share some of my gleanings on His priestly garments with you today, and I pray they will bless you as much as they have me. As I was reading how Jesus Himself, bears the judgment of His own children upon His heart continually in Heaven before the Father, it melted my heart with the warmth of His love for me. It made me also think of other Scriptures such as Romans 8:31-39. And many other Scriptures speak of how complete and perfect that salvation is that He prepared for us. How then, can we ever think it is so fragile that we can lose it? So many ways He tries to tell us of it in His whole Word, yet we miss it so often. Today is such a dark and evil day when it seems the powers of darkness have been given free reign over the world and many are saying, "What is happening Lord? What are we supposed to do?" Yet God tells all to His children as to what His plan is in saving us, in keeping us, in judging the world, and in our own final redemption. We need, more than ever before, to have a clear understanding of the completeness, the solidness, and the earnestness of that salvation and of His love for us that will not ever fail us as we walk through these evil days until He comes. This is what will sustain us to the end. When we see and rely on the love of God and His goodness, we will also trust that love when all seems dark and we are in the fiery furnace of persecution, which is going to come to all who believe, trust in, and adhere to the Jesus Christ of the Bible, here in America, and is even now beginning in many ways.

Darby's notes on Exodus 28:29-30. I would encourage you to read the entire chapter of Exodus 28.

"But to pursue the ephod itself. The high priest represented all the people before God, and presented them to Him, and this in a double way. First, he bore them on his shoulders-carried the whole weight and burden of them on himself. Their names were all graven upon the two onyx stones which united the parts of the ephod; there was no wearing the ephod-that is, exercising the priesthood-without carrying the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders. So Christ carries ever His people.

Next, the breastplate was attached inseparably to the ephod, never to be detached. There also he carried the names of his people before the Lord, and could not, as thus dressed in the high priestly robes, be there without them. As it is expressed, he bore them on his heart before Jehovah continually. They shall be upon Aaron's heart when he goeth in before Jehovah. Thus are we borne ever before God by Christ. He presents us, as that which He has on His heart, to God He cannot be before Him without doing so; and whatever claim the desire and wish of Christ's heart has to draw out the favour of God, it operates in drawing out that favour on us. The light and favour of the sanctuary-God as dwelling there-cannot shine out on Him without shining on us, and that as an object presented by Him for it.

This was not, however, all. The Urim and Thummim were there-light and perfection. The high priest bore the judgment of the children of Israel in their present ways and as to their present relationship [5] upon his heart before Jehovah, and this according to the light and perfection of God. This we need, to get blessing. Stood we before God, such as we are, we must draw down judgment, or lose the effect of this light and perfection of God, remaining without. But, Christ bearing our judgment according to these, our presentation to God is according to the perfection of God Himself-our judgment borne; but then our position, guidance, light, and spiritual intelligence are according to this same divine light and perfection. For the high priest inquired and had answers from God according to the Urim and Thummim. This is a blessed privilege [6]."

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Jesus is a High Priest that cannot fail. He is a High Priest that bears us on His heart continually. He continually makes intercession for us before the Father. If you want to go into further study on this, the book of Hebrews brings out this perfect role of our High Priest and the fulfillment of the types of this from the Old Testament. In Hebrews God shows us how futile trying to continue to live under the law system of Judaism is now that Christ has come and fulfilled the law, and that He alone is our "propitiation" and our High Priest, making continual intercession for us before the Father.

...but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:24-25)

What love!! I am overwhelmed by it! How can I ever doubt such a Savior, and how can I ever fear when He is my High Priest? As I meditate on the love of this Savior which is beyond anything I can conjure up in my own mind or heart or try to imagine myself, I am left in such awe and wonder and my heart is filled to overflowing! I want my life to be pleasing to such a Savior. I want it to be a testimony of such glory and love. I want my thoughts, my actions, my words and all that I do to honor such a Savior. I don't want to fail Him. But fail Him I do, sadly. But yet, He never fails me. He is always making intercession for me, bearing my judgment ALWAYS, CONTINUALLY, and saving me to the uttermost. The more that realization hits me, the more my heart is humbled before Him and drawn to Him and to His love. I want for everyone to see it! I wish I could somehow make everyone see it and also know Him. And this is my prayer, that somehow my small efforts to write this love down in words which are so inadequate, will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring that same joy of His salvation to someone else, and draw them to this living Word of life.

May the Lord bless you as you think on these things.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

THE TRAIL OF FAITHFULNESS

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The Trail Of Faithfulness

I was thinking today on the lives of many in history and realizing the trail that led to my own salvation. If those who had given their lives to translate the Bible into English had not done so, I would not have a Bible to read that showed me the love and salvation of the Lord. If others had not carried that Bible with them and been obedient to its Words and brought it to others, who finally brought it through to my own generation and to me personally, I would not have found the Word of life that led to my salvation. So many had a part to play in my being able to hear of the salvation of the Lord! Not just one person.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:14-17)

Does our faithfulness to God mean anything? Does our simple acts of obedience mean anything? How do we know what a small act of obedience in sharing His Word will mean not only to one other person but perhaps to generations of persons? Only God does. I'm so thankful for those in my own trail of faithfulness, who only God knows, who finally were responsible for bringing that Word of life to me and enabling me to find His life as my own. My heart almost faints thinking of it, and realizing how weak I am at times, in sharing His Word with others. What part did God want me to play in His trail of faithfulness? If not me, God can use others, but I miss out on being a part of that trail of faithfulness and the life and rewards that are many in being a part of that.

What may seem to us as small conversations, chance encounters, getting together with friends, chatting with co-workers, or meetings of new people, could all be part of God's planting me where He wanted me to be in order to be faithful and obedient to submit to His working through us to touch that person, bring them a needed truth, encourage their hearts to continue on with the Lord, or perhaps to bring fresh truth that they never heard before, to cause them as well to be a part in His trail of life giving fruitfulness passed on yet more and more. That fruitfulness only came from "abiding" in Him. We may think we are doing nothing for the Lord. We may think our little get-togethers and conversations are unimportant. We may wonder at our part in God's working for His kingdom. Yet each day we have a part in being submitted to Him, in putting off the flesh, in putting on Christ, and letting His Word fill our hearts and minds so that we can be a part in that trail. It's Christ Himself Who builds this trail. It's a work of His and not of us, yet our part in it is very important. That part is to submit to His Spirit's working in us, allowing Him to teach us, train us, work in our lives, and feed us, so that we have fruit that is eaten and that nourishes others, so that they also may partake and give likewise. Our part is to put into practice His Word, every day of our lives, enabling our daily walk to touch those around us, however God chooses it to.

If we neglect our spiritual growth, we neglect also our part in this process. If we fail to obey the Lord, we fail not only the Lord but ourselves and others He brings into our lives.

Some are part of a trail of destruction instead. They constantly cater to their own flesh and selfish living. In doing so they bring harm to themselves, those around them, and leave a trail of corruption that is carried on and more corruption is built on that. Corruption in a parent's life tends to bring twice the corruption in their children's lives. Children tend to not only imitate their parent's sins but build on them and double them. The progress of sin and evil and lawlessness in the world has grown worse and worse the more the world emboldens itself against God and His Word. In the church there is a trail of corruption, disregard for God's Word, and self-centered "worship" traced back to those who disregarded His Word and brought man's teachings and even the teachings of demons into the church.

But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

This has brought such a trail of apostasy that it's hard for many to discern what is true and what is false in the church today. In order to break this trail one needs to go back to the foundation of what is true. Go back to the foundation of what was left in the first place where it all started. Go back to His Word with a pure heart of seeking His truth and His light alone, surrendering self up to His cross, denying your own life in this world and receiving His true life. May God bring a true revival of love for His Word and true submission to Him. Instead today's so-called "revival" consists of a disregarding of His Word, and self-centered "spiritual ecstasies" and mystical experience, leaving the God of the Bible outside the door as they claim "we are rich and in need of nothing."

Many families have a trail of certain sins or bondages. They have been passed down from generation to generation. Alcoholism is one example of that. Adultery is an example of that. When a conscience becomes corrupted and compromises with the truth of what is sin, and excuses it, that sin is many times passed down to the children and they become even worse and more in bondage and deceived by it than their parents. But when one turns to the truth of the Gospel it is the truth that sets one free. When one realizes it is not some "curse" they must be prayed over and delivered from, but it is sin that must be acknowledged before God and repented of, that trail of sin is broken in them. Sin has no power at the cross. It is only the cross that sets us free. It is taking up our cross and following Him and believing that He alone is the truth, the life, and the way, and living according to that faith. The cross leads to resurrection and the power of that resurrection fills our lives as we submit ourselves to Him (Ephesians 1:17-2:6)

Do you want to be a part of a trail of corruption and unfaithfulness to His Word? Or do you want to be a part of that trail of faithfulness whereby many come to His living Word of life and find His life and salvation? You may never lead someone yourself to salvation, but you are a part of a trail, one or the other, and hopefully part of the trail that leads many to His saving grace and life and faithfulness.

Paul understood the dangers of this conflict and the trail that would be left by false teachers, and struggled against that with all the power of God in Him to make sure the Gospel was kept pure (Colossians 1:29).

Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown commentary on Col. 1:29:

He explains in what respect he “labored striving” (Col_1:29). Translate as Greek, “I wish you to know how great a conflict (the same Greek word as in Col_1:29, “agony of a conflict” of fervent, anxious prayer...

And again in Acts, Paul warns them fervently, wanting them all to remain on God's path and not be deterred from it with, as he calls them, "ravening wolves"...

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:26-32)

A true love of God and of His Word is a part of a trail of life that is passed on from generation to generation. Whose trail do we want to be on? And whose trail do we want to pass on to others we love? On God's path, everything we read and pass on, everything we do, everything we say, is important and must be taken before the Lord, examined by His Word, and dealt with accordingly, as we are on a path, whether we know it or not, that leads to life or corruption, one or the other. Our lives are not our own, and our choices all have consequences for us and others. Satan knows well of this trail and seeks to corrupt it every day, and succeeds in many places to change the truth for a lie.

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus, open our hearts Lord, to the truth of Your Word and light our path, so that others may follow as well.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

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Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Psalms 150:1-6)

We do have a God of unspeakable Glory. So much so that even a small glimpse of that manifested to us here in this life causes our hearts to swell in praise to Him that cannot be held back. His glory is our delight. It causes our hearts to rise up in praises to Him. We want to use all that we have available to us to express that praise. When our eyes are turned to Him receiving the truth about ourselves, being humbled before Him, and seeing the truth about Him, true praise comes forth from our spirit and we worthip Him in spirit and in truth.

PRAISE, v.t. [L. tollo, extollo; pretium.] (Webster's 1828 dictionary)

1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of personal worth or actions.
2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works.
3. To express gratitude for personal favors. Psa 138.
4. To do honor to; to display the excellence of.

Why would this God command worship and praise? Some think He must have such a big "ego" to have to continually have beings that praise Him. That would be true if He were merely a man with flaws and selfishness. But Who He truly is with all the true and very real glory that goes with that, His attributes, His majesty, His perfection in every way, with no flaw - His love and goodness toward mankind - this in itself is what commands His praise, because He is truly worthy of it, and one cannot but help to praise Him when these attributes are seen and manifested in some way. As we worship Him we receive of that glory into our own souls, and partake of His divine life. The hymns many have written attempt to explain His attributes and His glory. When we sing these hymns it reminds us of His goodness. When reminded of His glory our hearts are lifted up to Him. We receive life as we see the truth and our hearts are set free in His presence. Men will praise themselves and each other though deceptive, self-centered, and undeserving of such praise, but they will not praise the God Who created all things, and Who is the only One that is truly worthy of such praise, because to do so would admit submission to such a God, and that they themselves cannot be their own god.

I remember a time when I was in a Christian meeting and it was time for "worship". I had just had a very bad day and a conflict with someone. I said, "Oh Lord how can I worship You when I'm feeling this way?" The answer came to me quickly. "You can worship Me, because of Who I am." I realized it wasn't about how I felt, what mood I was in, or if I could conjure up some feelings of praise. It was about turning my eyes to the One Who is true, Who is worthy, and looking at Him and not myself. It was about pondering His attributes and Who He is and giving the thanks and praise due to Him. As I did that I was lifted above my situation and able to rejoice in Him.

Many times in my early Christian life, in worship services the worship became a "worship of the worship" rather than a praise to God and a true bowing down to all that He is in reverence and praise to Him, and in fact the carnal feelings it brought was akin to the carnal feelings I had at dances I went to before being saved. Many mistake the carnal good feelings for spiritual experience or the presence of God. Who is worthy of true praise but God Himself? So many "worship songs" can be repetitive meaningless phrases sung over and over about how we feel rather than words of Who God is and what He has done for us and our response of thanks and praise to Him. It's those truths of praise to Who He is that lift our hearts in true love and praise to Him. We can work ourselves up to an altered state of consciousness singing meaningless phrases over and over worshipping the feelings we have while doing so and call that God's presence. I know, I've been a part of worship teams that have done that many times. In fact in one instance after singing the same phrase over and over and over, when we as a team tried to change to a different song, the pastor said to us, "no...when you change it breaks the anointing." It was no anointing, it was a mesmerizing that was being built up in order to put people in a trance that would receive whatever this man told them to receive. When we get away from the true presence of God and His Word, we cannot tell the true from the false in what God's "presence" is. I did not see it until I got out from under it.

Feelings are a funny thing. They can counterfeit a true presence of God. They can lie to us in many ways. If we are a person that depends on feelings or sensational experiences, or impressions, we can easily be deceived. God had to chastise me in my walk to break away from what my feelings told me and learn to trust in Him alone and what His Word told me. I had to choose at one point, what I was being told to accept from God and what His Word was telling me when the two were in conflict. I had to choose His Word alone as the only true "Word" I could count on and the voice of the Spirit which is expressed to us in His written Word. I remember in an intense "worship" one time, supposedly during "revival" in a church I was in at the time, I suddenly realized in all the hype and liveliness and supposed manifestations of the Spirit, I was sensing a wall between God and I and I said to myself, "I have to get away from this and get back to God." What? During revival I had to get "back to God?" I shocked myself. Here I had been going to all these meetings to get "revived." I was spending time fasting, praying, worshipping, etc. Why was I so spiritually dry and empty? I did get away from it all and got alone with my Bible instead and sought God with all my heart, bowing down to Him in spirit and in truth. The Lord, little by little began showing me I was depending on the wrong thing to draw close to Him, and that He was testing my heart to see if I would truly submit to Him. I saw what I had thought was my pursuit of a stronger spiritual life and more of God, as a very self-centered pursuit. It was for me, not for His truth and glory. I got on my face before God and said, "Lord I surrender every experience, every feeling, all of what I've learned, to You, and ask You to cleanse me, to teach me all over again, and to lead me in Your truth."

God has been doing that, and opened up His Word of life to me in so many ways that my heart cannot help but delight in His glory and from my innermost being give Him true praise and honor. My desire to glorify Him with my whole life grows stronger and stronger the more I see His glory. That glory is manifested more through my life as I spend time "sitting at His feet" feasting on His manna from Heaven. My eyes are on Him as I see Him revealed to me through His Word, and my sin and pride becomes repulsive to me. I would rather die than fail to please Him and it grieves my heart when I do. This was not a feeling worked up in a moment of hyper "praise" but it is something He has slowly worked in my heart over time of learning from Him and letting Him teach me and reveal Himself to me. I learned there is no short cuts to "spirituality" or spiritual maturity, and to be truly filled with the Holy Spirit one must be truly filled with and submitted to His Word which has control of their life. The Spirit and the Word agree and the Word is the written expression of all He is and does and desires to do in us and through us. It has not changed, because God never changes. It is perfect and needs no adjustments according to cultural changes.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

I'm sitting here listening to hymns as I write this. The words are rich and full of meaning of God's glory, His grace to us, His love, His attributes, and my heart responds in delight and in praise to Him. It is in true response of our heart toward God's revealing Himself to us, that causes true praise. It is a living according to that once our hearts are open to Him, that shows a worship "in spirit and in truth." I always wondered why someone could loudly praise God in a service at church raising their hands and tears coming down their eyes, and then continue in a very carnal Christian life where self was obviously first in all they did and little thought was given to God's will in their life. It's because their so-called worship was an emotional experience worked up more for themselves than to God's glory, rather than a response to God's holiness truly seen, calling them to a holy life in Him. There was no bowing down to Him in adoration and submission.

There is a difference between praise and worship. We worship Him not just with our words, but with our lives and how they are lived.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24)

Worship (Webster's 1828 dictionary)

1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover.

Strong's

shâchâh
shaw-khaw'

A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

So much of what pretends to be worship today is a mockery of truly bowing down before a holy God prostrate before Him in submission to Him and giving Him the praise and thanks due His name. To bow ourselves down before Him in true humility and submission to all that He is, adoring Him, giving reverence to Him, and praising Him - extolling Him in gratefulness for all He is and has done - this is what God is looking for. This is the kind of true worship and praise that truly glorifies Him in our hearts and to all who are around us. This is the kind of praise and worship that changes our lives, strengthens our hearts toward righteousness and living in harmony with His Word. It's what purifies our hearts before Him, because the more we truly look at Him, the more we want to be like Him and live pleasing to Him. This kind of worship takes us out of ourselves and is not about "me" but about God, and continues in our life lived for His glory.

True praise and true worship will bring true experience with God, that will last and have an effect of godliness in our lives and desire to walk as He walked, pleasing to God always in all we think, do, and say before the God Who sees all. And that day when we finally see Him face to face we will truly not be able to hold back the praises that will want to come forth from our innermost being with all that is within us in a very true purity. That will be an amazing day! A day we will share in His glory and know Him fully as we are fully known.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:11-12)

Amen, come Lord Jesus! We long for that day!

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

THE LORD THE LORD, A GOD MERCIFUL

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The Lord is merciful, and the Lord is full of compassion. I am dwelling on these words today, musing over them, gleaning more of my Lord. So much on this subject for me to draw from, and receive of Him! It's almost more than my heart can stand as I look into it just getting a small glimpse. And what faith it brings to my heart for His answer to my need as I cry out to Him. I have no doubt about His mercy, His compassion, His love, His perfect care of my life as I do. My faith is built up on Who He is, and that will never fail. It will not fail all He has planned for those who love Him and trust in His full redemption. It will not fail those who trust in His righteousness, the blood that compassion and mercy drove Him to shed for us. It's enough to look at that cross and see such unspeakable love there, but when one looks deeper into His mercy, His compassion, and sees this is the attributes of this God Who IS love itself, and He could do nothing other than go to that cross, suffer, and shed His blood for me, a sinner, in no way deserving of that, my heart is so overwhelmed with gratefulness that I cannot even express it.

The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. (Exodus 34:5-8)

What is His glory? It is Who He is revealed. When His glory is revealed we receive it and live. We are given life from Him. The more He is glorified to us, the more we receive of that marvelous life and glory into our being and partake of His divine nature. What glory He shares with us of Himself through His Word and how sad when we neglect it and don't receive it!! What true and pure worship springs from our innermost being as we take in that glory!! How sad when it is hidden from us through men's perverted teachings and religions, drawing men to their own glory which is none at all, keeping them from receiving the mercy and compassion of the Lord and from receiving His true life in themselves and so to be saved from the selfishness and the corruption of this world and have eternal life sharing His glory. How very sad indeed!! No wonder satan seeks to pervert His glory, His love, His mercy, His grace, and His compassion and turn it into a lie. They exchange His truth for a lie, His love for lust, His grace for licentiousness. How very sad to clutch onto these things and miss His true salvation full of His very being as our portion in this life, learning of Him, growing in true knowledge of Him, being filled with Him. How sad when His own children look for sensationalism and a counterfeit experience rather than or in place of true knowledge of His compassions, His mercies, His truth, and His Word of life.

How is God's glory manifest? It is manifest through His living Word in His children through His attributes being formed in them as they are feeding on Him, and being conformed to His image. It is manifest in and through them as they are filled with His Spirit, and His fruit fills their lives overflowing to others. If it does not resemble the fruit of the Spirit, the character or attributes of God, it does not come from God. If it leads to His glory rather than the glory of man, or the selfishness and sensationalism of the flesh, only then can it be from Him. If we don't know His Word we won't know His glory or see it when it is right before us.

I came before the Lord recently crying out to Him for a need. Through my persevering in seeking His face, He is giving me so much more than I asked for! Sometimes we need to persevere because if we don't immediately receive an answer, it could just be there is more He has for us in the asking and the seeking. He has told us "ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matt. 7:7) We fear to believe it or trust it! It's too great a promise!

What if I don't receive, and what if I don't find, and what if the door is still closed after I ask, seek, and knock with all my strength? What if nothing happens? I think we hide in unbelief at times because this is what we fear. We fear that if He does not answer we'll have to somehow in our minds justify God to ourselves so we can somehow go on. He tells us to ask. We must ask.

"ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2b)

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

It's much easier to hide in our unbelief and pretend it's actually faith in "whatever He wills." I do believe we must trust whatever He wills, of course, and to seek nothing but His will, but we must also seek to know His will, to ask, in faith in Who God is, and in the process, if we don't get an answer rather than overlook it and pass on, to ask ourselves and God why, and then to seek Him until we find Him, and to persevere in knocking until He opens the door of His heart to us and draws us in and teaches us of Himself. In the process our hearts are humbled and we come to examine our hearts before Him. Truth in our inner being is exposed and we are forced to let His light in to reveal our heart of hearts before Him, and to reveal His heart to us. In the process of the asking, seeking, and knocking, we are filled with an earnest desire to truly know Him, and we won't settle then for anything else. We MUST know Him. We MUST know His will, and we bow ourselves before Him. "Lord, I must know You in this thing I bring before You! Don't hide Yourself from me!"

We have a choice when God seems to not answer our prayers. Especially when it is the earnest most desperate prayer of our heart and soul. Why won't You answer Lord? We fear to ask Him why? David cried out to God many times in the Psalms and asked why. Our choice? We can fall into unbelief and bitterness, and become distant from God and others. Or we can humble ourselves under His mighty hand and wait on Him, persevering in faith in all He is. We can say, "You are God, You are righteous, You are compassion, love, mercy, and You alone are MY God and I will praise You and give You glory. You are not limited to my understanding but I am limited oh God, and I ask You now to give me understanding and faith and courage. No matter what I will praise You." When He does not immediately answer it does not mean we should quit praying, or that He is saying no. It means to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. What wondrous things about Himself He may reveal to you along the way. Perhaps in the waiting on Him, He may also purify your heart, your motives, clarifying your path, strengthening your faith, and preparing you for the very answer you are asking for. In His time...all is in His time, which is perfect. His compassions never fail.

"God of compassion, thank You for Who You are and the more of that which You reveal to me through every trial I go through!" In each hardship, suffering, loss, or trial if we ask Him to help us to know Him more in it, and through it, and to reveal His compassions and mercies to us, He will. That is the heart of the whole matter! Don't miss that opportunity when you are going through a trial. Don't think the only purpose is to get through it and come out of it. It's to come through it and out of it different than you were when you went in...with His life more revealed to you, and in you and now living through you - to know Him (John 17:3). With God, we get way more than what we ask for. Because there is just too much of Him for us to know all at once, and too much He desires for us to have to just give us a small answer. There is not just the "thing" we requested, but He Himself He desires to give us.

Be my portion Oh Lord. Let Your compassion, Your mercy, Your truth, Your love, Your justice and righteousness be seen in Your answers to my prayers. You came to destroy the works of the enemy. Destroy them in me, and let Your glory shine. In Jesus name, amen.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO EGYPT?

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When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." (Exodus 14:10-14)

How little faith we have in the Lord when we find ourselves backed in a corner! How soon we forget all He has done for us and the great deliverance of our souls through His own blood that was shed for us! When we are backed in a corner with no way out, we need only remember the cross, and the love that was proven there, and to trust His hand and wait for Him to act in His power and glory. There was no way out for Israel but to go forward. But first they had to "stand still" and wait for God. Through every hardship He will be glorified in our lives as we trust in Him. "What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?" Egypt is symbolic of the world. Jesus saved us out of the world to make us His own, through His blood. Yet we doubt His hand in our lives when trials come. Some even look back to their old life which was a hard task master yet which seems "easier" and more pleasant than the testings of the Lord. We have to choose Egypt or our Lord. We cannot stay in Egypt and please our Lord. When we try to hold on to both, the Lord has to move us and show us we cannot. It's not possible.

These Israelites were not in this position of danger because of sin in their lives or disobedience but because they were doing exactly as the Lord had led them to do, after He miraculously delivered them out of Egypt by taking the firstborn of all the Egyptians and saving them through the blood on the doorposts shed by the sacrificial lamb. Sometimes we can be walking according to the Lord's will in our lives yet everything suddenly seems to come against us and attack us. We find ourselves in an impossible situation, and we question whether or not we did the right thing. Obedience did not make everything better right off! Did we somehow miss God? Was all of this just our own bad judgment that led us to these circumstances? Now we're in a trap with no way out! Wish we had stayed where we were! At least there we were at peace and comfortable and had good food etc. Now what?

Yes, we can in some ways avoid hardship if we stay in our comfortable place and don't move forward with the Lord. Yes, we can many times find more happiness in our lives even, if we fail to move forward where the Lord wants to take us. Yes, we can avoid danger and persecution and hardship, and toil, and lack in our lives if we stay in our comfortable place of security and pursue that rather than God's will and the path He would lead us on. But when we do, we miss God. How much of God do you want? How much of Him do you want to know? Maybe your content with just enough of God to allow you to keep hold on your life in this world and all its pleasures. But that's just enough of God to make you miserable really. Maybe you don't care if you grow in His love and fellowship and maybe you don't care to know Him intimately. Your eyes are on Egypt. You want to keep God but stay in Egypt. You want God to just make life in Egypt a bit more comfortable for you and keep those Egyptians appeased so they leave you alone.

Israel cried out to God for deliverance, yet the deliverance they wanted was one of their own imagination. They didn't necessarily want to leave Egypt. They just wanted to be comfortable and prosperous and at rest in Egypt. But God had other reasons for delivering them. He has other reasons for delivering us. Israel was being called out of Egypt altogether so that they might worship God and serve Him. We as His church are called out of this world to be a peculiar people, to be His own possession, and to belong to Him.

you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1 Peter 2:9-11)

He is preparing us for Heaven itself, and an eternity in His holy presence. Imagine! He calls us to something so much higher than we want for ourselves! Even in the times of impossible circumstances, backed in a corner, surrounded by enemies, He has a plan, and will show Himself powerful in our lives and on our behalf when we are given to His will. We may have to go through many chastisements to free us from the love of this world and trusting in that. But through all He is drawing us to a perfect rest in Him in a promised land flowing with milk and honey. The longer we hold on to this world, the longer it takes for our travel through the wilderness. Until we are freed from clutching to our security and comfort and pleasures here, we are not free to walk in the security and rest of all He has provided for us. The most miserable Christians are the ones who strive to hold on to this world and have their own way in it - those who cry out to God for freedom, but not to the place where He alone wants to take them. Instead of striving and crying out to God to get what we want in Egypt, we must let go entirely of Egypt and let Him take us where He wants us to go. At first, we must go through the wilderness, many times, before we get to the promised land.

The world tells us, "follow your dreams!" Israel was wanting deliverance from the bondage of Egypt only to follow their dreams in Egypt. But do we have the wrong dreams? When we let go of all our dreams in Egypt, and trust in God as our life, He can give us joy and contentment in any circumstance we find ourselves in.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul learned this, not because of always being in cozy circumstances, being warm and well fed and well provided for. He learned it while being shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten, persecuted, hounded by false believers, etc. He learned to walk in faith by the Spirit, and trust that God would always provide where He led, and would always be His portion, no matter what the lack in this world. And whether or not he lived or died, he knew that to live was Christ and to die was gain.

He had no selfish pursuits in his life. All was loss for the sake of Christ. This is not something only Paul could attain to. It is not some unreachable goal only for apostles and super saints. This is the life of a true believer free of this world and trusting in Christ on the Heavenward path He has called us to.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? (James 4:4-5)

For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:16-19)

But God has a rest for those who are His by faith in Christ Jesus alone, who have no confidence in the flesh, and have ceased their own striving. It is a rest of faith in His finished work. Even as Christians we can miss that rest in Him by our unbelief and our looking to Egypt. Our walk must be a walk from that resting place, and in that the Lord is able to conquer all of our flesh and do all of our battles. As we rest in faith, His power is able to work on our behalf bringing deliverance again and again, and to work through us and for us. Israel had to stop at the red sea and put their faith in God and know that just as surely as He led them to the red sea with Pharaoh and all his army behind them seeking their destruction, that He would lead them through it safely onward to all He had for them.

What is your "red sea" today? Whatever it is, don't question God's purpose or His bringing you there. Don't question His will for you or His power? Rest in faith in His love for you, that love He proved to you just shortly ago when he demonstrated it in His own blood on the cross, giving up Himself to be the sacrificial lamb for your sin, freeing you from eternal destruction. Can you not trust that the One Who would do that, would also then have a plan for you and lead you carefully, watching over you and meeting your need at every turn until it is time for your finally being taken to be with Him forever? There's no turning back on this journey. There's no staying in Egypt. Jesus won't stay there with you. He wants to take you with Him, out of Egypt, once and for all.

Abba, open our eyes to see and understand the wondrous plan You have for us, and the glory You have for us! How amazing is Your love!!! It will never fail. Teach us to look for no other deliverance but that which You alone would work for us, for Your purposes alone in Christ Jesus. Amen.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

YOU ARE MY PORTION OH LORD!

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The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. (Psalms 16:5)

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalms 73:25-26)

I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. (Psalms 142:5)

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lamentations 3:24)

Portion: A part assigned; an allotment; a dividend. (Webster's 1828 dictionary)

The Lord is my allotment, my inheritance, my assigned part, my dividend. How easy it is to say that yet, we don't really discover that fully until we are at the end of all else in this world, and we see the things we have in life that bring pleasure, happiness, comfort, prosperity, for what they really are. They are fleeting, and we can have them one day and lose them the next. How futile it is to live for them. How foolish to spend one's life striving to have all these things, to think that our own hands and hard work alone has brought them, and that the same can keep them. If God hadn't given even unbelievers the life, the strength, and the means, they would have nothing, yet they don't give thanks to God. That's expected of the world - those who don't believe in God, but how sad it is when His own children still think their portion is what they can have in this world and God is their "genie" in a bottle they must learn to rub the right way to get those things.

The trials and losses we experience in this life have a strong affect on us to cause us to realize what our true portion is as His children. It causes us to let go more and more of what we have in this world, trusting only in Him. He knows, of course, what we need in this world to live, and what is necessary for our well-being. Yet He knows also that He alone can be our true portion, and how we lose out on realizing that when these things take His place in our lives as that.

What does it mean that the Lord is our portion? As a wonderful sister in our church always says, "What does that look like?" I found this little quote from Jonathan Edwards sent through Grace Gems this morning that touched my heart.

"The LORD is the portion of my inheritance!" Psalm 16:5 The redeemed have all their good in God. God Himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God Himself is the inheritance of the saints; He is the portion of their souls. God Himself is their wealth and treasure, their food, their life, their dwelling place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory! "Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You!" Psalm 73:25

The glorious excellencies and beauty of God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints. The love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another. But that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in anything else whatsoever, which will yield them delight and happiness--will be what will be seen of God in them!

"You are my portion, O LORD!" Psalm 119:57

All that we enjoy here in this earth is all the more enjoyed truly when we see God as our portion. When we are once freed from them as our portion, and God becomes truly seen as our portion, other things take their rightful place in our lives. We can enjoy them and we can let them go. We can still have peace and joy in Him when they are taken from us. We can truly love one another without making selfish demands on one another to be something for us they cannot be. We can love unselfishly without trying to make another human being what only God can be to us. When God is our portion, we are free. Though we suffer loss, and yes, we will feel the loss in our fleshly bodies of those things our bodies need for comfort, health, and wellness, we will still find ourselves free in Christ knowing we have an inheritance waiting for us, that we have His presence never to leave us or forsake us, and that we have Him forever. We know that even the worst this world can do to us cannot harm us or take away our portion with Christ. If we suffer with Him we will also reign with Him.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:17-18)

I've been reading a blog written by a woman who is dying of cancer called Mundane Faithfulness. Everyone should have the opportunity to be with someone at the end of their journey with Jesus in this world. Each day as she fades more from this life, she is finding more and more what her "portion" is and to cherish the love God has given her, and to show it in as many ways as she has left to show it to those around her, and also to receive it from them. When my own sister was dying of cancer, I also learned to see how God had brought her to see He Himself as her portion. We don't have to be on our death beds before we see this. We can look to Him right now and say, "You alone, dear Lord, are my portion. This is the truth. Help me daily to see that and to trust that, and to live that." God is faithful. If we truly want to know Him in our lives as our portion, He will help us to see it and to know Him as such and to walk in that wonderful light and love and everything else in our lives will have new meaning. Our motives for all we do and every decision we make will be changed. Our prayer life will change. Our relationships will change. By abiding in Him as our portion, the fruit of our lives will change. It will be good fruit...the fruit of the Spirit.

Don't wait until tragedy or sickness strikes and you are reduced to having nothing left of which to cling to in this world to turn to Him as your portion. Look to Him now and learn to trust Him as your portion even now. He is a God Who rewards those who diligently seek Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

If you don't feel that "diligence" or motivation to seek Him, and life is filled with distractions that pull you away from that, ask Him for it. Don't wait to feel it. Just ask Him. He knows how weak we are, and He knows how easily life can throw distractions and things our way that seem so important, so immediate, so pressing on us. Funny how when there is a tragedy, or sickness comes, we can easily put all else aside and will deal with that one thing. But there is no greater tragedy, or sickness, or loss in our lives than a loss of our relationship and fellowship with God. There is nothing more immediate that we must deal with when we see that it is suffering greatly because of our busyness or the cares of this life. The first step is to come to Him in repentance, asking Him to lead you to His fountain of living waters, to stir up again in you that desire and hunger and thirst for Him, and that He would enable you to find Him as your daily portion and life.

He is only truly our joy, when He is our portion in this life now.

Dear Father, help us to see the truth of this world around us, the truth about ourselves, and the truth about You. Help us to see the portion You have allotted for Your children, and the treasures they are missing, and teach us to claim our true portion in You! Help us in every situation to pray, "Lord reveal Yourself to me as my portion in this and reveal Your glory in it." I ask this in Jesus name, through His blood, and by His grace, amen.

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.