2015-02-20
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Each of us has received an invitation to share blessings at the King’s bountiful table. To do this, we must genuinely confess our sins and come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In return, our loving Lord works every day to “transform us inwardly by the renewal of our mind” [RO 12: 2] and to lead us to a greater knowledge of Himself by “recreating us in His own image” [GN 1: 27; COL 3: 10]. Coming to faith in Christ isn’t all we must do. We are urged to cooperate with Him in the process of sanctification—revealing even our most subtle sins and with all our hearts confessing them, coupled with stopping the sin. Our challenges are carefully measured out in accordance with 1 COR 10: 13—never so much that working through them will break our resolve to remain faithful. We must understand that God allows the evil one to cause just enough of the right kind of trouble that we must rely on Him to work our way through it. In turn, our Lord makes us stronger and more spiritually mature, as we are ready for this. We are working at sanctification in concert with the Lord’s work. His agenda becomes ours; His enemies are ours. This is what a covenant relationship is all about. Each of us is a work in progress.
The shared goal we, as covenant partners with the Lord, have is glorification. That is the moment we are perfected and sufficiently purified to return to the Lord’s side in heaven for eternal bliss and fellowship with Him. This is when the Lord demonstrates His remarkable and unique power to work supernatural change in us, the power discussed in 1 COR 15: 53-54. “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written [in IS 25: 8; HE 2: 14], will come true, ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” These are the same changes that are anticipated for the rapture [meeting with Christ in the air discussed in 1 THESS 4: 13-17]. As to when Christ’s second coming will happen [in His own words], in MT 24: 36, “No one knows about this day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” With regard to the rapture, there are several theories about when that will happen, as people have their own ideas. No one knows for sure exactly when.
I am convinced that our divine Covenant Partner not only measures our challenges to further our spiritual maturity and fit the lessons He knows we need, but also for how we must learn to rely on Him. PS 56: 10-13, “In God Whose word I praise, in the Lord Whose word I praise—in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? I am under vows to You, O God. I will present my thank offerings to You. For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” PS 34: 8, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts [takes refuge] in Him.” Because of His attributes, we must break all the rules we live by with other humans and wholeheartedly place our trust in our Covenant Partner. This kind of trust and reliance is not something we can place in the same way in other people. Trusting God, which is true reliance on Him, is definitely learned behavior. It doesn’t come naturally to us.
During my first marriage, I was coerced for a part of that fifteen years to keep a kosher home. My first husband had been raised in Orthodox Judaism. This meant separating milk from meat dishes and having two sets of dishes, glasses, silverware, even dish towels. I never was happy doing this, but it satisfied my ex-husband and his family. Later, after Christ came into my life, I realized that nothing about the laws and customs surrounding this brought me any closer to God. GAL 3: 24-25, “So the law was not in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” Reading and understanding Scripture can let us see what comes of having faith in Christ. GA 4: 4-5, 7, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons…So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
The connection to our divine Covenant Partner each believer in Christ has is made clear in 1 COR 3: 21- 23. It is in a section of the Bible which discusses divisions that came up in the early church, and it has this important message. “So then, no more boasting about men! All things are ours, whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas [Peter], or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future—all are yours; and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” This is why COL 3: 3-4 is true. “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ, and when He appears, then you too will appear with Him and have His glory.” Being adopted this way into the family of God is such a rich privilege! GA 3: 26-29 really fills out this blessing. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs in accordance with the promise.” Talk about a bountiful feast at the King’s table! That’s a great blessing to claim!
PRAYER: O Lord, our knees are bowed and our hands reach up toward You. We assume this position, which looks like the Hebrew letter tzaddi, צ ,as a sign of us reverently reaching out to You. You awe us with Your supernatural power and Your love for each of us. We can’t thank and praise You enough, for Who You are and what You do for us. PS 146: 5, “But happy are those who have the God of Israel as their Helper; whose hope is in the Lord their God.” You give us direction, so our lives are not like dead leaves swept away by the wind. You give us purpose, so we can participate in building Your Kingdom. You give us talents, so we can serve others while we serve You. The list of blessings found at Your table is long, and to think, all You ask of us is to live our lives according to Your teaching. Your wisdom is unparalleled and so great that we can’t understand all of it. RO 11: 33, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out!” And yet, You prepare and convey parts of it that You know we need to have. Your agenda becomes our agenda. You enter into a constant and loving covenant relationship with each person who believes in Your Son, one that is both precious and intimate. You make Yourself available to us at any time of day or night. We thank and praise You for this and so much more, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m led to return to the Bible for a look at yet more examples of covenant relationships forged by God. Friendships are more precious jewels that our loving Lord gives to us. Friendships between believers are particularly rich in strengthening faith and forwarding spiritual maturity. PR 27: 17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” PR 18: 24, “Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks close than one’s nearest kin.” When I became conscience of my need to fill the gaping spiritual ache that had been in my life all through my childhood and into adulthood, God provided faith in Jesus Christ. He fills that hole in my heart and has placed me among people who, by their example even more than their words, strengthen my faith. They are covenant partners who are also my “teachers.” My love of God’s word, ability to write, and opportunity to send/share it with each of you are not accidents. God has His reasons for this purpose in my life—to further my knowledge of Him and spiritual maturity. If I am doing my task for Him as He desires, then you too benefit from this part of the feast at the King’s table. 2 SAM 22: 29, 31, “You, Lord, are my Lamp: the Lord turns my darkness into light…As for God, His way is perfect; the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.” Can we ever get enough of this feast? Truthfully, I don’t think so. What the Lord started with us here on earth will probably continue for eternity. That’s indeed a blessing to anticipate! I believe worshipping a God as extraordinary in His grace, provision, protection, wisdom, patience, and compassion as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is, will be our chief occupation in heaven. And, Dear Ones, we can never praise and thank Him enough!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
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