I sometimes, in meditating on Jesus and what He is to me, try to find one bottom line of my relationship to Him. It always begins with Who He is and why He came to our realm. Covenant always comes into my consideration for God is a God of covenant. I always arrive at the one conclusion: God came to us in our likeness, radiating His Likeness, so He could make it possible for us to fulfill His covenant expectation of man in His image and we could become like Jesus. We know He literally took our place, while 'being in very nature God', (Philippians 2:6 NIV) was tempted in all things pertaining to the journey to becoming mature sons of God we are now taking. When Satan came to tempt Him in the wilderness when He was weakened from fasting, he said, "If you are the Son of God..." He comes to us with that big "if" also, but Jesus did not answer in defense of Satan's attack, but spoke only the written Word. He spoke out of His humanity as we must do, relying on all God had provided through His Spirit in the prophets. Jesus was totally obedient to the heart of God to do all the Father wanted accomplished through Him on earth. Philippians 2:5-11 (ESVUK) 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We see a further reference to this in Hebrews 2:6-3:6, a portion I often consider for we must never forget the price of our salvation, nor that our humanity needs desperately to be connected to our link--our High Priest, the One constantly carrying us in intercession. John saw Jesus in the Revelation as being very different from His earthly, human appearance. While we must identify with His human ministry to and for us, we must also identify with His exalted glory of victoriously providing a finished work of salvation for all eternity.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Civil War Within
Matthew 6:28-34 (NASB) 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus came to a generation facing similar problems to our own. Rome was invasive and demanding. God was ignored but the "religion" concerning Him was tolerated as long as it was kept under Rome's control. Even those who kept the Law and sought to protect their way of worship were using control as their way of practicing their "religion". Jesus never sought to change Rome or the Sanhedrin. He presented Light in a dark world. The Light illuminated the problems of life within the systems that dominated that time. The Light gave a choice to be dominated or be freed. Problems would always be a part of this realm. How you face those problems is your choice.
Jesus never said that we do not need to eat or to have clothing or shelter. He simply presented a choice of focus on how we are to have what we need. We can worry about it, and so keep our focus here, or we can seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness and keep our focus on His Love. The basic atmosphere of the Kingdom of God is Love. The basic atmosphere of this realm is fear. Paul's letter to the Ephesians recognizes that they were struggling against daily opposition to living in the Kingdom of God. His prayer for them was that they would be so rooted in God's Love that they would be able to comprehend, understand, absorb and move out from that position, into their world with the power of God. Ephesians 3:14-21 (NASB) 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus lived on this earth in the Kingdom of God. He ate the diet that was available, he wore clothing that was available in that generation but He lived in God's Kingdom for it was within Him. He has told every generation since that time that the Kingdom of God is available, it is here, it is within you. You can live in this present day, with all of its problems, motivated and moved by the powerful Love of God or be fearful. The choice is up to the individual and will be strengthened by what you seek.
Jesus came to a generation facing similar problems to our own. Rome was invasive and demanding. God was ignored but the "religion" concerning Him was tolerated as long as it was kept under Rome's control. Even those who kept the Law and sought to protect their way of worship were using control as their way of practicing their "religion". Jesus never sought to change Rome or the Sanhedrin. He presented Light in a dark world. The Light illuminated the problems of life within the systems that dominated that time. The Light gave a choice to be dominated or be freed. Problems would always be a part of this realm. How you face those problems is your choice.
Jesus never said that we do not need to eat or to have clothing or shelter. He simply presented a choice of focus on how we are to have what we need. We can worry about it, and so keep our focus here, or we can seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness and keep our focus on His Love. The basic atmosphere of the Kingdom of God is Love. The basic atmosphere of this realm is fear. Paul's letter to the Ephesians recognizes that they were struggling against daily opposition to living in the Kingdom of God. His prayer for them was that they would be so rooted in God's Love that they would be able to comprehend, understand, absorb and move out from that position, into their world with the power of God. Ephesians 3:14-21 (NASB) 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus lived on this earth in the Kingdom of God. He ate the diet that was available, he wore clothing that was available in that generation but He lived in God's Kingdom for it was within Him. He has told every generation since that time that the Kingdom of God is available, it is here, it is within you. You can live in this present day, with all of its problems, motivated and moved by the powerful Love of God or be fearful. The choice is up to the individual and will be strengthened by what you seek.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Being Clothed
Have you ever noticed how often clothing is mentioned in the Bible? Disobedience and separation from God made Adam and Eve aware that they needed clothing which God provided for them with skins of an animal. God went into great detail concerning the clothing for the High Priest and the priests who served before Him. There was position and authority expressed in the royal garments of kings and a distinction that wealth gave evidenced in the clothing they wore. The clothing of Jesus at His crucifixion was mentioned in the O. T. prophetically and in the Gospels. It is interesting that God provided Adam and Eve with clothing in the beginning and, in Revelation, He provides the clothing for the Bride of Christ.
Jesus discusses our attitude to clothing as opposed to a reliance on God's provision in Matthew 6:28-30(NASB) 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Paul addresses the necessity of our responsibility to appropriate God's provision. Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. This emphasis on our responsibility to appropriate God's provision is repeated in Revelation 19:7-8 (NASB) 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
We have the responsibility to respond to God as He works out His image in us. We have to choose to please this realm or God. We set our desires on Him, seek and obey, and God provides and perfects.
Jesus discusses our attitude to clothing as opposed to a reliance on God's provision in Matthew 6:28-30(NASB) 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Paul addresses the necessity of our responsibility to appropriate God's provision. Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. This emphasis on our responsibility to appropriate God's provision is repeated in Revelation 19:7-8 (NASB) 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
We have the responsibility to respond to God as He works out His image in us. We have to choose to please this realm or God. We set our desires on Him, seek and obey, and God provides and perfects.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Keeping in Focus
Matthew 6:25-30 (NASB) 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
When Jesus spoke, He expressed the I AM. When He acted, He expressed the I AM. Though walking out the life of man, He expressed the I AM. In all ways, He showed us the purpose of God to make man in God's image. He gave Himself so we could become what He is--the visible likeness of God; God expressed in the likeness of man! (Hebrews 1:3 (NASB) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high) He is the Way. We are begotten of God through Him. We have a new inheritance and are brought nigh to Him through the covenant He cut for us. We no longer live as those of this realm with the goals and ambitions and worship of this realm. We can now live in the I AM of God. The past is under the Blood and the future is in His Hand! We live in the present with thanksgiving and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to enable us to walk as Jesus walked in connection with the Father!
This is what Jesus paid for and what is ours. To live beneath this is to live in poverty when the wealth of heaven is ours. Jesus gave the cry, It is finished! We are challenged to live in the finished work of God.
When Jesus spoke, He expressed the I AM. When He acted, He expressed the I AM. Though walking out the life of man, He expressed the I AM. In all ways, He showed us the purpose of God to make man in God's image. He gave Himself so we could become what He is--the visible likeness of God; God expressed in the likeness of man! (Hebrews 1:3 (NASB) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high) He is the Way. We are begotten of God through Him. We have a new inheritance and are brought nigh to Him through the covenant He cut for us. We no longer live as those of this realm with the goals and ambitions and worship of this realm. We can now live in the I AM of God. The past is under the Blood and the future is in His Hand! We live in the present with thanksgiving and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to enable us to walk as Jesus walked in connection with the Father!
This is what Jesus paid for and what is ours. To live beneath this is to live in poverty when the wealth of heaven is ours. Jesus gave the cry, It is finished! We are challenged to live in the finished work of God.
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