COMPLETELY

 

Write From My Heart

October 20, 2021

COMPLETELY  entirely, thoroughly, not lacking

Psalm 139:1-6  O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:13-16  For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

            It is surprising to me, and perhaps even a little unsettling, how many people in the world today who profess to be Christians still carry the thought that God made the world and created human life, then he just sort of sat back and watched without any involvement in the lives of his creation. That philosophy doesn’t match with what I read in the Bible—God’s Holy Word, God’s True Word. According to scripture, God is intimately involved with each and every life who is willing to call upon him. He knows everything about us—more than we even know about ourselves. He does not lack any information about us. It doesn’t matter how many people have come and gone before us, nor how many will come and go after us; God knows each and every one of us thoroughly including life span, activities, thoughts, deeds, and spoken words. He knows me. He knows you. His love and care for us in beyond our comprehension. Every moment of every day, in every way, God is with me—God is with you. And most amazingly, He is never more than a whispered prayer away.

Ezra 8:22  The good hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his anger is against all who forsake him.

Joshua 1:5  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. 

Psalm 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

REBEL - LOVE

 

Write From My Heart

October 19, 2021

REBEL to resist or oppose

LOVE  have a strong liking for, or interest in

1 Samuel 12:9, 12, 15, 25   But they forgot the LORD their God … you said to me, “No, we want a king to rule over us” –even though the LORD your God was your king. … But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers. … Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.

            There are those who would shun becoming a Christian on the basis of not wanting to “follow a bunch of rules.” Those same folk claim the Bible to be “nothing but a list of do’s and don’ts.” Truly the Bible does give suggestions for living a Christ-centered life, but as for rules there are only two. And just for reference, all of the 10 Commandments can be placed within these two rules:

Matthew 22:37-40  Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

            That’s it. Those are the two rules. Love God with all that you are and have. Love others as if they were you.  It is only when we oppose God or resist loving others that we fail in our responsibility as a Christian. If we are honest, I think we find it easier to love (i.e., have strong liking for…) God than we do to love (i.e., have strong interest in…) others. Perhaps it comes down to this: having such a strong interest in others that we desire for them to share in the same love of God we have through Christ.

John 13:34  A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 14:15  If you love me, you will obey what I command.

John 15:12  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

2 John vs. 5-6 I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

1 John 5:3  This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

SEE

 

Write From My Heart

October 18, 2021

SEE  to perceive mentally; understand {as in, I see your point.}

Job 38:1-3 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.”

Job 40:3-5 Then Job answered the LORD: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer—twice, but I will say no more.”

Job 40:6-7 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.”

Job 42:1-6 Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

            The Bible is not considered nor labeled as a science textbook. Yet its pages are full of accurate scientific information. There is no mention of scientific data that is incorrect. One of my favorite passages to read is Job chapters 38-41 and each time I read those chapters I marvel at the wonders of science and nature created by our Heavenly Father. Like Job, I stand amazed at things I do not understand and things too wonderful for me to know or fully comprehend.

            The interaction between the LORD and Job is something worth taking notice. Speaking when one does not understand is not an excuse justifiable with the Lord. The Lord told Job, you shall answer me—in other words, lack of knowledge, wisdom, or understanding will not get you off the hook. Today’s excuse might be “idk” (translated “I don’t know”), but it would appear that excuse will not be sufficient when we stand before God. I think I am beginning to see why (i.e., understand or catch a glimpse of). While we may not have adequate knowledge, wisdom, or understanding; we are to place our trust in the ONE who does. Nothing less will suffice.

Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Deuteronomy 4:39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Psalm 84:12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

            When Job finally began to understand and realize the holiness and majesty of God Almighty, he came to only one conclusion: repentance! Where does our understanding of God lead us? Like Job, I bow humbled and repentant before God Almighty and ask him to guide me in understanding those things that seem too marvelous for me to grasp. I may not have wisdom, but I know and trust the ONE who does!