In Good Company

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 13:13-25 ~~~ Psalm 89 ~~~ John 13:16-20 ~~~

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

God says,  

I have found David, son of Jesse, 

a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.

Jesus says,

I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen.

Throughout all times, every generation 

God has seen fit to provide for his chosen ones.

He led his people with many prophets; those he himself chose as leaders.

Today we are being reminded that what God

 has done in the past is not just the past.

There is no past tense for God.

History gives us the opportunity to look back

 for evidence of God's presence.

But this history does not end when the ink has dried...

does not end when we have read the last word.

What we read as past history is happening today right in our midst;

that is, God remains steadfast in caring for his chosen ones.

We seem to be the problem,

 because we continue to let our doubts cloud our mind.

When enough doubts cloud the mind then it begins to seep into the soul.

This is where the real devastating problems begin to rule our life.

Once our soul becomes shrouded in doubt darkness triumphs.

God wants you to believe without a doubt that he chooses you...

not just once, but every moment of every day of every year of your life.

It is not a one time choice...or something of the past...

it is current, constant, ongoing.

The psalmist says it beautifully today...

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. 

God wants us first to believe that he chooses us

 and then to believe that he also provides for our needs.

There is nothing he cannot or will not do for us.

As God chooses us he also uses us to work in his kingdom...

for his greater glory.

So I ask...How can we doubt, deny, or refuse our Lord?

God never fails us...

all he asks in return is for us to love him.

How difficult can it be to love the Lord?

We are Blessed in more ways than we could ever imagine.

Oh how sweet it is to be one of his chosen ones along with you.

Together we are in good company...

the company of the Lord.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Jesus Brings Balance

~~~ Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 ~~~ Psalm 147 ~~~ Matthew 5:17-19 ~~~

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

Jesus says he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
The laws of the Old Testament were not filled with spiritual life until Jesus came.
The laws were only the framework.
Jesus used this framework to bring all things to the fullness of life
through himself.
He is the way the truth and the life.

Jesus did not come to replace the laws and all they had taught.
In fact if we do not reflect on and appreciate the laws
then we cannot fully understand or appreciate
what Jesus brought to us.

It is something like studying the history of your country.
If you do not become familiar with the old laws and the old ways
you cannot appreciate the changes that have taken place.

Everywhere Jesus went his words and actions were raising the eyebrows
of the elders because they could only see the way things were.
They could only see how things had always been.
They could not see that perhaps there was something more...
something better...something more fulfilling.

Laws alone are cold stark impersonal...
Jesus was a warm, caring, compassionate person.
Jesus was personal.
Jesus dealt with the person he was near.
Jesus made adjustments to each situation.
Laws are rigid, but they serve a purpose.

Jesus brought balance into the world.
The law alone is lopsided...skewed.
We too need balance in our life.
It is possible to get so caught up in the rules and laws of the church
that one forgets to be in awe of the wonders of our God.
We tend to forget all that he has done for us
while we are being busy about keeping the letter of the law.

Jesus modeled for us in many situations the value of relationships.
Rules and laws can never replace the personal relationship
God wants us to have with him.

Most of all God wants us to realize how much he loves us.
This is what we need to be teaching our children...
We should be teaching them about God's love for them.
Take advantage of every opportunity to tell the children
 in your life how much Jesus loves them.

Jesus brought life into the dried lifeless laws.
He can bring life into your heart as well.
You are loved!