The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

 

For the last few weeks in my “prayer time”, “morning meditation” or whatever you call it, Psalm 19 has been very significant. Especially when mornings were early and warm, I could go outside as twilight grew to sunshine, and watch and listen to nature waking up and starting a new day. That is exciting and very stimulating for me because,

“The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament shows forth knowledge

Day unto day pours forth speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge

There is no speech, nor are there words:

Their voice is not heard.”

                                                (Psalm 19:1-3)

It seems to me that people who get pleasure from mocking things they don’t understand, would have a ‘hay day’ with these verses. First it says things are being declared and shown, it says speech is pouring and knowledge is revealed. Then it says there is no speech or words and nothing is heard.

Over the last several years, I have developed a habit of writing in the morning. This has proven to be very beneficial for me an a few ways. One way is that writing requires thought. Thought stimulates questions. Therefore, while I am writing questions come to the surface of my mind, and sometimes they are very troubling questions. I have developed the practice of simply including these questions in my writing. Often as I am writing the question, (a form of prayer, for me) the answer comes to my mind.

“There is no speech, nor are there words:

Their voice is not heard.”

And the answers settle the question for me.

The mockers and the Bible scholars can probably rip this argument to shreds. I hope I am not a mocker, and I am sure I am not a scholar, but I am learning to be a disciple of Jesus, and this is a help for me.

Be Faithful.

Mercy:

This week I seem to be thinking about MERCY.

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 13:37-John 14:3)

 

It is good to remember that when the Bible was originally written there were no chapter and verse notations. This section is only part of a larger conversation.

Here is something that I saw as I considered this passage.

Jesus was giving final instructions to his closest followers, in the verses that come before and then he begins to talk about his departure and the disciples are upset. And Peter declares his devotion to Jesus, in his usual enthusiastic way. Jesus, very lovingly, shows Peter what and how he is.

It seems to me that this is a lovely example of Jesus and our Father’s mercy. Here is what I mean, as I understand this.

·         MERCY: It is the mercy and the very great Love of God that shows me my sin.

·         SIN: Sin is how I live outside of connection/relationship with the Father. (Romans 14:23b) all that is not of faith is sin.

·         GRACE: Father gives grace to live a life of faith. (Hebrews 4:16) Therefor let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that me my obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A life of Faith is a life of listening in order to obey.

What I believe

 

I believe in God the Father, Almighty,

The creator of Heaven and earth

Of everything seen and unseen.

 

I believe in Jesus the Christ,

The only begotten son of God,

Our Lord and Savior.

 

He was conceived by the power

Of the Holy Spirit of God,

And born of the virgin Mary.

 

Jesus grew from an infant to a man,

And was tempted in every way, just as we are.

He chose to live in humble obedience, to his Father

And did not sin.

 

In humble obedience, by example and words,

He taught and teaches us,

How to obey God and enter the kingdom of God;

Loving one another.

 

He was persecuted by the religious leaders of his day,

And, in co-operation with the government,

Was prosecuted and executed by crucifixion

 

Three days later

 

He rose from the dead,

Proclaiming himself,

Lord of ALL.

 

And leaving us instructions

To bring all of mankind

Into the kingdom of God.

 

He ascended into Heaven

And will come again,

To judge the living and the dead.

What would you see

 

This morning I was reading in the second chapter of Mark. I am always a little amazed by the first few words of verse 5. “And seeing their faith…” I think about, what if this was my house and I had a group of people there to hear a well-known speaker and all of a sudden, someone is tearing up the roof. What would I be seeing? Jesus saw faith. That is amazing! I am too often critical of things people do when they are only living out their faith.

This morning I was also struck by the sequence of things that happened next.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, Son your sins are forgiven you.

Now that ruffled a lot of feathers. The religious legal team that was there for some reason, were thinking, who does he think he is forgiving sins.

Jesus replied, “which is easier to say to the sick of palsy (a paralytic) your sins are forgiven you or to say get up take us your bed and walk home.” Then he turned to the paralytic and said, “Get up pick up your cot and walk home.” And he did.

As I was reading and thinking I realized that what happened here was. This man’s sins were forgiven and he was given something to do. To me it seemed like a picture of salvation.

Once your sins are forgiven that part is done. Now get busy doing what you have to do.

Our sins are forgiven. Now get busy.

Does God Speak To You?

 

Does God ever seem to speak to you in the scripture that you are reading? While you are praying, do you ask God a question and hear an answer that seems true.

My spiritual practice involves writing in a journal every day. That is the practice or discipline. I don’t always get it done, but that is my goal and intention. Sometimes I let life get in the way. The fact is that is just disobedience with a pretty face. I know that writing is a way I can draw closer to God and hear what he is saying to me. I believe God wants me to do that at this time in my life and for the foreseeable future. Since I am kind of a slow person, this takes time and sometimes a lot of time.

Journal writing is part of prayer and silence for me.

In 2009 I started writing for a blog. I believed it was a good thing to do. For several years I tried publishing as regularly as possible. For a short time, I published a devotion every day. I did this because I believed it was good and I believed God was in it. I have not felt like publishing for a while, for several reasons.

But this morning while writing in my journal I was led back to the blessings and the salt and light admonition (Matthew 5:13-17) and I was reminded that that was part of my reason for doing this blog. I heard Jesus say to me, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”

I know that my light is not always or altogether true, but it is my light. I do believe that my Father in Heaven has successfully been able to shine a little true light into my life and by sharing the light I have I am being obedient.

I am learning to listen and obey.

Let us each one grow in faithfulness.

In everything give thanks,

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

For the next 30 days I am going to participate in a discipline, self-imposed. Each day I will post 3 things on Facebook that I am thankful for, with little or no explanation. Then I will write and post a blog going into a little detail about my thanksgiving, especially the unusual things.

25 June 25, 2021

1.  The Spirit of God in me that bids me call Him, Papa.

2.    My garden.

3.    Morning Coffee.

 

This is going to be an especially rewarding exercise. I am eager to see if I can for 30 days come up with 3 unique things for which I give sincere thanksgiving. It will be an exercise in practicing the truth of God’s word.

 

1 (Romans 8:15-16) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And (Galatians 4:6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. The word Abba is the familiar form of Daddy or Papa. Because of the Spirit of God working in my life I experience that familiar sense when it comes to how I can address the Creator of all that is. I am truly thankful.

 

2. My garden is a place where I am learning many things and able to enjoy the fruit and blooms.

 

3. Yea, well coffee. I do enjoy my coffee.

 

 

 

Doing What Comes Naturally. NOT!

 

The Scriptures seldom tell us to do what comes naturally.

 

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, Rejoice.

 

Rejoicing always, is hardly a natural and constant condition for most people. Yet this is what the apostle commands us to do. It seems unnatural, even against reality, at times. Situations are not always a party. People are sometimes aggressively unpleasant. And we are commanded to, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and then it is emphasized, “and again I say rejoice.”

 

Life is a battle, and the Christian life, or the life of a disciple is even more of a battle. But the war is not against other people. It is against the sin in my flesh that demands. Simply demands. Demands because of discomfort, because of fear, because of disappointment.

I will be happy when…(demand), I will rejoice when…(demand), I will pray when… (demand), I will love when…(demand), I will give when … (demand)

 

Scripture doesn’t tell us to be happy when we have lots of good food to eat or when we have every possession we desire or every pleasure.

 

Scripture doesn’t speak against many of those things in moderation and balance, but there is no need to tell us to rejoice then and be thankful. That is just the natural way.

 

God is not opposed to natural pleasure. He gave us those pleasures. But He wants us to experience greater life than just what we can have naturally.

 

He is not opposed, but what he wants for us is so much greater than our temporary pleasures and demands.

 

He wants us to enter into that eternal life, Now. The life that transcends the pleasures we naturally seek.

 

What does this mean for me, here where I have all my natural comfort and pleasure?

 

It may mean that in my quest for those things, I have gone astray from the things that are better. But it seems to me that many of my temporal blessings have just come to me and even though I have sought wrong satisfaction, I have consistently found myself seeking the right way. I don’t even know what that means

 

The Eternal Way.

 

No matter how pleasant my life is or how bright the prospects appear, I cannot begin to imagine the joy that my Father wants to give me, if I will only truly give my life completely to Him.

 

Frankly, I don’t think I even have a vague idea of what that means. I do believe that it involves disciplines of obedience that I will probably only be able to learn one or two at a time and that will be learned in the melee of daily life.

 

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation (confidence, hope…) be known to all people.  (How do I do that?) The Lord is very near.

Do not be anxious for any reason ever. Rather in every circumstance, by prayer, petition and meditation; always with thanksgiving, keep your heart attentive to your Father in the heavens. (The one who is very near) and His wonderful peace, which is beyond understanding will guard your heart continually in Christ Jesus.

Finally, dear sisters and brothers, 

whatever things are true, 
whatever things are honest, 
whatever things are just, 
whatever things are pure, 
whatever things lovely, 
whatever things are of good report, 
if the is any virtue, 
if there is any praise, 
think about these things.

                                          Philippians 4:4-9

 

This entire meditation is absolutely at odds with the flesh.