"....Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father...." (Galatians 1:4, KJV)
The Cross is, "according to the will of God and our Father." The revelation of Himself in the manger of Bethlehem was, "according to the will of God and our Father." Yes, "the world and they that dwell therein," everything and everyone is, "according to the will of God and our Father." Now once here, you and I found ourselves a part of all who have, "fallen short of the glory of God"; hence, we were all out of His will. But by His tender mercy and grace, by and in the Blood of Jesus, He brought us back into, "the will of God and our Father.
I also thought of how today's text relates to prayer. When people pray, they can pray great blessing upon people and nations. They can also, however, "stir things up," and even find themselves surprised at the outcome of their prayers. They will have, "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened," and realize that praying, "according to the will of God and our Father," will many times bring answers in a way never imagined (I am currently experiencing this). The Bible prophesies things which will make much of "media Christianity" unhappy. Christianized versions of what they already were will be shocked by, "those things which are coming upon the earth," but only if they are not living and studying God's Word, "according to the will of God and our Father."
People can, "wrest the Scriptures"; they can stomp their feet as a little child when their expectations and desires are not fulfilled, but only they who live, "according to the will of God and our Father," will walk in the victory of the Cross, "that He might deliver us from this present evil world." There is the reality that Jesus finished this in His Cross. And there is also the reality that our Lord continues this work in ways most never imagined. World leaders' bravado and outrageous claims notwithstanding, this is, "the will of God and our Father": All who resist the Reign of King Jesus will see the fulfillment of Psalm 2:9, "[Jesus] shall break them with a rod of iron; [Jesus] shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, grant me Thy grace and power to live in, "the will of God and our Father." Amen.
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The Cross is, "according to the will of God and our Father." The revelation of Himself in the manger of Bethlehem was, "according to the will of God and our Father." Yes, "the world and they that dwell therein," everything and everyone is, "according to the will of God and our Father." Now once here, you and I found ourselves a part of all who have, "fallen short of the glory of God"; hence, we were all out of His will. But by His tender mercy and grace, by and in the Blood of Jesus, He brought us back into, "the will of God and our Father.
I also thought of how today's text relates to prayer. When people pray, they can pray great blessing upon people and nations. They can also, however, "stir things up," and even find themselves surprised at the outcome of their prayers. They will have, "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened," and realize that praying, "according to the will of God and our Father," will many times bring answers in a way never imagined (I am currently experiencing this). The Bible prophesies things which will make much of "media Christianity" unhappy. Christianized versions of what they already were will be shocked by, "those things which are coming upon the earth," but only if they are not living and studying God's Word, "according to the will of God and our Father."
People can, "wrest the Scriptures"; they can stomp their feet as a little child when their expectations and desires are not fulfilled, but only they who live, "according to the will of God and our Father," will walk in the victory of the Cross, "that He might deliver us from this present evil world." There is the reality that Jesus finished this in His Cross. And there is also the reality that our Lord continues this work in ways most never imagined. World leaders' bravado and outrageous claims notwithstanding, this is, "the will of God and our Father": All who resist the Reign of King Jesus will see the fulfillment of Psalm 2:9, "[Jesus] shall break them with a rod of iron; [Jesus] shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, grant me Thy grace and power to live in, "the will of God and our Father." Amen.
**************
She's back, and loving the cameras and attention as much as ever: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
