It's Yours To Claim

"He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.  He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me."  (Psalm 18:16, 17)

When they are, "too strong for me," I just need to remember and be reminded that they are not, "too strong for," our Lord Jesus, "a very present help...."

I have a simple recommendation today: Read Psalm 18 and claim it as your own.  Pray it; declare it; live it.  You may/can, you know, "Christ says 'Yes' to all of God's promises.  That's why we have Christ to say 'Amen' for us to the glory of God" (2 Cor., CEV), and, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us..., that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus...." (Gal. 3)  If any would disagree with the application of these Scriptures to my suggestion about Psalm 18, we could discuss it.  I believe, however, that God in Christ has shown humanity just how Magnanimous He Is.  Nothing we need is left out.

So again, read and pray Psalm 18.  It's yours and mine.  Then face that, well, whatever.  It is no match for you in Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do claim all David claimed, and thank You that You said I could do so.  Amen.

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

"....I Will Always Remind You.., Even Though You Know"

"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have."  (2 Peter 1:12, NIV)

I want to share with you what I read yesterday from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together.  Yes, it is always good to know that some great people in Church History and you think alike.

"It is not necessary that we should discover new ideas in our meditation.  it is sufficient if the Word, as we read and understand it, penetrates and dwells within us.

"Our quiet reflection on a section of Scripture may yield astonishingly fresh insights.  It more often yields the familiar.  This should not be seen as a problem.  Our life needs maintenance as much as it should experience bursts of creativity.  Hearing God's message again and again many not arouse our excitement, but it may sustain us in the walk of faith.  Moreover, the old needs to be frequently reappropriated, for it is easily forgotten or lost.  Thought:  That which we repeatedly think about and embrace as truth will become an integral part of our lives."

Anyway, how could Jesus' voice, His Words every grow old to those who love Him?

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your continual Word.  Amen.

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

The Power of "One"

"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)  "For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy." (Amplified Bible)

There you have it, my friend, "a single offering," or, "one offering...."  As the hymn says, "'Tis done--- the great transaction's done, I am my Lord's and He is mine," and all, "by a single offering," Jesus Himself.  There is just nothing more to do.

As I read Hebrews this quarter I was again blessed, convicted and encouraged, yes, all at the same time.  For instance, how about this from the KJV translation of 8:10, "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts...."  Notice not "on," but, "into...and...in."  All the work Jesus does in you and me is, "into...and...in."  No more "outside" religion, no more, "What would Jesus do?" as though He were 2000 years removed from us.  Jesus' Law- Word, Jesus' Life, the Presence of the Blessed Trinity Himself is in, I repeat, IN those who have received Jesus and surrendered their lives to Jesus.

One and only, "one single offering," this is what the Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus."  No religion in the world, neither now, nor ever has given mankind such a sweeping forgiveness for sin, given us a, "completely cleansed perfected...consecrated and made holy," life.  I could not, I cannot, nor could I ever earn, work for, or be worthy apart from Jesus for, "so great a salvation."  Yet here He is, dear Follower of Jesus.  Here today, afresh, anew He is reminding you and me just Who we have in Jesus Christ, One Who Alone has done for us what none other could ever have done, "BY ONE SINGLE (solitary) OFFERING," Jesus has done it all, and all to bring us into Father, into Son Jesus Himself, and into the Holy Spirit, and, think of it, the Living Triune God, "into," us.  And all by ONE, ONE, ONE. 
 
No wonder that John Burton wrote in 1803:
"Holy Bible, Book Divine,
Precious Treasure, Thou are mine."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for my, "One Offering."  Amen.

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

Lost In "The Crowd"

"And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd...."  (Luke 19:3)

Have you ever felt like Zacchaeus, lost, "because of the crowd"?  From what is, "the crowd," keeping you today?

The crowd hindered Zaccaeus, "for he was of short stature."  He was not something which most around him were; hence, he was cut out, kept back, frustrated, had to make a way of his own.  The latter, by the way, can be a very dangerous mode if one then withdrawals himself for a remedy; but not this little man.  He looked at his circumstances, his physical limitations, perhaps even his low esteem in the community because of his employment, and pressed in all the more.  Never allow your, "short stature," to keep you from Jesus. 

The "end" of the story is, "Today salvation has come...."  And this, "salvation," in our Savior and King Jesus Christ does not come and go.  Forgive me for being a "repeating machine," but we do not "get into His presence."  We are His Presence, Jesus living, abiding, never leaving us.  Never forget what the Bible says of you and me, "....but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end."  Do not let, "the crowd," and its erroneous theology keep you from Your joy, peace and victory in Jesus, "A VERY PRESENT HELP." 

Most likely you are not now in some "church gathering" as you read this.  You may be in your house or place of employment.  I cannot say this enough, Jesus Christ, Sustainer, Preserver, Deliverer, is in you right there, right now.  You and I do not have to go anywhere to enjoy His "Presence."  You and I, indeed the Global Church of Jesus is where and in whom Jesus dwells (John 15); therefore, keep in Jesus, "looking to Jesus," and trusting Jesus, "Today (continually, moment by moment) salvation has come to [you and me]."  Let the, "crowd," come and go; Jesus never does.

Thought:  If you encounter another Follower of Jesus today, it is an encounter of one Child of His Presence encountering another Child of His Presence.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that, "....salvation has come to this house," never to leave.  Amen.
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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

"....But You, Lord...."

"Lord, how many...!-- But You, Lord...." (Psalm 3, NIV)

David is saying to God that he has, "many...foes!"  He is saying, "How many rise up against me!"  He is saying that others say of him, "God will not deliver him."  In short, "I have many who oppose me, are against me; I am in deep trouble."  Then he says, however, "But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head."

It really sounds quite simple, doesn't it?  The world around you is falling apart.  Maybe you feel as though you are falling apart, feeling deep down that you are all alone, perhaps even have those who mock, or at least seem to mock you in your devastation.  "The sweet psalmist of Israel," came to the conclusion which is open to and for us all, "But You, Lord...."  Yet while the words seem simple enough to read, hear, and say, the application, the out-working, the written-on-the-heart can be another battle all together.

I encourage you today to renew your faith in, "But You, Lord Jesus, are my hope, my stay, my life," or as David later declares,  "....my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  If you find it a fight to say such words, go to His Word, read, confess, shout if you have to, but as Paul said, "Hold fast (or, "take possession of") the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is Faithful."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for my friend that if they are in a battle, in depression, discouragement, even the object of mocking, that they know of a certainty, "But You, Lord are a shield around [them, their] glory, the One Who lifts [their] head."  Amen.

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