Your "Ways Are Past Finding Out"

"How great are Your doings, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep.  A man in his rude and uncultivated state knows not, neither does a [self-confident] fool understand...." 
(Psalm 92, Amplified Bible)

Right now, you and I are traveling at 67,000 miles per hour, in fact, even much faster than that, considering that our Solar System is moving at about 500,000 miles per hour.  Some scientists say that the Sun appears to be cruising along at 120 miles per second and it takes 240,000,000 years "to complete the grand circuit around the Galaxy."  And remember that our Galaxy is 100,000 light years across.  According to calculations which I have read, this means that our Galaxy is 880,000,000,000,000, or 5.8 trillion miles across.

In reality, no one knows just how "old" is the Universe.  Now I know there are the "6000 year" people who base their facts on what is perceived to be the Biblical account, and I don't argue with them.  Regardless, you cannot measure time in eternity; otherwise eternity would not be eternity.  One thing for sure: If you and I believe/accept what the Bible declares, that Jesus upholds, "all things by the word of His power," then the Sun in its 240,000,000 year journey is sustained by Jesus in that journey.  Understand it?  Yea, right.
  
I have said and written for many years now that to me faith is acceptance of the, "Words of  God," not a mental comprehension.  I believe that you and I would be a lot more "believing" if we were a lot more accepting.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance...."  The word translated, "substance," is from the Greek word meaning "to be under," more specifically, "to be under authority."  The, "substance," in the whole "faith" process is not a mental comprehension, but my "position," viz., being under the authority of, "The Word of God," Jesus.  The old song was not trite, "If Jesus said it, I believe it."  

The facts which science put forth lead me to speak our text with even more meaning, "How great are Your doings, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep.  The, "rude and uncultivated...knows not," because he accepts not.  It is the, "rude and uncultivated," no matter their education or financial status, who refuse to accept, "In the beginning God...."  There are unanswered questions which will forever remain unanswered, perhaps even in eternity.  Maybe, "in that Day," what we thought were such profound questions will be reduced to insignificance when, "we...see Him as He is."  Take courage, my friend.  If Jesus can sustain our Sun on its 240,000,000 mile journey, I think Jesus is quite capable of sustaining you and me on ours.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't want to be, "rude and uncultivated."  Amen.
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David's Tent in September, "as the Lord provides."

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

"Long Term Treatment"

"....but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God....And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power." (1 Corinthians)

I received a text a few minutes ago, "Jodie is declining fast.  They are telling the kids today."  What is most interesting is that I had just read our text before the text about Jodie arrived.  "....Words of human wisdom," do absolutely no good at this time.  And you might as well forget "grief counseling."  What is needed is, "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 

One of the most common outcomes of loosing someone close to us is depression.  A "tropical depression" is defined as "the first stage in the development of a possible hurricane."  This is also true of emotional and spiritual depression.  When we speak of a "depression" in the ground, we speak of something which is lower than the surrounding terrain.  This is also a description of a person suffering from depression.  Mayo Clinic says, "Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest....It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.  You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and depression may make you feel as if life isn't worth living....Depression isn't...something that you can simply "snap out' of.  Depression may require long-term treatment."  Most of the above is a description of me during the summer of '70.  But after some weeks of the above description, Jesus "stood" before me.  If you have read my devotionals over the years, you know what happened then.  Jesus took me immediately "into" Himself, His Words, The Comforter, and as I read and He imparted His Words, I can truly say, "The Lord [Jesus] is the Strength of my life."  Since June 12, 1970, I have been receiving "long term treatment."

How well I remember that "moment" when I saw Stephen "declining fast."  No "power," no philosophy, no pundits' _____ can help in such moments.  Jesus does, because Jesus is, "the power of God and the wisdom of God."  Does that mean I "understand" any more than others?  No, well, maybe a little more than the scoffers, than those who reject such a Wonderful Savior.  But it is, "the power of God," Who is Jesus Christ, which I needed in that "moment," and the millions of moments since.  No speculations and talk of man can do anything.  I did not and do not need talk.  I did, and still do, however, need, "the power of God."  This, "power," is not some vague "force" or drug.  "The power of God," is a person, The Person, Jesus.   People who do not have Jesus Christ, and whom Jesus does not "have," are people who at such a time are in reality "on their own."  I am so thankful that I am not my own. 

Father , in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my "Long Term Treatment."  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

What We Now "Know" Is Not What We Shall "Know"

"That they may know that You, Whose name alone is the Lord, are Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83:18, Amplified Bible)

I, "know," this, or at least I think I do.  There is a very real sense, though, that what you and I, "know," now of our Lord Jesus Christ is not what we will, "know," of Him in the future, tomorrow, a year from now, or how ever long we have on this Planet.  Things I believed, said, preached, taught many years ago were not "tempered" by time.  That does not negate what value it had.  It does, however, show me more and more just "how deep is the ocean, how high is the sky." 

The Bible says, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)!  And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!"  This is all Paul could say after he attempted to shed light on the mystery of Israel and the Gentile nations; life too teaches us this reality.  Years ago I "knew" that Jesus, "Whose Name alone is the Lord, [is] Most High over all the earth."  Now, I "know" it a little "more."

While "answers" seem fewer and fewer to me, as I observe and contemplate life more and more, and in that process realize just how little I do know, I take comfort in, "Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "it is enough."  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

"Marvelous Things [He Does]."

"Marvelous things did He in the sight of their fathers...." (Psalm 78:12, Amplified Bible)

The text is speaking to Jews and the great faithfulness of the Living Triune God to them over the centuries.  The Psalm speaks of God's faithfulness in the face of Israel's unfaithfulness, an unfaithfulness without excuse.  It is like reading a biography of the United States of America, "Marvelous things did He in the sight of [our] fathers...."

I am waiting for an oil change, front end alignment check, tire rotation and balance, and sitting in a McDonald's (no Starbucks at this location.) with a Mall in the background, a downsized version of it's beginning.  Amidst the coming and goings of humanity, an old hymn in my tradition comes to mind, "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life."  A couple verses say:
    "Where cross the crowed ways of life,
    Where sound the cries of race and clan,
    Above the noise of selfish strife,
    We hear Your voice, O Son of Man.

    "From tender childhood's helplessness,
    On shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
    From paths where hide the lures of greed,
    We catch the vision of Your tears.
   
    "O Master, from the mountainside
    Make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
    Among these restless throngs abide;
    O tread the city's streets again.

The line, "Make haste to heal these hearts of pain," came to me as I sit here.  But I also thought that most human pain comes from our rejection of Jesus, Whom another Psalm from today's reading describes as, "Shepherd of Israel."  How many "hearts of pain" would not have pain if we would continually remember the, "Marvelous things did He in the sight of their fathers," if we would have lived our entire lives, and continue to live totally surrendered to and thankful for the, "Marvelous things did He...," and, Look around; still does.  You want to shout "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," that the pain which afflicts so many hearts does not have to be when an individual and nation live under the authority of Jesus.  May we never give up on praying, "O Master, [Jesus], from the mountainside make hast to heal these hearts of pain...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may my heart, which You have healed and continually heal, be for the healing of "these hearts of pain."  Amen.
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Please remember the need for David's Tent

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

"My Benefactor"

"Upon You have I leaned and relied from birth; You are He Who took me from my mother's womb and You have been my benefactor from that day.  My praise is continually of You."  (Psalm 71:6, Amplified Bible)

It is interesting that the Amplified Bible translators here choose the word "benefactor" to describe the Blessed Trinity.  One definition for "benefactor" is "kindly helper."  He is.

The psalmist is recounting the sustenance, the "help" of the Lord Jesus ever since the former's birth.  He then says, "My praise is continually of you."  And the implication is that, "my praise will continue till I leave this life."

I have read a number of accounts of the Holocaust in my life time, and recently I have been reading one written by a biographer of Winston Churchill.  Several times he speaks of Jews in some of the worst conditions imaginable, yet still reading the prayers of the Psalms regularly, even while being beaten, starved, seeing their families taken off to gas chambers.  You hear of people who say that they have given up on God, that God "let them down," that, well, excuse the sarcasm here, but boo, hoo, hoo.  I don't want to sound mean or callus, but think of what these faithful readers/pray-ers of the Psalms were going through, then ask the question, "Do I have any excuses?"

"Upon You have I leaned and relied from birth," even with rebels, nonbelievers, it was, has been, and will be the Lord Jesus Christ Who continues to sustain life on Planet Earth.  Yes, Jesus is Life, and, "in Him all things consist/hold together."  Make no mistake; whether lover of Jesus or hater, whether faithful, or unbelieving, it is still only of Jesus mankind can say, "Upon You have I leaned and relied from birth; You are He Who took me from my mother's womb...."  The choice is not between the truth or falsehood of the statement.  The choice is whether one rails on it as myth, or accepts it as the very, "Words of God." 

Now, what are you and I going to do in response to such love and care?  For me, "My praise is continually of You," Father, Son, Holy Spirit---- in Jesus' Name, 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