"The Concealed Things Belong To The Lord Our God"

"The secret ('concealed') things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the Words of this law."  (Deuteronomy 29:29,NIV)

I really know less than I know, and the longer life goes the more I realize this.  My fundamental theology has not changed; just the part about what, "belong to the Lord," and what, "belong to us...."

Stop trying to understand, "the secret things."  They are, "concealed," and probably for a very good reason.  Maybe life was never intended to be so complicated as humanity makes it.  Paul said, "And having food and raiment, let us therewith be content."  Really?  Take a look around your house, the highways, your work place, the modern church.  Contentment seems to be a "lost art."

I don't have an answer here, but every time I read our text I think of things like Isaac going out into the field in the evening to, "meditate," Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God, and here's one: "For we have brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  Very, very few consider what, "....we can carry...out."

Jesus said that He has called us to, "bear fruit."  Fruit bearing does not come from attempting to discover, "The secret/concealed things."  Fruit bearing comes from, "the things revealed," e.g., what our Lord Jesus speaks to hearts every day, "Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."  This is not complicated to understand, but maybe difficult to accept for a generation which is always attempting to discover, "The concealed things...."

Living in, "the things revealed," will keep us "busy" enough.  Don't let anyone deceive you that they can open, "The concealed things."

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me when I have neglected, "the things revealed," for, "the concealed things...."  Amen.

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We will be in Grand Rapids, MI, until December 2

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Always Providing

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it.  Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."  (Deuteronomy 24:19, NIV))

"....go back to get it", is selfishness, which is, as Charles Finney said, the number one hindrance to revival. 

I have been proclaiming for decades what our text reveals, that there is as much love and promise of provision in the Old Testament as in the New.  Likewise, there is as much rebuke and judgment in the New Testament as in the Old.  Don't listen to anyone who gives you the impression that it was all judgment and retribution in the Old Testament, then nothing but affirmation and forgiveness in the New.  This teaching is telling people, in effect, that the Blessed Trinity somehow got "converted" in the Intertestamental Period.  As James tells us, "He does not change like shifting shadows."!!  Holy Spirit, write this in our hearts.

Our text speaks of a kindness, provision, care which has no partiality, no boundaries.  When, "The Word of God," appeared among men, no one had ever witnessed kindness and love as they saw in, "the carpenter's Son."  Peter tells us that Jesus, "went about doing good."  But our Lord Jesus was not starting some new religion.  Jesus was/is revealing just Who the Godhead Is. 

Our text should affect daily life for you and me.  Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Ghost, "predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son"; therefore, what Jesus is doing among men and nations is what the Church is doing.  The command of our text is a command for the Church.  

"Thought for the Day"--  When we, "....overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, What can I say?  Glorious are You.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Do What Is Best, "For Our Good Always"

"And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as today."  Deuteronomy 6:24)

I am embarrassed for what has become of the United States of America.  Hatred now rules in the most vocal of its citizens.

The only thing which my fellow Americans can do, that is, those who wish to see the United States fulfill the destiny which the Founders saw, is to resist with everything in them the hatred of the debauchery which has enveloped the press, the Democrat Party, and all of those who are "drinking their Kool-Aid.  In our system of government, that way is the ballot box.  If those who claim to be Followers of Jesus Christ would all vote according to the teaching of Jesus, aka, the Scriptures, The Church would be running the USA.  Think that sounds too radical, too unfair?  Well then, give the US to the humanists and just see what is "too radical," and too "unfair."

You cannot escape the judgement which humanity brings on itself when you read the Bible.  "Sinners against their own souls," is exactly what happens.  The Bible teaches us profusely that the Law of the Living Triune God is, "for our good always, that He might preserve us...."  Most Americans, however, do not believe this.  The Laws of God are restrictive, inhibitive by nature to them.  Life if better without all that, "Thou shalt not...," so the children of the rebellion say.  And, my friend, this is not just The United States of America.  It is a global disease, affecting all "aspects" of all cultures and people groups.

The world is constantly being filled with, "You are special; you can do anything, if you put your mind to it.  Your situation is not your doing or your fault; it was those crusaders, those imperialistic colonialists.  You are a victim of the cruelty of others; your family was 'dysfunctional.'  Claim all of that wealth which others have; you deserve it."  The Bible alone brings sobriety to all of this.  Yes, you may have been treated cruelly or never got "that chance" which so many others seem to have experienced, but there are thousands, even millions in the world who have the same "lot" in life. 

But I can also say that there are thousands just like you and me who have been through the same "valleys" and have decided to stop blaming others and trust Jesus Christ---- FOR REAL!  When a person begins to believe this and not just talk this, well, there is Jesus, "who is our peace."  There is, "joy unspeakable and full of glory."  There is, "Let not your heart be troubled.  You believe ('trust in, rely upon') in...Me", and, "My Words which I speak to you."  And, "....though I walk through the valley of the shadow..., I will fear no evil------- for You are with me"!

Father, in Jesus' Name, even though it was "the hard way," I thank You that through great turmoil and suffering you taught me that You and Your Words, "are for our good always."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2