"What More Could Have Been Done...?"

"What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it?  Why, then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?"  (Isaiah 5:4)

In view of the coming November national elections, in view of the chaos gripping America, and in view of, well, a possible coming cataclysm, I will be reading through the Bible every two months until the end of 2020; hence, today's text from Isaiah 5.

"What more..?' indeed!  Be very careful how we answer this question.  If we attempt to add a "more," we are saying that what Jesus has done is not enough.  The Cross assured that anyone who surrenders their life to Jesus Christ will, "....bring forth good grapes."  If a life is not surrendered to Jesus, "bring forth wild grapes", is the result.

Some may be tempted to add to the, "What more...?"  That puts them in "lordship," in control of their life, not the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  I agree with the old Hillshire Farms commercial, when the young man wanted to change the way the old farmer was making sausage, then tasted it, He said, "Perfect, I wouldn't change a thing."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I too say this.  What I may think is "perfect," is just not.  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

"The Conclusion of the Whole Matter"

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all."  (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

When is the last time you heard an evangelical/charismatic say this?

I am finishing up this quarter's Bible reading.  Frankly, for me, this is indeed, "....the conclusion of the whole matter."  I have no doubt that humanity would be quite different if these Words ruled, in the home, the Church, the nations.

Our text is, "....the conclusion of the whole matter..," not just Ecclesiastes. It it also "the conclusion of" the teachings of Jesus.  Yet rarely are the Words, "fear God and keep the commandments," used by the spirituals among us, especially when speaking of Jesus.  They are so afraid that they might offend "The Four Spiritual Laws."  

Jesus' Words to the lawyer's question about, "eternal life,"  are His Words to humanity, "What is written in the Law?  What is your reading of it?"  What a non evangelical response to the question.  And then after the lawyer quotes the "Great Commandment," Jesus responds, not by, "O, no.  It's only believe," but rather with, "Do this and you shall live."  

I wondered today: What of Jesus' Life in me have I been doing today?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want Your, "conclusion," no one else's.  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

We Too Are, "Not From This World"

"Pilate answered,..'What have You done?'  Jesus answered, 'My Kingdom is not from this world.  If My Kingdom were from this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here.'"  (John 18:36)

Most interesting that Jesus' first Words to Pilate in answer to his question are, "My Kingdom...."  This, my friend, is what, "Jesus Christ is Lord," means:  Jesus Christ is King of the Kingdom of Heaven/God, the Earth, the Universe.  And make no mistake that, "....not from here," does not mean that Jesus' Reign is not for here. The Authority and Power of Jesus' Kingdom is in the Godhead, "....not from here."

It was right after the crowd said, "We have no king but Caesar," that Pilate committed Jesus to the Cross.

You and I would have little trouble with those who are opposed to Jesus Christ if we just kept our "message" to what they call religion.  Read your Bibles; say your prayers; feed the poor, etc.  When we do exactly what Jesus has sent all of His Followers to do, however, "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,'" we then have taken the message, and the battle, into their realm, a kingdom realm, a rule realm, a control realm.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a revival of Kingdom preaching, teaching, and living in us.  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

Psalm 91 Day of the Month

"Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling...."  (Psalm 91)

The promises in this Psalm are beyond human/fleshly comprehension, especially when you look at history, perhaps even our own experiences.

"No evil shall befall you."  Yet how many of us can recall what seemed to be "evil" which befell so many?  Then, there is, "A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you."  Millions of those who had read and recited this Psalm throughout the centuries "fell," e.g., the millions in the concentration camps of the German Government, and Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake.  And I could mention more.  The question, however, for you and me today remains, What shall we now do, not only with our text, but all Scriptures which just seem to contradict what humanity perceives as "reality?"

This is "what we shall do:"  We can begin with, as does our Psalm, "He who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty....I will say of the Lord [Jesus Christ], He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; in Him will I trust."  The only life of victory is the life of believing/accepting this.  One can look at life, and come to a hopelessness conclusion.  Or, one can live, "....looking unto Jesus..," and come to another conclusion.  Reality is not what "appears" to be, as in, "....while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen."

Do not allow the Enemy to deceive us.  All of the seeming "exceptions" of life are not.  If you and I, "....abide under the shadow of the Almighty," Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, we will walk as those mentioned in Hebrews 11, "....not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."  Some think I am "rationalizing."  I'm not; I'm listening.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I too, "....embrace[] them."  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