Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. Isaiah 51:1, 6, 22-23
Beginning in verse 1, above, we see admonition to look in two directions that we might remain mindful. Attentive, first, of the Lord our creator who has made us in His image and His intention that we would walk after Him in His way. Heedful, second, we are not to forget the pit from which we have been pulled, our incarceration before the release afforded us by Jesus. We will only be able to maintain our way on the upward path through gratitude in our relationship in Him and humility that remembers our inability to extract ourselves from the mire. We were utterly unable to turn away from the downward trail we were trudging until we accepted the finished work of Christ and His guiding hand to turn us to the upward way.
Though the heavens be removed and the earth fail, the salvation that God has made available to all who willingly receive it endures forever, because it rests on the eternal foundation of His own nature, which changes not. This salvation is offered freely, a gift beyond human comprehension, more priceless than we have yet understood. Though we ought to remember the pit of the past, increasing appreciation of the life we have been handed does not lie in that direction, but in adoration of the Giver.
Finally, observe verses 22 & 23. Our old lives accrued only wrath. Now, some assert that God’s wrath was vengeful anger directed at His own disobedient children. However, an honest reading of the word will reveal that His heart has ever been for our welfare and not for our destruction. (Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 29:11). In Jesus, we find an incalculable love, holding Him to bear all the oppressions of the fetid pit in which we wallowed. No more will the tyrant oppressor walk all over us, for our Savior has imputed to us soaring freedom on wings of light and love.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Yesterday, we attended the 30th Annual Quad-Cities Prayer Breakfast at RiverCenter in Davenport Iowa. The location is some 150 miles east of home. We had an invitation from the organizer, who, with his wife, have become good friends over the course of the past year. The venue held, probably 1600 attendees. The couple to my right at our table had driven from Cleveland, a trip of 500 miles. There was awesome special music by recording artist Steve Amerson. The keynote speaker was Governor Mike Huckabee. His talk centered on God bringing good out of some challenging events in his life as he expounded on Romans 8:28.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
All morning, the verses from 2 Corinthians 3 that open this post kept coming to mind. This passage was not something mentioned by anyone during the event, but was something God was putting on my heart. Meditating on it further, I can certainly see that the message of Romans 8:28 is addressed solely to believers and the passage in 2 Corinthians 3 is addressed likewise. None other are indwelt by the Holy Spirit or might see that change to be more like Jesus (increasing glory). We ought not to lose sight of the fact that God is bound by nothing, save His own nature and unbreakable word of Truth. We are made in His image and are intended for unfettered liberty. At some level, we know this intuitively. Tyrants oppress. The law restrains. But one who walks in the love and grace of the Almighty transcends both.
What enables this joyous transformation to work in the willing?
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:4-6 (KJV)
I am grateful for Your provision from the garden! The baked, red-skinned potatoes made a wonderful dinner!
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Titus 2:1-2
Me: Jesus, all these come to those who are Yours and led by the Spirit! Jesus: Paul was telling Titus to speak My word. The trait of being circumspect does not come quickly to the young. Those with some experience ought to model it. Here is my aim:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:11-12
Me: I see the next verse goes on to say, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Jesus: You should take from that the need to walk in My calling ever more diligently as the day of My return approaches.
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:14-16
Me: Are you speaking of “him who sleeps” as the unsaved one who is merely drifting through life, carried along by the currents of time? (No one I know disputes that the days are evil.) Jesus: Yes. I Am the life. Yet this one has not even considered his “deadness”. Give a wake-up call where you can! You surely know how transforming to a sober life requires a circumspect outlook, understanding the whole truth about the consequences of drifting mindlessly along vs being awake and alert to the Life. Look to Me for help! I Am with you! Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You! Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2)
Three times in the passage above, Paul refers to the “the faith of” Jesus the Son of God. It does not say faith in, it says faith of. [Translations other than the KJV (even the NKJV) have mostly translated this as “faith in”. My amateurish look at the Greek text did not help me much because the meaning of the possessives depends on parsing the language accurately. I must defer to someone trained in Greek grammar to sort this out. So, I refer to an article by Bobby Grow who takes a look at this exact passage in an evenhanded way. He favors the way the King James has it, all things considered.] If we are “crucified with Christ” and if the life that is now in us is the indwelling Christ, as stated clearly in verse 20, then “faith of” would lend credence to His faith being active in us.
On the other hand, the passage goes on the speak of the possibility of our “building again” as transgressors. This is most likely if we are not actively renewing our minds according to the word and submitting to it.
If it is the faith of Christ by which He did all the Father gave Him to do (and it is). If it is the faith of Jesus that allowed Him to conquer the grave, though He had become sin that its power in us might be broken when it was nailed to the cross in Him (and it is). Would we not do well to understand that it is now His faith that is the power by which we are to live. Does not our self-generated faith come fearfully close to the works of the Law that Paul was saying are totally ineffective at justifying us?
I am grateful that God’s judgments are right and true!
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Romans13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Romans 3:10-12 There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Also Luke 18:19)
Me: Good afternoon, Jesus!
Jesus: Good afternoon, Jon!
Me: I think most of the U.S. has been watching the prosecution of President Trump in New York this week. Though some have been reported as “dancing” at the verdict, probably more have been aghast at the improper legal procedures allowed, and even carried out directly, by the judge. It made me think of this passage in Luke 18 referencing an “unjust judge”. That caused me to also remember the injunction in Romans 13 to be subject to those in authority because their powers (offices, stations) are ordained by God. You clearly recognized when giving the parable in Luke 18 that a judge could be unjust. And, though I say that “I remembered” those passages, I understand it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring those things to mind and there was no special memory effort at work on my part. Thank You for that gift through the Holy Spirit! (John 14:26)
Jesus: I have a calling for everyone. That does not mean that each one will live perfectly aligned to My desire for them. Some take only an occasional detour. Some refuse to acknowledge Me at all and serve only “themselves”. I put my reference to their own desires in quotes because there is a dark power at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2). You have noted, of course, that disobedience is rampant. And as you lament, the “Justice System” is full of injustice, according to the way the law informs that it should work. Still, I have drawn your attention to Romans 3, that no man, except through Me, has right standing before God. Like the Pharisees, your legislators have created so many laws and regulations (many of them conflicting and open to diverse interpretation), that no American citizen is innocent according to the law. It will get worse as time draws nearer the end. Did you foresee that there would be laws against engaging in silent prayer in front of an abortion clinic? The devil knows that prayer is a powerful weapon. Of course, those who do his bidding would write and pass such “laws”.
Therefore, you should pay attention to the intent of My parable in Luke 18. You ought to pray that you may be strengthened and not faint in fear at the danger of such attacks. I am speedily coming to uphold you.
1 John 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Me: Jesus, thank You! We could not ask for a better advocate! I love You! I pray you will protect us all despite the evil of this day and help us turn away from our own evil ways and do what You have called us to. Unswervingly!
Jesus: You are welcome! I am your protector. I Am helping you. Remember this:
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You should also be persuaded that nothing can separate you from My love!
I am grateful, Father, that You have enabled me to be in Jesus and to be raised with Him!
2 And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God]. 3 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind]. 4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). 6 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, 7 [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. 8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:2-10 AMP
Me: Good morning, Father!
Abba: Good morning, Jon!
Me: Seems this revelation that we are dead unless regenerated, born again, in Jesus is mysterious to the still dead.
Abba: I told Adam, beforehand.
So the Lord God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].” Genesis 2:15-17
Eve was lied to, in Adam’s hearing, and the two of them bought what the deceiver was selling.
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.” And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Genesis 3:3-7
The serpent countered My message to Adam, “On the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die” with “You certainly will not die!”
In disobedience, stepping away from the Author and Sustainer of life is death. Spiritually in the moment, physically in due time. The serpent told a perverted “truth”. Though man’s spiritual connection to Me perished with the sin, his lungs kept filling with air and his heart kept circulating corpuscles to be aerated. Eventual physical death is a mercy to the spiritually dead.
Consider the “sons of disobedience”, who fight against My purposes. Contrary to what the serpent said, My will for man is only for good. Still, the disobedient spiral down into twisted decay. They seek to fill their cadaverous emptiness with anything they think will bring them pleasure or benefit of any kind. They become wholly self-absorbed. They harm others (even children) because they have no idea what the truth is. They call that which is evil, good. They call that which is good, evil. (Isaiah 5:20) The Devil comes but to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) and they are sold into bondage to him.
Me: The redemption You have provided in Jesus is such a stark contrast to the ever-deepening darkness that follows sin! Thank You for the grace You have lavished upon us! What You have done is beyond comprehension. Yet we can enjoy freedom in the new life and express thanksgiving where there was only taking before. Thank You! I love You!
Ephesians 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places [ἐπουρανίοις] in Christ: 4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; 8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to his good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in One all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: 11 In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, 20 Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places [ἐπουρανίοις], 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
Note: 3-14 comprise a single, if complex, sentence.
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places [ἐπουρανίοις] in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:6
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places [ἐπουρανίοις] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [ἐπουρανίοις]. Ephesians 6:12
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. John 4:24
[Spirit God (is) and those worshiping Him in spirit and truth it is necessary to worship.] Pay no attention to that “a” added to satisfy English grammar.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence. John 18:36
Reading the opening of Ephesians brings some remarkable statements to light. I wish to focus on the phrase in the third verse: “blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places”. But not so fast. Let us back up to the beginning, for this astounding assertion is preceded by a qualifier. It applies to those who are “in” Christ. The first verse says, “the faithful in Christ Jesus”. This does not mean that those who have, in and of themselves, manufactured some faithfulness to Jesus. No! Faith, and the trait of faithfulness that follows it, are a gift from the only One who is unswervingly faithful.
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9, and please see all of 1 Corinthians 13 and all of Galatians 5.
Regarding what it means to be “in Christ”, I find it useful to consider the discourse of Jesus, as he was relating to His listeners His unity with the Father;
“… the Father is in Me and I Am in the Father [that is, I am One with Him] (from John 10:38, Amplified).
So, the message of Ephesians one is to those who are in a saving relationship with Jesus, and thus, with the Father and with the Spirit. It should be obvious that there is nothing within us that can live up to this standard until we have invited Jesus in.
Please do not take the tongue-in-cheek “no matter” theme of this post to imply that our physical lives are unaffected by the spiritual. Saying so, would be as an obviously false assertion that God, who is Spirit, is incapable of effecting the incalculable material universe by His Word. The point here is not that the material world is, well, immaterial. Rather, the starting point is in the realm of His Spirit. In the Spirit realm (in the kingdom, in other words) is where power has been applied and the resultant shift in our reality has taken place. Several passages (enumerated above) include the high places reference, Greek ἐπουρανίοις (ep-oo-ran’-ee-os). It refers to the spiritual realm. Ephesians 6:12 highlights that the term is not limited to the kingdom of light. No blessings are issued from the darkness. Please allow me to make a further observation about the material realm that we engage daily with our physical senses. In the body, Jesus suffered on our behalf, in our place. Still, He held Himself to that self-sacrificial task from within the spiritual realm. Absent the motivation of limitless love toward us, the flesh would have quailed at the prospect of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 26:26-46)
Now, back to being blessed with all spiritual blessings! Blessed with blessings. Gifted with gifts. This passage tells us we are on the receiving end and God is the Giver.
Lest any suspect I am “cherry picking” the point that “all” means unfathomable all, consider this as well:
He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 AMP
It is impossible for the presence of Jesus in our hearts to be inconsequential. But we may fail to see those happy results manifest in our emotional state and in our physical circumstances because we are creatures of habit, and our expectation (faith) is generally that things will continue the same trajectory that we have been on. Countering that predisposition is one reason for the importance of paying attention to this promise of “all spiritual blessings”.
While scripture is replete with passages letting us know what is to be ours in Christ. Paul does dedicate some space to list a few of the spiritual blessings that come under the “all” heading. I won’t explicitly point them out, but please recognize that we are traversing a deep sea worth a few minutes of meditation. Suffice to say that the passage is positively breathtaking if one considers it carefully.
Postscript: Predestination (προορίσας) – from Ephesians 1:5 Pre-establish boundaries, i.e. before establishing the world, God established the boundaries that define our adoption into His family, namely the substitutionary sacrifice Jesus would make for us.
For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:10-11 AMP
Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 AMP
Hmmm. There is that “all” again. Please don’t remain outside the established boundary. It matters.
The first word has more depth than simple negation. If you take “let not” as a command, you are not wrong, exactly, but not seeing My full revelation. I do want you to have peace. The heart is where peace resides. Consider carefully the “lest” aspect of Μὴ. The sense is more explanatory. Jesus is saying, “Lest you be disturbed or agitated, you believe, in the Father and in Me.” The thing that is commanded, because of My loving desire for you, is the “believing”. The “letting” is taken care of in the “believing”, more accurately, in the object of your belief. I Am precisely NOT saying, “Get control of your heart’s condition by some nebulous means, and that will help your believing”. Nor, “Get peace in your heart and belief in Jesus will come.” That would be “putting the cart before the horse”, so to speak.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Verse twenty-seven repeats verse one, in reverse order. Lest (See what I did there?) you miss the point, Jesus is making it clear that peace is in Him. Further, that He is giving it to “believers”. The “let not” language is exactly as in verse one: “I am giving you the same peace that is in Me lest your heart be troubled or afraid”.
So, the question is whether the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) is the dominant state of your heart. If it is not, what unbelief is blocking the promise?
Me: Thank You Father! I love You!
Abba: You are welcome! I love you!
Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.
Postscript added to last post, instead of writing a new one. Seemed like it was better there than here. Praising Jesus for His guidance! He is the reason the truth is steadfast! – Jon
I am grateful for revelation of God’s righteousness from faith to faith; that it is based on faith and delivered through faith, and not reliant on my performance!
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1
Me: Jesus, I read this morning of Susanne DeWitt who was arrested at age four sent to the Dachau concentration camp. As You know, she was speaking before the Berkly California City Council in favor of a Holocaust Remembrance Day proclamation. I was quite taken back to see how this eighty-nine-year-old survivor was subjected to vile name-calling and shouted down by demonstrators because she is a Jew.
Jesus: Yes, there are not many of those interred in the Nazi concentration camps left living now. The camp was opened by Heinrich Himmler in 1933, but incarceration of Jews dramatically increased in 1938. You can see from her age that she was sent there around 1938. Her family was swept up during Kristallnacht (Nov. 9-10). Fortunately for her, she did not stay at Dachau too long, but was deported to Poland with her family. Poland would not accept them and that started a long string of events for Susanne that if you knew the half of it, you would clearly see My hand in it. Of course, her defamers in the City Council meeting cared nothing for any of that. The trials she endured, her precarious survival, did not matter to them. Giving voice to their hatred was the singular thing.
Me: Reading Romans 1, I reckon we are seeing symptoms of the “reprobate mind”, all over now. Verse 28 says You “gave them over” to it because they “did not like to retain God in their knowledge”. I want to put knowledge in an extra set of quotes, how can all the things that go along with the reprobate mind be called knowledge?
Jesus: Do you see verses 19 and 20? I have shown the truth. But it has been rejected, in favor of various forms of self-will, right down to vile affections (v 26).
Me: That should reveal the truth to anyone looking, that You have given us free will. The last verses sum up in an amazing way what is going on every day. The Amplified version really makes the last verse stand out:
Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.
Romans 1:32 Amp.
Jesus: I do hear the self-congratulatory applause. Please see verse 22.
Me: Thank You for letting me vent. I love You! I pray You will help me to respond to these situations with Your heart. I recognize that none of us stand except by your grace.
Jesus: You are welcome. I love you!
Post Script:
When I first started to write this post, I was making some assumptions that didn’t quite settle right in my spirit. When Jesus told me if knew the half of it, I would clearly see His hand in it, I was unwilling to publish until I tried to resolve that unrest. I believe Jesus led me to search for Susanne’s name in the Holocaust Museum archives. I mean, what were the chances? I skimmed the text of her oral history (The Bay Area Holocaust Oral History Project conducted the interview with Susanne DeWitt on May 26, 1990, linked above at her name) and corrected some wrong assumptions I had made. I love the way the Spirit is faithful to guide us into all the truth! (John 16) What a magnificent promise! He doesn’t always deliver things whole and finished, but He does certainly guide. On the afternoon of Resurrection Day, I watched the entirety of the interview with Susanne. It takes about 2:21 to watch. Though one can read the 88-page transcript faster than that, only reading misses the vocal inflections that are crucial to full communication.
I saw no evidence that Susanne had met Jesus personally, as yet. I pray she will. Still, the thing Jesus told me about seeing His hand in her circumstances could not be more striking. She and her family separately dodged many situations that brought millions of other Jews to their deaths. I don’t know the “why” behind these unusual circumstances, but I trust Jesus when He said His hand was in it. I can see how those who survived might struggle to deal with their own survival. I am reminded of the passages in scripture when the people picked up rocks to stone Jesus, and he walked away in the midst of His accusers. He was not done with His work, and stoning was not His foretold death. I cannot explain His grace, but it is marvelous to behold!
One of the things Susanne said in the interview is that she was attracted to the field of genetics to show that racism is baseless. What she sensed intuitively; we know from the Scriptures. We are all descended from Adam.
Missionary Sojourn 