Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Engaging in meaningful personal reflection leads to self-discovery and growth. Taking quality and quantity of time to just explore our thoughts, emotions, and actions can lead us, move us to redemptive, healing, empowering outcomes.
Then came July 14 – 17th 2023 …
1 failed Cardiac Stress Test
Cardiac Catheterization showing 3 arteries greater than 90% blocked – the “widow making” artery being 99% blocked.
July 17, 2023 Triple Bypass Surgery …
5 and 1/2 hours surgery, 80 minutes of which my heart was deliberately stopped then kept sedated 24 hours in the CICU … woken up and I WAS alive! God is God!
In my own life, I’ve experienced the benefit of reflective practices. Through the examen of Ignatius, for example, I have learned to discern God’s presence in my daily life, identify those areas for improvement, seek God’s guidance for the future. This exercise has brought clarity, peace, and a deep sense of purpose.
From praying Psalm 139:23-24 daily during my recovery, rehabilitation, taking a personal inventory was also very beneficial to me.
By honestly assessing my incoming strengths, weaknesses, and values, I’ve been able to make intentional decisions aligned with my beliefs and aspirations. This self-awareness has led to personal growth and a stronger sense of identity.
Imagination is important in reflective practices.
Envisioning different outcomes or a favorable future can inspire hope, motivate us, and build our resilience.
We can see beyond our current situation and consider new possibilities.
Psalm 139:23-24 reminds me to invite God into my self-reflection, asking him to reveal any areas in our lives that need attention redemption and guidance.
100% Honesty as the only process this process leads us on a path of healing and empowerment guided by the Lord’s wisdom and grace.
1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; abide in him always, and feed on his word. Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak, forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus, like him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let him be thy guide, and run not before him, whatever betide. In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord, and, looking to Jesus, still trust in his word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul, each thought and each motive beneath his control. Thus led by his spirit to fountains of love, thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Take Time to Be Holy,Text: William D. Longstaff, 1822-1894 Music: George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945
In the name of God, the father, God the son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
Psalm 15
A Psalm of David.
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
We live in a world where people use the word love loosely.
We say things like I love adrenalin, food, sports, or other inanimate objects.
Yet, in our “expressing love,” from all corners of the globe you will also hear people tell you how much they love Jesus from all corners and pews in church.
So my question is, how do you know you love God?
What measuring stick are you using to define what it means to really love Jesus?
John 14:15-24 The Message
The Spirit of Truth
15-17 “If you love me, show it by doing what I have told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it does not have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
18-20 “I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you are about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.
21 “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world?”
23-24 “Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn’t mine. It’s the message of the Father who sent me.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
We live in a world where people use the word love loosely.
We say things like I love adrenalin, food, sports, or other inanimate objects.
Yet, in our “expressing love,” from all corners of the globe you will also hear people tell you how much they love Jesus from all corners and pews in church.
So my question is, how do you know you love God?
What measuring stick are you using to define what it means to really love Jesus?
In John’s narrative of the Gospel, Rabbi Jesus gives to his disciples and each of us, one “measuring stick”, which he reinforces three times in the same chapter.
“If you love me, keep my commands.” – John 14:15
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” – John 14:21
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” – John 14:23
Here in this short exchange, on three separate occasions, Jesus identifies the one piece of evidence that proves we genuinely really truly love God.
That is our obedience.
Jesus says to his disciples, gets square into their faces and conscience: it is impossible to say we love God if we are going to blatantly and continually keep doing the things that blatantly and continually break God’s everlasting heart.
It would be like me declaring to the world how much I love my wife, but I do something I know will be continually offensive unto at her every chance I get.
That may be a lot of things, but that is definitely not and cannot be allowed to be anyone’s definition or understanding or any day to day expression of love.
What Is Obedience?
According to Merriam-Webster, obedience’s definition is “the act or instance of obeying; the quality or state of being obedient.”
Furthermore, the definition of obedient is “submissive to the restraint or command of authority: willing to obey.”
Therefore, we say the meaning of Christian obedience is the act of submitting (obeying) to the commands (laws) of God, the highest authority, creator, and Father of mankind.
If we have faith in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, believe Christianity is the truth, obedience is our practice of living by faith, obeying the teachings of the Bible.
Read some of the best scripture quotes about obedience in this collection of Bible verses and find three simple ways to practice obedience below.
The Word of God Speaks on Obedience
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15
“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” – Acts 5:29
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance” – 1 Peter 1:14
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” – 1 John 5:3
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;” – Isaiah 1:19
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” – Luke 6:46
“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” – Exodus 23:22
“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” – Psalm 119:30
“34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you [a]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”– John 13:34-35
“21 The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].”John 14:21
“But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.” – John 14:31
Obedience is our way of revealing, showing God that we love Him; and it is through our obedience that God recognizes us and enables us to enjoy His Love.
This in turn will allow God to reveal himself to us, and activates God’s power to work in our lives.
How to Obey God: 3 Forms of Christian Obedience
The first two forms of Christian obedience given here come from Jesus’ teaching about the “greatest commandment of the law” in Matthew 22.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ 40 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”(verses 36-40)
1. Love the Lord your God: Obedience can be to simply honor and praise God for your life and the blessings within.
While this may seem cliché and like overstating the obvious and easy, there are many distractions in the modern world (technology in particular) that can and do 100% sidetrack us from 1000% appreciating the glory of God in our daily life.
We must focus to obey the greatest commandment of Jesus and love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, giving thanks to Him continually.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself: Continuing with the teaching from Matthew 22, our next example of obedience is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
In order to love our neighbor, friends, and even family, we must forgive them for their trespasses against us.
As the Lord’s prayer says, “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Matthew 6:14 tells us, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Because humans are so completely imperfect, trespasses against us will occur, so it is vital to forgive in order to love our neighbor.
Obeying God means putting God’s commandments echelons above our own egoic desires to hold resentment towards others – forgive and let go of anger!
3. Prayer: The Word of God for His Children literally tells us to “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
To live by faith means to live by prayer, going to God in humble supplication and genuine heartfelt repentance and complete expressions of thanksgiving.
If we feel we you are struggling with understanding or practicing obedience, pray to the Holy Spirit for empowerment, for guidance and for inspiration.
Moreover, our practicing the discipline of regular prayer itself is a form of obedience, as scripture says to humble ourselves in God’s sight and to pray.
How Our Obedience Connects Us to Our Love of God
3 Ways Our Obedience Connects to Your Love of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit:
1. Our obedience acknowledges we heartily agree with God’s position.
Psalm 46:8-10 The Message
8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
When you choose to give God your maximum attention, choose to obey God, and yes, obedience is definitely a choice, we tell God he is right and agree with his position – God alone is God and God alone is Exalted above all other things.
The agreement does not mean we automatically, immediately like his position, but absolutely agree that his position is absolutely, immutably, 100% correct.
For example, someone may hurt us, and we choose to obey God to forgive them.
Now we may not want to forgive them, and it may be difficult to forgive them, but we do it because God commands it, and we know it’s the right thing to do.
Even though it mightily hurts, we do it because we agree with God’s position.
2 . Your obedience tells Jesus he is welcome.
Psalm 5:11-12 The Message
11-12 But you’ll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to you. Let the party last all night! Stand guard over our celebration. You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight.
Obedience is an unequivocal expression of “arms wide open” welcome.
It communicates to Jesus He is welcome in our lives to do what He wants.
When we choose to disobey, we are telling Jesus we don’t want His ways, and in this or any area of my life, “I don’t want you, and I don’t want you interfering.”
I know those seem like unnecessarily harsh words, but when we reject his commands, that is what you are doing and that is what we are saying to Him.
Disobedience, which is sin, says we exclusive trust or exclusively desire our own something more than we exclusively desire God or our relationship with Him.
When you put it in that “love language,” it stings our souls just a wee bit more.
Our obedience or disobedience will determine which one we really want more, loveless sin or the things of God; our choice will show where our love resides.
3. Our obedience is about our actions, not just about our words.
Psalm 119:1-8 The Message
119 1-8 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.
When Jesus made those statements in John 14:15-24, he was really saying this.
“Don’t tell me you love me, show me. It can be very easy to declare how much you love Jesus with your lips. Anyone can do that.”
It is far different for us to make the choices, sometimes difficult ones, to be obedient, which show that we unequivocally love him more than anything.
However, it is in these places that our obedience becomes the most convincing evidence of our love because we will always choose to do the hard “God” things, even when you may not want to.
Not because we are motivated by fear of humiliation, persecution, retaliation, but because we are unequivocally motivated by a love that desires to please God.
Serve at church and in the community.
Luke 2:36-38 The Message
36-38 Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fasting’s and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
If we ourselves choose how to serve instead of obeying the Lord’s direction, our efforts are simply good works rather than an expression of love to Him.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Psalm 139:23-24 The Message
23-24 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
I want to leave you with a simple challenge today.
Take some quality time to ponder and meditate upon your life, see if there are any areas where you are knowingly, unknowingly wrestling with disobedience.
It could be something you should be doing or need to stop doing.
Either way, let the motivation to change come from your love of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit which motivates you and drives you onward, to walk in obedience.
After all, if you love him, you will do what He says.
Joshua 24:15 The Message
15 “If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”
Our whole lives can be about “Hearing God’s Word, receiving God’s Word, and even believing God’s Word” but means nothing if we do not obey God’s Word.
God’s love for us was demonstrated through the sending of His Son Jesus (1 John 4:9-10).
Our compliance, our obedience to the Father’s known will reveals exactly how deeply we choose to care about Him – take steps each day to show God our love.
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 65:1-8 The Message
65 1-2 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all.
2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt, Our sins too much for us— but you get rid of them once and for all. Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest at home in your place! We expect our fill of good things in your house, your heavenly manse. All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riot— Far and wide they’ll come to a stop, they’ll stare in awe, in wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, “Come and worship.”
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
God is holy, and God wants us to be holy as well.
The more holy we become, the closer relationships we can enjoy with God.
But what does it really mean to be holy?
Thankfully, we do not have to rely on our strength to pursue holiness, because Jesus meets us exactly where we are and helps us, moves us to achieve holiness.
Here’s what it means to be holy, what the Bible says about holiness, and how to pursue holiness in our everyday lives.
What Does the Bible Say about Holiness?
The biblical definition of “holy” is someone who is sacred – set apart spiritually for a good purpose.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “qodesh” is used for “holy.”
Leviticus 19:2 ESV2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
The meanings of both “qodesh” and “hagios” are similar, with both words indicating separateness for the purpose of purity.
Holy people, in the biblical sense, are those who are devoted to God.
They make their relationships with God their top priority by living lives that are set apart from the secular and centered around what’s sacred.
The Bible says that God is holy.
1 Samuel 2:2 proclaims God as the ultimate model of holiness: “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
Isaiah 6:1-3 describes angels in heaven worshiping God for his holiness:
“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
Psalms 29:2 urges people to worship God for his holiness: “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”
Since God is holy, the Bible says, he wants us to be holy in our relationships with him.
God tells us in Leviticus 20:7-8: “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.”
He says in Leviticus 11:44: “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy…”
The apostle Peter refers back to that verse in 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
Hebrews 12:10-11, 14-15 reveals that holiness is necessary, so God teaches us how to pursue it:
“…God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. … Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
We have all the help we need to be holy through our relationships with Jesus, who imparts his holiness onto us when we trust him for our salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:21 explains: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Luke 1:68, 74-75 celebrates the fact that Jesus works redemption in our lives so we can be holy: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. … to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”
So does Ephesians 1:3-7: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
Hebrews 7:24-26 reveals that Jesus always intercedes for us with our holy God: “…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”
Titus 3:3-7 emphasizes that God helps us be holy because of his mercy, not because of our own behavior:
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
What Does it Mean to be Holy?
So, we can be holy by living pure lives, as God calls us to do and helps us do.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 points out: “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” We simply have to trust Jesus, who has set us free from sin, to help us live holy lives.
Romans 6:19, 22 says: “…Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. …But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
One way which Jesus helps us be holy is by showing us a simple way to pursue holiness, so we don’t need to become overwhelmed or discouraged by trying to be holy.
Jesus tells us simply to focus on loving God, loving other people day by day.
Matthew 22:36-40 records Jesus’ reply when asked about God’s holy law: “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”
Jesus also helps us with other ways to pursue holiness in our everyday lives.
He is always available for us to rely on for encouragement and strength in our quest for greater holiness.
Romans 8:28-30 describes how God confirms us to the image of Jesus as we grow in holiness:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Being holy means centering our lives around our relationships with Jesus and following his example of holiness as best we can.
Along the way, we’ll sometimes make mistakes, but we’ll also keep growing in holiness as long as we keep trusting Jesus to help us.
As Jesus tells us in John 16:33: “…in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
How to Pursue Holiness in Our Everyday Lives
The disciplined pursuit of holiness is a lifelong journey that consistently leads us closer to God.
Here are three key ways to discipline ourselves to pursue holiness day by day:
Live in awe of God’s inspiring holiness.
We can seek God’s wonder in our lives and allow that to reveal new facets of his majestic holiness to us.
Exodus 15:11 says of God: “Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
As we’re inspired with awe because of God’s holiness, that can motivate us to move closer to God by growing in holiness ourselves.
The Bible points out that living in awe of God is the beginning of wisdom, and when we are living with wisdom, we naturally become more holy.
Confess and repent regularly.
Rather than allowing sin to accumulate in our lives and corrupt us, we can regularly confess our sins to God and repent by turning away from sin and turning toward God.
As we make that choice and learn from our mistakes, we will purify ourselves so we can become more holy.
2 Corinthians 7:1 urges: “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Then, as we encounter new temptations to sin, we can trust God to help us to overcome temptation moving forward.
Pursue the fruit of the Spirit.
We can also ask the Holy Spirit regularly to help us grow more holiness in our lives by renewing our minds.
Ephesians 4:22-24 points out: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
The Holy Spirit will help us renew our minds (Romans 12:2)
and cultivate attitudes of holiness in us that are called the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Conclusion
Psalm 139:23-24 English Standard Version
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts![a] 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting![b]
The Holiness of God matters!
Our Personal Holiness matters to God
Holiness is an important quality of God, which God wants us to cultivate in our relationships with Him.
Although we will always make mistakes in this fallen world, we do not have to worry that holiness isn’t attainable.
We can live holy lives as we discipline ourselves to read and study the Word of God, fellowship with each other, fervently to trust Jesus to help us day by day.
The more we seek God’s Kingdom over the world, faithfully discipline ourselves to grow, mature in personal holiness, the closer to our faithful God we become.
Personal holiness is something that should deeply matter to everyone and it’s something to celebrate in the undeniable, indescribable beauty of God’s Son!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, Your Word commands us to, “be holy as You are holy”, and I know that in and of myself I cannot live in true holiness of heart, except as the Lord Jesus lives His life in me, and the Holy Spirit carries out a life-transforming work in me.
Thank You, Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth that I have been born into Your family, united together with Christ Jesus and I am one with Him. I pray that increasingly, His nature and character may be developed in me, until I can say as Paul did, “my old self has died and been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives His resurrection life in me and works through me.”
Creator God, Author of my life, Perfecter of my Faith I ask You would continue to root out all of me that is counter to what You desire from me, and I pray that You would increasingly transform me into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus, day by day.
Lord, I know that this is not an easy prayer to pray even once let alone every day and it will likely cause me much grief, sorrow and pain, but I believe that this is the will for each of Your children, and so I come to You today and say, Father, Your will be done in my life. Give me I pray, that desire and grace to become a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto You, to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus’ name.
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.[a]10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Community Is Our Doing Difficult Things Together
When Jesus sent out his disciples, he had very specific thoughts in mind.
He sent them out together to do difficult things.
He sent them out together.
He gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff.
He charged them to take no bread, no bag, no money in their belts.
He charged them to wear only one tunic at a time and wear only sandals.
He charged them to knock on doors they did not know and ask for hospitality.
He sent them out into the villages ahead of them to preach and to heal.
He charged them to give their testimony wherever they went and stayed.
That meant each of the six pairs of Apostles went to six different villages.
To proclaim a message of repentance and of the coming of God’s Kingdom.
Even though it was incredibly unlikely they had a very clear grasp of exactly what they were being commanded to preach and give their testimony about.
And it is highly doubtful that any one of the twelve Apostles had spent any amount of time or expended any measure of effort towards believing they had the ability, could exercise any authority or power over any unclean spirits.
I’m sure they were apprehensive at first.
I am not so sure they seriously believed they could actually accomplish the task before them, to act directly, decisively in the astounding measure of confidence they were told, nay commanded by Jesus, to display before all of those people.
One does not get the very clear idea that any one of those twelve believed that much in themselves, believed that they had that even minimal value to others.
But, one thing is abundantly clear about this whole scene and that is Jesus said nothing to them about of any rescinding his direct command of their mission.
He commanded them to “Go!”
Told them how and when to “Go!”
And such was his command of the moment and his authority over the twelve:
So, in obedience, Go they did out into those random villages ahead of them.
What were they told to expect of their efforts – nothing specific.
What did Jesus hope and pray they learned from whatever levels of success or failure each of them would report back to him with?
Again, we note there were no specific expectations of success or failure.
No standards of measure for either success or failure are given to anyone.
No graphs or charts, no percentages, no lectures from any in management.
“Go! and do as I have commanded exactly as I have commanded you!”
“Learn your unspecified lessons from your efforts and report back to me.”
Unspecified Lessons being perhaps:
“Learning of God.”
“Trusting in God”
“Testifying and Witnessing of and to God”
“Your immeasurable inestimable undeniable VALUE to the Kingdom of God”
But when they came back, with no specific expectations having been placed upon them they each had amazing stories to tell of God’s power displayed in their world and perhaps hidden even from their own perception – Value to God!
They returned to Jesus with a new found confidence.
They returned to Jesus with a new found sense of self esteem, value to others.
They learned to believe in themselves.
They learned to believe in themselves and to value themselves.
They learned to have confidence in God.
They learn to trust and believe in God.
They learn to highly value God in the undeniable role God plays in their lives.
They learned to have confidence, to trust in, place high, higher, highest value on the words and the plans and the intentions and the works of their Rabbi.
God, together with us in faith Community brings all of that ‘wonder’ together.
How many of those villagers lives were touched and transformed, now found themselves with a renewed, fresh and refreshed and refreshing belief in God?
How many of those villagers found themselves and their curiosity peaked to start wondering about and following this Itinerant master Rabbi named Jesus?
It goes and does difficult things together—all the time witnessing the amazing work of God in the world around us, all the time assigning inestimable value to each, every one of us, what we have to bring “just as we are” unto His Kingdom.
Are We Recognizing Our Value to God’s Kingdom?
John 15:12-17 English Standard Version
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
When we think of these original apostles, we perhaps think of holy men of God.
And though they were gifted and dedicated, they also were all rather ordinary.
Jesus did not call these men because they were great; their greatness was the result of the call upon their lives through Jesus being obedient to His Father.
A great writer can take an ordinary unvalued piece of paper, and with the addition of his or her words, and God it suddenly becomes extremely valuable.
It wasn’t the blank piece of paper that was valuable; it was what the inspired thoughts which the writer, for whatever reason, just put down on that paper.
History has repeatedly taught us that a great artist can take a canvas and paint, and suddenly it becomes $$$$ costly work of art because of what the artist did.
It wasn’t the canvas that was valuable; it is what the inspired artist painted on the canvas.
As believers, we recognize in ourselves that we are sinners separated from God.
But let’s also recognize that when Christ came into our lives, He gave us value.
He put His treasure in earthen vessels, or in jars of clay, which are our lives.
As 2 Corinthians 4:7 tells us, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
As Ephesians 2:8-10 Amplified so eloquently reminds each and every one of us;
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].
With a new confidence and boldness, we have something to offer.
It is not self-confidence; it is God-confidence.
It is not self-esteem; it’s God-esteem.
God graciously forgave us and took us into His kingdom, and now He has made us someone of inestimable value to the work which God began at the beginning.
In the same way,
the original twelve apostles, called by their Master Rabbi Jesus were valuable because of what Jesus did in their lives, by summoning and sending them too.
Valued of Mankind versus Valued of God
“Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see, only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love and purity.”
Sinful man who goes to indescribable, unnecessary lengths to devalue itself in the eyes of self and of each other, devalue others through indescribable means,
Indescribably, stereotypically “crucify,” unimaginably devalue and degrade, disenchant, disenfranchise, dehumanize and to fully and utterly humiliate,
Sinful man whose eyes no longer are focused upon the inestimable value of life which God has assigned to each, every single cell of one of His own creations,
From the very beginning of all created things, and through the very end of all created things, God has always had one very specific, undervalued message;
God’s never changing message to everyone is exactly and exactingly this:
Genesis 1:26-27 Authorized (King James) Version
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
“I, and I alone assign all the value you will ever need or require in your life!”
God wrote His name on your heart when you gave your life to Jesus Christ.
He has given you incomparable value, valuable gifts and invaluable abilities.
He has fully, utterly and completely invested everything of Himself in you.
That is where your absolute value to God and His Kingdom comes from.
And that’s why you can make an absolutely miraculous, wondrous difference.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 139:1-18 Complete Jewish Bible
139 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I stand up, you discern my inclinations from afar, 3 you scrutinize my daily activities. You are so familiar with all my ways 4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai, you know all about it already. 5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front and laid your hand on me. 6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me, far too high for me to reach.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there. 9 If I fly away with the wings of the dawn and land beyond the sea, 10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Let darkness surround me, let the light around me be night,” 12 even darkness like this is not too dark for you; rather, night is as clear as day, darkness and light are the same.
13 For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I thank you because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; your works are wonders — I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed. 17 God, how I prize your thoughts! How many of them there are! 18 If I count them, there are more than grains of sand; if I finish the count, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:23-24 Complete Jewish Bible
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way.
Invaluable Father, Invaluable Son, Invaluable Holy Spirit, send us into the world together, in your inestimable name, to immeasurably love and value all thy children and to ceaselessly witness to your power at work through changing lives. Let us each bring to you only ceaseless, incalculable, indescribable, immeasurable, inestimable, invaluable, unrelenting glory unto your name and into your name alone. Amen.
23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis, Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
The Life We Now Live is Often A Reflection of the Thoughts We Have Thought, Are Now Thinking.
Yes! I know that statement sounds rather obvious.
But is it one for which we ever stop, take any quality time to think about?
Or does it seem to be too obvious that we take it far too much for granted?
Consider this …..
The Winds go whichever direction they go.
Why?
Who but a weatherman or an airplane pilot or a sailor or a ships captain ever really cares about the “whatever” directions of the speeds it blows or shifts.
The Winds are just “there” and we acknowledge them and move on without a second or third or fourth thought – shrug our shoulders and fly away to glory.
Unless, of course – you are about to be in the middle of a blizzard or a tornado or a hurricane and are about to have your whole life major league rearranged.
Like whitewater rapids rushing you downstream, your thoughts move your life in the direction of their strongest currents.
The thoughts you and I think, believe, hold onto, ruminate, obsess about and use to support your decisions determine your view of everything and everyone around you, up to and including yourself.
You and I probably don’t stop and think about the power your thoughts have over our lives—which only increases the power they have to determine your decisions and shape your actions, determine the shifting sands of our life.
Simply put, what you and I think determines what you and believe.
Every thought in our brain produces a neurochemical change in your mind.
And these thoughts shape your life.
Once our thoughts determine what you believe, these beliefs then determine how you and I behave.
In many ways, you become what you think about.
Therefore, the better you and I grasp the importance of our thoughts, the better equipped you and I will be to change our lives in powerful kingdom of God ways.
Drawing on what the Word of God tells us about the power of our thoughts as well as what we can learn from modern psychology, particularly an area called cognitive behavioral therapy, we have the ability to change lives for the better.
We can live according to the principles and promises God gives us and enjoy being all that he created us to be or live according to cultures shifting winds.
Otherwise, our thoughts will continue to sweep us away in dangerous currents of clever deception, wild misinformation, and lies from our enemy, the devil.
God told us this truth more than 1,500 years ago: “For as thinks in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).
God knows better than we can ever know, what we focus on mentally affects every single aspect of our lives because He created us that way. Isaiah 55:7-9
But, still, God calls us out of our day to day thoughts, our day to day obsessions over ourselves, our families, our friends, our finances, our health situations.
God is always ever more aware of what it is our lives are being challenged by.
Despite whatever the magnitude of whatever it is we are challenged by, we are still summoned to go forth “in the midst of these things” to be God’s witnesses.
We are summoned away from the great winds of our thoughts which blow us about in every which direction, by our Baptism we are still “Sermons in Shoes.”
Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news, (1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes. (2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes. (3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes. (4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes. (Ruth Harms Calkin)
Think of it, about and upon it and believe mightily upon it, “a sermon in shoes.”
Psalm 139:23-24English Standard Version
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts![a] 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting![b]
If you will recall, these very familiar verses, of the context of this psalm is David expressing his thoughts of his confidence that the Lord who knows all, and who thinks of, knows him intimately, can vindicate him in the midst of his accusers.
God knows that David is without blame–at least in terms of the accusations fired against him.
In these closing thoughts from, David is baring his soul, very willing to have the sum total of his very deepest, most intimate thoughts laid bare before the Lord.
Not only is he confident that such an examination will demonstrate that he is innocent of the crimes ascribed to him, but that he may also be made aware of any sinful thoughts which remain unacknowledged, that need to be dealt with.
In other words, David not only sought complete vindication before men, but also a complete sanctification, a complete healing of his soul before his God.
Verse 23 is not so much David granting the Lord permission to search his heart–the Lord hardly needs, nor asks, nor demands, for such permission.
He knows our hearts whether we want Him to or not.
Rather, David declares himself completely willing and utterly welcoming of such an indescribable magnitude of scrutiny by his Creator.
So sure is he of his innocence, that he knows the Lord will find nothing to hold against him with regard to the matter at hand.
We do not know exactly what this matter is, but David’s words challenge us: are we so sure of the truthfulness and sincerity of our words and the magnitude of our own “wildly windy” thoughts, we too would welcome the Lord’s examination of them?
As we have repeatedly noted, the Lord already knows our hearts, our motives, our worry and anxious thoughts and the honesty (or lack thereof) of our speech.
Is the thought of this something that makes us uncomfortable, or at peace?
If by our thoughts we feel at all uncomfortable, then maybe we are harboring additional thoughts and hidden, covert, and discrete motives we shouldn’t.
David’s “disquieting thoughts” are those thoughts which cause him to be troubled, or anxious.
Again, the challenge is whether we are at peace with our thought life.
Psalm 19:11-14The Message
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
When the light of God’s truth is shone upon our lives, do we squirm and hide, become disquieted, or do we stand before our Savior Jesus with confidence?
Do we want to bare our thoughts, do we want our sin to be illuminated by our Heavenly Father, so He might lead us away from that path to the eternal path?
Or do we want to stay quiet, stay hidden within wild winds of culture, hide our sin away from everyone, and try to protect it from the Lord’s cleansing grace?
Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes? Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news, (1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes. (2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes. (3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes. (4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes. (Ruth Harms Calkin)
Think of it, about and upon it and believe mightily upon it, “a sermon in shoes.”
As we make our resolutions before the Lord, we need to be seriously willing to let go of all that “barely” disquiets us–every sinful thought, desire, and motive.
Our chief desire is not only to have a blameless reputation before men, but more importantly, to have, to live, to walk, to talk, to teach and preach of a character whose #1 goal is that it glorifies God in its reflection of His goodness and purity.
This requires us exposing ourselves to His refining fire, allowing Him to search out the depths of our hearts and draw out of us the remaining sin in our lives.
It won’t be even minimally pleasant, but it’s necessary if we are to be sanctified and even minimally useful and minimally fruitful unto the Lord in His kingdom.
God does know us.
We cannot pretend we are something we are not with him.
He knows us — inside and out, through and through.
This should liberate us to share a remarkable degree of intimacy with him, but most of us will choose to run far from such a close relationship with our Father.
If our desire, however, is to become more like him, more Christ-like, the only certain way to be transformed is by “inviting” him in to look at our hearts, our motivations, our desires – take our prayerfully “fruit laden” resolutions to Him.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
O Lord my God, you are my shield and my strength. Help me to trust you with my decisions and my future. Let me lean on you with all my heart instead of relying on my own understanding. Give me clear guidance in my life Lord. As I submit myself and the magnitude of my thoughts to you, I know that you will direct my paths and I can have confidence that your direction is always the best way to go. Lord, bless me and keep me, make your face shine upon me. Turn your face towards me and give me my just portion of thy everlasting peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
O God, I know you are the one who “searches hearts and minds.” for our disquieted and disquieting thoughts. Yet because of the grace you demonstrated in Jesus, I am confident that you love me and will cleanse me. My heart is sorry for the sin I have committed, but I am really trying to serve you in honor and purity. Please fill me with your Spirit to enable me to become more like Christ. In the name of Your Son I pray.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Well, I hope we have decided that we will sit in God’s witness chair and let Him have free reign and ask whatever question He wants. And we have decided we are going to give Him all the answers He requires into the depths with which he needs. The questions will undoubtedly be tough and probing and quite rigorous. This questioning will by no means be comfortable – nor is it ever meant to be so for our sakes. Who knows how long we’ll be sitting there, how many questions we will be barraged by? But we have chosen to stay seated in the witness seat.
The question is … Why should we willingly stay seated for such in-depth times.
Psalm 139:23-24 New Revised Standard Version
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked[a] way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.[b]
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Psalm 139 begins with David’s acknowledgement that God has “examined” his heart. The Lord knows everything about him (Ps. 139:1). Nothing about David or his life can be hidden from God, who knows even what David will say before he says it (Ps. 139:4). If he tried to escape from the Lord, in every place God would be present (Ps. 139:7-13). In fact, God knew David even in his mother’s womb as he knit him together wonderfully (Ps. 139:13-16).
The first eighteen verses of Psalm 139 celebrate the Lord’s intimate knowledge of David. Verse 19 changes the subject abruptly: “O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!” (Ps. 139:19). It’s as if the memory of those who sought David’s life interrupted his celebration of God’s presence and filled his heart with a sudden rush, hatred for his enemies.
Then Psalm 139 takes another unexpected turn, concluding with a prayer for the Lord to examine David’s heart: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Ps. 139:23-24). Perhaps David realized that his hatred exceeded an appropriate zeal for justice, love for God.
Perhaps he remembered that, like his enemies, he himself had done things that badly dishonored the Lord. So, he invited God to search him and reveal anything offensive. “Put me in your witness chair! O God of my salvation!!!” The implied understanding is that David would repent of those sins in order that God might “examine [him] lead [him] along the path of everlasting life” (Ps. 139:24).
With a reluctant heart I confess I need God to search me in this way. Don’t you? Though a part of me resists dealing with what is wrong in my heart, I know that I need to see my sin as God sees it, so that I might confess and be forgiven, and so that I might find hope, turn from my sin to follow the Lord more completely.
The great unknown from sitting in His witness chair. How does God reveal my sin to me? In many ways: through reading Scripture, through hearing the Word of God preached, through the challenging love of friends, and through the still small voice of the Spirit. In asking God to search me, I am inviting him also to open my heart so that I might receive the conviction of his Spirit. I am saying, “Go ahead! Point out anything in me that offends you, and I will listen to you!”
David’s “disquieting thoughts” are those thoughts that caused him to become troubled, or anxious. Again, the challenge is whether we are at peace with our thought life. When the light of God’s truth is shone upon our lives, do we or do we not squirm and hide, or do we or do we not stand up with confidence? Do we or do we not want our sin to be illuminated by our Heavenly Father, so He might lead us away from that path to the eternal path? Or do we or do we not want to hide our sin away from God, and protect it from the Lord’s cleansing grace?
The challenge of Psalm 139? We need to be willing to let go of all that disquiets us–every sinful thought, desire, and motive. Our chief desire is not only to have a blameless reputation before men, but more importantly, to have a character that glorifies God in its reflection of His goodness and purity. This requires us exposing ourselves to His refining fire, allowing Him to search out our hearts and draw out of us the remaining sin in our lives. It won’t be pleasant, but it’s necessary if we are to be sanctified and useful unto the Lord in His kingdom.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
Can I really be ready? Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee ….
Search my heart, O God! Take my life and let it be, consecrated unto thee ….
Ask any question, O God! Take my life and let it be, consecrated unto thee ….
Ask all questions, O God! Take my life and let it be, consecrated unto thee ….
I am fearful an anxious but, go right on ahead and ask your questions anyway!
Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee ….
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
2. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.
3. Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee.
Take your place upon God’s witness stand …. contemplate His questions ….
Have there been times in your life when God has revealed things to you that were hard, but essential, for you to hear? What helps you to attend to the all- convicting voice of God’s Spirit? Are you ready for God to point out anything in your life that offends him? What might help you to get ready, if you’re not?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us pray,
O Lord my God, my eternal Father, thank you that you are my ever-present help in times of trouble. Help me to trust in what is unseen. Remind me of the truth of your power, that you surround me, and you are fighting for me. Never give up on me! Give me favor and breakthrough in my life. You are the Sovereign King of all ages, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. To you be honor and glory forever and ever. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Relationships take time. And as time passes, as growth takes place, as maturity enters in, we can decide whether we want to go to the next level with a person and eventually, “safely” come to that uniquely “safe” place, open up to them.
This doesn’t have to be a husband or wife thing. It applies to every relationship.
Hopefully, over a period of time, we will all have someone we can safely tell our deepest, most sensitive secrets to. Someone we know can keep our confidence.
Such friends like these seem to know when there is something wrong with us, even when others don’t. They have been our friends for so long they can sense our mood, they can sense our innermost thoughts without even talking to us.
With an acquaintance, it’s different. We might tell them a little about our life, but we usually keep them from knowing all of the good stuff going on within us. We establish “safe zones,” weave our safety nets, protect ourselves and them.
Ironically, we will sometimes try to weave our “safety nets” underneath Jesus.
The further irony becomes our lack of awareness, God does know us. We cannot pretend we are something we are not with him. He knows us — inside and out, through and through. Ironically such knowledge as that should liberate us to share a remarkable degree of intimacy with him, but most of us run away from such a close relationship with our Father. Do we really want such a connection?
We declare to ourselves that it is no longer “safe” to be either around God. Yet, IF our “sincerest” “safest” desire, is to indeed become more like him, the only way to be transformed is by “risking our personal safety,” inviting him in to unceremoniously cross-examine all our hearts, our motivations, our desires!
Are we really, actually, genuinely, ready to risk such an “unsafe” eventuality?
I am not so sure we are if we were to seriously examine what God is saying here.
Psalm 139:23-24The Message
23-24 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Standing Toe to Toe with God … (Job Chapter 19)(Psalm 13 NRSV)
Standing Face to Face with God …. (Psalm 27:7-11 NRSV)(Jonah 1 – 2 NRSV)
“Investigate my life, O God,”
(What!?! Wait a Minute! Cringing and cowering)
“Find out EVERYTHING about me; “
(“Hold on, there … STOP!” Cringing, and cowering and gasping)
“Cross – Examine AND Test me,”
(“You mean put me on the witness stand? I was only joking around!”)
“Get a clear picture of what I am about”
(You mean me raising my right hand, making me swear an oath on a Bible?)
“See for yourself whether I have done anything ‘wrong’ ….”
(“I mean, you are actually taking me super-duper serious, right now, God?)
THEN and ONLY then, if there is anything left of me worthy enough,
(Me and my big mouth have always gotten me into a whole lot of serious trouble, but I would never, ever even remotely imagine anything like this!)
“Then Guide Me on the Road to Eternal life ….”
(“On second thought, maybe, just maybe it might all be worth it after all!”)
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray (“Yes! Lord! Absolutely? or Nope! No Way! No How! or …?”)
Take My Life, and Let It Be by Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879
1. Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
2. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.
3. Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee.
Jesus Christ was the Son of God from all eternity, but it is clear that his ministry and life was empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22). The Holy Spirit led him, tested him, and empowered him. When he went into the wilderness to do battle with Satan, he went “full of the Spirit” (Luke 4:1). If Christ needed and relied on the Holy Spirit in his reliance on his Father, then ask yourselves, just how much more did his disciples rely on the Holy Spirit? He told them that they must wait for power to come upon them before setting off on his mission (Luke 24:49).
One sure and certain test of what spirit is working in us is the result that it has upon our hearts and our souls. Do we feel timid, fearful or do we feel the joy and strength of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:11)? Do we feel hate and indifference to God and others, or do we feel love? Do we feel out of control, led around by the lusts of the flesh (Philippians 3:19), or do we experience self-discipline? God did not leave us on our own, but gave us his powerful Spirit, so often underestimated and unappreciated and under taught, if even taught at all, by we, God’s people.
2 Timothy 1:1-7 The Message
1 1-2 I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. I write this to you, Timothy, the son I love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!
To Be Bold with God’s Gifts
3-4 Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.
5-7 That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
This passage and these verses are extraordinarily powerful and empowering because within them God tells us that we do not have to be shy about glorifying God, Exalting Christ, or expressing, living, loving or being afraid of our faith.
Did you catch that, or did it fly right past you?
Let me say it again, God, through the Apostle Paul, tells us that you and I do not ever have to be the least bit shy or even the least bit afraid of living in and into our faith in the name of God, His Son, our Savior Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
But what about in time of sudden or chronic or deadly sickness? What about at or approaching the point of death? What about that wavering economy? What about my keeping my job or retiring? What about my being able to maintain my house? What about supporting my family, loving my neighbors, community?
What about the current socio-cultural political climate in our country and in your own country? The list could go literally on and on ad infinitum because there is no limit to the wholly unique situations that’ll tempt us to be afraid.
While all of these things are undeniably important, none of these situations mentioned or not mentioned is cause for the Christian to fear or to shy away from his family or his or their faiths. Let’s discover together why this is true.
Not a Spirit of Fear
First, notice that God does not take credit for the spirit of fear.
“Spirit of fear” speaks of fearfulness and timidity.
It is cowardice in the face of hostility.
In Timothy’s case it was the fear of an unknown future, carrying on in ministry and mission with a new growing and maturing orthodoxy that did not include the brilliant guidance of his mentor and teacher Paul helping and guiding him.
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy shortly before he was executed in Rome by the Emperor Nero for advocating, preaching of the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ.
Timothy, no doubt, was incredibly fearful of losing his father in the faith, Paul.
He was afraid of ending up in a prison similar to Paul and perhaps he was afraid of receiving the same immediate, sudden, sentence of death as Paul received.
Timothy felt as if he had too much to fear and too little maturity to grow out of it and to lead and guide the new and growing and maturing Church he pastored.
Paul writes to Timothy, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), to tell him the fear he is experiencing is not any spiritual gift from God therefore it must be rigorously, vigorously challenged, prayed through, using God’s Holy Scriptures.
Not a Spirit of Fear but instead an Inspired Spirit of Power and Empowerment.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:5).
One characteristic of the Holy Spirit is power.
This power is mighty and strong, and it is irresistible and forever available.
From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit was powerful at the moment of Creation as He “was hovering over the face of many waters” (Genesis 1:2).
It was “by the Spirit of God that [Jesus] cast out demons” (Matthew 12:28).
It was by the Spirit of God overshadowing Mary that she was able to conceive Jesus without ever knowing a man (Luke 1:35).
It was the Spirit of God that rushed upon the timid, fearful disciples and then transformed them into bold apostles that very first moment of the Pentecost.
Peter, for example, went from being fearful and refusing to acknowledge Christ in the presence of a servant girl in a courtyard to being bold and powerful before the Jewish religious leaders as he resoundingly, soberly proclaimed, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).
The Holy Spirit brings God’s power, passion and purpose not shyness nor fear.
Not a Spirit of Fear and Shyness but a Spirit of Unconditional Unwavering Love
God has not given us a spirit of timidity or fear, but the power of the Holy Spirit.
Another characteristic of the Holy Spirit is unconditional and unwavering love.
Jesus said in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
This point is very important, and 1 John 4:13-21 explains it perfectly:
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So, we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also, we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Our hearts and our souls do not need to have any degree or measure of fear that God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit does not love us in more ways we can ever hope to define or imagine or comprehend. (John 3:16 – 17)
The Holy Spirit, who is given to us, gives us certainty and confidence (not fear) in this world because He gives us His assurance, His 100% confidence in the Day of Judgment which is to come. This perfect love of God casts out all fear because “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Not the Spirit of Fear and Shyness but the Spirit of Sound Mind & Self-Control
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit.
The last characteristic of the Holy Spirit mentioned here is Self-Control (or more easily understood as a Sound and Disciplined mind).
The Spirit of God gives power and love and also brings discipline, self-control by transforming you to become more like Christ. (Romans 12 whole chapter)
Romans 8:29 tells us that those who are foreknown by God are “predestined to be conformed into the image of His Son.”
The Holy Spirit works in us to preserve us daily and help us to live a life that is pleasing to God.
We now read in the words of St. Jude 1:24, “to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.”
We are not to be shy nor be enveloped by being afraid, but we are to work boldly and confidently knowing that if we are united with Christ “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37)who can never be separated from the Love of God (John 10:27-30, Romans 8:38-39)
because
“He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
How about a contemporary application of this passage from 2 Timothy? ….
I have heard it repeatedly preached and taught that fear is
“Our failure to realize what God has given us, and is giving us, in giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Let’s be a wee bit more intentional in these coming days, weeks and months ahead in refusing to be afraid and having and living into and out of our faith.
Second Timothy 1:1–7 encourages Timothy to be brave in the face of hardships. Paul is reminding Timothy that he is being prayed for, and that he comes from a family of strong faith. Paul also reassures Timothy that they are both in service of the same God, who gave them a spirit of ”power and love and self-control.”
Timothy, like us all… need to be continuously, continually, reminded that we have the permanently, indwelling Holy Spirit of God, who has gifted us with Spiritual Gifts of God, and has empowered us with all that we need for life and godliness, no matter how difficult or dangerous life in this world may become.
We each have it within us to make a difference and be and become a difference!
God already knows what that difference is and will become when we move forth.
God, the Father, knows exactly what and who is holding us back!
God the Son knows exactly what and who is holding us back!
God the Holy Spirit knows exactly what and who is holding us back!
Do we know or even want to minimally know who or what is holding us back?
Dare any one of us too afraid to pray unto God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Psalm 139:23-24 The Message
23-24 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Faithful Father, thank you that you are the resurrection and the life, death holds no power over you. The power that you used to conquer death now lives in me. Use your miracle-working power to bring a breakthrough in my life. May I truly and genuinely know your all-conquering power, today, Lord. Hear my prayer. You have loved me, and you have freed me from my sins by your blood. To you be glory and power forever and ever. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 