THE CHARACTER OF GOD

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5)

          In this Davidic prayer we find three character traits of God: 1) that He is forgiving; 2) that He is good, and 3) that His love is abundant. This speaks volumes regarding who we serve and what we can expect from Him. What will our response be? The Reformation Study Bible makes a good point when it says “God does not forgive all people indiscriminately; He waits until they turn to Him with prayers of repentance.” A person must recognize they are in need of saving before they can be saved. Those who simply say they believe in God yet never call out to Him for the forgiveness He offers and freely gives have missed the point entirely. Forgiveness doesn’t fall down on all of creation like rain without even being sought, it falls down like water from a shower head on the individual who sees the need of cleansing, asks to be cleaned and is thus cleansed.

          The love that God has for His creation is never-ending and plentiful. It shall never be in short supply. It meets all the criteria laid out in 1 Corinthians 13; the absolute definition of love. It tells us unequivocally what it is and what it is not. God is love and therefore is the embodiment of all the characteristics listed in Corinthians. If you would like to know what God is like, read 1 Corinthians 4-8, for they define the character of God. But He is so much more than that. David knew this because He had an intimate relationship with His God. There would be no Davidic Psalms, nor any great stories to tell if King David went to the Temple on Sunday mornings and simply sat there, proclaimed that he believed in God and then went about his business. Our God desires a level of intimacy that many are unwilling to give perhaps out of ignorance or pride. The relationship we have with our God is designed to change us from the inside out. A metamorphosis is to take place within us so that we are no longer who we once were. The Bible calls us a new creation. The old has passed away, behold all things are new (2 Corinthians 5:17). God readily forgives if we ask for forgiveness. There is no other way to receive payment for our sin debt. Christ’s horrific death on the cross was not for nothing. It paid the price for our freedom.

 

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

 

NOTE: The Book of Psalms is a prayer book as well as a collection of hymns. [Reformation Study Bible]

 

NOTE: “A Prayer of David. We have here one of the five psalms entitled Tephillahs or prayers. This psalm consists of praise as well as prayer, but it is in all parts so directly addressed to God that it is most fitly called ‘a prayer’.” [The Treasury of David; www.spurgeon.org]

UNITY OF THE BODY

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” [Ephesians 4:1-6]

 

          Ephesians is one of Paul’s prison letters. Being somewhat claustrophobic, I can’t even imagine what it is like to be bound in chains in a dark, dank prison cell in a land that is not my home; yet Paul’s faith carries him through each of his prison stints. Through it all he remained true to his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ. We think we couldn’t do such a thing ourselves; however, God does not give you the ability to do so until you need it.

           Ephesians was a church that didn’t have the internal issues that some of the other assemblies had. Paul knew that counter-Christian doctrine was circulating and so he addressed the issue of unity among the brethren in the beginning of this fourth chapter. Unity breeds harmony. Love is the catalyst to a harmonious unity. The source of all things and the one hope that all believers have is found in God. He is the only constant in the maelstrom of chaos that is this world. As believers in Christ we are also representatives or ambassadors, if you will. If we bear the title Christian, we represent Christ in all we think, say and do. It behooves us to do our best in this life to emulate our Lord. To this end Paul states to the Ephesians and to us today, to be humble, gentle and patient with fellow believers and do so in love. Love is like a big generator. Generators, simply put, are machines that take mechanical energy and make it into electricity. Since we are to be a light to the world, what better analogy could there be than a generator. God showed us exactly what love was meant to be through the willing and voluntary death of His Son. We are to take the love that was transplanted in our hearts and use it to show love to one another.

          Man has chosen to believe that there is any number of ways to get to heaven. Many of their ways simply involve being good as they perceive being good is or doing good deeds that they feel are good. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Paul clearly states that mankind has one hope. There are not many roads to heaven, but only one and that road leads through the cross. Always remember GRACE this way: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

 

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

 

NOTE: “Each of these characteristics, when practiced within the community of faith, aids in maintaining harmony, ‘the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace’. Unity is not automatic. It is maintained by diligent effort. Yet the basis for unity is clearly evident because the new community has been established on common ground. There is only one access to the new community, even though God is the Father of all persons. The word “one” serves as a reminder of the equality of the citizens who all are sinners saved by grace.” [Asbury Bible Commentary]

GIVING

“Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly be rewarded.” [Mark 9:41]

 

          It should immediately be said that this is not a statement validating service or kind deeds as a way to heaven. There is one way and one way alone to achieve eternity with the Lord and that is through receiving Christ as Savior of your soul and Lord of your life. His death on the cross paid your sin debt making you free of everything that has separated you from Almighty God. Having said that, I believe this verse speaks of the natural inclination that becomes ours once we start to live for God. Whereas before conversion we were more self-driven, now we are beginning to become more others-driven. Regardless of our individual situations, things could always be worse so we need to look outward rather than inward when it comes to need. God has promised to meet each and every need we will ever have, so in response to that great promise we should be inclined to reach out to others less fortunate to bring them into God’s presence by our association to Him as His child. Would people know we were a child of God simply by our lives; doing an act of kindness while expecting nothing in return is a good start? True love never seeks a return. Love in return should come as a natural outpouring from the heart of the recipient. It cannot be forced or extracted in any way. It must be given, just as Christ willingly gave at Calvary. I do not know for sure what the reward is that Christ speaks of in this verse; however, our reward should be simply knowing that we are forever loved and forever free of our sins and have a place in God’s heaven because of our decision to believe and receive that which has so freely been offered to us.

          Those less fortunate are not so in a physical or material sense alone, but rather many times in a spiritual sense. They are spiritually bankrupt; their compass is broken making them unable to find their way. God desires believers in Christ to seek out the ones who are in need for they do not know the true source for all they will ever need is within their very grasp, yet unseen by them. We must be the ones to be the light that illumines the landscape surrounding them so that they might catch a glimpse of heaven and thus be drawn into the waiting arms of the Savior. Submit to the will of God and watch what happens.

 

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

DO YOU KNOW THE MESSIAH?

“The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am he.’” (John 4:25-26)

Messiah - the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible.

Christ - the title, also treated as a name, given to Jesus of Nazareth.

 

          The people of Israel were seeking, and still seek to this very day, their Messiah. They believed in Jesus time that Messiah would come in splendor as a mighty warrior king to defeat the Romans. When the Son of God came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes they were unreceptive. He grew up among them and they were unable to see who He truly was. It required the spiritual eyes that only faith provides. Jesus did many things in His ministry that displeased the religious leaders of His day; but knowing what needed to take place, He went about His business undeterred. There was a long history of distain and hatred between the Samaritans and the Israelites, so when Jesus not only traveled through Samaria instead of around it as a Jew would normally do, it caused a stir. Then He actually spoke to a Samaritan woman at the well of Joseph, Jacob’s son, as He requested a drink of water. The Samaritan woman, who had been living in sin, knew of the coming Messiah. She knew that He would explain all things and bring freedom with Him. The freedom He provided and still provides is one of a spiritual nature and not of a physical nature. A man or woman can be physically free yet still be in bondage to sin. The freedom Jesus brought with Him was of an eternal nature; freedom from sin, now and forevermore.

          Today, men still seek Him. It seems as though the holidays bring out a spiritual element in all of us. But shouldn’t we be embracing the Christ each day and not just when it is a national holiday. We should because it is a very personal thing. Religion is a system of beliefs; very ambiguous and vague; it can represent any belief system. What I speak of and what I believe God is seeking from us is a deeply personal relationship with Him. It comes from surrendering to His will and reading His word. How else can we ever get to know Him better? If we want to learn about one of our national patriarchs, such as Ben Franklin or George Washington, what would we do? We would read a biography about him, would we not? Of course we would. Reading the Bible reveals to us God’s character. It tells us of His promises to us. It teaches us how to live peaceably among our fellow man. God wants to use us all for His glory and for His kingdom. Do you know the Messiah today? Do you really know Him?

 

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

 

NOTE: “The nation of Israel was divided into two nations in the days of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12). Israel was composed of the ten tribes to the north, and Judah was made up of Judah and Benjamin. The animosity between the Jews (inhabitants of the Judah, the southern kingdom) and Israelites began immediately after the division, as Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom (with Jeroboam as her first king). Rehoboam assembled an army to make war against Israel to reunite the kingdom, but God intervened through His prophet Shemiah (1 Kings 12:21-24). Later, in speaking of the reign of Abijam, Jeroboam's son, 1 Kings 15:6 says ‘there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.’ Immediately after the division, Jeroboam changed the worship of the Israelites in 1 Kings 12:25-33. No longer did the inhabitants of the north travel to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice and worship (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). Instead, Jeroboam set up idols in Dan and Bethel. Later, after Israel's fall to the Assyrians, they began to intermarry with the Assyrians, contrary to Deuteronomy 7:3-5. This is why the Jews hated the Samaritans as ‘dogs’, or ‘half-breeds’. [http://www.housetohouse.com/]

RANDOM RAMBLINGS 62

          There is a question that I came across a few months back that I didn’t know the answer to.  The question was “If you were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence for a conviction?” I would like to think so, but being hard on myself to begin with I kind of doubt it.  I might be considered by others to be kind or humble or considerate, but would I be seen as Christ-like? Now I know that I don’t need to be perfect in my thoughts, words and actions; that would be impossible. But should I not at least make the attempt to be more like Christ? I should. I do try … and I fail, continuously.  I feel like a child when they are just learning how to ride a bike without training wheels.  I want to please the Lord and I believe I do most of the time, but would there be enough evidence to show that I am a believer?  It’s a daunting question; one I hope remains unanswered, because I just might not like what I find out. rlk

THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)          
          While there were no major doctrinal issues as with the Galatians or Romans letter, this letter from Paul to the Philippians is chocked full of theological content. Here Paul writes about some of the true aspects of being a follower of Christ. With the world breathing down our necks daily tempting us to think, say and do that which is unsavory and displeasing to the Lord, we are told by Paul what is worth thinking about. Whatever we think comes out of our hearts. What we pour into our minds heavily influences our motivation and our thought process. Our thoughts have a direct line to our mouth and definitely influence what we do. So Paul is saying to spend our time thinking about those things that are not necessarily of this world; words like true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy represent that which we should place our mental focus on. As we strive to be more like Christ each day it behooves us to follow Paul’s recommendation.

          In addition to the instructions he gives regarding our thought processes, Paul also points out to his readers that they should put into practice all the teachings that he has laid before them. Note that he mentions among these things whatever they had ‘seen in me’. As the old adage goes, ‘sometimes our lives are the only Bible people will ever read’. What do people see in us? As Christians we need to present Christ in a favorable light always. Sure, we will have bad days and slip up from time to time, but that should not be the norm. Our striving should be to truly represent Christ the best way we can. It can be difficult at times and we will have days when all we want to do is crawl into a hole and hide. God doesn’t expect us to be flawless in the way we live; however, I believe He does expect us to at least make the effort. Striving for perfection even though we know we can never achieve it is our noble task as believers. Don’t stress over it. Simply give yourself to God and allow His Holy Spirit to do internal spirit surgery on your heart. God knows all you can be in Him and as you work towards that end His peace will be with you.

 

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

 

NOTE: “The letter is addressed ‘to all the saints . . . at Philippi.’ Philippi was the site of the first Christian mission in Europe. It resulted from Paul's response to ‘the Macedonian call’ (Acts 16). The city, named after Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, was located eight miles north of Neapolis, the port city. Philippi became a Roman colony in 42 BC. It was a strategic city for the launching of Western Christianity.” [Asbury Bible Commentary]

DELIBERATE IMMERSION

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:3-5)

          Paul’s message to the Ephesian church was necessary in light of the conditions existing in Asia as described in the footnote down below. In an effort to combat the ‘new’ teachings that were circulating he pointedly states that they were once headed down a road to nowhere, deserving nothing but God’s wrath until they experienced His saving grace. Satisfying our inner urges is never a good thing. The fact is it will only lead us to pain and destruction. We are not speaking of the destruction of material possessions per se, but of the destruction of our heart and spirit. When we give way to our basest wants and desires we open up a Pandora’s Box that is difficult to close again. Many times we don’t realize what we’ve actually done to ourselves until it is too late. This is the reason why we must trust the Lord when He says that these cravings will do nothing positive for us. The fulfillment we may receive is fleeting and peace is nowhere to be found.

          Our hope is found in the undying, unconditional love that God has for us. He is indeed rich in mercy. We know this because when we continue to strain at the leash and struggle to do what is right, He loves us still. We who were once dead in our sins were made alive in Christ. We must understand the magnitude of this wonderful gift that has been given to us. There is nothing we could ever do to save ourselves. By what standard would we live if not God’s? How would we measure progress? No, it is through God and God alone that we find life and it is a life worth living.

          There is no doubt evil lurks around every corner. To ward off its influence on our lives we must immerse ourselves in God through His word. Time in church is ill spent if we are there only for show and not to have our spirits fed. Spiritual growth is a deliberate thing that we do. We do not achieve it by osmosis as plants sustain themselves. We must make the effort to know Him and not stop until we are all we can be in Him.

 

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

 

NOTE: “At Ephesus, the center of Paul's Asian ministry on his third journey (Acts 19:10), the Christian faith had come face to face with black magic, cult religion, and the power of demons. There, too, it had been maligned by Jews (Acts 19:9), and later it was infiltrated with new doctrine offered through the “cunning and craftiness of men” (4:14) and was stripped of its ethical principles (Ephesians 4:17-5:20). Therefore, having seen how the “devil's schemes” (Ephesians 6:11) had affected his ministry in Ephesus, and having already encountered the “new religion” sweeping through the province of Asia, Paul wrote Ephesians and Colossians to believers in Asia to remind them that no religion offered more than the Gospel, because in Christ every spiritual blessing had already become theirs.” [Asbury Bible Commentary]