Why do you feel your seeking God should ever be conditional?

Psalm 34-The Lord Delivers His Own

Psalms 34:1 (ESV)
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Your circumstances are not the mark of “when” God should be praised. He is ever-present, indwelling in your heart, with His Spirit. His presence is not contingent on your feelings or situation- neither should your praise be to Him.

I will bless the Lord at all times—He has laid me under endless obligation to him, and I will praise him while I have a being. Verses 1-4. Even in distress, which excites supplication, there is always matter for praising and thanking God (compare Eph 5:20 Php 4:6).

Psalms 34:4 (ESV)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

This is a very important verse in our walk and faith; seeking God is vital for our spiritual health. Many look on this verse and say, “Praise God”. However, have we really sought The Lord? Consider, and reflect on how you have “sought” things in your life. Have you not pursued others, things, and desires with strong pursuit? … to achieve communication and recognition? The seeking of God should be with at least equal dedication of pursuit, not just a temporary thrust of conviction. We need to have an ever-present motivational drive stemming from the core of our hearts, regardless of our changing circumstances in life. Why do you feel your seeking God should ever be conditional?

Sought – Answered – Delivered

Verse 4. delivered . . . fears — as well as actual evil (Ps 64:1). I sought the Lord—This is the reason and cause of his gratitude. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my fears. This answers to the history; for when David heard what the servants of Achish said concerning him, "he laid up the words in his heart, and was greatly afraid," 1 Samuel 21:13. To save him, God caused the epileptic fit to seize him; and, in consequence, he was dismissed by Achish, as one whose defection from his master, and union with the Philistines, could be of no use, and thus David’s life and honor were preserved.

Psalms 34:7 (ESV)
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Picture a battle scene where opposing forces are preparing for confrontation; the armies make an encampment of forces to organize strategy for victory. God provides an angel to encamp with us, as His Spirit directs our path, as we seek God. [ fear = reverential Trust ]

Psalms 35:5 (ESV)
Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away! ( our enemies)

We do not “let them be”, do we? If we do not take overt action against our enemies, by direct opposition, we foster wounds of the heart, within us. Either strategy leads to resentment and bitterness. This “scriptural” directive relinquishes your own control, and turns it over to the angel of The Lord. Only God removes opposition; you, in your own spirit do not have the power to effectively accomplish removal. Therefore, learn a lesson, and hear what God is saying, here, through His Word- Let them be, by relinquishing your human control.

Verses 5,6. (Compare Ps 1:4) — a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (2Sa 24:16 Ac 12:23).

Read 11 Kings 6: 15-17…The Lord Protects- the young man was fearful; Elisha was not. In verse 17 God shows the young man “fire” was all around Elisha. God Spirit of protection was made evident to the fearful young man. Look at Daniel 6:22, as well.

Psalms 34:10 (ESV)
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

In this age, in the 21^st, what we perceive we lack has become so connected to what we physically observe and “see”. If we do not have that which we do not actually see, then we feel we lack. More often than not what we perceive we lack is not in our best interests, or in God’s interest in alignment with Him, and His Kingdom. “If” God is ever-present, do you not fathom He will not have you lack, if you are seeking His will, and God is the focus of your heart’s pursuit?

Psalms 84:11 (ESV)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Our “walk” is what aligns with God’s favor; in our so doing He does not without His favor. Can you not see if you are “suffering want” you are remaining young in your spiritual understanding?

For the Lord God is a sun and shield—To illuminate, invigorate, and warm; to protect and defend all such as prefer him and his worship to every thing the earth can produce.

It is remarkable that not one of the Versions understand the ‏שמש‎ shemesh, as signifying sun, as we do. They generally concur in the following translation: "For the Lord loveth mercy and truth, and he will give grace and glory." The Chaldee says, "The Lord is as a high wall and a strong shield; grace and glory will the Lord give, and will not deprive those of blessedness who walk in perfection." Critics in general take the word as signifying a defense or a guard. Instead of ‏שמש‎ shemesh, sun, Houbigant reads ‏שמר‎ shemer, a keeper or guardian, and says that to represent God as the sun is without example in the sacred writings. But is not Mal. 4:2, a parallel passage to this place? "Unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."

Psalms 34:11 (ESV)
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

When you read and hear God’s Word are you really “listening”? Are you applying personal application to what His Spirit is intending to reach into the core of your heart? Many of us to our text messages from our cell phones, and our computer email messages with greater priority than how we view listening to God’s Word, do we not? What does this say about our values, and what we regard as worthy to us? How can we received instruction- being taught by God, if we are pursuing interests in the world’s kingdom more than “words” to us from God’s Kingdom, and His Word?

His regard of us, His children, has nothing to due with the technology of this age in the 21^st century.

Verse 11. children — subjects of instruction (Pr 1:8, 10).

Psalms 34:14 (ESV)
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Those of us who are “in Christ have reached the perception, that, in this fact alone, we have turned away from evil. This choice is assuredly God’s desire for us; yet, often we have “discovered” validation of ourselves, and of making “points”… more than seeking peace with others, and even with ourselves, in contentment “in Christ”. Turning away extends to outward manifestation of our inner man- of what resides within the interior of our hearts. If wounds are taking priority of what our pursuit is based, then we need to examine ourselves.

Verses 13,14. Sins of thought included in those of speech (Lu 6:45), avoiding evil and doing good in our relations to men are based on a right relation to God.

Do good – Be ready to perform all good offices to all men.

Seek – Study by all means possible to live peaceable with all men.

Pursue it – Do not only embrace it gladly when it is offered, but follow hard after it, when it seems to flee away from thee.

It is time we all let go of our “conditional” response and thankfulness to God’s presence- always with us..abiding with us…regardless of our stages in life.

Be assured, this is not a movie script…

The Lords return to earth…reflections  on Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14:1 (ESV) 
Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.

Yes, a “day” is coming. How often do you think of, or consider this day the Lord will return? Take note that it says, “for the Lord”- for His glory, and His victory over Satan, and God’s enemies, who are not in His Kingdom.

Malachi 4:1-2 (ESV)
For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

* The day of the Lord is the period of time when God openly intervenes in the affairs of man- in judgment and in blessing.

Physical changes on the earth:

Zechariah 14:4 (ESV) 
On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

*The object of the cleaving of the mount in two by a fissure or valley (a prolongation of the valley of Jehoshaphat, and extending from Jerusalem on the west towards Jordan, eastward) is to open a way of escape to the besieged (compare Joe 3:12, 14). Half the divided mount is thereby forced northward, half southward; the valley running between. The place of His departure at His ascension shall be the place of His return: and the "manner" of His return also shall be similar (Ac 1:11). He shall probably "come from the east" (Mt 24:27). He so made His triumphal entry into the city from the Mount of Olives from the east (Mt 21:1-10). This was the scene of His agony: so it shall be the scene of His glory. Compare Eze 11:23, with Eze 43:2, "from the way of the east..

There is coming a day when no choices need to be considered who is Lord, and who is Lord over you.!

Zechariah 14:9 (ESV) 
And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

Now, we are going to look at one of the most dramatic, and mind boggling descriptions of what will occur to those not “with God”:

Zechariah 14:11-12 (ESV) 
And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security. 
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Wow! This reads like a script from the Raiders of the Lost Ark series! However, be assured, this is not a movie script, but certainly Truth and reality from God’s word. We seriously need to consider whose Kingdom we are in, acknowledging, and are either for or against- in our hearts and minds.

Mark 9:40 (ESV) 
For the one who is not against us is for us.

Romans 8:31 (ESV) 
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) 
so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Luke 9:50 (ESV) 
But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you."

Why am I bringing these four scriptures into this look at Zechariah 14? I feel the “key” to us not considering the day that is coming seriously is we are still in some “heart” debate over whom or what is against us. If so we are really debating if God is there, for us, in our best interest. Actually there is considerable “self” at play in either conflict; God is God, regardless of our inner turmoil.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 (ESV) 
The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

The last verse of Chapter 14 summarizes “The Day of the Lord”:

Zechariah 14:21 (ESV) 
…  And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day.

Is there a connection between our lack of consideration of this day to come, and that of our daily consideration as whom acknowledge as Lord, today?

“If God is for us who then can be against us?”

 

Out of deep gratitude…

Romans 12:3 (KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:3 (ESV)
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 12:3 (NIV)
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Romans 12:3 (MSG)
I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

Through the grace given unto me—By the grace given St. Paul most certainly means his apostolical office, by which he had the authority, not only to preach the Gospel, but also to rule the Church of Christ. This is the meaning of the word, ἡ χαρις, in Ephesians 3:8: Unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given—is conceded this office or employment immediately by God himself; that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Not to think—more highly—Μη ὑπερφρονειν, Not to act proudly; to arrogate nothing to himself on account of any grace he had received, or of any office committed to him.

But to think soberly—Αλλα φρονειν εις το σωφρονειν. The reader will perceive here a sort of paronomasia, or play upon words: φρονειν, from φρην, the mind, signifies to think, mind, relish, to be of opinion, etc.; and σωφρονειν from σοος, sound, and φρην, the mind, signifies to be of a sound mind; to think discreetly, modestly, humbly. Let no man think himself more or greater than God has made him; and let him know that what ever he is or has of good or excellence, he has it from God; and that the glory belongs to the giver, and not to him who has received the gift.

Measure of faith—Μετρον πιστεως. It is very likely, as Dr. Moore has conjectured, that the πιστις, faith, here used, means the Christian religion; and the measure, the degree of knowledge and experience which each had received in it, and the power this gave him of being useful in the Church of God. See Romans 12:6.

through the grace given unto me — as an apostle of Jesus Christ; thus exemplifying his own precept by modestly falling back on that office which both warranted and required such plainness towards all classes.

to every man that is among you, not to think, &c. — It is impossible to convey in good English the emphatic play, so to speak, which each word here has upon another: "not to be high-minded above what he ought to be minded, but so to be minded as to be sober-minded" [CALVIN, ALFORD]. This is merely a strong way of characterizing all undue self-elevation.

according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith — Faith is here viewed as the inlet to all the other graces, and so, as the receptive faculty of the renewed soul — that is, "as God hath given to each his particular capacity to take in the gifts and graces which He designs for the general good."

TO BE HUMBLE, AND FAITHFULLY TO USE THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTS, IN THEIR RESPECTIVE STATIONS. 12:3-8

Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us. But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest, under a pretense of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in laying out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing, therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.

John 1:17 (ESV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 (MSG)
We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, This endless knowing and understanding— all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.

The law was given by Moses—Moses received the law from God, and through him it was given to the Jews, Acts 7:38.

But grace and truth—Which he had already mentioned, and which were to be the subject of the book which he was now writing, came to all mankind through Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of the new covenant, as Moses was of the old: Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; Galatians 3:19.

The law of Moses, however excellent in itself, was little in comparison of the Gospel: as it proceeded from the justice and holiness of God, and was intended to convict men of sin, that the way of the Gospel might be the better prepared, it was a law of rigour, condemnation, and death: Romans 4:15; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 8. It was a law of shadows, types, and figures: Hebrews 10:1, and incapable of expiating sin by its sacrifices: Romans 8:3; Hebrews 7:18, 19; 10:1, 11. But Christ has brought that grace which is opposed to condemnation: Romans 5:15, 20, 21; 8:1; Galatians 3:10; and he is himself the spirit and substance of all those shadows: Colossians 2:19; Hebrews 10:1.

For, &c. — The Law elicits the consciousness of sin and the need of redemption; it only typifies the reality. The Gospel, on the contrary, actually communicates reality and power from above (compare Ro 6:14). Hence Paul terms the Old Testament "shadow," while he calls the New Testament "substance" (Col 2:17) [OLSHAUSEN].

The law – Working wrath and containing shadows:

was given – No philosopher, poet, or orator, ever chose his words so accurately as St. John. The law, saith he, was given by Moses: grace was by Jesus Christ. Observe the reason for placing each word thus: The law of Moses was not his own. The grace of Christ was. His grace was opposite to the wrath, his truth to the shadowy ceremonies of the law.

Jesus – St. John having once mentioned the incarnation (John 1:14,) no more uses that name, the Word, in all his book.

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:18 (MSG)
That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

For – This is undoubtedly best, whereby we are most conformed to Christ.

Now Christ suffered once – To suffer no more.

For sins – Not his own, but ours.

The just for the unjust – The word signifies, not only them who have wronged their neighbors, but those who have transgressed any of the commands of God; as the preceding word, just, denotes a person who has fulfilled, not barely social duties, but all kind of righteousness.

That he might bring us to God – Now to his gracious favor, hereafter to his blissful presence, by the same steps of suffering and of glory.

Being put to death in the flesh – As man. 

But raised to life by the Spirit – Both by his own divine power, and by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Christ also hath once suffered—See the notes on Romans 5:6; Hebrews 9:28 (note).

Put to death in the flesh—In his human nature.

But quickened by the Spirit—That very dead body revived by the power of his Divinity. There are various opinions on the meaning of this verse, with which I need not trouble the reader, as I have produced that which is most likely.

quickened by the Spirit — The oldest manuscripts omit the Greek article. Translate with the preposition "in," as the antithesis to the previous "in the flesh" requires, "IN spirit," that is, in respect to His Spirit. "Put to death" in the former mode of life; "quickened" in the other. Not that His Spirit ever died and was quickened, or made alive again, but whereas He had lived after the manner of mortal men in the flesh, He began to live a spiritual "resurrection" (1Pe 3:21) life, whereby He has the power to bring us to God. Two ways of explaining 1Pe 3:18, 19, are open to us:

(1) "Quickened in Spirit," that is, immediately on His release from the "flesh," the energy of His undying spirit-life was "quickened" by God the Father, into new modes of action, namely, "in the Spirit He went down (as subsequently He went up to heaven, 1Pe 3:22, the same Greek verb) and heralded [not salvation, as ALFORD, contrary to Scripture, which everywhere represents man's state, whether saved or lost, after death irreversible. Nor is any mention made of the conversion of the spirits in prison. See on 1Pe 3:20. Nor is the phrase here 'preached the Gospel' (evangelizo), but 'heralded' (ekeruxe) or 'preached'; but simply made the announcement of His finished work; so the same Greek in Mr 1:45, 'publish,' confirming Enoch and Noah's testimony, and thereby declaring the virtual condemnation of their unbelief, and the salvation of Noah and believers; a sample of the similar opposite effects of the same work on all unbelievers, and believers, respectively; also a consolation to those whom Peter addresses, in their sufferings at the hands of unbelievers; specially selected for the sake of 'baptism,' its 'antitype' (1Pe 3:21), which, as a seal, marks believers as separated from the rest of the doomed world] to the spirits (His Spirit speaking to the spirits) in prison (in Hades or Sheol, awaiting the judgment, 2Pe 2:4), which were of old disobedient when," &c.

(2) The strongest point in favor of (1) is the position of "sometime," that is, of old, connected with "disobedient"; whereas if the preaching or announcing were a thing long past, we should expect "sometime," or of old, to be joined to "went and preached." But this transposition may express that their disobedience preceded His preaching. The Greek participle expresses the reason of His preaching, "inasmuch as they were sometime disobedient" (compare 1Pe 4:6). Also "went" seems to mean a personal going, as in 1Pe 3:22, not merely in spirit. But see the answer below. The objections are "quickened" must refer to Christ’s body (compare 1Pe 3:21, end), for as His Spirit never ceased to live, it cannot be said to be "quickened." Compare John 5:21 Ro 8:11, and other passages, where "quicken" is used of the bodily resurrection. Also, not His Spirit, but His soul, went to Hades. His Spirit was commended by Him at death to His Father, and was thereupon "in Paradise."

The theory — (1) would thus require that His descent to the spirits in prison should be after His resurrection! Compare Eph 4:9, 10, which makes the descent precede the ascent. Also Scripture elsewhere is silent about such a heralding, though possibly Christ’s death had immediate effects on the state of both the godly and the ungodly in Hades: the souls of the godly heretofore in comparative confinement, perhaps then having been, as some Fathers thought, translated to God’s immediate and heavenly presence; but this cannot be proved from Scripture. Compare however, John 3:13 Col 1:18.

Prison is always used in a bad sense in Scripture. "Paradise" and "Abraham’s bosom," the abode of good spirits in Old Testament times, are separated by a wide gulf from Hell or Hades, and cannot be called "prison." Compare 2Co 12:2, 4, where "paradise" and the "third heaven" correspond.

Also, why should the antediluvian unbelievers in particular be selected as the objects of His preaching in Hades? Therefore explain: "Quickened in spirit, in which (as distinguished from in person; the words "in which," that is, in spirit, expressly obviating the objection that "went" implies a personal going) He went (in the person of Noah, "a preacher of righteousness," 2Pe 2:5: ALFORD’S own Note, Eph 2:17, is the best reply to his argument from "went" that a local going to Hades in person is meant. As "He CAME and preached peace" by His Spirit in the apostles and ministers after His death and ascension: so before His incarnation He preached in Spirit through Noah to the antediluvians, John 14:18, 28 Ac 26:23. "Christ should show," literally, "announce light to the Gentiles") and preached unto the spirits in prison, that is, the antediluvians, whose bodies indeed seemed free, but their spirits were in prison, shut up in the earth as one great condemned cell (exactly parallel to Isa 24:22, 23 "upon the earth . . . they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison," &c. [just as the fallen angels are judicially regarded as "in chains of darkness," though for a time now at large on the earth, 1Pe 2:4], where 1Pe 3:18 has a plain allusion to the flood, "the windows from on high are open," compare Ge 7:11); from this prison the only way of escape was that preached by Christ in Noah. Christ, who in our times came in the flesh, in the days of Noah preached in Spirit by Noah to the spirits then in prison (Isa 61:1, end, "the Spirit of the Lord God hath sent me to proclaim the opening of the prison to them that are bound"). So in 1Pe 1:11, "the Spirit of Christ" is said to have testified in the prophets. As Christ suffered even to death by enemies, and was afterwards quickened in virtue of His "Spirit" (or divine nature, Ro 1:3, 4 1Co 15:45), which henceforth acted in its full energy, the first result of which was the raising of His body (1Pe 3:21, end) from the prison of the grave and His soul from Hades; so the same Spirit of Christ enabled Noah, amidst reproach and trials, to preach to the disobedient spirits fast bound in wrath. That Spirit in you can enable you also to suffer patiently now, looking for the resurrection deliverance.

————————————————————————

What is my conclusion? What are my thoughts? Faith must override pride in th3 work of God’s Kingdom. If we do not let His Spirit come into the core of our being, and we receive His Spirit, in humility, we are then operating within the direction of a “kingdom” that is not Gods.

Singing a song, side-by-side…

· Psalms 37:1-5 (ESV)
Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

· Psalms 37:1-5 (MSG)
A David psalm Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. In no time they’ll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun. Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. Keep company with God, get in on the best. Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done.

God knows where the core of our being is located: in our hearts. His voice to us in the message of this Psalm begins with caution, for God knows that the distraction of the world’s thinking, worry- move into footholds in our heart, and thus our thinking. This dismantles Trusting God, in not appropriating a vital requirement for Trust: Faith.

Vs. 1 & 2, say “Fret not…be not envious”[- the human inclination is to build up wounds, encouraged by the enemy, the prince of this world- Satan, and his forces against God’s truth. His ways are to breed discontentment within us, comparing our lack, or what others may have, as a distraction from adherence to God’s Word. We, often, fail to understand that this caution is directed at those in opposition to His Kingdom, and are operating under the direction of the enemy: evildoers and wrongdoers. Each one of us is being sanctified, daily; therefore, we need to acknowledge all of His people are in a process of continual learning, through His Spirit. Not one of us receives, immediately, the voice of His Word; unfortunately our humanity “questions”, when we need to receive. Compassion and patience for others in His Kingdom needs to be more of how we are manifesting His presence. We certainly desire, and expect such character from God, do we not?

· Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

The “mark” of a friend is that of one whom we value and desire to be part of our lives; they become “present” with us regardless of circumstances, or so we would wish. God desires us to desire faithfulness to Him as special as that of seeking a friend; in so doing we are showing our sincerity for a deep relational bond with our Creator.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Why have we come to expect God to move in our life of “outrageous fortune”, if we fail to commit ourselves to Him? Commitment does not mean if we seek, and do not get immediate response, we back away from “befriending faithfulness, either. Circumstances should not be a marking line in our relational bonding with our Creator; a vital factor in commitment is giving God, by our will, and permission, management of us. Trusting in God is the acknowledgement that you are not the Master, and not the best judge of what is always good, and not meant to harm us.

· Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

· Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Why do we shrink from commitment and trust of God? Why do we fall into the “trap” of thinking he will abandon us, and does not care or desire our wholeness?

It is far easier to project our destruction onto another force, another person, and God. Scripture calls us to choose a different path, in examining ourselves before placing blame and judgment onto others, and God.

· Lamentations 3:40 (ESV)
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

· Lamentations 3:40 (MSG)
Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living and reorder our lives under God.

· 1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

· 1 Corinthians 11:28 (MSG)
Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.

· 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

· 2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG)
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.

Many of us fall into drifting along…”singing a song, side-by-side”…as the song goes. If we reside in this humanistic reasoning we rest in the assumption that our “motives” are good; God does not desire that we become so complacent in our self-perception of whom we are. Rather than reaching the stage letting enticement by other forces than God, and His voice influence how you may be understanding your alignment with God…examine yourself…and let His Spirit counsel you.

Have you ever considered being “banished” from God’s voice? It is not completely out of the question, for in Jeremiah 25:10 a very profound verse is declared as God relates to Jeremiah how the captivity of Babylon will happen to Israel:

· Jeremiah 25:10 (ESV)
Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp.

God is not only saying he will remove His Voice, he will remove the voice of the fellowship of His people with each other. When we feel we have lost hearing God’s voice to us, personally it can be a devastating feeling. God’s people came to this place in their relationship with God, because they were “not inclined to hear, alone listen to the voice of God; they trusted and valued more “the work of their own hands”.

God may not act as we desire; yet, rest assured he will act in our best interest- for our good and not for our harm. Harm comes when we do not receive…or desire to receive His voice, and end up placing more value in the work of our own hands, rather than in His providence.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) 
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Let it be so now…

 

Matthew 14:10-14 (ESV) 
He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

In reading and really meditating on these four verses, admittedly I am amazed. If there is ever a passage where the “focus” of Christ’s purpose is so clearly magnified, and declared it is here- His calling from God, his Father, is the priority…beyond feelings, or natural reasoning.

Let’s consider the human and the spiritual dynamics at play, in the relationship between Christ and John the Baptist. There is probably more “connection” between them and any other human, to date, at this time in Christ’s time here. In Matthew 3 we have the record of Jesus baptism by John the Baptist: 

Matthew 3:14-15 (ESV)
John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

John was humbled and somewhat overwhelmed  by Jesus coming to him, especially since he “knew” He was the Son of God… but Jesus answered him, Let’s do it now…

And then consider, this is where his Father made this declaration; if my father ever made even a slight declaration of being pleased with me, I would certainly view this day as historical in my life.

Matthew 3:17 (ESV) 
and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

In “humanistic” terms this day, this connection would be well remembered by Jesus, establishing an eternal bond. The reaction of Christ to the death of John the Baptist was both human and spiritual- “he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself”. Can you really put yourself in the mind and heart of Christ on that day? How would you react to the knowledge of a friend being beheaded? Some of us would not only desire to withdraw from people for brief time, but for months, and perhaps years!

We can reason, after some reflection, there may be some valid reason, here, for Christ to be “distracted”. He certainly had a “right” to grieve, and be alone with his Father, in prayer. Yet, the very powerful message here is how He stayed focused to his call, unlike most of us. In the center of horrific circumstances he went far beyond human natural reaction.

A “crowd” of people sought him out:

Matthew 14:13-14 (ESV) 
… But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

In all honesty I do not think compassion nor the desire to minister would have been overflowing from me; he was in the “flesh”, yet still the Son of God, focused. He knew his purpose was for all men- not just himself or his “rights” of feelings, nor the dealing of circumstances.

John 6:37-38 (ESV) 
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Whose will are you operating under, and for… whose Kingdom is your focus? The “world’s…your own… or God’s Kingdom?

As we see by this vivid example, we are to view all who come to us as a priority over own lives- for others are to be our priority too. Distraction, even if credible, did not move Christ from his purpose in his Father’s will.

Have you thought about how your own life’s distractions affect your walk, in Christ, and how you deal with others? Horrific circumstances are not an excuse to walk away.

We are thus accepting and participating…

Guilt- Defeating the giant of the heart.

In Christ you are an overcomer; you can walk in and through the valleys of hurt with the kind of faith that produces courage, optimism, and confidence. It is important we focus our "eyes" and mind on Christ, then we can look at obstacles as a means to develop more intimate relationship with Christ. The "means" in which Christ draws you into more relational bond should be met with thankfulness, not question.

The inner sense that I have committed an offense against a known value- an inner feeling of having failed God, by an action (or actions) = guilt. Through the Cross Christ removes our guilt, and places us in the gift of His righteousness.

In today’s culture and "age" it is as if no one is guilty of anything; we don’t accept personal responsibility- we refuse "delivery". The capacity to feel guilt is from the Creator; the power to remove it is from Him as well- if we will "own", confess, and repent.

* We need too, to understand that the "sense" that what I have done is too much for God- is not receiving what has been appropriated in our hearts by Faith in Christ…choosing to live as not being forgiven!

Romans 8:1- There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Satan tempts and seduces us with spirits that voice a sense…"this seems to work for everyone but me." He is the author of slander, accusation, and condemnation against believers. By receiving condemnation we are thus accepting and participating in the lies of the enemy: that Christ is insufficient to free us from sins already repented.

Healthy guilt produces godly sorrow, when we embrace the work of the Cross within our lives. False guilt stands in the valleys of the heart- and mocks the Truth of God that stands against it. 5: False guilt is about feelings having no scriptural basis.

Refusing "delivery", blame, or denial will not bring resolution to the core of one’s heart- The Lord desires we feel the guilt, allowing His Spirit to draw us to the sin causing the guilt.

In choosing to judge ourselves as sinners and thus experiencing and the mercy and grace of Christ- we are celebrating and honoring what Christ has already done. If we do not recognize this work, accomplished and finished, we are therefore celebrating our own "righteousness"- which will not produce lasting results in healing, being "guided" by one’s own efforts.

We must take the provision of the Word of God offered to us, and attack the inner guilt, by Faith- proclaiming the death of guilt in and through Christ.

TAKE BELIEVE PROCLAIM

Gal. 5: 24, 25- And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
11 Corinth. 5: 21- For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Hebrews 9:14- For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

He has perfected for all time- is referring to YOU AND ME.

The humble person who cries out to God will always be met with acceptance from The Lord. When the reason for its existence is admitted, and repented- guilt is destroyed, through Christ.

It is vital that we, again, invite the Holy Spirit to stand in the place in our hearts where the offense and guilt stood; it is a confirmation of the Mercy of God as a Living reality within us.