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.

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?”

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.

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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.

· 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?"

 

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.

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.

Bitterness- Confronting the giant of the Heart

It is imperative we hold to the Truth of the Word of God; we have been given authority to reign in life.

From 11 Corith. 10:3-5

“The weapons we fight are not the weapons of the world.”

· Remember – The resources I have or what I lack will never result in my freedom of heart. The “real issue” is never the power of God to change me; it is my willingness to see my need of him.

Bitterness is entertained and permitted to grow because we have not taken and given these painful wounds to the Cross. The hurt is held instead of released to Christ.

Principle- Bitterness is rooted in assuming our right to feel hurt, as opposed to our “God privileges” to deal with our hurts, wounds, and offences at the Cross of Christ. Individualism is based on the “world’s thinking”, not on Biblical truth.

From Heb. 12: 14,15- …that no bitter root grow up to cause trouble and defile many.

Bitterness produces physical and psychological disorders, fostering embedded wounds in our hearts. In its effects towards others it becomes the “rational reason” for problems with others and family. “The offence” is spread to others- thus: trouble.

Defiles many: Because it is an “internal caldron” of negative emotion it “splashes out” onto other people. It involuntarily “escapes” from the wounded person’s mouth.

We can choose another way:

Heb. 12:15- …see to it that no one misses the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness grows…

Look at Heb. 4:14-16- … able to sympathize with our weakness…

He offers us…grace and mercy for our time of need. When bitterness takes root we have allowed it to forsake God’s offer of grace to help us endure the pain. There is a downward spiral from Grace when we embrace the feelings of resentment, and causing more damage than the original wound…expanding its power and intensity.

Focusing on the “fault” of the person who hurt us is not acting in the mind and example of Christ. At any point we can choose to receive and mercy available to us.

We are not to assume human “ways” or “rights”. Luke 9:23- Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. We are responsible to take the Word of God, by Faith, applying it to the wounds of the heart…which the enemy is capable of working.

Matthew 6: 14, 15 Eph. 4:29-32 Col. 3:13

If you forgive men… and do not grieve the Holy Spirit…forgive whatever grievances you may have…

Wounds can be used by God to show us areas in which we do not trust Him, with surrender. God will either have us embrace brokenness we will maintain destructive wounds in our heart.

Isaiah 57:15- I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Confessing to God we have “carried” the offence, into bitterness, is special to God; in so doing we are expressing our faith, and surrender to Him.

At the Cross Christ destroys the power of hurts and wounds by taking them into himself. When the giant of bitterness is “taken and slain”, at the Cross- the experience is one of “freedom of releasing”- and forgiving the offender for Jesus sake, and not our own.

We need to invite the Holy Spirit to stand in the place, within our hearts, where bitterness was; this choice of having the power of the Living Christ in our hearts is available to all, of us. If we permit the enemy to gain a “foothold”; it will become a “stronghold”. Victory occurs when we call forth the Holy Spirit to seek control!

At any point we can choose to receive and mercy available to us.

Ah, yes, I know you found this sentence difficult; it is however, blessedly true.

Defeating the “Giant” of being betrayed

We need to be people of faith, optimism, and courage- since we have been “apprehended” by the promises of God. Faith will cause us to face and defeat inner giants of the heart, as we take the Word of God seriously.

Consider:

11 Corinth. 1:22- He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

· We already have a guarantee of results if we receive what has been given to us.

From Eph. 1:18-20-

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…” …that the power is like the working of his mighty strength…”

· There is power in the knowledge of the hope in us, through Christ- “like” God’s own strength.

Psalm 107:21- He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

We need to be armed with the Word of God, to sufficiently attack the feelings of being betrayed by a friend.

When we trust someone we become vulnerable to them; it is devastating when your confidence has been “premature” and broken by them…by verifiable betrayal by someone whom we have deeply entrusted ourselves.

The tendency is to follow a cycle of self-defeating isolationism, which does nothing to alleviate feelings.

1. We “hole up”- this cycle of self isolation from people allows the enemy of our souls to foster things far worse in our minds than the issue, which has brought us to this “choice”. Heartaches grow in self-imposed silence.

2. We “clam up”- The fact is when we carry hurt alone it expands our mind, resulting in unwillingness for reconciliation.

3. We “blow up”- Scathing feelings of anger must have a place to be vented, if not dealt with properly in Christ, emerging at the least expected times. Stuffed anger is like a volcanic eruption- finding the path of least resistance- then surfacing.

Let’s look at Psalm 55, a candid, heartfelt and honest that was at a very low point in David’s life-

From vs. 2,3 – My thoughts trouble me…I am distraught at the voice of the enemy…

· He was in a self–induced pattern of unhealthy thinking- “traveling” with mental ovals of hurt.

From vs. 3,4- For they bring down suffering upon me… My heart is in anguish within me…

· David revealed a profound inner suffering to the Lord. Emotional hurts are often harder to deal with than physical because they are so deep and elusive.

From vs 4,5- The terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

· David is being vividly honest by what is common to human nature- being overwhelmed by fear of the unknown. Remember David was a teenage giant slayer for God! If he felt like this it is not out of the question we may too.

From vs 6-8- I said, Oh, that I might have wings of a dove! I would flee far away and stay in the desert … far from the tempest and the storm.

Been there? Done that? When betrayal of your trust has happened… you just what to get away… from them.

David knew betrayal of a friend-

Ps. 55:20,21- My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

· David tells us plainly he could bear the pain much more easily if it would have been caused by someone he considered an enemy. It was the betrayal of a friend.

Principle- The cost of loving people is that they will hurt you sometimes. We are known to be his by our love- consequently to stop loving people when we are hurt is never an option.

The family of God, of all people, should not be wounding each other with our words. Understand, “resending” feelings of hurt, does nothing to promote our inner healing. “We” are to reject holding up, clamming up, and blowing up in the community of the forgiven… and thus it is so important that “we” come back to the truth of The Word.

· David decided to take the Word- God’s invitation in the Word, seriously. He entered into deep intimate prayer conversation with the Lord- He trusted the friendship and faithful fullness of the Almighty. David was convinced that it was The Lord who protected and blessed him in the past- and was there for him now- even in feeling crippling wounds of betrayal.

From Ps. 55: 16-18- But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me…

When your heart aches you must have a place to go that is safe, and a strength to lean upon that is far beyond what you can provide for yourself. The Lord, as our shield and defender is whom the righteous “run to”, and feel safe. Prayer conversations can have an amazing stabilizing influence on us when we walk in valleys of the heart, facing wounds of betrayal.

We need to confess what we are feeling to the Lord, so that we do not sink into isolation- a choice out of step with God’s Kingdom of the heart. We need to lay our friend who betrayed us, with our feelings, at the Cross. It is here where Christ takes them from us, offering the joy of His mercy and grace to forgive the offender, as well as our own forgiveness. God desires we not only focus on the crucifixion of Christ- we need to focus on the freedom it delivers.

The Lord desires to dwell us as a consuming fire, through His Spirit, to motivate us to act in reconciling love.

Romans 8:9- You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit lives in you.

Psalms 18:46 (ESV) 
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—

lives-hay- alive; fresh…life=living thing…living=creative thing

exalted- ramam- to be high; to rise or to raise; promote

When I first came to Christ this verse was sung in fellowship gatherings, in unity celebrating our faith. These times of joy, fellowship, and unity of His Spirit will not be forgotten in my hometown region of Pennsylvania. One of the lessons of life I am presently facing within my core, and certainly connected with this verse, and these memories: The joy of the Lord is not, and should not be contingent on my circumstances.

We have become accustomed to our moods, feelings and perceptions governing our “sliding scale” of emotional response to the spectrum of life. In seriously looking at this verse the Spirit is showing me some great factors I have been failing to take into account:

He Lives

He should be Exalted

Whether we are feeling joyful in singing this verse in fellowship, or not- is not, and should not be- the motivating factor for our joy. The primary substance of our joy is the fact He (Christ) lives within me, today.

Galatians 2:20-21 (ESV) 
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

If we are not celebrating this life of Christ in us, regardless of the ever present roller coaster of life- then we are nullifying the grace of God, which we have received from Him, through Christ. As I reflect on how I have not been in honor of this “joy” of this life within me, my mind goes to the words of God to Moses:

Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV) 
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

We, today, in this present age, have been blessed with many more words from God than Moses ever received; we have access to the entire text of Scripture. We need to place more value on this “gift” for our lives, and embrace the JOY, to receive from its life, to us- to man.

Look at one of the aspects of the living God, Christ for our benefit:

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) 
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

It is because of the “living Christ” that we have access to God! This certainly should be a factor in our joy- for without access to God, life would be void from God’s presence.

Have you ever considered how our God who lives changed how is lives, for you? For me? Before the work of the cross…before Christ came to earth…he was certainly living to God. Now that this work is complete, for us, he continues to live, yet with a more exacting purpose: for creation…for us.

Romans 6:8-10 (ESV) 
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

* Ah, yes, the need to count oneself dead to the old life, by yielding to the new life, in Christ, is required of us:

Romans 6:11 (ESV) 
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

ALIVE TO GOD= JOY

I am now going to this second word: exalted, going to Isaiah. Perhaps if I look at the final outcome of all things, and consider what will remain, I may better regard who exalting the best for me…now…in this life. It is all about to whom and what we are “regarding”, is it not?

Isaiah 2:17-18 (ESV) 
And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.  And the idols shall utterly pass away.

Isaiah 2:22 (ESV) 
Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?

I thank God that he is showing me that even in regarding my own emotional present it is infringing on the Joy that He has been ever present, continually.

Agape to all.

iire

Psalms 18:20 (ESV) 
The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

What exactly does “my righteousness” mean to you? …to me? All of us, in Christ, need to understand that we are only righteous because of the work of Christ within us. … not of myself.

Romans 3:21-25 (ESV) 
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Any favor of God coming to us is solely because of the dwelling of Christ within us- not from works, or efforts, or reasoning- but from Faith. The righteousness of God is all that God demands and approves- and is found in Christ himself- who fully met every requirement of the law for us.

Through imputation Christ has been made “our righteousness”

Romans 4:5-8 (ESV) 
And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."

Our human ego, our reasoning, and intelligence gets in our “spiritual path”; when we begin to count any act, any work, as “worthy” to count for being righteous, apart from Faith…we are off track from the core of His Kingdom, and His Word, for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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Psalms 18:23 (ESV) 
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.

Blameless- tamtin- entire; complete-without blemish

1. It is through his righteousness we are blameless

2. In full acknowledgement of this TRUTH, then we can begin to incorporate real spiritual healing to your inner man- in heart and in the mind.  

3. In “keeping yourself from your guilt”- you are then operating in FAITH believing this TRUTH, personally.

> Here is where we “miss the mark”, by holding on to guilt, to anger, to memories…of the past…of the present- that are not ours to maintain! Why would we still desire to foster qualities within our minds that are not serving our receiving the unblemished work of Christ, within us? I KNOW full well what it is to maintain guilt, and hurt; I ALSO KNOW it does not serve my spiritual growth in His Kingdom and in Faith.

* Notice that this states “ I kept myself”-God expects us to do our part, as well as TRUSTING Him to do His- honoring God is believing this “separation” has taken place through His work.

Psalms 18:25-27 (ESV) 
With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

Look at the differences in how God is viewed by mankind! I sincerely hope you are seeing why the different views of our Creator are maintained by us, as well. There is a vast difference between the “you show yourself”, and “you make yourself seem”, is there not? It is the inward condition of any one of us that stabilizes or distorts our view of God. It is not God who wrestles within us; it is we who wrestle with him.

God does not change- it is we who change are allegiance towards him.

Malachi 3:6 (ESV) 
"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Hebrews 7:21 (ESV) 
but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ "

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) 
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

It is in this assurance that we – if we receive- are changed within to “the uttermost”.

Consider that he shows the merciful, the blameless, and the pure…and he makes himself “seem” torturous- to the crooked- to those not seeking and trusting in Him- and those outside of His Kingdom.

torturous- patal- to twine; to struggle; unsavory; wrestle

*This is the character of the proud of heart, not of the one who has let go, and let God, act in his life.

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Psalms 18:27 (ESV) 
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

This psalm began with a listing of whom and what God is to man; it has also established there are enemies against us, and against His Kingdom. God is our support when, and if we call upon him, and our righteousness is not our own.

Yes, we know there is a battle raging within us, within our hearts and minds; for as God regards our hearts, Satan knows if he gets to our heart that is the core of our allegiance to God. Therefore, it is vital that we see how important we affirm and believe that He has equipped us- to do credible battle against other forces that are not of His Kingdom.

Psalms 18:32 (ESV) 
the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.

Psalms 18:39 (ESV) 
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.

equipped- azar-to belt; compass about; gird up

strength- hay- force- an army (armies); company; host; great forces- substance

battle- milhama- engagement, in the sense of fighting

* In God, through Christ- we are equipped with a power, and a strength, for the purpose of maintaining our heart, in alignment with him and with His Kingdom. It is only though this TRUTH- the truth of His Word (voice) that victory is maintained, continually- when principalities and powers rise up against you.

Our enemies, the enemies of His Kingdom, do not have a voice with God-His strength is given freely to those who believe, and put trust in this reality- and TRUTH. One’s own position is not trusting in His divinity/

The question then comes to whom you are trusting at  the leader/ commander of this “battle”; in any military battle the commander’s judgment is what is held as “worthy”. Whose judgment is worthy to you?

Psalms 18:41 (ESV) 
They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

In this verse it does not say God does not hear them, it only says he does not respond to their call. Why? When one- when we do not maintain God as our commander whom we regard, and TRUST, then we are not maintaining him as Lord. Those who are not in His Kingdom he hears…and does not acknowledge. I thank God that He has always acknowledge my call…even if I not always received his voice.

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Psalms 18:43 (ESV) 
You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.

delivered- palat- to escape; to carry away safe; cause to escape

Consider the preeminent Glory of Christ:

Colossians 1:15-19 (ESV) 
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

This is pointing to the deliverance we have received though him, though his dwelling within us. This “battle”, this strife of life is often manifest outwardly with conflict, disagreement with others; hurt, anger, confrontation…express our human inability to maintain peace. In our hold to unresolved memories, in maintaining hurt, we are not fully acknowledging and receiving whom is holding “all things together”.

Whatever happened. whatever is happening, and whatever is to come is not “our office” to maintain, or to manage…and certainly not to heal and repair within us. How do you receive His delivering you from strife? All the strife of your complete life?