DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WALKING WORTHY

WALKING WORTHY

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…." (Ephesians 4:1)

I remember well the conversation I had with a parent of teenagers. That parent told his children, "Remember what family you belong to. Don't do anything to bring reproach on the family name." Members of the royal family in England have a responsibility to live in such a manner that befits their position as a king's kid. When they live beneath their dignity, the besmirch not only themselves but the royal name.

We have all seen how the name of Christ is dragged through the mud when a Christian – especially a Christian leader – fails to live up to his or her calling. The world laughs and the cause of Christ is called into disrepute.

This is Paul's admonition to the Believers at Ephesus. Remember what family you belong to. Now, walk worthy of your calling as a member of Christ's family so as not to bring reproach on the family name.

Then he spends the rest of the chapter explaining what that walk looks like. It means growing up into maturity; not being empty-headed (the futility of the mind); putting off the old man and putting on the new man – wearing royal robes that reflect our son-ship; not lying or stealing, speaking grace, putting away wrath, bitterness, anger, clamor, and slander.

We are children of the King. Let us live like it.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GREAT MYSTERY

 

THE GREAT MYSTERY

"For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles – if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, know that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel." (Ephesians 3:1-6)

Everybody loves a mystery. When you read a novel, the writer begins by laying out the basic information, and as the plot thickens and more people are added to the story-line, the mystery deepens. Not until later in the book is it revealed to the reader "Who Done It."

The Old Testament is like a mystery novel (except this is not fiction). God lays out the basic information in Genesis – that God created the heavens and the earth and that He had a plan for His creation. As one continues to read through the books of Moses, the historical books, the poetic books, and the prophets, gradually, the story line becomes more clear. The characters that weave the story finally reveal that God was going to provide a Messiah. This was brought to fulfillment in the Lord Jesus. But there was still a mystery. Would the Gospel be only for the Jews, or would God include non-Jews in His great plan?

The answer to that question was hidden in the ages before Christ came. The word "mystery" is used three times in this chapter. In fact, the angels wanted to look into the mystery of the Gospel (I Peter 1:,12) but it was hidden even from them. God has finally revealed the mystery: that the Gentiles – the heathens – would be made equal to the Jews, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel (Ephesians 3:6).

As Paul illustrated this in chapter 2, there was a wall separating Jews and Gentiles under the Old Covenant. The Jews were the people of promise. But in Christ, that wall was broken down so that there could be peace between the Jews and the Gentiles through the cross and in Christ we both have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:14-18). There are not two Gospels – one for Jews and one for Gentiles. There is one Gospel for all.

Jesus did not just die for the Jews. He is the propitiation – the atoning sacrifice – not just for us, but for the sins of the whole world (I John 2:2). He came for everyone, that whosoever believes in His should have everlasting life (John 3:16) and enjoy the glorious benefits of the Gospel.

I'm so glad that we live in the age when the mystery of the Gospel has been revealed. We no longer need to live in suspense, wondering how the story will end, wondering if we Gentiles can be accepted. The greatest mystery is that He loves us enough to die for us.  Praise the Lord!

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- NO HOPE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – NO HOPE

"Remember that you, once Gentiles I the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is call the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Ephesians chapter 1 describes the spiritual blessings that we enjoy as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, and have an inheritance that has our name on it. What a wonderful thing to be a part of God's family. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

But Paul calls us to remember what it was like before we came to faith. Do you remember what it was like before you received Christ as your Savior? In the Scripture focus for today, Paul zeros in on our condition when we were far off from God. As aliens from the kingdom of God, we were without God with no hope.

One of the big problems in American culture is the lack of hope. The suicide rate is growing among both young and old people because people see no hope for the future. Without hope, there is no reason for living. So people opt for ending it all, thinking that death is better than what they are going through.  How wrong they are!

There is no hope apart from God. Only He can give a vision for the future that transcends what we are experiencing in this life. As the old saying goes, "No God, no hope. Know God, know hope."

Without God, there is no hope. With God, there is every reason to hope in the future, both in this life and in the life to come.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GLORY IN THE CROSS

GLORY IN THE CROSS

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation." (Galatians 6:14-15)

When I talk with people about the Gospel, many times I get the response, "I'm a Baptist," or, "I'm Lutheran," or, "I'm holiness," or, "I'm Pentecostal," as though any of these things would get them to heaven.

In the Galatian church, there were two groups – the circumcised, those of the Jewish tradition which believed that one must obey the law of Moses to be saved, and the uncircumcised, the Gentiles who contended that they were saved by faith alone and not by keeping the Old Testament law.

Paul was saying that these are not the important things. What matters is if I am a new creation in Christ – born again. Whatever group I'm a part of – whether circumcision or uncircumcision – is not the issue. The issue is my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His cross by which I have been crucified to the flesh, and the world system has been crucified to me.

We need to keep our eyes focused on the Cross of Christ. It was His atoning sacrifice that saved us. We are not saved by keeping rules, lest we make the cross of no effect. We today do not have this struggle regarding circumcision. But we do have other issues that could detract from Christ's Sacrifice. Any work that I do – even Baptism, as important as it is – would make the Cross and Christ's sacrifice of unnecessary if it considered a means of my salvation. In his letter to the Corinthians, he said that God did not send him to baptize people, lest the cross of Christ should be of no effect. His calling was to preach the Gospel. (I Corinthians 1:17)

May we never make our boast in anything – whether our church, our doctrine, our spiritual heritage, our good works, or anything other than the Cross of Christ and the sacrifice He made there. We cannot boast in any thing other than the grace of God provided by Jesus death on the cross. That sacrifice is sufficient.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE LAW OF LOVE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE LAW OF LOVE

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as Yourself.' " (Galatians 5:13-14)

There really is only one law that we are required to obey – the law of love: loving God and loving others. It is called the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Jesus Himself said that the two great commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these" (Mark 12:31). James called it the royal law. "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well" (James 2:8). Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…..If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.  He who does not love Me does not keep my words..." (John 14:21, 23-24).

Freedom from the Old Testament Law does not mean that I can just do as I please. I am still under the obligation to submit to the law of love. My rights must be subservient to the law of love. The foundational principle of the Ten Commandments is love for God and love for others. The first four are loving God; the second six are loving others. The greatest law is love, and that if we live by that law we will fulfill the rest of the law. If we love God, we will obey God's law.

May that be the law of my life – to love God to love others.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE LAW OF LOVE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE LAW OF LOVE

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as Yourself.' " (Galatians 5:13-14)

There really is only one law that we are required to obey – the law of love: loving God and loving others. It is called the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Jesus Himself said that the two great commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these" (Mark 12:31). James called it the royal law. "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well" (James 2:8). Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…..If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.  He who does not love Me does not keep my words..." (John 14:21, 23-24).

Freedom from the Old Testament Law does not mean that I can just do as I please. I am still under the obligation to submit to the law of love. My rights must be subservient to the law of love. The foundational principle of the Ten Commandments is love for God and love for others. The first four are loving God; the second six are loving others. The greatest law is love, and that if we live by that law we will fulfill the rest of the law. If we love God, we will obey God's law.

May that be the law of my life – to love God to love others.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ADORNING THE GOSPEL

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ADORNING THE GOSPEL

"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? …. Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:1, 3)

Bewitched! No. This is not a TV sitcom from the 60s. It is a real problem. It means speak evil of something; to charm.

The problem was set forth in the first chapter of the book. "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel" (Gal. 1:6). There were smooth talkers – charmers who were perverting or distorting the Gospel, adding obligations to their faith. "There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ" (vs. 7).

Satan will always try to distort the Gospel in order to lead people away from the truth of Christ. As believers, we must always be alert to those who would distort the Gospel by teaching that we are saved by our works rather than by grace, as though we could add anything to the sacrifice of Jesus. So Paul asks the question, "Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (3:3). The obvious answer is no. We cannot add anything by our works to what Christ has done. Paul calls people "fools" who believe that they can make their salvation more perfect by their good works.

May our gospel always be that we are saved by grace through faith – nothing more and nothing less. Any good works we do are an expression of our salvation, and not to make our salvation more perfect. The Apostle Paul, writing to Titus, taught that we can adorn the doctrine of God (Titus 2:10). When we adorn something, we make it attractive. We do not change the basic nature, but we add to its beauty. A woman who wears jewelry does not change her natural beauty. She only enhances it by what she wears. So with the Gospel. We can add nothing to it, but we can enhance its attractiveness by our lives.

My salvation is secure based on the complete work of Jesus on the cross when He died for my sin, not because of any works of righteousness that I have done. But now I can enhance the beauty of the Gospel by my life.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RELIGION OR RELATIONSHIP?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – RELIGION OR RELATIONSHIP?

"We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." (Galatians 2:15-16)

Justification is the act of declaring or making us righteous in the sight of God and bringing us into relationship with Him. Being right with God has been a desire of humans through the ages. That is the driving force of religion. Man's quest to be acceptable to God is as old as the hills. Job asked the question: "How can a man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?" (Job 25:4). Religion attempts answer this question by instituting rules to follow to make us acceptable to God by doing good deeds.

Here's the rub. Keeping the rules of religion does not bring us into relationship with God. God is holy, and nothing we can do will make us holy enough to be in relationship with a holy God. Sin separates us from a righteous God, and none of our righteous deeds are enough to reconcile us to Him. Observing religious rituals is like trying to buy or earn God's love and affection. God wants more than external action. He wants our hearts. God desires relationship – not just for us to live good lives here on this earth. Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me (relationship), he will keep My word" (John 14:23). Relationship is a matter of the heart, not just keeping rules.

Here is the Gospel. God loved us so much, and wanted relationship with us so much, that Jesus came to reconcile us to God through His death on the cross. Religion is man's attempt to find God. Christianity is God coming to find man. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). We are justified – made righteous – before God only by faith in the Lord Jesus, His sacrifice on the Cross, and His resurrection. Any other attempt to have relationship with God is an empty religious exercise of good works. I am so glad that we are justified by God's grace through faith and not by our works. That is true Christianity.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it!" (II Corinthians 11:3-4).

It seems that human nature is always looking for something new and different – something that will titillate the ear. We are no different than the early believers. In the quest for spirituality, we can be deceived to go beyond the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ – that Jesus died for our sin, rose again for our justification, and ever lives to make intercession for us. The old, old, story can become boring and we look for something fresh and exciting. In another place, the Apostle Paul said that people would have "itching ears" – itching for something new and exciting.

The phrase, "you may well put up with it," seems a little strange. But we understand from later in the chapter that this is a rather sarcastic statement – "You put up with anything!" They were gullible to follow other doctrines. He says in verses 14 and 15 that Satan can come as an angel of light and his followers can also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness – appearing to be something that they are not. In verse 19, he said, "You put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! (More sarcasm.) For you put with up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you…."

We need to be careful that we do not fall for any old fishing bait that drifts our way, and go beyond what the Bible teaches, or accept less than the Bible teaches. Wisdom says, "Stick with the plain truth of the Scriptures, and don't be lured away from the simplicity of the Gospel – saved by grace through faith." That is the simplicity of the Gospel.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SPIRIT WEAPONS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SPIRIT WEAPONS

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (or fleshly) but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ….." (II Corinthians 10:3-5).

The Apostle Paul was under attack by some people for his claim to Apostleship. The natural way to respond would be to lash out at his critics. But he did not respond in the flesh – carnally – but in spiritual ways.

We are at war – flesh against spirit. I don't know about you, but I find myself trying to fight battles of the spirit with weapons of the flesh. When I am attacked, my nature wants to respond in the same way I was attacked. How I respond tells me whether I am in the flesh or in the spirit. Too often, I respond from my flesh – the baser part of my being – rather than from my spirit where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Jesus said the spirit weapon is to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you…..." (Matthew 5:44). Paul picked up this theme when he said, "Bless those who persecute you and do not curse….Repay no one evil for evil….Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath….If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21).

This is not easy because it is not natural. But it is the spirit way. It is the Jesus way.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LAWS OF THE HARVEST

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LAWS OF THE HARVEST

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (II Corinthians 9:6)

Chapter 9 is a continuation of the exhortation given by Paul to the Church at Corinth in regard to the grace of giving. He desired that they not give out of compulsion. "I speak not by commandment" (8:8). He was appealing to their willingness – "that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation" (vs. 5).

If we really understood and believed the laws of the harvest, we would be much more eager to be willingly givers.

Verse 6 declares THE LAWS OF THE HARVEST :
1. The harvest is in relation to how much is sown. If you sow a few seeds, you will reap a small crop. If you sow liberally, you will reap a large harvest. A corollary truth is that you reap more than you sow.

2. The harvest is in relation to what is sown. If you sow wheat, you will reap wheat. If you sow onions, you will reap onions.

These laws are true regardless of what is sown. If you sow joy, you will reap joy. If you sow praise, you will reap praise. If you sow criticism, you will reap criticism. If you sow anger, you will reap anger. Whatever you sow will determine what you reap.

We do reap what we sow – financially, emotional, and spiritually – so we need to be careful what we sow.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EARTHEN VESSELS - CRACKED POTS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – EARTHEN VESSELS – CRACKED POTS

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (II Corinthians 4:7).

Patsy Clairmont, a popular Christian comedian, has a routine called "God Uses Cracked Pots." In her monologue, she refers to herself as an earthen pot that is damaged and cracked (hopefully nota crackpot). God created us perfect, but sin has damaged His intention for us. But the very imperfections and flaws can be the vehicle for God to demonstrate His power and His glory.

All of us have our weaknesses. But God can use us even in our weakness to accomplish His purposes. Noah got drunk, but God used Him to save the human race. Moses had a speech impairment, but God used him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Joseph had a problem with pride as a youth, but God used him to preserve the family of Jacob. David had a problem with lust, but God used him to build a kingdom. Peter had foot in mouth disease, but God used him to be a powerful preacher and leader in the early church. There are many other examples in Scripture of people who had their imperfections, but those weaknesses do not limit God. He can use anyone who is available. As the old saying goes, God uses FAT people. FAT is an acronym that stands for – Faithful, available, and Teachable. It is the power of Christ in a person that accomplishes God's purposes, so that all the glory belongs to Jesus. The song says, "All the glory belongs to Jesus. All the praise belongs to Him. All that I am, or ever hope to be …. All the glory belongs to Him."

We are all cracked pots in one way or another. We each have our own blemishes and flaws. But even in our cracked pot condition, "We do not lose heart, Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day" (vs. 16). God is at work in our lives, renewing and changing us. This is a life-long exercise, being conformed to the image of Christ.

Bill Gothard presented a program called "Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts." He distributed to the participants a button that read PBPGINFWMY – another acronym meaning "Please be patient – God is not not finished with me yet." Other people may give up on me, but God never does. The Potter knows what vessel He desires, and He is forming me according to His plans. I am still a work in progress – still on the potter's wheel as I yield to the Master Potter.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LIVING LETTERS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LIVING LETTERS

"You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart" (II Corinthians 3:2-3).

Ken Taylor paraphrased the Bible for his children to make the Bible more understandable.  He started with Paul's Epistles and called it "Living Letters."

We, as people who have receive the Gospel and have the Spirit of the living Christ dwelling in us, are living letters to a world who may never read the Bible. May our message always be clear, unhindered by a veil that dims the message of the letter – that Jesus saves and has transformed our lives.

"You are writing a Gospel, a chapter each day, by the deeds that you do by the words that you say. Men read what you write, whether faithless or true. Say! What is the Gospel according to you?" (Paul Gilbert)

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FORGIVENESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS --  FORGIVENESS

"Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Corinthians 2:10-11).

The particular situation Paul was referring to was the sin of incest that Paul addressed in the first letter to the church at Corinth (I Corinthians 5). There was a man who was sleeping with his father's wife. There were two problems inherent in this situation. One was the immorality of the man who was a part of their fellowship. The other was the attitude of the church. They did not mourn and grieve over the man's sin, but rather were proud (puffed up), praising themselves for their tolerance. Paul told them to put the man out of their fellowship.

When we come to the second letter, apparently the church had followed Paul's exhortation and had disciplined the man, and he had repented, but it seems that there were some who would not forgive the man. Paul was telling them to forgive the man and receive him back into fellowship. This is called reconciliation. The goal of church discipline should always be more than just judging sin, but it should be that the offender be reconciled to the fellowship.

We are not ignorant of Satan's devices. He will take advantage of anything he can to cause chaos, turmoil, and division in the body of Christ. Unforgiveness is one of those devices. If Satan can use unforgiveness to separate people, he can hinder the work of Christ in and through that fellowship.

Jesus said offense would come. It can come in a marriage or family relationships, in the church, or in other areas of life. It is a part of our fallen world. God calls us to forgive that person who offends us. Paul wrote in another letter, "forgiving one another, if any has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Colossians 3:13). How did Jesus forgive us? Completely. He does not carry a grudge against us. He says we must do the same thing.

Oh, the grace of the Lord Jesus, who forgives our offenses against Him. Completely. Eternally. Praise God for His forgiveness.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S COMFORT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD'S COMFORT

"Blessed be he God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

Today, we are considering God's comfort. I know it goes without saying that comfort means ease. To comfort someone is to bring some rest or ease to their hurting body, soul, mind, or spirit. The opposite of that is dis-ease.

If there was anyone who needed comfort, it was the Apostle Paul. He was attacked by Jews and Gentiles, and experienced much physical suffering. But his testimony was that He was comforted by the God of all comfort.

But I want to suggest that the comfort he needed was more than for physical pain. His discomfort was also in the spiritual realm. Paul had a special love for the Church at Corinth. He had spent perhaps 2 years in Corinth on his missionary journeys (Acts 18). He had poured his life and soul into the Church at Corinth. So he was distressed in his spirit when he heard what was happening in the Church at Corinth.

So he wrote a letter – which we know as I Corinthians -- to address some of these problems. He had heard reports that there were divisions and sectarianism in the Corinthian church; that there were moral problems in the church – incest to be precise. Not only was the Church was not addressing the sin; they were tolerating it and were boasting about their tolerance. He heard that believers were taking one another to court; that they were abusing the communion celebration; that they were misusing spiritual gifts; that there was confusion concerning marriage; that there were misunderstanding about the doctrine of resurrection. What a church!

Sometimes God's comfort comes through other people.  Paul was comforted when he heard from Titus that they had heeded the counsel of the first letter, and their sorrow that had caused them to repent (7:6-12). This brought rest to Paul's spirit. As he wrote later in this letter, "Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort" (7:13).

Paul could comfort others because of the comfort he had received. So as God has comforted us, we can comfort others. God is the source of all comfort.

Jesus gives us His comfort. Just before he went to the cross, He said to His disciples who were distressed, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You believe in God; believe also in Me." The greatest comfort we can know is the assurance that our sins are forgiven through our faith in Christ and that He is preparing a home in heaven for us. The turmoil and dis-ease of a guilty conscience can be relieved, and we are comforted as we confess them to Jesus and receive His forgiveness. Now that is pure comfort.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A WONDERFUL SAVIOR

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A WONDERFUL SAVIOR

"The Lord sets the prisoners free. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous." (Psalm 146:7c-8)

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)

In these Messianic psalms, the psalmist was looking forward to the coming of the promised Messiah who would open the eyes of the blind, raise up those who were bowed down, heal hearts that were wounded and broken by sin, and sets free those who are prisoners of sin.

At the beginning of the His ministry, the Lord Jesus came to the synagogue and was asked to read the Scripture portion for that day. The scroll was opened by the providence of God to the reading for that day to the prophet Isaiah where Jesus read, " 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to bind up those who are bruised, to give sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are captive...' " (Luke 4:18;  Isaiah 61:1-2). 

Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior.

We have a Savior who has opened our eyes to the wonderful Gospel, who has healed our broken or humble hearts, raised us up and freed us from the bondage of sin, bound up the wounds that were inflicted by sin, and has given us His righteousness.

What a wonderful Savior we have! We have much to praise the Lord for.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD CARES ABOUT YOU

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD CARES ABOUT YOU

"Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul." (Psalm 142:4)

Have you ever felt like this? No one care about me. No one pays any attention to me. Where are people when I need them?

This was a prayer of David when he was in a cave when he fled from King Saul. He was in a desperate place. His heart was overwhelmed (vs. 3). He cried to the LORD because he was "brought very low" (vs. 6). He was in despair.

When we feel that no one cares about us, we can be assured that God cares. Peter said we can cast all of our cares upon Him, because He cares for us (I Peter 5:7).

God cares about what you are going through today. When we feel like David felt – that our refuge has failed us (vs 4), we can cry out to the LORD and make supplication to Him, pour out our complaint and declare before Him our troubles because He cares for us.

The old chorus says, "He careth for you, He careth for you. In sunshine and shadow, He careth for you."

Audrey Meier wrote this song:

"It matters to Him about you, Your heartaches and sorrow He shares. 

Regardless of what you may do, He wants you, He loves you, He cares.

O yes, it matters to Him about you, believe it because it is true.

Cling to His hand, He understands, for it matters to Him about you."

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S PRECIOUS THOUGHTS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD PRECIOUS THOUGHTS

Psalm 139:17 – "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with Thee."

Some people view God as a tyrant just waiting for us to mess up so He can punish us. But God is thinking good thoughts about His children – his people. Consider the words of Zephaniah 3:17. To His people, Israel, God said, "The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). Isaiah 62:5b – "And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you."

We have a heavenly Father who take pleasure in His children. As Psalm 147:11 says, "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."

I am reminded of what the Father said of Jesus. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." How did Jesus please the Father? By always doing those things that pleased the Father (John 8:29).

Sadly, I do not always do things that are pleasing to Him. But I know that as His child, I can come to Him and ask for forgiveness. Like a Father, He still loves his children when they mess up because I believe in His mercy . That's why the end of the verse says, "When I wake up, You are still there." He does not forsake us just because we make mistakes. When we wake up to the smell of the coffee, He is still rejoicing over us.

I have a desire to please God, to make God proud of me, His son, and have Him rejoice over me with singing.

Love, Dad