Awakening

This, beloved, is what it looks like when the Father draws a man to the Son:

1. It’s not the quality of the man’s understanding.
2. It’s not the quality of the man’s works.
3. It is the power of the Father to draw men unto the Son by the power of His Word.
4. The man wakes up and is convinced he understands the world and reality.
5. Men are men.
6. Bread is bread.
7. Blood is blood.
8. Then, suddenly, out of the blue, the Word of God comes like a mighty conqueror.
9. It pierces the heart of men.
10. It wakes them up.
11. The world that seemed rightside up is now upside down.
12. The Savior who seems a rejected and despised failure is seen for what He truly is.
13. O, may you know the power of the saving hand of the Father to draw you to the Son.
14. May you fall down at His feet and cry: “I don’t understand it all but I’ve come to believe you are the Holy One sent from God. You alone have the words of eternal life. Save me! May I feed on your flesh. May I drink your blood. Give me the spiritual nourishment I have been lacking as I have been stumbling blindly through this world.” 
15. Such a request, the Son is delighted to grant.
16. He will lay hold of you with such a strong Hand that none can pluck you out.

~Author Unknown~

The Covenant (poem)

by William Cowper
(Ezekiel, xxxvi. 25-28)


The Lord proclaims His grace abroad!
“Behold, I change your hearts of stone;
Each shall renounce his idol-god,
And serve, henceforth, the Lord alone.


“My grace, a flowing stream, proceeds
To wash your filthiness away;
Ye shall abhor your former deeds,
And learn my statutes to obey.


“My truth the great design ensures,
I give myself away to you;
You shall be mine, I will be yours,
Your God unalterably true.


“Yet not unsought or unimplored,
The plenteous grace I shall confer;
No — your whole hearts shall seek the Lord,
I’ll put a praying spirit there.


“From the first breath of life divine
Down to the last expiring hour,
The gracious work shall all be mine,
Begun and ended in my power.”

Day 343

(C) Book of 1 Peter
1. The Christian's sufferings - 1 Peter 1:1-25; 2:1-20
2. Christ has suffered for us - 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:1-22; 4:1-19
3. Exhortation to be strong and closing salutations - 1 Peter 5:1-14

1st Peter - Timeless Truths for Tough Times - I have been blessed to be in a ladies Bible study for the past 5+ years studying the book of 1st Peter inductively.  We are finishing verse 5 and will begin verse 6 sometime in 2011.  If you have never availed yourself of the opportunity to study inductively, here are a couple of articles to get you started:  How To Study Inductively, which has an in interesting side story about being observant with that which is placed before you.  The next is an 8 part article also titled, How To Study Inductively, they reference Websters 1828 dictionary for definitions of words.  I have always used the Strong's Concordance which can be found online here or here, or as part of the free Bible software at E-Sword, which also includes a variety of translations, dictionary and commentaries.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7-9)

It was specifically verse 7 that I was focused upon, however I did not want to fragment the verse.  This verse reminds me of another about our works being tried by fire.


1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

This passage has been brought to my attention time and again.  Father's reminding me to be cognizant of HIS son's eventual return to claim His (Jesus') betrothed.  I am saddened with the thought that I may stand before Him and have nothing left but the foundation.  Will that which I do stand the fire of HIS scrutiny?  Will all that I have done this side of glory be burnt as if hay, wood and stubble?  Will ought of that which I thought to offer unto Him come through as gold, silver or precious gems?

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

We all need to take warning, the Master's return draws closer every day, we are commanded to be diligently looking and craving for that day.  We ought not to be as the unwise servant:


Luke 12:46  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Luke 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Luke 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Day 330

N. Book of Galatians (from Corinth)
1. Difference between law and grace
a. Paul's gospel from God - Galatians 1:1-24
b. Paul's relationship to others - Galatians 2:1-6
c. Justification by faith - Galatians 2:15-21
d. Bondage under the law - Galatians 3:1-29; 4:1-31
2. Application of grace, freedom in Christ - Galatians 5:1-26; 6:1-18


Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.  (Galatians 3:7-9)


Verse 8 caught my attention because of the foreseeing - but as I typed it out I was intrigued by the fact that the gospel was preached to Abraham.  Jesus preached the gospel.  I know I am re-covering ground, but I find this fascinating.  The gospel is not solely that Jesus came, died, was buried and rose again.

Isa 61:1  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 
Isa 61:2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 
Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

I am going to have to continue to turn this over and meditate, read, study, research and pray.  The depth of what the word 'gospel' conveys is beyond a simplistic statement.  The wealth of what Jesus taught when HE came proclaiming the gospel, ahh, that our understanding would be fully enlightened.

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.  (Galatians 4:10)

The commentaries seem to suggest that the Galatians may have been attempting to keep the Jewish Sabbaths, new moons, festivals.  I can see where it might have been difficult for them.  They have come out of paganism, with all of its rituals, rites and feast days.  It might have been easy to transfer that desire into something they considered holy.  Especially if there were those who thought or promoted that keeping the festivals was in integral part of being a Christian.

I am trying to balance that with Paul's continuing to observe the feasts.  The Word records it, what does that say to us?  I know all of the feasts were a foretelling of an accomplishment fulfilled by Christ (at least the Spring and Summer).  Was Paul keeping the feasts (not looking forward) but as a remembrance of what Christ's death had wrought?

Then there is the passage in Acts where only 4 requirements are placed upon the Gentile converts, yet specific attention is given to mention that they would continue to hear the law of Moses taught in the synagogues.  I have never participated in a Biblical Passover - as I sat and pondered these things, it made me wonder:  If a Jew, participated in a scripturally lined up Passover (or other fulfilled feast), rejoiced to see each portion fulfilled by Christ.

Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 

I like Paul's comment - Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?  (Galatians 4:16)  When someone speaks, corrects and/or challenges us regarding something we are holding onto which may not be Biblical, do we bow up?  Get defensive?  Desire to search the scriptures to see if those things are so?  Take it to the altar and lay it down before Him?  Be willing to give 'it' up to Him?  Even take the time prayerfully ask Him?

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.  (Galatians 5:9) - How much of the world, it's thoughts, attitudes, behaviors am I allowing to 'leaven' me?  How different do I really look?  Can anyone see a difference?  Not because I want to be lifted up or glorified, God forbid.  I tremble when I think of how sin saturated I am.  The closer I draw to Christ the more I see the ugliness of the sin which battles me daily.  Perhaps better stated, when someone looks at me, how much of Christ do they really see?

Works of the flesh:  Adultery ~ fornication (harlotry, incest) ~ uncleanness (impurity) ~ lasciviousness (licentiousness) ~ idolatry (image worship) ~ witchcraft (medication, magic) ~ hatred (hostility) ~ variance (quarrel, wrangling) ~ emulations (jealousy) ~ wrath (passion) ~ strife (intrigue, faction) ~ seditions (disunion, dissension) ~ heresies (choice, party, disunion) ~ envyings (ill will, jealousy) ~ murders ~ drunkenness (intoxicant) ~ revellings (carousal, let loose).

I will probably never be able to write or say the word intriguing without thinking about this passage and specifically the word strife.  I was just going to list the words, with no thought of placing the definition, until I came to the word variance.  Perplexity - then a decision to look up each word.   I ought not forget how vitally important it is to understand the words and their meanings.

Fruit of the Spirit:  love (affection or benevolence) ~ joy (cheerfulness, delight) ~ peace (prosperity) ~ longsuffering (forbearance, fortitude) ~ gentleness (usefulness, excellence) ~ goodness (virtue or beneficence) ~ faith (persuasion, credence, conviction) ~ meekness (gentleness, humility) ~ temperance (self control).

I like the comparison between work (toil) and fruit (plucked).  To my mind it invokes a picture of in progress (work) versus rest or completion (fruit).

As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  (Galatians 6:10)

Lord, let us ever be ready to pour out our lives as a sacrificial offering unto You, to whom ever You call us to do so.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  (Galatians 6:14)

Father, help each of Your children to die daily to self, to die to the call and allure of the world, to desire with growing fervency to give a proper estimate of who You are in all that we say, do and think.  Help us Lord to love, serve and represent You with the totality of our beings.