Sin, Mercy and Hope

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do---this I keep on doing.

- Romans 7:15-19


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

- Lamentations 3:22-24


“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

- Revelation 22:16

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"Mars in the Morning", a poem, a prayer inspired by the above scripture.

Galatians 6:3-10 - Always Forward With Doing Good

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

- Galatians 6:3-10

Matthew 28

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.  When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,  telling them, “You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:1-20

Psalm 8:1, 3-6, 9 - Greater Than the Stars!

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. ... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: ... Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

- Psalm 8:1, 3-6, 9

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Commentary: When one thinks of the Universe, even just the Milky Way, one has to consider a Master Designer -- GOD of all! This same GOD gave humans this gift to marvel and wonder. This same GOD cares for His creation, and He cares for those He created in His image -- the image of Love -- greater than the stars!

Move This Mountain - Matthew 21:18-22

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

-- Matthew 21:18-22

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Commentary: What mountain? Any mountain? Was Jesus speaking figuratively? Jesus and his disciples were in and around the temple, which was built on a mountain, at the time he made this declaration. This indicates that Jesus was referring to moving the hearts and minds of those around them -- even of the pious religious leaders who were present. I can imagine him pointing to "this mountain", gazing in love at those around him. He was continuing to build on the role in which his disciples would commit -- "... and on this rock [speaking of himself] I will build my church ..." (Matthew 16).
May his church continue to move mountains as the power of Jesus' Spirit moves the hearts and minds of those around us.

Matthew 16:13-27

Matthew 16:13-27 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
"But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Fear GOD!

Moses wrote in Deuteronomy to “Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.” We are to give God our reverence. The Bible also says in many places to fear God. From the minds of his creation this seems counter to his love. But it is not. In fact, “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” (Proverbs 9:10). “God is love,” (1 John 4:16), and he desires what is best for his creation which comes from his wisdom. Fear God.

But what does it mean to fear God? In the original language the word for fear is “yirah” in Hebrew which means awe or fear. In the New Testament fear is used forty-six times, and is the Greek word “phobos,” which literally means “fear.” Some translations use “awe” in Acts 2:43, or “respect” in 1 Peter 2:18 and 3:2. It is translated as “reverence” in 1 Peter 3:15 with the use of the word is a variation of “phobos.”

When the prophet Isaiah entered the presence of God he fell flat on his face and cried, “Woe to me – I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips [the guilty, a sinner], and I live among people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” This is a prime example of the fear of God. We are to have a healthy fear of him and show him respect, reverence and awe – not because he is tyrannical and cruel, but because he is the perfect, righteous, almighty, holy God who loves his creation.

What is wonderful about the fear of God is that he “delights in those who fear him and place their hope in his unfailing love.” (Psalm 147:11) The psalmist knew by faith – looking forward to the Messiah – that he could “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise …” (Psalm 100:4). Jesus the Messiah is our advocate by his death on a cross and resurrection. The Christ-follower will not have to face God’s wrath for sin. The Apostle Paul wrote, “God showed his love for us in that while we yet sinners, Christ [Messiah] died for us.” And the Apostle John wrote “… we have an advocate with the Father [God], Jesus the righteous.” (1 John 2:1). He is the propitiation [substitute] for our guilt, our sin, so we can enter into God’s presence with a healthy fear – because he is the Almighty perfect God. And we can enter his presence in love – because he “so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son [Jesus the Messiah] that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Fear God, who loves us – who loves you..

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Fear GOD, the Creator, and not the creation. Because the latter will only result in being scared.

Genesis 18: 20-33 - Persistent Prayer & Appropriate Fear

... the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Genesis 18: 20-33 [ESV]

 

Commentary: There are many lessons to be learned from this passage. But, two in particular strike me:

1)    The consistent and persistent prayer Abraham has with the LORD GOD. Abraham asked the LORD to spare a certain number of righteous if the LORD found such a number. Throughout the conversation Abraham continued to plead with the LORD. This is a lesson for all of us, never to give up praying for something which is on our hearts. GOD listens!

2)    When Abraham approached the LORD, he did so knowing with whom he was talking: the Almighty Creator of the universe! Each time Abraham addressed GOD, he acknowledged who GOD is and who he was in relation to GOD: “… let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.” (v27). There seems to be a foreshadowing reference to Isaiah 6 when the prophet Isaiah approached the LORD GOD and he bowed before the LORD with the cry, “Woe is me!”; and it took an angel to cover his lips with a touch of coal in order to cleanse him before the perfect GOD. There is definitely the same fear in both men as they approached and spoke with the LORD GOD. For GOD “delights in those who fear Him, and put their hope in His unfailing love.” (Psalm 147: 11).

Lastly, remember prayer is not something we may do to persuade or bargain with the LORD, it is something we may do to align ourselves with His will.

Genesis 11: 1-9 -- The Tower of Babel

At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the LORD confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.

Genesis 11: 1-9 [NLT]


Commentary: Several generations passed since the time of the great Flood. Noah’s sons obeyed God and were fruitful and multiplied, and began to fill the earth. This was God’s command to Adam and Eve, but man became wicked and within a millennium God sent a flood to reset His plan. The aforementioned was also God’s command to Noah and his sons, but within a few generations – after some “filling” of the earth had occurred – began to migrate back to their origin: east. This displeased God as the people began to unite under their own accord, and not within the plan of God. See, God does want mankind to be united but within His plan, abiding with Him. The tower of Babel was the people’s symbol of uniting under their own strength, as pride was their motivation. So God forced the people to scatter as He had originally planned. Even scattered – whether speaking one language or hundreds – we can still be united, but only united in God through His Son, Jesus the Christ. Even before Jesus came to earth as a man, the workings of God and eventually His Scripture point toward a Messiah – One who showed us perfect humility, the opposite of pride. It is through Him we can abide with God and with each other. 

(At first glance, v6 seems to imply that with the people united nothing "will be impossible for them!" God was not saying to His Son and Spirit that all things would be possible for them, but looking at the language of the Scripture, it's clear that what is being said is: man will believe all is possible and they won't need God. It is only through the power of God that all things are possible, hence the passage in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Never of our own strength can we do the seemingly impossible.)

GOD's Favor - Genesis 6

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

But Noah found favor with the Lord.

Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior."

“Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives."

"And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.” So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

- Genesis 6: 5, 8, 11-14, 17-18, 21-22


Commentary: In spite of all the lawlessness, wrongdoing and -- let's call it what it is -- evil and wickedness that goes on in this modern world, it is important to remain faithful to the Creator of the universe. The creation will pass away. The created will fail us. The created will deny us. GOD will never forsake us. "But Noah found favor with the LORD." In spite of all the evil around him, Noah and his family were blessed with a saving covenant from their LORD GOD -- their provider, their Creator -- because of their faithfulness. GOD gave them detailed instructions. "So Noah did everything exactly as GOD had commanded him." And because of his obedience, GOD demonstrated a miracle far beyond the finite. The miracle can be seen in the infinite. The spiritual connection we as believers have with our LORD GOD. That relationship with the Creator is magnified through our obedience! "[For] He delights in those who fear Him and put their hope in His unfailing love." (Psalm 147: 11)
 

Genesis 2:15-17

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

-- Genesis 2:15-17


Commentary: Some say, including Satan, that GOD lied when He said man would die if he ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree because Adam and Eve remained alive. But they indeed experienced death. The Garden of Eden was GOD's first temple. A temple is where GOD dwells. GOD placed man in the garden, in His temple -- where GOD dwelt. This is the picture of life. When man disobeyed, GOD removed him from the garden, from the temple, from the place where GOD dwells. This equated to death, spiritual death. Therefore, Adam and Eve indeed experienced death. This is why all their descendants, including every person currently living, is born dead -- spiritually dead.  
This is why the perfect GOD had to come to our world and defeat death by dying on cross and rising from the grave. In this act of pure love, and by the power of GOD's Holy Spirit He can now dwell in His new temple, the temple of those who acknowledge he/she is born into death and is in need of a Savior, Jesus the Christ. This cannot be accomplished on our own, but only through GOD's power. 

Genesis 3:14-15

Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

- Genesis 3:14-15


Commentary: This is the first recorded prophecy, and it was foretold by GOD. He was in control. He still is in control. He will always be in control. In spite of the fall of mankind, in spite of the serpent tempting the woman, GOD is in control. And from this beginning He knew He would have to make the greatest sacrifice. Not because He wasn't aware of man's or the serpent's pending actions, but because GOD is in control. In that control, in His plan, He knows the serpent -- Satan -- is defeated through Jesus the Christ, in spite of the seeming victory of Satan by the death of Jesus -- hence, the "strike your heel" reference. "He will strike your head, ..." A strike to the head is an image of GOD's victory over Satan, over darkness and over evil and over death. This is the first hope given to man. The first two humans were now GOD's ambassadors, to proclaim this hope to their offspring for generation to generation, looking forward to the coming of this hope. The hope of Jesus the Christ! The one who defeated death by His resurrection so we do not have face everlasting death but may have everlasting life.