Ask, and You Will Receive.

Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
The disciples have just asked. “Teach us to pray” after seeing Jesus pray.

Then Jesus tells the story of the friend who comes at an inconvenient time. “At Midnight.” (Luke 11:5-8)
He has company. Someone who has come from a long journey and is in need of bread. But the one housing the man, has none to give.
So he goes to his neighbor and knocks.
“Forget it…it’s midnight, I am in bed, and I’m not getting up!” Is basically the word given the knocker.
But he keeps knocking.
So, not because he is his friend (he might not be, after this); but because he kept knocking; he opens and gives what he has asked for.

Then Jesus says, the way to get from God is the same:
Ask, like you really need it.

Seek, like you really want the reply.
And knock, till the answer comes.

When we come to God to pray, Jesus is saying that we should come, believing God will hear, and expecting that He will make known His will.
Ask, and you will receive. Ask till you receive an answer as to what and how you should ask. (How many times we think we know what we need, but as we are praying we receive what we really need to know or have answered.)

Seek, till you get the means of getting your petition answered. (Sometimes there is a verse to claim, or a prayer promise to use: Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 5:14-15)

Then knock, using those means, till you get the answer that you were seeking.

Just to be clear, “means” are those parts of the promise that we must use:
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest.”
“Come unto me”, is the means; His rest is the promise.

When Jesus healed the ten lepers: (Luke 17:14) “When he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
Jesus healed them by His word, but only as they went to do as He said. That is the means.

Luke 11:10 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

As Christians, our lifeline is prayer.
Paul said:
Philippians 4:6-7 ” Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Prayer gives us that peace in all situations, so we can be without the care which burdens.
The promise is: you will receive, find, and have an open door set before you.
The means is: ask, seek, and knock.

There is a famine in the Land

Amos 8:11 “ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:”

Have you heard God lately?

Have you heard Him in your Bible reading? Or in your Church services? Or in your innermost spirit, where the Holy Spirit dwells and speaks?

Well, if you have not heard Him lately, you are starving.

1 Peter 2:2-3 “As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

All our growth comes through Him; by the interaction of His Word to us, and our receiving it.

This verse in Amos was given to Israel when they were turning from God, to idols.
And Amos was sent as a prophet to speak to Israel to warn them, so they would repent: turn around and choose God.

Amos 7:14-15 “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit:
And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. “

So he did, but those around the king were afraid that the people would believe him, for he told of God’s promise of judgement on those who followed the idols.

So they just wanted him to go away. Go back to Judah and live there. Prophesy there, if you must speak God’s Words; but not here.

How ridiculous! How could Amos be obedient, and not do what he had been told?
How could the people have a chance of repenting, and returning to the Lord, without hearing His Word to them? (Romans 10:14-15)

Well, Amos did not leave, but gave out the Word of God to His people. He stood fast in a land that was turning to idols, and forgetting everything God had taught them about His love of justice and truth.

Amos 8:4-7 “Hear this, oh ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
Saying, when will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? And the sabbath, that we may set forth the wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances of deceit?
That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

The Lord has sworn by the excellency of Jacob, surely I will never forget any of their works.”

The merchants were cheating the buyers. Giving less for more; by changing the balances. Saying they had got what they paid for, when they did not.

It was all so that they could have more power over people, to have greater leverage in bargaining, because of this wealth.

The idols that they worshipped were not only images to bow down to; but the idols of silver and gold in their hearts.

Amos preached God’s Word, and not many listened and turned; but he had warned them faithfully, and God was pleased with him.

Amos warned them that there would be a day, when God would stop speaking and calling them to repentance; then would come the day:

Amos 9:1, 10 “I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the post may shake: And cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.”

Who is He talking to?

“All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake or prevent us.”

All those who think to get around God and His Word, won’t.

We, too, in this Church age have been warned against turning from God to idols of our own making.
Instead of staying true to God, and His Word:
2 Timothy 4:1-4 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season; out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.”

Fables might instruct, but only God’s Word gives life—true life.

Have you heard God, or His Word to you, lately?

The Sieve of Preconceived Ideas

We all know what a sieve is.    It lets somethings through, while blocking others.

Well, the sieve of preconceived ideas, is where we let some of what God is telling us through; but blocking other things, because of an idea we had about what He was going to say.

How many of our children, turn us parents off? Because they know what we are going to say, and they just do not want to hear it again?

This is the sieve of preconceived ideas.

We think we know what God is talking to us about, so we just sort of, stop listening along the way.

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

The “perfect day” is the time of day when the sun is at high noon, straight overhead. There are no shadows then, but full light shines upon us.

So our walk with Jesus, starts at the dawning light. Just light enough to start to walk.
Then the Light grows within us, by our yielding to Him in obedience, and we are headed for the perfect day of nothing between us, and our Lord.

But along the way, we often put our own limitations on that Light to us.

How many have said, “Lord Jesus, you can talk to me about anything, but that. I’ll deal with it.”
But we never do. Or do it little; just enough to get by, we think.

See the sieve of preconceived ideas?

Well, we can overcome this by the power of the Holy Spirit’s honesty.
He will enable us to see what is truth, but we have to will to see it.

There was a Pastor I knew once, who used to say to his wife, when they would disagree, “I will accept the correction.”
Sounds good, but it still places the parties at distance points; not together.
Acceptance is not yielding; but simply acknowledging another’s viewpoint.

No reconciliation there.

But “I will submit to the correction.” ; as we should do to God, brings us into the reconciliation to Him, that we need.

When we are reconciled to God, we are placed in that position to receive full power from Him.
If we are accepting His word, we can still be far from Him, and not receive the power He wants to give us.

There must be an absolute surrender to God, as my Ruler.
Then, there can be many reconciliations to His Word, for now.
And there will be more power in my life now.
We will know His will and be enabled to do His Will, that we might be blessed in His Will.

Matthew 16:5 “And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.”

This sets up an example of preconceived ideas getting into the way of our hearing what Jesus really is saying to us.

Matthew 16:6-7 “And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.”

They were afraid Jesus was correcting them because they forgot to bring food for the trip across the sea.

But Jesus was not concerned about food. Had He not fed five thousand with a few loaves of bread and a few fishes?

Matthew 16:8,11-12. “Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, Oh ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware the leaven of the bread, but of the doctrine (teaching) of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

Christ Jesus will lift us up, enlighten our path, give us courage, and so much more; But we must draw near, and hear Him.
Giving up our preconceived ideas; and REALLY hearing what He is saying to us.
There is so much He wants to give us, so much we need to receive; let us come close by yielding to Him, and hear.

 

 

 

 

 

The Family Prayer

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye:…”

Here Jesus is speaking in the Sermon on the Mount. He had just corrected the view of prayer, which was to stand on the street corner to be seen of men. Or the view of prayer, which says to repeat and repeat something over and over, as though God was hard of hearing.

Both of these were not what the Heavenly Father wanted.

Then he begins to teach them the right way to pray:

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye:…”
Luke 11:2 “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,…”

Jesus said that we should pray this prayer. (I believe, and we do pray this prayer in our Church services, for we want His kingdom to come within us, and through us, in all our lives)
(It is also a model of the prayers we should come to God about, as a reminder of what Jesus said was real prayer. It has all the elements, briefly stated, that we need to pray.)

Prayer is talking to God about His will; to know it, and to get the ability and means to do it. It is telling God our needs, confessing our sins, and asking for help against the many pitfalls and enemies in this world.

“Our Father which art in heaven,”
The first thing Jesus teaches, is that we need to come to God on the basis of relationship.
Our relationship to His Son. We are to believe and receive Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and then His Father is our Father. (John 20:17)
And we can come to Him as “our Father which art in heaven”; He is in Heaven, far above every situation; and it charge of them.

“Hallowed be thy Name.” This is to acknowledge His Holiness and give reverence to Him. His Name signifies all He is; so we are to reverence and to honor it, because it represents Him.

“Thy kingdom come.” This is to pray for His kingdom coming within our hearts, now. That we would be obedient subjects of our King Jesus; and show how wonderful being His servant is.
And we should pray for His kingdom to come to this world, which will come at His second coming.
(The world will know no peace, until Christ rules.)

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” We are to pray for His will to be done in our lives, “in earth”; that we would know it, and fulfill it. In heaven it is done joyfully, and speedily. So are we to pray for it to be done with in us, the same way; and seek to do it in the same manner: with joy.

“Give us this day our daily bread”. We are to ask for our daily needs to be met. This is not the luxuries; but the needs we have each day. This teaches us that today we may have plenty; and tomorrow we may be in want. Or the opposite. Our asking each day, brings us before His throne, with today’s needs. It gives us the opportunity to realize what He did for us yesterday; and in faith, believe Him for today.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. We are asking that the trespasses we have committed against His Will, would be forgiven us. They are debts against His Holiness, and goodness. We are to seek forgiveness for them.
We are to also forgive others, as He forgives us; which has been in abundant mercy.

“And lead us not into temptation”. This is asking for the Holy Spirit’s protection against the things which tempt us everyday; and those, especially, which we are prone to.
We are asking Him to keep us out of harms way; and away from those things or people which lead us into harms way. (Of course, having prayed it, we need to heed the warning given by the Holy Spirit in each situation).

“But deliver us from evil”. Some believe it means the evil one, the devil. We have three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
So we ask for deliverance. When we have been tricked, and sinned; we ask that He will let us not fall any further; but deliver us from the sin, and the wiles of the devil concerning it.

“For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.” Christ received His kingdom, and the power of it, and the glory He had with the Father before He left heaven and came to earth to save us; and further glory, for fulfilling the Father’s Will in everything. In this we are to acknowledge His authority and power; and praise Him for it.
Matthew 28:18-20″ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

“Amen”. Let it be. This is to ask, that all the things we have prayed for will be brought to pass.

 

 

Today!

Hebrew 3:15 “While it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.”

All our lives comes down to ‘Today’.    Tomorrow is not yet.    Yesterday, with its success and failures, is done.

But today we have. Today we have the opportunity to turn to God and do His Will.

We never know what a day will bring. We should, therefore, determine which direction our lives will go, while we have today.

So today, if you will hear His Voice.
We can hear God’s voice in nature; many have seen the changing seasons and heard God speak to them:
Psalms 74:17 “…Thou hast made summer and winter.” If the seasons change, all over the world, surely that means that the sadness of today is not permanent; but will give way to rejoicing.

We can hear God through His Word. It is His revelation of Himself and His Ways to us. The Holy Spirit will help us understand it, when we ask Him.

And we can hear His Voice to us, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within. He is Light, and will make known to us HIs Will.
John 7:17 “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine (teaching) whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”

Jesus said, If we really want to know His Will, we can know.
God considers our “heart” the seat or throne of our mind, emotions and will.

So when we hear Him, we are to “soften” our hearts by yielding to His Will.

To “harden” our hearts is when we will not to do it; for whatever reason.

Zechariah 7:9-11 “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, Execute true judgement, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”

A hardened heart is not caused by circumstances, or birth; but a choice of will, to the circumstances or birth.

When Israel hardened their heart:   they first refused to listen, for they did not want to be responsible.   They thought that if they had not heard, God could not require His Word to be obeyed.

They pulled away from the work of “shouldering” the burdens of prayer, faithfulness, and love.

Finally they stopped their ears, or filled their ears with other voices, so they would not have to know God’s Voice in the circumstances.

Again, God considers our heart the throne of our mind, emotions, and will.

But He can give us “hearts of flesh”; or tender hearts which return the love He gives us to Him.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stoney heart out of the flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:
That they may walk in my statues, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is given to us in our hearts to make alive again, and guide.    He rules and over rules in circumstances which affect His People.

Without Him we can do nothing.
But with His Almighty energy, the most extraordinary results can be produced.

Everything depends upon His manifesting or concealing His Power.

Are we anxious to obtain His help?
Are we watching so we will not provoke Him to be silent? Oh how much we need Him to speak to our inner man and give us courage!

The Holy Spirit is not a temporary gift; He abides with us.
He does not weary of us (Amazing Love!); But waits to be gracious at times, till we really see our need, and seek Him.

It is love which makes a hard heart into a softened heart, yielding to God’s Spirit.
God’s love placed into our hearts, returned to Him.

In love, He speaks of “Today”, if…..

Turn to Christ Jesus, and yield to HIs Spirit within.
Receive His love, and return it to Him.
He wants to bless each heart given to Him, let Him, Today.

 

Elisha and the cruse of Salt

2 Kings 2:19 “And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is nought, and the ground barren.”

The city of Jericho was situated near the Jordan River; it was a beautiful city, but the spring water that watered the land was bitter and caused the crops to fail.

Jericho was rebuilt under a curse. (Joshua 6:26). I am only mentioning this because the world system we live in is also under a curse. One day there will be a new heaven and earth, but now we are called to live here for Christ Jesus.

To “build” here, as though this was our final home; and not keep our hearts for Heaven, will cause any Christian to be barren, and not produce the fruit of joy and peace in the soul.

The men of Jericho, hearing that Elisha had been anointed by the Holy Spirit to be prophet after Elijah, came to him and asked that he would seek God for help to heal the waters.

2 Kings 2:20 “And he said, Bring me a new cruse (jar) and put salt therein, and they brought it to him.”

Salt, we know is a preservative. We, as Christians, are to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), to preserve it from God’s Wrath, until the day appointed.

We are to honor the Holy Spirit within us, and witness to Christ’s Gospel without us.

But this healing the waters was not to cost them nothing. They were to buy a new cruse (jar) and the salt, and bring it to him.
The Lord was not going to heal, till they did this. It would have cost them little, but it would have showed their willing diligence to be obedient to God’s requirements.

When they did this, Elisha was instructed to:
2 Kings 2:21-22 “And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.”

The salt, itself, was not the healer. Nor was Elisha.
The salt was the means God wanted used, and Elisha was the instrument the Lord used, for that time.

This is a picture of how we, as Christians, can be fruitful in this barren world.
The world looks good, but without the “living waters” of the Holy Spirit springing up in us, we won’t bring forth fruit.

The Lord requires new, clean vessels; by being born again. And we need to be salt; the preserving power of the Holy Spirit working through us to a sad world.
That is simply doing what were told by God, and that will preserve us and those around us.

The waters were healed, not just for a day or two. They could have harvests of plenty.

God wants that for each life He saves: To bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit within (to have His joy and peace, even in this world); and to manifest His gospel without.

(Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance….”)

 

Let’s Talk Protection

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Our protection, as Christians, is in the Lord.

First, in keeping us out of harms way.

We are to pray that He will guide us away from temptations; and if we do not listen to Him and walk into them, to deliver us from them, before it is too bad, and we are burdened.

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”

He has the power to keep, and He has the power to deliver. Let us pray that He will be our guide that we might be kept by Him.

Second, we are to put on our armor.

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Wiles are tricks, and traps that the devil puts in front of us; hoping we will fall into them.

The Armor consists of pieces of Spiritual Help which we are to use. (Ephesians 6:14-18)

1. “Our loins girt about with truth”. This was a very wide belt which surrounded the soldier. It helped strength the back; and the breastplate was attached to it. Truth is absolutely necessary: we must have it, and believe it. The truth about Christ Jesus, and His Word to us. We must have it by faith, believing it; in our lives.

2. “The breastplate of righteousness”. This is Christ’s righteousness applied to us, before God; and our righteous acts (obedience to Him) that we do. Our hearts are covered from attack, when we are sure we are born again and we are holding on to His Word, by obeying it.

3. “Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”. We stand strong with Him, when we are standing in His peace. We are unmoved from our stand, by people, or circumstance.

4. “The shield of faith”. It was to be held where the need was: over the head, when our understanding is attacked by fiery darts. In front to help with our emotions. Everywhere, to fight off unbelief, and fear. 1 John 1:4 “…this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

5. “The helmet of salvation”. This protects our thoughts from the influence of the world’s attitudes. The world is all out for itself. Forget kindness, or good works; look for what you can get out of it—nothing else. These thoughts often trouble us, for we are often in need. But the helmet of salvation protects us; making us realize the many blessings of God for us, that we may be thankful to Him.

6. “The sword of the Spirit”. The sword is the Word of God. It is a Bible verse or short saying from the Word. The Holy Spirit uses it against our adversaries, when we say it.

7. “All prayer and supplication”. This is just what it says: praying. (Supplication simply means seeking earnestly by prayer). This comforts us, for to talk with our Lord Jesus everyday, is joy.

 

Our protection is in the Lord. We are to recognize that His saving us includes His saving us from our sins, and many physical deliverances, as well.

God our Father is our protection for He loves us with an everlasting love.
Christ Jesus is our protection for He died for us to bring us into fellowship with Him, now, and forever in Heaven.
The Holy Spirit is our protection, for it is by His guidance, and grace (the unmerited favor of power) within us, that we are kept safe in our walk,from here to Heaven.

The Peace of God

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The word “keep” here means to protect, to garrison.

That is what God’s peace does for us. It protects our hearts, which are our emotions. (How often they run away with us!)

And it protects our minds, which are our thoughts, both random and reasoned.

His peace puts us in a strong place, where things don’t upset us; or hurt us, like they usually do.
His peace gives us rest of mind; not panic or wild imaginations of what could happen.

But it is His peace. We very often have none of our own.
But He comes and speaks to us, calming our fears; and delivering us by His protection.

It passes all our understanding, for we can try and reason away bad thoughts or anger….but it usually does not work.
But, when we let His peace come, we know real power and rest in the situation.

He has it for us; He says:
Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing (do not worry);
but in everything (yes, everything, big and little)
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
He hears and gives us His peace. Just talk to Him, and receive His peace, and praise Him for it.

Remember Lot’s Wife

Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Why would our Lord want us to remember Lot’s wife?

Because looking back is a trap we should not fall into.

The story:

Lot lived in Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah were situated in a beautiful valley; full of lush pastures, and full rivers. They were rich cities, and Lot and his family had moved there to enjoy all they had to offer. But…

But they were also wicked places. Terrible sexual practices were carried out in the city, and all of them were allowed on any who would venture in. They were also idolatrous people; so bad that “the cry of them is great before the face of the Lord”.

God sent angels to Lot, so that he and his family, could escape the coming destruction.
Genesis 19:12-13 “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any beside? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place:
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.”

Well, Lot told his family, but no one would listen to him; “he seemed as one that mocked”. (Genesis 19:14). They thought he was joking.
After all, Lot lived in Sodom; had been there quite a while, surely this was not going to happen.
Beside, when was the last time Lot talked about God? He must be joking.

When the next morning came, the angels said:
Genesis 19:15 “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”

It was time to go, but he hesitated.
Hesitation is such an easy thing for us to do. We wait, a moment or so, wishing things were different; and by doing so, lose the joy in doing the Lord’s Will, in what is next.
In mercy the Lord had His angels take hold on their hands and guide them out of the city.

Genesis 19:16-17 “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful to him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.”

Standing outside the city the angels warn them not to look back, but to keep moving forward.
God was going to destroy, for their awful sin, Sodom and Gomorrah.

They started to go to a little city, at the far end of the plain. And when they got there, two things happened:
The Lord did destroy the cities with fire, utterly.
And Lot’s wife looked back.

Genesis 19:24, 26 “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;”
“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

But why?
She did not want to leave that life. They were pretty well-to-do. They had a standing in the city, for Lot had a position of judge; for he sat in the gate, as judge.
Even though it was a wicked place, she enjoyed the life of “being somebody”.

And she did not want to leave it. She did not want to go on. No!
She wanted what she had.
So she looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Salt is suppose to preserve. And she was turned into a pillar of salt, to show that “looking back”, when God is calling you forward, is dangerous.
How many have tripped and fallen here?
Wishing for something, instead of taking the next step with Jesus.

Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost it’s savor: wherewith it shall be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Jesus says: Remember Lot’s wife.

Some times it is hard to go forward: very hard. But we need to remember that God always has our best interests on His heart.
God does all things in mercy to His people.
We need to receive it, and go along with Him.
Paul said:
“…Forgetting what is behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

We are called to take each step with Him; that is all; to save us from the destruction that is in this world, all around us..
And He even helps us do that.

Remember Lot’s wife.

Come let us Reason together

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

This is one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament.
Think of it! The Almighty God wants us to come and give Him our reasons for our behavior.
And He will listen to them, and then, He will give us His reasons for His Way of doing things!

I have always been amazed at that much love to us!

This is reality, sinking deep within your soul. This requires honesty.
We can all blurt out feelings, things which we may or may not REALLY mean.

But Christ Jesus wants us to get honest with ourselves (with the help of His Holy Spirit) about what is going on.
And then to tell Him.

“Come” , shows that we are far away from Him. So Come, now.

“Let us” means that this is not one-sided, but “us” talking.
(What a nice word, “us”, when it is the Lord and I)

“Reason together” means that we come, wanting to tell our side, but willing to be corrected, and go to His side.

“Though your sins be as scarlet”: and who can say that their’s is not? Not me!
“They shall be white as snow”: by His cleansing us in His precious blood. He died to save us; was raised to empower us; and intercedes for us in all we do.

If we are born again, He gave us His Holy Spirit, Who is with us, always.
Even helps us to get honest, for He is the God of all Truth; and helps us interpret our emotions, so we can see where we truly are, and what we truly want.

With God with us, even when we are wrong, He will help us.
He is the Creator, we are His creatures. He created us, for He has a Purpose for us.
And we must come; always we must come to Him, for all we need.

If we learn the lesson of coming before His throne, as creature before the Creator: knowing our weakness, and His Might, then we have learned a lesson which will be the corner stone of our life.

He calls: Come now, let us reason together.
He wants to hear from you.
And you to hear from Him.