Mercy

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

How often the Lord has said this.

It is always a matter of our heart’s attitude to God, and His Word to us.

Mercy here in the Hebrew is “hesed”.   It is a word that speaks of brotherly affection and loyalty, for those who belong to the family of God.

We love our brothers and sisters in Christ, because we love God.

Matthew 12:7 “But if ye had known what this meaneth,   I would have mercy,  and not sacrifice,  you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

His disciples were going through a grain field, and plucking off ears to eat, since they were hungry.

They were not harvesting the crop, or picking and putting it in their pockets;  but just eating, for hunger.

But the Pharisees, seizing upon something,  accused Jesus’ disciples;  thereby bringing rebuke upon Him.

They had not “profaned the Sabbath”, by working;  but a false accusation was the only way they had of trying to slander Jesus.

Mercy is the goodness of God to His sinful creatures.

There is temporal mercy:

He makes the sun to shine upon the good and the wicked.

He sends rain to nourish the crops of both.  (Matthew 5:44-45)

But spiritual mercy has to do with Christ, and all we have in Him; even though we are sinners.    Saved sinners.

He sends us forgiveness and the cleansing of the conscience.

He sends us grace (the unmerited favor of power) for our lives.   Not just special days,  but grace for everyday.

Titus 3:4-6 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

                       Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,  by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

                        Which He she’d on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;”

The sacrifices of the Old Testament times,  were to show a picture of part of Christ’s sacrifice (which in Christ, completely takes away the penalty, and power of sin in His people).

But the outward sacrifice,  without the inward repentance,  or love to God;  was worthless.  How often God told them of this!

He said:

Jeremiah 7:21-23 “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts,  the God of Israel;  put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices,  and eat flesh.

For I spake not unto your fathers,  nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt,  concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

But this thing commanded I them,   Obey my voice,  and I will be your God,  and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you,  that it may be well unto you.”

He said,  “You might as well take your sacrifices home and eat them there.   They are not doing you any good,  though they cost you a pretty penny.

      I am not seeing them.    I am not accepting them.   I am not accepting you.”

What He wanted, was for them to act like they should:  Love God,  Obey Him, and do good to their  fellowman as they could.

Jeremiah 7:2-3,5-7 “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house,  and proclaim there this word,  and say,  Hear the word of the Lord,  O ye of Judah,  that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts,   The God of Israel,  Amend your ways and your doings,  and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

                                   For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings,  if ye throughly execute judgement between a man and his neighbor; (not take bribes, or side with the rich)

If ye oppress not the stranger,  the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place,  neither walk after other gods to your hurt;

                                   Then will I cause you to dwell in this place,  in the land that I gave to your fathers,  forever and ever.”

                               

Jesus Christ wants us to show mercy to others, as He has shown mercy to us:

As wide as our sins, has been His forgiveness, and love.

So we are to manifest His mercy through us,  for His sake.

Trials of Faith

1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

                            But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings;  that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

There are trials of faith which we just have to go through.  They are sent to help us to grow stronger in faith;  to learn joy in trouble;  to realize the power of peace—His peace in it all.

Thank goodness,  we do not go through any trial alone.  For Christ Jesus is with us,  guiding, strengthening, and encouraging us;  as we walk through them with Him.

There are also trials which come upon us which we have brought on ourselves.

Let’s face it,  we often “stick our foot in our mouths” and say things which are wrong.  

Either in anger (and have you ever noticed how much anger is around any more?),  or we blurt our our opinion,  when discretion  would have kept us silent.

Sometimes the Lord uses these trials to remind us of these things, so they can be confessed, and taken care of.

These, of course, are to be confessed to Christ,  and if any one was injured, to the person involved;  as you can. (How many blessings come from letting people know you, too, are human, and make mistakes?)

And then there are “fiery trials” which come upon us because we are Christians—we belong to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:14, 16 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,  happy are ye;  for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you;    on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

                           Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;  but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

Fiery trials?   Partakers of Christ’s sufferings?  

We do not like to think of such things. 

We like to think about what He has done for me.   Tell us about His Eternal Love for me,  His suffering in the garden of Gethsemane or on the Cross for me, or His agony of prayer for me.

All the things He did,  but I do not want to hear about what I am to do.

Doesn’t that make it a works salvation?

No,  we can never do anything for Christ to get our Salvation;  but we can work for Christ because we are saved.

And that is what He says:  Stand with me,  and go through these trials,  with Me at your side,  to show to the world that you trust Me.

That will glorify Me.

Do you remember when Jesus asked His disciples in the garden to watch with Him?  (Mark 14:33-34, 37-38)

And instead they fell asleep.

He came and asked, “Could you not stay with me one hour?”

He asks us the same thing:  Stand with me in a world that does not believe in Me,  and if that brings ridicule, or persecution;  still stand with Me, and I will stand with you, in peace, strength, and guidance.  

Stand ye in the Ways

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord,  Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.  But they said,   We will not walk therein.”

Jeremiah was called to a time,  like ours,  where much religion was going on;  but very little obedience to God.   They had all the outward trappings, but none of the devotion to God and His commandments.

Under King Josiah, who was a godly king; Jeremiah was given the job of going about Judah and instructing the people in the laws of God.

Many did not want to hear, for they had been influenced by the idolatrous nations round about them;  and refused subjection to the Lord, although they went along with the outward ceremony.

Jeremiah 2:13

“For my people have committed two evils;  they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them our cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Then he was told to go to Jerusalem and preach there…telling the people what God would do, if they would repent and turn back in obedience to Him.

He would forgive and help them:

Jeremiah 7:5-7″For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow,  and shed not innocent blood in this place,  neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.”

For what God wanted of His people was that they obey His commands.

“Stand ye in the ways”. In the Hebrew it means “Get up and do it”

Start actively seeking My ways.    If you just do this seeking, you are serving your God and honoring Him.   This I will count, and will honor you in return.

And ask for the old paths:   The path which leads you to straighten out your life, and the path of obedience to His Word.

God has made a way to return to Him…..take it.

How was it with those who came before us?  Who martyred their lives for God and his gospel?  From the apostles to our forefathers?

How did they attain to what they had?

Through the Word of God to them.

We must seek out the truth of the Scriptures for ourselves:   What does it say to us?

For now?  For our calling and ministry?

As Jeremiah said to Judah:

Jeremiah 7:23 “But this thing commanded I them, saying,  Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

Obey My voice….and I will be your God….and ye shall be My people.

Jesus said the same thing when  He was talking to His disciples, before He went to the cross.

John 15:10″ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

His disciples did, and they stirred the whole world.

If we get out life in order before Him, and honor Him in this; and He will honor our obedience, in our everyday life.

God speaks through His Word:  Hear Him,  and return to the ways of peace, knowing His presence with you, and for you everyday.

Jacob’s Wrestling with the Lord 

Genesis 32:24 “And Jacob was left alone;  and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

Jacob was coming home to Canaan.  He had been told of God:

Genesis 31:13 “I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointest the pillar, and where thou vowest a vow unto Me:  now, arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.”

So he was coming home, with his wives, sons and substance.   But also with a guilty conscience.   He had tricked his father into giving him,  the younger son, the blessing. 

God had wanted him to have it,  but Jacob and his mother schemed to get it;  instead of waiting for God’s way.

Now he was coming back into the land,  and Esau, his brother, would surely hear of it,  and seek to kill him, as he had often promised he would. (Genesis 27:41)

What could he do?   When he first set foot into the land again,  angels met him.

Most believe these “hosts of angels”, were positioned one in the back of his family, and one before.

Genesis 32:1-2 “And Jacob went on his way,  and the angels of God met him.

And when Jacob saw them,  he said,   This is God’s hosts:  and he called the name of the place Mahanaim.”

Jacob took this as a sign that God would protect him,  and so sent word to Esau that he was back in the land.

“…thy servant Jacob…I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.”  (Genesis 32:4-5)

Perhaps time had softened his hate.

But then he got word that Esau was coming to meet him—that wasn’t bad—but with four hundred men! (Genesis 32:6)

That sounded like an army;  and Jacob was fearful…very fearful.

(I use the term fearful,  because fear strikes at the heart of a person.  You may be scared in a moment…jump in panic;  but fear is often an attack against the Word of God,  as it was here.)

Jacob became so fearful, he began to rely upon his schemes again.

First, he divided the people into two bands.  If Esau would destroy the first,  maybe he will spare the next.

Then, he prayed.  (Genesis 32:9-12)

This should have been first…but Jacob schemes before he trusts,  yet God is merciful.   The Lord told him to come back to the land,  would He desert him?

Jacob prays to God on the basis of the covenant God made with Abraham, and his seed.

(So, too, we pray on the basis of the covenant God made with Christ, for us)

Jacob reminds God of what He said to do, of His own Word, which is what we should do.  Jacob tells Him he has obeyed.  

He tells God, he is not worthy of the least of His mercies and of the goodness God has already shown him.

Then he prays for deliverance, reminding the Lord of His promise where his children are concerned.

This was a wonderful prayer,  but it seems as though Jacob’s fears were not removed, for….

he started to think….hmmm….I can send a present to Esau.  Maybe that will appease him.

So off he goes, scheming.   He starts picking out this and that;  sending it on to Esau with shepherds, with the words:   “A present….Jacob is behind us,  but here is a present for my lord Esau”.   (Very flattering;  at least Jacob hopes so)

Then he sends his family over the brook;  so that there would be that between Esau and them.

He was alone then, on this side of the brook.

And then…..

Genesis 32:24 “And Jacob was left alone;  and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

We are not shown how this “man” came,  or what they said to each other for most of the night.

Those are things between the Lord and Jacob;  for this “man” was a theophanic manifestation of the Son of God.

Genesis 32:25-26 “And when He saw that He prevailed not against him,  He touched the hollow of his thigh;  and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as He wrestled with him.

                                 And He said,  Let me go,  for the day breaketh.      

And he said,   I will not let Thee go,  except Thou bless me.”

    

But why did the Lord wrestle with Jacob all night?  Why didn’t He just touch him right away?

Because He wanted to bring Jacob to a point of  recognized weakness.  To a place where Jacob’s strength and schemes were seen as the Lord sees them:  useless.

And this takes time.

And Jacob kept wrestling, and kept wrestling, to gain the victory.

(But, thankfully, he was not the one who gained the victory.)

When it was almost sunrise,  the Lord touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh;  and he fell!   But Jacob kept clinging to the Lord…he did not let Him go.

Yet he still did not say anything,  till the Lord said,  “Let me go…”.    

Here was the real test:

At the end of a battle,  we might be willing for it to be over;  but Jacob knew Who the “man” was.

By now Jacob knew if he was to get what he needed for himself and for the future,  he must get the Lord’s blessing.

(And do we know this for ourselves?  “It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” [Zechariah 4:6].   It is often not until we know our own powerlessness, that we seek to hang on to the Lord, for His blessing.)

Jacob, still clinging, says,  “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”

Genesis 32:27-28 “And He said unto him,  What is thy name?  And he said,  Jacob.

                                  And He said,  Thy name shall be called no more Jacob,  but Isra-el:  for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men,  and hast prevailed.”

Jacob (supplanter, contender) who had schemed and planned;  was to become Isra-el (God commands or prevails).

Jacob was to be a prince or a delegated authority of God’s Name,  but only in his recognized weakness.

(Paul wrote of the same thing:  2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Isra-el was to be his new name. (When the first part of a name is combined with “El” or God, then the doer in the name is always God.  [Daniel…God judgeth;  Gabriel…God is my strength,  etc.])

So now Jacob was to stop scheming; and let God command or prevail in him and for him.

This did not always happen:  read Jacob/Israel’s life and you will see from now on, the two names still apply.  

But God had brought him into a new way of life, and God would prevail.

It is natural for us to work out, for ourselves, the plans of our lives. We often feel very capable to do so:  God gave us a brain…right?

But God, in patience and longsuffering, deals with us (wrestles?) to bring us to the place where we are clinging to Him, alone.

Esau came (with the four hundred men) but when he saw Jacob, he ran and hugged and kissed him!  (Genesis 33:4)

When God prevails in us;  He will prevail for us.  His Word is ever true…we need to claim it.

His power is never limited.

His blessings are only waiting for us to cling to Him.

Glory to God in the Highest

Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,

                        Glory to God in the highest,  and on earth peace,  goodwill toward men.”

When it speaks of God’s glory in scriptures it means to manifest God’s Light and character to others.  That is His glory;  that others may know Him and His character.

Psalm 145:11-12 “They shall speak of the glory of the kingdom,  and talk of Thy power; 

                                To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,  and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.”

It means to show God in His true beauty.

1 Chronicles 16:27, 29 “Glory and honor are in His presence;  strength and gladness are in His place.

                                         Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name:  bring an offering, and come before Him:  worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Christ did this in preeminence, for angels heralded God’s glory when Christ was born.

Simeon, a godly man, praised God for Christ:

Luke 2:30-32 “For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,    Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

                           A Light to lighten the Gentiles,  and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

 

And Paul shows that Christ Jesus came to do just that.  He was to manifest God’s Light and character in the world:  His glory.

Hebrews 1:2-3 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son,  which He hath appointed heir of all things,  by Whom also He made the worlds;

                            Who being the brightness of His glory,  and the express image of His person,  and upholding all things by the Word of His power,    when He had by Himself purged our sins,  sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high;”

Jesus, at the end of His work here, said He had shown God’s glory on the earth:

John 17:4-5 “I have glorified Thee on the earth:  I have finished the work that Thou gavest Me to do.

                        And now,  O Father,  glorify Thou Me with thine own self  with the glory that I had with Thee before the world was.”

And we, who are born again by His grace are to manifest His glory:

John 17:20-22 “Neither pray I for these alone,  but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word;  (Jesus prayed for us here)

                            That they may be one;  as Thou, Father, art in Me,  and I in Thee,  that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

                              And the glory that Thou gavest Me  I have given them,  that they may be one,  even as we are one:”

Ephesians 1:5-6, 12 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself,  according to the good pleasure of His will,

                                     To the praise of the glory of His grace,  wherein He hath made us excepted in the Beloved:

                                      That we should be to the praise of His glory,  who first trusted in Christ.”

And we are to use the riches of His glory (the riches of His Light and character) by yielding to His life within us.  

He will manifest His glory through us by His might:

Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you,  according to the riches of His glory,  to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Scripture says we are to do all to the glory of God.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the Lord,  let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,  neither let the mighty man glory in his might,  let not the rich man glory in his riches:

                                   But let him that glorieth  glory in this,  that he understandeth and knoweth Me,  that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness,  judgement,  and righteousness,  in the earth:  for in these things I delight,  saith the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whither therefore ye eat,  or drink,  or whatsoever ye do,  do all to the glory of God.”

The angels heralded,  “Glory to God in the highest”;

And we, too,  are to herald His glory by word and deed, here in our earthly lives.

Yield to the Holy Spirit within you,  and you, too, will glorify Christ.

Are Your Eyes Opened?

When Jesus came forth to do His Father’s Will;  He proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

He spoke to the people of the Father in heaven which wanted their good; and had given laws and commandments which reflected His holiness and their duty;  which if they followed, would bring about their blessing.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. “(Matthew 5:3-4)

Simply, if you know that you are “poor” (without strength and power to do the law and commandments, because of your sin); and mourn over them….

Then….because you see and know your sin,  you can be saved from them and enter the kingdom of heaven,  now.   

(“..theirs is”,  not will be.  Eternal life is a condition of life, here and now;  and a life in heaven, hereafter.)

I am going to use a blind man, who gained his sight by Jesus;  and seeing men, who refused to acknowledge Jesus and were blind;  for an example:

John 9:1-3,5 “And Jesus passed by,  He saw a man which was blind from his birth.  

                         And His disciples asked Him, saying,  Master, who did sin   this man,  or his parents,  that he was born blind?

                          Jesus answered,  Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents:  but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

                           As long as I am in this world,  I am the light of the world.”

Here was a blind man, from birth;  and Jesus said that he was blind that the glory of God should be shown by him.

John 9:6-7 “When He had thus spoken,  He spat on the ground,  and made clay of the spittle,  and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 

                      and said unto him,  Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.). He went his way therefore,  and washed,  and came seeing.”

                       

Making clay, Jesus puts it on the eyes of the blind man,  and tells him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. (Notice, even mud is called “anointed” by the Holy Spirit,  when Jesus does it.)

When the man does,  he sees.

Now you would think, that it would be finished.   But, not so.

This set in motion what Jesus had said:  the works of God should be made manifest in him.

And it all started with the neighbors: it was a back and forth about whether he was really the blind man.   

Yes, he was.

Then how did you get your sight?

A man called Jesus.   And he told them how Jesus healed him. (John 9:8-11)

This lead to the neighbors to  bring the blind man to the Pharisees.

(Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus spit upon the ground, made clay and put that on the eyes of the blind man.)

The Pharisees asked him how he got healed.   And when he shared his testimony with them….some argued that Jesus had not kept the Sabbath because of the healing, and so was a sinner.   

And some said that he could not be a sinner,  and do such miracles.

Then they asked the blind/seeing man what he thought of Jesus:  and he said,  “He is a prophet.”

(See how Jesus separates people?  Some see Him as He is;  from God.  Others will not see)

Then the Pharisees called this man’s parents:  who did not want anything to do with the whole thing.   They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue.

So they reinterviewed the blind/seeing man.  They wanted him to say that he knew that Jesus was a sinner.

But he didn’t.  Instead he took his faith in Jesus,  a step further. 

(Seeing always leads to more light)

John 9:25, 30-33 “he answered and said,  Whither He be a sinner or no,  I know not:  one thing I know,  that,  whereas I was blind,  now I see.

                                 The man answered and said unto them,  Why herein is a marvelous thing,  that ye know not from whence He is,  and yet He hath opened mine eyes.

                                  Now we know that God heareth not sinners:  but if any man be a worshipper of God,  and doeth His will,  him will He heareth.

                                  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

                                  If this man was not of God  He could do nothing.”

So the Pharisees excommunicated him. 

But Jesus “found him”.  (Has He not said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost?)

John 9:35-38 “Jesus heard that they had cast him out;  and when He had found him,  He said unto him,   Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

                           He answered and said,  Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

                           And Jesus said unto him,  Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

                            And he said,  Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him.”

“I believe.”  True sight begins with believing obedience to Jesus Word…and leads to believing on Christ Jesus, Himself.

John 9:39-41 “And Jesus said,  For judgement am I come into this world,  that they which see not  might see;  and that they which see   might be made blind.

                          And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words,  and said unto Him,   Are we blind also?

                           Jesus said unto them,  If you were blind,  ye should have no sin:  but now ye say,  We see;   Therefore your sin remaineth.”

If we truly “see” our sin,  and mourn for it; we will obey Jesus Word and “wash”.

If we truly believe His Word,  we will come to believe on Jesus Christ, Himself;  and enter the kingdom.

We will be His people and servants;  and manifest the works of God in our lives.

Ultimate Reality

I believe our souls are the most precious thing in all of God’s Creation.   Having lost it through the fall of Adam (Romans 6:18-19);   He bought it back again, at such a high price:  the sacrifice of His beloved Son.

I believe that our souls are our personalities.  They are what makes us unique.  No two are exactly alike.

They are what the Bible calls “the heart”.

Our souls are the seat of our personalities….all that makes us, us!

When Christ Jesus was here, He set forth a way of following Him: 

Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me.   Lose your self-life,  that you might find your Christ filled life. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Then He added a verse which often confuses us,  but it shouldn’t.   

Jesus spoke in terms of profit and loss.  Showing the value that Jesus placed on our souls.  One soul is worth more than a whole world of things.

The question is:  how much do we value our own souls?

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited,  if he shall gain the whole world,  and lose his own soul?    Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

What, of all creation could possibly be of more value than our eternal soul?

What will we give in exchange for our souls, in this world?  

For that is what Jesus is asking.

Will it be temptations, cares, riches, or pleasures of this life? (Luke 8:13-14)

In Luke, Jesus says:

Luke 9:25 “What is a man advantaged,  if he gain the whole world,  or lose himself,  or be cast away?”

Or “lose himself”;  for our soul is our personality,  our mind, heart and will.

(He will only be cast away, when he “loses himself” to the world.)

Man is an eternal being.  He will exist for eternity in one of two places:  we will save our soul, and live for eternity with God in bliss.

Or we will lose our soul,  and spend eternity with Satan in torment.

There is no other ultimate reality than this.   People have tried to say that God is too merciful to condemn people to hell.

God is merciful:  that is why He saves anybody….because He is merciful.

That is why He sent His Son to save us, by the sacrifice of Himself.   He came and lived a perfect life…becoming the perfect sacrifice.  

Not in His Divinity,  for He always was and is holy.

But in His humanity.   And because there was found no sin in Him (Hebrews 4:15);  He could give His life a ransom for all,  who will come unto Him.

Here then is what Jesus says we are faced with:  our souls must choose.

Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Or attractions of the world? 

In this age for each Christian;  to answer the call of Christ,  is to come with a life open to and receptive to Him.

This is a continual open door to Christ.  

Christ Jesus is still asking all who will follow Him:

Will you bring yourselves to Me?  Will you fully surrender your wills that they may be Mine?

Hear My word to you;  for My Word is a living Word,  it will not return unto Me void.  But it will accomplish My purpose in you,  if you will yield to it.

I will empower you to do My Will;  only get it settled that you will do it. 

(And If there is someone faced with that challenge especially at this time;  remember time has a way of dimming the value of all things in this world.   What we consider “essential”,  can become sawdust in our mouths,  though it may not seem like it now.

You can turn your life over to Jesus Christ,  and ask Him to make it whole in Him.)

Know the liberty of the Spirit of Christ in your union with Me. 

Hear and your soul shall live.

Only Christ knows the true value of your soul,  for He paid the ultimate price to save it,  for He knows you,  and loves you.

Amazing love for such as I.

Haggai   

Ezra 5:1   “Then the prophets,  Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo,  prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel,  even unto them.”

Haggai was an old man,  and Zechariah was a young man. 

Both were told to talk to the leaders of the returned remnant (they had been seventy years in captivity in Babylon, for their sins, but had come back after the opportunity came to return.)

Zechariah spoke mostly in visions, telling the people that they had returned for a purpose:  which they should continue and finish.  

His was a message to encourage and build up.

But before they could be built up;  they needed to Awaken! To God’s claims on their lives.  This Haggai did.

Haggai was a man who got right to the point.

Haggai 1:3-5 “Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 

Is it time for you,  O ye,  to dwell in your ceiled houses,  and this house lie waste?

                          Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts;  Consider your ways.”

You see, the people who had returned to Israel,  had started building the temple with great enthusiasm.

As soon as God’s work was started:  adversaries came.   They said,  Let us “help” you.   They wanted to stop God’s people from being separate from them and their ways.  The world always wants to interfere in God’s Will and work.

But when they refused, saying they alone would build God’s house.  Then trouble began.  (Ezra 4:4-6)

This was their purpose:  that is what the Lord brought them back for.   To rebuild the temple,  so that the first thing (and the Lord is always to be first in our lives),  would be His people in a right relationship to Him, by sacrifice.

(We must remember that the sacrifices of the temple were looking forward to the Great, and Only True Sacrifice for sins:  Jesus Christ, our Savior.)

When they had stopped building the temple;  they started working on their own houses, and estates.    They built very elaborate houses for themselves.

But God would not let them forget their purpose,  so:

Haggai 1:7-9 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts;  Consider your ways.

Go up to the mountain,  and bring wood,  and build the house;    I will take pleasure in it,  and I will be glorified,  saith the Lord.

                          Ye looked for much,  and,  lo,  it came to little;  and when ye brought it home,  I did blow upon it.    Why?  Saith the Lord of hosts.   

Because of mine house that is waste,  and ye run every man unto his own house.”

This fierce and serious message was heard (thankfully),  and obeyed.

Haggai 1:12 “Then Zerubbabel…,and Joshua…,the high priest,  with all the remnant of the people,  obeyed the voice of the Lord their God,  and the words of Haggai the prophet,  as the Lord their God sent him,  and the people did fear before the Lord.”

And the Lord encouraged them:

Haggai 1:13-14 “Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying,    I am with you,  saith the Lord.

                              And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel….,governor of Judah,  and the spirit of Joshua…., the high priest,   and the spirit of all the remnant of the people;  and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts,  their God,”

When the Lord is “with us”,  we are in a very secure place, for His power is at work for us.

For the Lord also made Darius the king find a decree, which had not been found before.  By that decree, the Israelites were to be funded, and encouraged!    (Ezra 6:2-3, 6-7)

And the Lord gave them a very great promise:

Haggai 2:7, 9 “And I will shake all nations,  and the desire of all nations shall come:  and I will fill this house with (the)glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

                         The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former,  saith the Lord of hosts:  and in this place will I give peace,  saith the Lord of hosts.”

Part of the temple they were finishing, would be there when God sends His Son, Jesus Christ.   (It was;  for Herod built his temple around part of this original building.   Jesus walked on the stones they laid.)

And,  when they obeyed; The Lord blessed them in all the other things:

Haggai 2:19 “Is the seed yet in the barn?  Yea, as yet the vine,  and the fig tree,  and the pomegranate,  and the olive tree,  hath not brought forth:   from this day will I bless you.”

The Lord has said to us:  

Matthew 6:33   “But seek ye first the kingdom of God,  and His righteousness,  and  all these things shall be added unto you.”

                                

We are to concentrate on His Purpose for us:  to do His Will.  

And He will be “with you” today,  tomorrow, and so on.