Tag: life with Jesus

God Gives Us Choices, Choose LIFE in Him

nofearlindaLeave a comment

As so often happens God gave Isaiah prophesies that ran one into another. Isaiah 8:11-13 pertains to King Ahaz and God desiring that they look to Him, trust in Him and not worry or fear their enemies. Isaiah 8:14-15 were about the coming Messiah. Verse 16 was addressed to Isaiah’s disciples or those who would take care of his teachings or would be preserving them so prophesy could be verified. Verses 17-18 were again referring to Messiah. Prophesy is complex but we have the benefit of seeing from the future and can see how these all played out.

In verses 14-15 we see opposition to the Messiah’s message. He will be a holy place;
    for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
    a trap and a snare.
15 Many of them will stumble;
    they will fall and be broken,
    they will be snared and captured.” The coming Messiah, Jesus, was/is to be the cornerstone of their lives and ours or He will be something they/we would stumble over. He is either the solution or the problem. The New Testament disciples saw Jesus as the foundation of their faith. Ephesians 2:19-20 “ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Many of the Pharisees and other religious leaders opposed Jesus. They stumbled over His truth and light from God. Luke 11:53“When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,” Their opposition lead to his crucifixion and condemnation. They led the people to cry “Crucify Him” and demanded he be put to death. As Isaiah prophesied, this Jesus would be the solution to our sin and separation from God problem or He would be something we’d question, desire that he’d be gone from our lives or even wish Him into non-existence.

The next verse in this prophesy was aimed at those following Isaiah. Perhaps they were the recorders of the prophesy and he wanted to make sure they wrote it down so it could be authenticated when the events came to pass. He wanted God’s words affirmed as always true! Verse 16 “Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.”

Verses 17-18 bring us back to Messiah. 17 I will wait for the Lord,  who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.” 18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. The author of Hebrews applied these verses to Messiah, Christ, in Hebrews 2:13 “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. “ Jesus was the ultimate example of trusting faith and that those who believed in Him were given to Him by the Father. He called them his children and his friends.

What do you take away from these verses?

** Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith and you have to chose to build upon Him and His truths or not.

**Many reject Jesus as the Son of God and stumble over His truth, love and redemption.

**God’s words to Isaiah were authenticated, showing God keeps His promises.

**Jesus is our prime example of trusting faith and those who follow Him are claimed by Him as His children and friends.

Which is it for you? Do you claim Jesus as the author and founder of your faith, the chief cornerstone upon which everything is built? Or do you deny He is God and ignore His teachings and truth? You can’t have it both ways. He is either a building block or untruth, lies and deceit. God created us with free will and leaves this crucial choice to us. We either choose life or death. Moses’ words from Deuteronomy 30:19 still ring true. “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

As we continue to see in Isaiah, Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

Linda

Questions for Today, What will be Your Answer?

nofearlindaLeave a comment

One thing I’ve noticed about favorite verses. Some are ones you cling to as a life line for a lifetime, others are tailored to specific seasons of our lives. All are good and remind us that God’s Word will always sustain and encourage us in our walk with Him.

Today’s verse comes from my friend Patty. She chose Proverbs 4:20-22. and I added verse 23. I chose the New Living Translation.

My child, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
    and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

These verses call for us to look into God’s Word diligently and listen to His directions for living. We are to meditate upon them and let them sink deep into our hearts. The promise is that in doing so, we will find life and healing for our whole body- heart, mind, and soul. We are admonished to guard, hold fast, protect, our hearts for where our hearts lead us determines our life’s direction. Jesus taught this same principle in Matthew 6:20-21  “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The questions for us today are: Am I listening to God when I pray, worship and read His Word? Acts 16:14 gives the story and attitude of Lydia. Is this you? “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. She was open to God and was ready to listen and respond. Am I listening with a heart that is ready to respond to what God has for me?

Am I letting His Word penetrate my life and guide my actions and words? Psalm 119:9 and 11 “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” God’s Word needs to be internalized to help us live and think biblically.

Am I praying and studying God’s Word with the expectation of healing and guidance? Psalm 143:1 “Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. and James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Am I praying like Paul for the things Christ has for me, Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,”

Am I taking steps daily to guard my heart? Philippians 4:6-7 tells us how “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Pray with a thankful heart and submit to Him. He will guard your heart. I love the promise in 2 Timothy 1:14 “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

This is our blessed assurance: we do not have to do all of these things in our own power and strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Check your power source. Recharge with prayer and the Word. Then ‘just do it!’ for the Lord!! He is always with you and will guide your steps.

Linda

Thankfulness Day 17: Resurrection Promise

nofearlindaLeave a comment

On Day 16, we looked at 7 amazing reasons for faith. Today’s verse looks more specifically at #7- salvation that leads to eternal life in Him. John 11:25-26 is a familiar precious promise from God “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”” Jesus spoke these words to Martha, the sister of Lazarus who had just died and was recently buried. She was upset that Jesus had not made it Bethany before Lazarus died, for she knew he could have saved him from dying. Jesus’ message to Martha, and you an me, is that belief in Him guarantees resurrection to new life. Belief in Jesus brings a life one can live in Him now and for eternity. His words were meant to encourage, bring hope and challenge Martha’s faith.

His question to Martha, do you believe me?, is the same question He asks each of us. If your answer is YES, then the thought of eternal life with Jesus, living forever with Him should bring you eternal joy. No one likes to think about leaving their life and dying, but Jesus is reassuring each of us that He has it covered. He will be with us, protect and guide us into our next stage of life with Him. If your answer was NO, then may His words bring you to Him today with a repentant and open heart.

May your heart rejoice over this promise. You can be thankful that God is eternal. God is greater than anything you will ever face- even death. God desires that you live without fear of death and know He has a plan for your life. Rejoice in the hope of resurrection and let that joy fill your heart with thanksgiving.

Linda

Thankfulness Day 4: The Lighted Pathway

nofearlinda1 Comment

Today’s verses from 1 John 1:5-7 cause our hearts and minds to lean in to Jesus with thanksgiving. “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

These verses hold a promise from God: walking with Jesus puts us in fellowship with one another, brings purity from sin and places us on a lighted pathway in life. The light Jesus brings to our life shows us His truth and helps us to live in harmony with one another. Who doesn’t want to live without strife and turmoil in their relationships? Who doesn’t want to be clean, pure and presented holy before Holy God? Who doesn’t want to know that Jesus brings us harmony, peace, and assurance, so our lives can be stable and grounded when trials or troubles come? We do not live in a protected bubble but in a sin-filled world. Sin and its temptations are always around us and seek to lead us from the pathway of truth that we find in Jesus and His Word. Entanglements are Satan’s specialty as he seeks to keep us from the peace God truly desires for our lives.

I give thanks today for His light in my life, the purity that comes from knowing Jesus and His guidance. I can stand firmly rooted in God’s promises and His Word of truth. No doubting! God’s Word is true and Jesus is our Savior. Let Him shine His light of truth into your heart, your relationships and your future as you seek Him today with a heart of thanksgiving.

Linda