Bishop Robert E Smith, Sr.

 From @Bishop Robert E Smith Sr!

“Being built up in the faith REQUIRES a life of prayer (Jude 1:20; Eph. 6:18), while stirring up the gift within you requires a sense of responsibility and accountability (Eph. 3:7; 2 Tim. 1:6,7).”

“RABBONI!”

 

John 20:16                 (ESV)

“[16] JESUS said to her, “MARY”. She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”

Briefly, yet PRECISELY, this morning…..

Mary PRECISELY KNEW WHO JESUS was ONLY when HE said her name!  No questions, no explanations, HE just said “MARY”!!!  She was in a state of emotional distress!  Yet JESUS simply called her name and she KNEW that her “Rabonni” was with her!!

We too need to be able to SEE that JESUS KNOWS and CHERISHES us as well, so much so that HE DIED for our sins when we were SO UNDESERVING!  Can you imagine how IMPERFECT Mary Magdalene (John 20:18)  was before meeting JESUS?  Yet THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES cared enough about her that HE REVEALED HIMSELF to her when she had NO HOPE of SEEING HIM again!!!

HE may, and frequently does, cause us to WAIT FOR HIM until the PERFECT TIMING, until we are ALL ALONE with NO OTHER OPTIONS, to simply GROW OUR FAITH and meet our needs???  HE IS GOD, and HIS greatest GIFT to us is to REVEAL to one of HIS BELIEVERS that HE is there for our DELIVERANCE!!!

Mary Magdalene had known HIM for three years, but she now had EXPERIENCED HIM like NO ONE ELSE!!!  

“RABBONI”!!!

“MARY!”

 

John 20:11-18                 (ESV)

JESUS Appears to Mary Magdalene

“[11] But “MARY” stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of JESUS had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid HIM.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw JESUS standing, but SHE DID NOT KNOW that it was JESUS. [15] JESUS said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing HIM to be the gardener, she said to HIM, “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.” [16] JESUS said to her, “MARY”. She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] JESUS said to her, “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.’” [18]  “MARY” Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD”—and that HE  had said these things to her.”

While mowing the lawn yesterday I was ruminating about the Scriptures above, having written about them only a few hours previously.  There were two disciples who had visited the tomb that morning with “MARY”, but they had gone back to tell others the FANTASTIC news about JESUS!   However, “MARY” lingered around the tomb FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON.  AND THEN she had the encounter with THE CREATOR that SHOCKED THE WORLD, at least those of us whose EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED!!!

When JESUS spoke directly to her, she did not realize it was HIM.  Thinking HIM to be the gardener, she replied “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.”  But JESUS simply replied “MARY”, and her EYES were OPENED and she was able to SEE JESUS plainly.  One might think that because of her deep love for JESUS that she would have clung to HIM, but HE said to her “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.”  

Why didn’t JESUS “reveal” HIMSELF to the disciples when they were at the tomb?  Why did HE wait until HE was in the presence of HIS Angels with ONLY “MARY”?  I DON’T KNOW WHY….YET!!!   I only KNOW that “MARY” was CHOSEN to be the first person to RECOGNIZE her Savior since HIS brutal death on Calvary!!!  

“MARY” must have been the sweetest words that she ever heard!!!

“SHE DID NOT KNOW!”

 

John 20:11-18                 (ESV)

JESUS Appears to Mary Magdalene

“[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of JESUS had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid HIM.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw JESUS standing, but “SHE DID NOT KNOW” that it was JESUS. [15] JESUS said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing HIM to be the gardener, she said to HIM, “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.” [16] JESUS said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] JESUS said to her, “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD”—and that HE  had said these things to her.”

Picture this scene, where Mary and JESUS were near the tomb that had previously “stored” the body of JESUS.  Both of them were more than Spirits, avoiding the misconception that they were unable to be seen.  Mary was weeping (v. 15) and apparently was UNABLE TO SEE that the MAN WHO was talking to her was in fact the SON OF GOD???

In verse 16 JESUS said to her, “Mary”, and only then did she recognize HIM as the SON OF GOD!  Scripture doesn’t state anything additional, only that beforehand “SHE DID NOT KNOW” that it was JESUS talking to her, but he simply said “Mary” and she COULD SEE WHO was talking to her!  

To my knowledge, Scripture doesn’t record any reason why “SHE DID NOT KNOW” JESUS being alive, walking in her midst?  Only that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES spoke her name!  Can you fathom THE ONE WHO simply SPOKE Creation into existence calling out your name?  HIS VOICE must have been altered from the brutal death HE had endured three days prior?  HIS RAVAGED BODY had to have been restored to some degree?  Yet HE simply spoke her name and she was able to SEE HIM!!

It is perfectly fitting that Mary was not able to recognize JESUS, UNTIL HE called her BY NAME with PURPOSE and she was MADE TO SEE HIM!!!  THE CREATOR OF THE WORLDS simply OPENED THE EYES of “SHE DID NOT KNOW” and THEN she DID KNOW!!!  

HE STILL IS THE EYE OPENER!!!

“DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!”

Proverbs 3:5–6                 (ESV)

   “[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

        and “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.”

    [6] In all your ways acknowledge HIM,

        and HE will make straight your paths.”

Explanation:�FAITH involves surrender—letting GOD lead even when WE DON’T UNDERSTAND HIS ways.

The passage of Scripture listed above doesn’t leave a lot of room for misinterpretation.  As Believers in the SON OF GOD, there are many times where we might prefer “figure out” precisely what GOD is trying to do, but that might remove the need to “stay” in HIS WORD, something that is PRECISELY what we are instructed to do???

Just as GOD gave these WORDS to King Solomon, HE wants this humble servant to “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”, for to do so would NOT be WAITING FOR HIS DIRECTION!  Sure, “FAITH involves surrender—letting GOD lead even when WE DON’T UNDERSTAND HIS ways”, but WAITING ON HIS TIMING is the MOST DIFFICULT thing for this uneducated being.  BEING STILL (Psalms 46:10) can also mean LET GO, something that you can’t do when you are driving your ship!!

Psalm 27:14 says “WAIT for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage, WAIT for the LORD!”, as written by King David, the father of King Solomon!  

It isn’t rocket science to SEE what GOD is attempting to TEACH me over the past many years!  “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” isn’t a suggestion that to us, IT IS A COMMAND!!!

“DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”!!!

“I AM CHIEF!”

1 Timothy 1:15-16                 (KJV)

“15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners; of whom “I AM CHIEF”.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first JESUS CHRIST might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on HIM to life everlasting.”

I have a lifelong friend who was been treated for cancer for a long period of time, but then a year or so she went to the physician treating her and was informed that she was cured from the cancer!  However, recently she was “re-diagnosed” with cancer!!!  The treatment center she is using is one of the most respected and reputable in the world, so how is she not winning the battle with cancer???

Similarly, I am a sinner, infected with the “cancerous disease” that keeps coming back and rearing its ugly head!  The Apostle Paul writes in his first letter to Timothy that HE IS THE CHIEF, or the WORST, of sinners!  I don’t want to dispute or challenge anything that such a well-versed man of GOD is saying, but I am CERTAIN that “I AM CHIEF”, as far as sinners!  

Yet, even though my loathsomeness is always right before me, my SAVIOR lives inside of me and HE LOOKS BEYOND my faults, SEEING my NEEDS, washing me CLEAN with HIS BLOOD!  Yes, even though “I AM CHIEF” of all sinners, JESUS CHRIST PAID the price for my sins a long time ago!  

I DON’T KNOW WHY JESUS LOVED, OH, BUT I”M GLAD HE DID!!!

“FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD!”

 

Galatians 2:17-21                 (ESV)

“[17] BUT IF,in our endeavor to be justified in CHRIST, we too were found to be sinners, is CHRIST then a servant of sin? CERTAINLY NOT! [18] For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. [19] For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to GOD. [20] I have been crucified with CHRIST. It is no longer I who live, but CHRIST WHO lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY “FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD”, WHO loved me and gave HIMSELF for me. [21] I do not nullify the grace of GOD, for if righteousness were through the law, then CHRIST died for no purpose.”

Not only do we have to HAVE FAITH in what the SON OF GOD “has done” for us on Calvary, we also have to HAVE FAITH that HE “is going” to deliver us from “this world” one day!!  

For this humble servant, BELIEVING that ROYALTY such as JESUS would GIVE UP (Sacrifice) HIMSELF for a wretched being such as I “doesn’t make sense”!  There is nothing to adequately explain this, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TRY??  

I AM NOT WORTHY!!!  So why did THE CREATOR freely surrender HIS LIFE for a group of people who were worthless in their own sight??  The answer to that question is beyond my comprehension.  

HIS PLAN KNEW that I would be precisely the person I have become!  Therefore, I MUST have “FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD” has been IMPUTED to me, and I am SO GLAD that HE CHOSE ME IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!!!

“DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!”

 

Proverbs 3:5-8                   (ESV)

    “[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

        and “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”. 

    [6] In all your ways acknowledge HIM,

        and HE WILL MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR PATHS. 

    [7] Be not wise in your own eyes;

        FEAR THE LORD, and TURN AWAY from evil. 

    [8] It will be HEALING to your flesh

        and REFRESHMENT to your bones.”

When I began writing my daily devotionals in late 2013, my purpose was to improve my word recall following the brain hemorrhage in 2007.  The speech therapist who GOD placed in my life had told me that a good exercise was to continuously “find words” and that might help me grow the proverbial “well” that I was dipping into?  Well, it has ……and IT SLOWED ME DOWN to where THE LORD could make me HEAR FROM HIM!!!

In the mid 1990’s, when I was beginning to work solo, my closest friend made me a FAX COVER sheet with the Bible verses Proverbs 3:5-6 on it. Well, I read it and my paths were anything but straight!  As a matter of fact, they were very tumultuous and scary!!  But THE LORD was there with me as HE was “adjusting” MY OWN UNDERSTANDING!!!  What I WASN’T doing was “trusting in the LORD with ALL MY HEART”!!!

You see, GOD knew precisely how stubborn and head headed I was, and HE “gently” had to MOLD me and MAKE me into what HE wanted me to become, IN HIS TIMING!!

GOD had to get me to the POINT that HE was being GLORIFIED, and I was NOT the center of the attention!  I am simply “tool” that HE is using to forward HIS KINGDOM!  HE had me right where HE could be GLORIFIED on July 29, 2007 after HE SLOWED ME DOWN!!!  

“DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” isn’t written as a suggestion!  

“I REMEMBER!”

Psalm 143:5                  (ESV)

   “[5] “I REMEMBER” the days of old;

        I meditate on all that YOU have done;

        I ponder the work of YOUR HANDS.”

There is a dear friend of mine who generally always posts a Spiritual song at night before retiring for the evening.  Recently that song was “Remind Me, Dear Lord”.  It is obviously something that I wouldn’t want to run away from, but the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007 is something that is always near the front of my recollection!!!  At the time (2007), Brain Hemorrhages were 80% fatal, so it SHOULD be something that is rather “memorable” in my brain damaged mind!  

King David certainly had a GIFT FROM GOD for writing, because his words have been used to change a multitude of lives over the years.  The WORKS performed by ALMIGHTY GOD have most assuredly been astonishing in my life, just as they were in King David’s life.  There are many ways that GODS existence and the MAGNITUDE of HIS GLORY is EVIDENT in the lives of ALL of humanity.  Having our EYES OPENED to SEE these things is something that VERY FEW people are BLESSED to recognize!!

There is VERY LITTLE that I can remember from the seventeen day coma.  In fact, to this day I still have to ask my wife for help with my recollection of what precisely transpired during the 52 days I was away from my house!  One thing for CERTAIN that “I REMEMBER” is that GOD ALONE brought me through “the valley of the shadow of death”, and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL to be CHOSEN by HIM!!!

“WE WALK!”

 2 Corinthians 5:5-7                 (ESV)

“[5] HE WHO has prepared us for this very thing is GOD, WHO has given us THE SPIRIT as a guarantee.

[6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the LORD, [7] for “WE WALK” BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.”

There was a time when in my life I was attempting to “run the race” (Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 9:24) with THE LORD!  My “vision” was to always try to be “the first” to cross the finish line, no matter the situation!!  

The Apostle Paul, the author of BOTH of the aforementioned passages of Scripture, wasn’t “brain damaged” like some of us, but he was “given a NEW HEART, and a NEW SPIRIT” (Ezekiel 36:26) when GOD “arrested” (taking or detaining in custody) him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)!  

ALMIGHTY GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING!  HE IS NOT “required” to do anything but that which HONORS and GLORIFIES HIS NAME!  HE operates in HIS DIVINE PLAN and humanity must accept that HIS PLAN is COMPLETE and PERFECT!!!  For humanity to be permitted to be USED by THE ALMIGHTY is a PRIVILEGE that is beyond comprehension.  

My feeble, brain damaged mind cannot FATHOM what PRECISELY HE has PLANNED for me!  HIS WORD gives us DIRECTION as to what HE is doing.  However, Matthew 24:36 PLAINLY states “But concerning that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, nor the SON, BUT THE FATHER ONLY!”  

We are CHOSEN to WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT until THE FATHER says IT IS TIME!!!  “WE WALK” in HIS PLAN, not run so fast that we miss what HE desires to SEE from us!  “WE WALK” BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT”!!!

“NO ONE!”

 “NO ONE!”

John 6:41-45                 (ESV)

“[41] So the Jews grumbled about HIM, because HE said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” [42] They said, “Is not this JESUS, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does HE now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” [43] JESUS answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. [44] “NO ONE” can come to ME unless the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Many people want to challenge what Scripture records as THE WORD OF GOD.  I am not a person who Believes that I am far enough advanced that I am unable to learn more about GODS WORD ….. every day!!!  But one thing that I am very careful NOT TO DO is to “add to NOR take away from” (Revelation 22:18-19) THE WORD that GOD IN FLESH spoke when HE walked among us!!!

Humanity, no matter how clean they live, doesn’t have the ability nor inclination to beg GOD for HIS MERCY, WITHOUT THE FATHER “drawing” them!!  JESUS plainly says in the passage of Scripture above that “NO ONE” can come to ME UNLESS the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him!!  I’m no Biblical Scholar, but “NO ONE” pretty much says what HE meant to say?!?  “NO ONE”!!!

Romans 5:1 says plainly “Therefore, since WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH our LORD JESUS CHRIST.”  Ephesians 2:8 also says “For BY GRACE by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH. And this (FAITH) is not your own doing; IT (FAITH) IS THE GIFT OF GOD,”!!!

So SEEING that OUR ONLY HOPE is FAITH in JESUS CHRIST, and that FAITH is purely a GIFT FROM GOD, we DO NOT have the even the inclination to desire a relationship with HIM UNLESS THE FATHER DRAWS US!!!!  “NO ONE”!!!!

“TAKE CARE!”

 2 Peter 3:17-18 (ESV)

“[17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, “TAKE CARE” that you are NOT carried away with THE ERROR OF LAWLESS PEOPLE and lose YOUR OWN STABILITY. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST . To HIM be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

It “could be” a strange coincidence that the focal passage today is the same as the sermon I heard recently from church? My prayer is that I will share a message that embodies traits that are intrinsically related to MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST, and NOT my own personal thoughts!  

“”TAKE CARE” generally means to “be cautious, vigilant, or to pay attention to safety”. It is commonly used as a friendly, informal parting phrase to wish someone well (similar to "goodbye" or "look after yourself"). It also means to manage, handle, or deal with a task or person.” The Apostle Peter, who was the author of this letter, desired to EMPHATICALLY make it known that THE TRUTH needed to be adhered to, especially when THE ERROR OF LAWLESS PEOPLE was being interjected into the conversation.  

Peter KNEW that “the enemy” would use any and all means available to him to MUDDY the SPIRITUAL WATERS with ANYTHING other than THE TRUTH! Peter wrote that the readers of this letter should “be cautious, vigilant, or to pay attention to safety” that you are NOT “duped” by THE ERROR OF LAWLESS PEOPLE! “TAKE CARE” wasn’t just a suggestion, it was an ALL OUT WARNING to KNOW THE TRUTH well enough that THE ERROR OF LAWLESS PEOPLE would not be permitted to be heard by anyone!!!  

With this WARNING being shared by one of the closest people to JESUS CHRIST, my message to ALL would be to “TAKE CARE” regarding anything that is heard outside of THE TRUTH!!!

“IN CHRIST!”

 

1 Corinthians 15:21                 (HCSB)

“For as in Adam ALL DIE, so also “IN CHRIST” all will be made alive.”

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Driving is mostly spent by this humble servant conversing with THE LORD, as I have plenty of time to be quiet!  You see, since the Brain Hemorrhage I generally can’t tolerate “background noise”.  So in the past almost 19, years generally drive in silence.  This adjustment is quite common for Hemorrhagic Stroke survivors.  Yesterday was an extremely different challenge though!!  There were several vehicles that collided with a tractor-trailer on interstate causing a massive crash that was still blocking traffic six hours later!!!  My prayers go out to anyone who POSSIBLY survived the incident.  My driving was affected for the next few hours as I thought “there but by the grace of GOD go I”!!!

However, ALL PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE!!!  Scripture is very unambiguous about this.  Hebrews 9:27-28 says we ARE destined to die, and after that, THE JUDGEMENT!!!  Just as sure as our next breath is in coming, ONE OF THESE DAYS it will be our time to meet THE CREATOR OF LIFE!!  

“IN CHRIST” is ONLY POSSIBLE if we are CHOSEN by HIM BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT!!!  We won’t have the opportunity afterwards.  Either we will be so OVERJOYED by SEEING our SAVIOR……..or we will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42)!  The ONLY HOPE we have is decided BEFORE we die!!  “IN CHRIST” was the choice GOD PLACED on my heart BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!!!  I am SO BLESSED that HE CHOSE me to  be “IN CHRIST”!!!  Has HE CHOSEN you???

“WAIT FOR THE LORD!”

 

Isaiah 40:27-31                 (ESV)

    “[27] Why do you say, O Jacob,

        and speak, O Israel,

    “My way is hidden from the LORD,

        and my right is disregarded by my GOD”? 

    [28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?

    The LORD is the everlasting GOD,

        the CREATOR of the ends of the earth.

    HE DOES NOT faint or grow weary;

        HIS understanding is unsearchable. 

    [29] HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT,

        and to him who has no might HE increases strength. 

    [30] Even youths shall faint and be weary,

        and young men shall fall exhausted; 

    [31] but THEY WHO “WAIT FOR THE LORD” SHALL renew their strength;

        they SHALL mount up with wings like eagles;

    they SHALL run and not be weary;

        they SHALL walk and not faint.”

Recognizing that humanity, no matter how successful, nor how strong, WILL ONE DAY “expire”!  That word was used in the medical profession when I was a youngster.  There are babies who don’t even make it to birth, and there are people that live to be past one hundred years of age!  One thing is for certain, and that is we have to “WAIT FOR THE LORD” for everything from birth to dying!!!

My recollection of my recovery from the Brain Hemorrhage is the best example that I can utilize.  The blood vessel that broke was in the WORD RECALL portion of my brain.  I had a propensity for spreading myself thin, VERY THIN, and it was “put on hold” for about two years!  I couldn’t WAIT for the ability to get back to “normal”???  What I DID NOT comprehend was that GOD, VERY KINDLY AND GENTLY, was slowing down my frantic activity and replacing it with TRUE SUBSTANCE AND MEANING!!!

ALMIGHTY GOD HAS A PURPOSE for every life HE has CREATED!  This humble servant had to experience the calamity of a broken blood vessel in the WORD RECALL section of my brain to REALIZE (years later!) that I was trying to remain BUSY for THE LORD!?!  

If you aren’t what GOD requires to perform your assignment, HE CAN DRAMATICALLY CHANGE you!!!  HE doesn’t need to get “your permission”!!!   HE doesn’t need ANYONE to agree with HIS PLAN!!!  Whether you like what HIS PLAN is or not, we can “WAIT FOR THE LORD”, or HE can remove us!!!  HIS PLAN WILL BE COMPLETED!!!!