“LOOKING TO JESUS!”

Hebrews 12:1-4                          (ESV)

“1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every WEIGHT, AND SIN WHICH CLINGS SO CLOSELY, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 “LOOKING TO JESUS”, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.

3 Consider HIM who endured from sinners such hostility against HIMSELF, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

It can be extremely easy to have our eyes FIXED on those around us instead we of “LOOKING TO JESUS” for our example of how to live our our lives.   Usually a minster has earned respect and admiration for his walk with the LORD.   However, a minister is human, fighting the same enemy we fight, and they need our prayers and support, just as our other friends in CHRIST!  Experiencing another human being less than perfect should be common, if not expected, in our fight against evil.   

But when we are committed to “LOOKING TO JESUS”, proper humility and awe should rightfully follow!  It’s not just seeing a Holy MAN when we observe JESUS, but HE is the ONE WHO spoke these worlds into existence and placed our entire solar system in order.  HE created ALL THINGS (Colossians 1:16-17) and then lowered HIMSELF to be born in a manger, live a life of meager means, die a death of unimaginable suffering, but overcame death, hell and the grave ALL because HE LOVED ME AND YOU!  

We can love and respect our ministers and leaders, but NO ONE should be elevated above JESUS CHRIST in our lives, most especially our own selves!  How many times have you heard, “I don’t think it should be done that way”, or “I don’t like that” or similar words?  The word “I” is leading a sentence can be a good thing when it is being used to say “I was wrong”, or “I apologize”.   But when we aren’t “LOOKING TO JESUS” we tend to elevate ourselves to the Throne of our lives and we begin our downfall!  

“LOOKING TO JESUS” helps me realize how unimportant I really am and prohibits self-righteousness.  When I “consider HIM” and what HE went through for me, and has accomplished for me, all while we were sinners (Romans 5:8), it causes me to shudder in shame!  But understanding that HE did if for me OUT OF LOVE makes me realize how BLESSED I am to be “called out of the darkness into HIS marvelous light”!  It’s hard not to be “LOOKING TO JESUS” when we grasp what HE is and has done for us!   

“HE IS A LIAR!”

John 8:39-47                          (ESV)

“39 They answered HIM, "Abraham is our father." JESUS said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,

40 but now you seek to kill ME, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from GOD. This is not what Abraham did.

41 You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one FATHER-even GOD."

42 JESUS said to them, "If GOD were your FATHER, you would love ME, for I came from GOD and I am here. I came not of MY OWN accord, but HE sent ME.

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because YOU CANNOT BEAR TO HEAR MY WORD.

44 You are of your father the devil, AND YOUR WILL IS TO DO YOUR FATHER’S DESIRES. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the TRUTH, because there is NO TRUTH in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for “HE IS A LIAR” and the father of lies.

45 But because I tell the TRUTH, you do not believe ME.

46 Which one of you convicts ME of sin? If I tell the TRUTH, why do you not believe ME?

47 Whoever is of GOD hears the words of GOD. The reason why you do not hear them is that YOU ARE NOT OF GOD."”

Before I begin, let me say that people who Believe are only able to SEE because their EYES have been opened by ALMIGHTY GOD (Luke 24:31) brought “into HIS marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9)!  We are no better than “this world”, as our only “goodness” is in CHRIST JESUS!  

The people of “this world” cannot understand TRUTH as it is spoken.   It is almost as though someone is speaking a foreign language to them?  JESUS said in verse 43 above “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because YOU CANNOT BEAR TO HEAR MY WORD.”  And one of the most effective tools used to prevent them from hearing is the “busyness” of their schedules.  They prefer living in the “rat-race” and to not “BE STILL, and KNOW that I AM GOD “!!!   

“The enemy”, “HE IS A LIAR”, and when he speaks he uses deception to color his lies with anything and everything that is a “delight to the eyes” (Genesis 3:6) to prevent us from SEEING what blessings GOD has for us!  Even “the Scribes and Pharisees”, the hierarchy of the temple, were blinded and couldn’t SEE the TRUTH!  Their hearts were so proud and self-righteous that humility wasn’t an option for them.  They were “deceived” by “HE IS A LIAR”!!!

The only way for us to not be “deceived” is to know the TRUTH!  Now I am certainly not the prime example of HOLINESS (JESUS should be the only ONE we observe for that!), but I am honored and blessed to be one that “HE has called out of the darkness into HIS marvelous light”!  Making sure that “HE IS A LIAR” is exposed to the “marvelous light” shouldn’t be difficult, as LIGHT obliterates darkness!  Always has, always will!!!

“BEFORE FAITH!”

Galatians 3:23-29                                (ESV)

“23 Now “BEFORE FAITH” (in JESUS) came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

24 So then, the law was our guardian until CHRIST came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

26 for in CHRIST JESUS you are all sons of GOD, through faith.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into CHRIST have put on CHRIST.

28 There is NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, there is NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE, there is NO MALE AND FEMALE, for YOU ARE ALL ONE in CHRIST JESUS.

29 And if you are CHRIST's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.”

As a parent, it can become quite frustrating when you can’t make children SEE that what they are doing isn’t best for them?  Trying to get them to understand that what they are doing will bring them harm or heartache can be one of the most difficult things for a parent to do.  The Apostle Paul must have had this feeling in his writings to the various churches of the New Testament.   Getting them to SEE the finished work of JESUS CHRIST, AND RECEIVE IT, AND LIVE IT, proved to be a difficult challenge!  

Most modern day Believers are so entrenched in skin color, social status, and gender based thinking that we can’t SEE the work that JESUS performed for the sake of the FATHER while here on earth 2,000 years ago.  I’m not sure that we even want to SEE the finished work, because the enemy uses the divisiveness to hinder the furtherance of the Kingdom.  Paul writes in Galatians 3:28 that “There is NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, there is NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE, there is NO MALE AND FEMALE, for YOU ARE ALL ONE in CHRIST JESUS.”   If the enemy can keep us from being “YOU ARE ALL ONE in CHRIST JESUS”, then we are living “BEFORE FAITH”, and refusing ALL of the finished work of JESUS!   

One of the least CHRIST-like moments of raising my children was when I was trying to convince one of my sons that what I wanted hi to do WASN’T going to hurt him.  My patience and tutoring skills weren’t very evident that day!  I’m not certain that the lesson was learned that day, no matter how much I wanted it to be.  GOD ALMIGHTY never has run short of patience and love with me.  HE does continually remind me that living “BEFORE FAITH” is asking to go through more trials to understand what CHRIST has done for me.  JESUS CHRIST broke the bonds of sin and now we are FREE to live in the PROMISE!!!

“PRAISE THE LORD!”

Psalms 150:1-6                                   (ESV)

“1 Praise the LORD! Praise GOD in HIS sanctuary; praise HIM in HIS mighty heavens! 

2 Praise HIM for HIS mighty deeds; praise HIM according to HIS excellent greatness! 

3 Praise HIM with trumpet sound; praise HIM with lute and harp! 

4 Praise HIM with tambourine and dance; praise HIM with strings and pipe! 

5 Praise HIM with sounding cymbals; praise HIM with loud clashing cymbals! 

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! “PRAISE THE LORD!””

As I was reviewing photos of my grandchildren recently on the MEMORIES page on a social media site, my mind was caused to ponder?   I love my grandchildren more than life itself, and I am very BOLD about sharing their photos whenever I have the opportunity.   Their parents (my children and their spouses) are special to me, but those babies are simply a DELIGHT!!!

Do you imagine that that if GOD ALMIGHTY had a social media account that HE would be as crazy about HIS “babies” as I am about my grandkids???  What do you give GOD credit for in your daily lives?  Do you realize that GOD loves us SO much, HE sent HIS only SON for the explicit purpose to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind and to purchase our redemption on Calvary?  And we want to stay home from worshipping HIM when the speaker isn’t one we prefer, or the air conditioner is too cold, or not cool enough, or the sound system doesn’t suit our taste, or any other menial item that we use as an excuse to NOT Worship the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS?  

Yes, ALMIGHTY GOD paid an unimaginable price for mine and your salvation.   HE thinks so much of us that HE sacrificed HIS SON for our transgressions.  Although I love my children and grandchildren more than I know how to describe, GOD loves me more!  HIS SON was a sinless, spotless Lamb WHO “everything that has breath” should declare “PRAISE THE LORD!!!”

“TO LIVE QUIETLY!”

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12                      (ESV)

“9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by GOD to love one another,

10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,

11 and to aspire “TO LIVE QUIETLY”, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”  

February 17, 1984 was a MAGNIFICENT day for this man!  I was able to convince (some say swindle!) my girlfriend into becoming my wife, and she is still by my side after 34 1/2 years!  Some kept waiting for her to “come to her senses”, but I’m beginning to think she is going to stick around for awhile!  She gave me this passage of scripture recently and did not know that I was almost instantly spoken to by them. 

My wife has never had a problem with “TO LIVE QUIETLY”!  She didn’t have much of a choice, as I was very talkative, maybe to a fault!  However, the Brain Hemorrhage caused both of us to “adjust”, as I was “brain damaged” and she was thrust into the “head of the house” roll very quickly.   The leak in my brain occurred in the “word recall” portion of my brain, so my speech is not as fluent as it once was.   In fact, my speech has become much more deliberate and more thought is required to be put into words before I speak since the recovery.   

GOD ALMIGHTY definitely has a Plan, not just for my life, but for each of us!  HE knew that I needed to SLOW DOWN my life, especially my mouth, and to only orate the words HE approved.  There have been many times since the Hemorrhage that the opportunity was presented to me to voice my thoughts, and a few times I have actually listened to HIS Guidance.   However, I am still working on “TO LIVE QUIETLY” as my old nature is still a part of me.  

“TO LIVE QUIETLY” is something that has taken a bit of getting used to, but it has certainly been rewarding!  As a matter of fact, the following verse above says “so that you may walk properly”, something that we all should strive to accomplish.  Formerly I was very quick to speak, but have had that ability curtailed by GOD above!  I am learning “TO LIVE QUIETLY” and more and more to “walk properly” as a result!  My wife says she kind of misses the old man I was, but “TO LIVE QUIETLY” has to be more peaceful than I was???

“WAIT ON THE LORD!!!!”

Eleven years ago TODAY I awoke at 5:30AM to go to the restroom.   Low and behold, my legs  would not carry me, so I ABRUPTLY introduced myself to the bedroom floor!  Without boring people with the gory details, necessity caused me to take a two year hiatus from work, and allowed me the opportunity to SLOW my life DOWN and properly evaluate why GOD elected to allow me to remain on earth.  

My life has changed rather dramatically since.  This morning my blood pressure is 121/83, and that is before I take my morning medicines.  Of course, priorities have most definitely been adjusted with ALMIGHTY GOD being elevated to HIS rightful Throne!  Formerly, I would say that HE was LORD of my life, but very often I was living my life at such a pace that I didn’t have time to defer to HIS SPIRIT leading me.  Operating “in the fast lane” is no longer an option, as my critical thinking skills won’t allow me to burn both ends of the candle.  

Sure, I am the same person that I was before July 09, 2007, but I am taking time for the LORD to lead me in the paths HE desires for me to go.   Psalms 27:14 (KJV) says “WAIT ON THE LORD: be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.”  

My prayer is that I will never again be caught up in the vortex that “this world” attempts to suck us into!  PLEASE, PLEASE, don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a similar situation.   “WAIT ON THE LORD”!!!!

“FOR ALL!”

Hebrews 10:8-10 (ESV) “8 When HE (JESUS) said above, "YOU (GOD) have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9 then HE added, "Behold, I have come to do YOUR (GOD’s) will." HE does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we (Believers) have been sanctified (made HOLY ) through the offering of the body of JESUS CHRIST once “FOR ALL”.” From time to time, I type memos to myself so that I can remind myself of what GOD is speaking to me at a particular time. Recently I had occasion to do so during video my fellowship is watching on Sunday evenings entitled “BEHOLD YOUR GOD”! While pondering the great sacrifice JESUS paid out of LOVE for me, I jotted these words:: JESUS CHRIST died “FOR ALL” of mankind knowing that the majority of people would refuse to serve HIM, would reject HIS free pardon for sin,,and elect to spend an eternity suffering GOD’s wrath for their sin, when JESUS had already paid the sin debt for them. How can a HOLY GOD “call” a person and they reject Him??? (Are they) Too busy???? (Are they) Too wealthy??? While trying to grasp why the crucifixion had to be so brutal and inhumane, I finally saw that GOD ALMIGHTY had to have a sacrifice “FOR ALL” the sins, from Adam to the last sinner, before JESUS judges the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). Can you fathom “such a loving GOD” declaring “depart, I never knew you”, and sentencing those who rejected HIM to an eternity in torment? The was recently a post shared on a social media site that says “GOD is not WHO you think HE is. HE is what HE says HE is”!!! The WORD of GOD is rather explicit about what the outcome for our choices will one day be. It matters not what “you think”, it only matters what GOD says will transpire!!! Scripture says what will happen “FOR ALL”. Where will you spend eternity???