"CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF!"

Romans 15:1-7                                             (ESV)

"1 We who are strong have an OBLIGATION to bear with the failings of the weak, and NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES.

2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

3 For "CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF", but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached YOU fell on ME."

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 May the GOD of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with CHRIST JESUS,

6 that together you may with one voice glorify the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

7 Therefore welcome one another as CHRIST has welcomed you, for the glory of GOD."

Many times I begin my Bible Study with no clear direction of what will be written that day, and MOST of the time the end result humbles me, as my desire is to Glorify GOD ALMIGHTY and NOT myself!  Today I started out with a totally different idea than where I eventually found my writings ending.  But then I realized that my ideas aren't what is important, even "CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF" during HIS earthly ministry!!

GOD sent HIS SON, JESUS, into "this world" NOT to establish a political or governmental oligarchy.  GOD already has the entire world to worship and adore HIM, whether we do or not!  HE sent JESUS (John 3:17) as a payment for our sins, simply because HE loves us (John 3:16)!  In verse three above, it is written "The reproaches of those who reproached YOU fell on ME."!  GOD has a Plan and HIS provisions CANNOT be improved upon!

Recently my wife's car needed to be replaced, and WE THOUGHT rather quickly!  We have friends and relatives in the used car business in our town who I THOUGHT could find us something to fit what we THOUGHT was needed.  But GOD guided and directed my thoughts and mind to a small auto dealership two and a half hours from home and we now own the vehicle GOD can be Glorified with.  Not because we are worthy, for we are the LEAST, but because we are willing to WAIT ON THE LORD!

My prayer yesterday morning was NOT to find a good deal, or a payment plan that was in our range, but rather the GOD would be Glorified with our purchase, and ultimately our lives.  In Matthew 26:39, JESUS prayed "MY FATHER, if it be possible, let this cup pass from ME; nevertheless, not as I will, but as YOU will.""  

"CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF" and ultimately paid the redemption for the ENTIRE WORLD.......for GOD's Glory!  My prayer is that HE will be Glorified by my life as I serve HIM!!!

"ALL YOUR HEART!"

Jeremiah 29:12-14                         (ESV)

"12 Then you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I will hear you.

13 You will SEEK ME and FIND ME, when you seek ME with "ALL YOUR HEART".

14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

It seems everyone has heard about the childhood game called hide and seek.  When I was a child, I never was very good at the game because I didn't have the determination to SEEK someone until I FOUND them.  Giving up always seemed to be the option that was available, and it required little or no effort.  However, when ALMIGHTY GOD "calls" you, the desire to FIND HIM consumed me until I FOUND HIM!  

We don't even have the longing to search for HIM unless He places that in our hearts.  In Acts 9 Saul was persecuting Believers in the name of "the church"!  However, when JESUS inquired "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul recognized his need for a Savior and it was revealed to him ".......how much he must suffer for the sake of MY name."  That's right, unlike many modern "ministers", Saul (soon to be renamed Paul) was promised by JESUS that HE would suffer the the sake of HIS Name!  But still, he sought JESUS with "ALL YOUR HEART"!  

The LORD promises in HIS Word that HE can be found if we ONLY will seek after HIM with "ALL YOUR HEART"..  But HE also says in John 15:16 "You did not choose ME, but I chose you and appointed you......"!  GOD desires a relationship with us so much that HE sacrificed HIS ONLY SON to redeem us from our sinful lives.  What else do I have to offer HIM but to SERVE HIM with "ALL YOUR HEART"???

"BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF!"

Hebrews 3:13-19                            (ESV)

"13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened BY THE DECEITFULNESS of sin.

14 For we have come to share in CHRIST, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

15 As it is said, "Today, if you hear HIS voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." 

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

17 And with whom was HE provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, WHOSE BODIES FELL IN THE WILDERNESS?

18 And to whom did HE swear that they would not enter HIS rest, but to those who were disobedient?

19 So we see that they were unable to enter "BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF"."

It should be with great trepidation that we act in disobedience to a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS GOD!  Yet mankind thinks we can ignore or change HIS commands to suit our desires and accommodate what humans see as "right"!  Who do we think we are to try to hide our disobedience from HIS EYES?  Adam and Eve tried, AND FAILED, in the garden of Eden, and everyone since has continued to fail in our attempts.  

Maybe it's because we don't have an inkling of WHO GOD really is and what HE is capable of doing to us that we IGNORE HIM and HIS Word?  Why else would we allow ourselves to FALL IN THE WILDERNESS, like the children of Israel, just "BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF"?  

It will not be long until "this world's" eyes are opened and will be able to SEE that "BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF" they too have been allowed to FALL IN THE WILDERNESS!  What about you?  Can you SEE???  Or "BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF" are you moving so fast that you can't SEE TRUTH unfolding right before your eyes???

"FAITH HAS COME!"

Galatians 3:25-29                          (ESV)

"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."

Ephesians 1:15-23                        (ESV)

"15 For this reason, because I have heard of your FAITH in the LORD JESUS and your love toward all the saints,

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

17 that the GOD of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of glory, may "give you" the SPIRIT of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of HIM,

18 having the EYES of your hearts "enlightened", that you may know what is the hope to which HE has called you, what are the riches of HIS glorious inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of HIS power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

20 that HE worked in CHRIST when HE raised HIM from the dead and seated HIM at HIS right hand in the Heavenly places,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And HE put "all things" under HIS feet and gave HIM as head over all things to the church,

23 which is HIS BODY, the fullness of HIM who fills all in all." 

Frustration and bewilderment will overcome those who attempt to IMPROVE what JESUS CHRIST has already completed with HIS Perfect LIFE and sacrifice on Calvary!  ONLY GOD IN HEAVEN can "open eyes"!  My prayer is that HE will continue to enlighten me to HIS tremendous work available to us.  

"REPROVE, REBUKE and EXHORT!"

2 Timothy 4:1-4                              (ESV)

"1 I charge you in the presence of GOD and of CHRIST JESUS, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS appearing and HIS kingdom:

2 preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; "REPROVE, REBUKE and EXHORT", with complete patience and teaching.

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

One of the things I have found most beneficial to my Spiritual growth is to see what the dictionary says about the words that are in the Word!  Far too many times in my younger experiences, I have assumed what I thought was the correct meaning of a word, and accepted whatever that assumption was.  Today there three words that I am inclined to SLOW DOWN and examine and SEE what GOD is trying to show me by using the dictionary to help me.  

REPROVE: "to criticize or correct, especially gently:".... . Paul is writing on Timothy is this letter, but the HOLY SPIRIT uses Paul's writings to gently correct my life and move me toward a vessel used to Glorify GOD.  There are times, and many they are, that I am inclined to hastily read a few verses from GOD's Word, say a brief prayer, and consider myself "worthy" for the day.  Then I am reminded that JESUS CHRIST suffered unimaginable torture and separation from HIS FATHER all because I needed a Perfect Sacrifice and couldn't provide one!  And all because of HIS LOVE!!!!!!  Correcting me is a full time job and HE gently keeps at it!  

REBUKE: "to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand".... .  Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of GOD is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  The Word pierces, meaning it separates what man thinks is good from what GOD declares is good.  JESUS said in Mark 10:18 "And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call ME good? No one is good EXCEPT GOD ALONE."  When I examine the CROSS, and then examine my life, it humbles me to no end!  Why does ALMIGHTY GOD allow me to continue to breathe HIS oxygen???   

EXHORT: "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently".... .  Always of the belief that this word was trying to tell me to "encourage", I have a hard time accepting that GOD is telling me to "urgently advise" people that living in sin definitely has its consequences.  However, I am to do all of these with "complete patience and teaching."  We must remember that we cannot change a heart, only ALMIGHTY GOD can do that!  We need to be faithful to do our part, and leave HIM to change hearts!!!

"JESUS IS OUR EVERYTHING!"

Colossians 1:15-20                     (ESV)

"15 HE is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation.

16 For by HIM ALL THINGS were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through HIM and for HIM.

17 And HE is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together.

18 And HE is the head of the body, the church. HE is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything HE MIGHT BE PREEMINENT.

19 For in HIM all the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell,

20 and through HIM to reconcile to HIMSELF all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of HIS cross."

There are many different things that can be written about these verses, so I will refrain from limiting what GOD has for you today!  JESUS IS OUR EVERYTHING!!!

"BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES!"

Matthew 13:16-17                           (ESV)

"16 But "BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES", for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

It is very seldom that I write about verses that are back to back in scripture, but I am led to do just that today.  We tend to think that HEARING and SEEING from GOD is something we develop as we mature Spiritually.  However, JESUS told HIS disciples in the above scriptures that "BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES" and YOUR EARS, for they SEE and HEAR!  HE then proceeds to tell them something that "many prophets and righteous people" have desired to SEE and HEAR what HIS disciples had SEEN and HEARD, but "did not" SEE or HEAR it.  

Romans 11:33-36 says that ALL WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE come from GOD!  Knowing that what GOD allows you to SEE and HEAR might not be "given" to some of  the "prophets and righteous people" around you should make you realize how blessed you are.  When the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES reveals a TRUTH to you how should you react?  Do you blurt it out to everyone, or do you respond as the mother of JESUS in Luke 2:19 (KJV) where scripture says "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart"?

GOD cannot violate HIS Word!  Whatever HE has promised, HE WILL DO!  When GOD reveals something to you through HIS WORD, HE isn't playing a joke on you.  GOD created the world to declare HIS Glory (Psalm 19:1-4). HE formed and made man with the same intent (Isaiah 43:7).  GOD may lead you to the banks of the Red Sea, but HE will get Glory, just as HE did over Pharaoh.  "BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES" if you are able to SEE this!!!