Enter with thanksgiving

 

      4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

         and his courts with praise; 

         give thanks to him and praise his name. 

      5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

         his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps 100:4–5). 

Sometimes things in life make you appreciate and understand scripture more so than when had not experienced them.  Take for instance when scripture takes about that suffering produces patience strength and hope.  You and I can't really grasp the concept until we endure some type of suffering.

This pandemic COVID-19 has affected so many things in our lives; some of it we are currently recovering from and some, well, who knows when it will go back to normal.  Most churches have opened back their sanctuaries for in person worship, but some still have not.  My prayer in the midst of this shutdown of houses of worship is that when doors open back up that church goers would come to appreciate the significance and importance of being able to worship together in person.  I cannot speak for everyone but for myself, when we came back together on June 14 to resume worship my heart was overwhelmed with thanksgiving, praise, and joy.

I experienced this one other time, when after a major surgery I was unable to attend church for over 12 weeks of recovery.  Many of you may have experienced the same type circumstances, and can understand that feeling. You understand what it is to miss being in a house of worship.

Don't misunderstand me, the technology that has allowed us to worship virtually was a great short term solution.  I know people will say that they can worship at home on TV, internet, or radio.  There is some truth in that because yes you can.  However, there is not substitution to being around the people of God, for the worship of God, in the House of God.

There are still some that are unable to be in person for worship for many reasons.  For you know that we understand what you are going through, and know that you are missed and we look forward to the day that you can join us again.  Then you as well will experience the joy of entering with joy and thanksgiving in your heart.  But until then, stand firm, believe, and rejoice in knowing that this too shall pass.

Chris

What did you say?

 

If you been around for any length of time you know that even though you say something, repeat it, and repeat it again some people just don't hear it.  If you have children you know that you can have them look into your eyes and say something, and they will still come back later and say they didn't hear you.  Your probably familiar with the eyes glazing over and knowing that they are day dreaming about some distant world, what they want for snack, or what they thought someone said to someone at sometime.

We laugh as this is our children or grandchildren we are talking about, however did you know that we consistently do this to God.  God speaks to us every day, and yet we aren't listening.  We thought we heard something, and we go to Him and we ask, "What did you say?".  God knows it.... He knows we mean well..... He knows that its not always intentional......  As you can imagine as frustrated as we get with our own children/grandchildren God also does with us...

      11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts  to follow their own devices. 13 “If my people would only listen to me,  if Israel would only follow my ways, (Ps 81:11–13). 

If we would only listen to Him.  I mean really listen.  God is constantly speaking to us.  He always has our best interest at heart.  He is always trying to lead us in the path He has designed for us.  He has a perfect will for our life, however whenever we don't listen we miss the path.  If we would only listen, if we would only follow His ways.

So what would it take for you to listen?  What would it take for you to slow down for one minute of the day and listen to what He has to say.  It is important, no, it is of most importance that we listen.  Make that change, take time to listen...

Have a great day, Chris 

losing that foothold

 

      2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;  I had nearly lost my foothold (Ps 73:2). 

Sometimes being a Christian is like climbing a mountain.  It can be the hardest thing you have ever done, takes a lot of self-discipline and energy, but when you look down/back at how far you have come the view is so beautiful.  The problem is when we are climbing and our foot slips, or we nearly lose our foothold.  This happens so many times, we can feel like we are climbing and gaining so much ground, then our heart drops and breathing gets fast because we nearly slip.... nearly.   We nearly fall into our old habits, we nearly fall back into old routines, we nearly commit the sin that we battle so often.  Or maybe we did slip, maybe we did lose our foothold, maybe we did fall back, and we grab hold of whatever we can to stop from falling and losing our sanity.  We feel like we are hanging on by just a thread.  At that moment, or in that moment, that is when all the safety equipment comes into effect.  The safety is equipment is for us because no matter how skillful, careful, and experienced you may be anyone, and I mean anyone can slip.  

The psalmist here gives a narration of many troubles he had had (envy, ignorant, and being in vain), because of all this he nearly, be reminded of nearly, slipped.  But then he was reminded of the following:

      23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel,          and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart         and my portion forever. 27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;          I will tell of all your deeds.  (Ps 73:23–28). 

Some truths found in these verses when you are climbing that mountain called life:

• God is with you and is holding your hand
• God is guiding you
• God is your strength and portion
• God is near, so it is good
• God is your refuge
• God is your story to tell

keep climbing you are safe with God!  

have a great day, Chris

November Cant get here fast enough

 "If you can't stand the sight of your own blood, don't get into politics" - Mike Huckabee

Understand that this blog is NOT written to endorse any specific candidate.  I have a great concern, and it becomes greater every single time elections roll around.  When it comes to political parties there are strong beliefs on both sides, and the gap seems to get wider and wider between the two.  For some who are hot and heavy into their political parties they can't wait for the next election, they can't wait to talk about how much they hate the other party, they can't wait to try and uncover as much mud as they can on the opponent, and they can't wait to slam the people who support their opponents.  As some look forward to an election, I loathe it.  Elections bring out the worst of some.  People can be mean and down right ugly during elections. Social media becomes a sounding booth, or a slamming booth, against those who claim to be "friends".  People start calling each other names like "crazy, blind, morons, uneducated, racist, or deplorable, and so on".  You can't label people as such, it is not fair nor is it true.  I am a registered Republican.  The other day I heard someone say that if your a Republican you are a racist.  I know this to not be true, and if you believe that then you have issues and not me.

What really drives me bonkers is when people start making the statement: "you can't be a Christian and vote for ________" or "how can you be a Christian and vote for ________".  As a Christian let me remind you and me some things.  

You don't know people as well as God does, therefore you do not have the right to judge someone's Christianity based upon their political status.  You may not understand why people vote or think the way they do, but your not supposed to and you don't have to.

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

In your ways and thoughts, you are not perfect either:

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

I am responsible for me and you are responsible for you.  Quite frankly, I don't want to be responsible for someone else's life, I have enough on my plate with myself and my children.

People are not crazy, blind, morons, uneducated, racist, or deplorable based upon who they vote for.  If you are like me the struggle is real.  The last several times I have voted for president, or any office for that matter,  I have found myself thinking is this the best our political parties can do?  Is this really the best we have to offer?  I digress, but since Reagan I have had struggles (and BTW I wasn't even old enough to vote until 1990).  The best I can do (and anyone for that matter), is to make a list of what you believe, what is important to you, what is your value system, what will you compromise on and what won't you.  Sometimes I feel like voting like Brewster's campaign was in "Brewster's Million" and vote "NONE OF THE ABOVE".  At the end of the day it is your right and your vote, it doesn't matter what anyone else says or what anyone else thinks.  I long for the days when people could have opposing views and still get along.  I'm not perfect nor am I trying to paint a picture that I am.  What I can tell you is that I can be friends with someone who doesn't think like me, I can sit down and have a meal with someone who opposes that which I am for, I can have a conversation with someone who disagrees with things I agree with.  And So could Jesus.

Don't buy into what all the media, talk show hosts, news, and famous people with a microphone are trying to shove down your throats.  They all have agenda's, and not everything is a conspiracy.  Think for yourself and don't believe everything you see or hear.  Also, remember that it is not the political candidate, famous athlete or actor, news anchor, or talk show host that you will spend your days with.  It, however, will be co-workers, family, friends, and neighbors.  People burn a lot of bridges because of politics.  Love your neighbor as yourself.

I am not ashamed to say that I look for certain things in candidates, I am pro-life, I am for 2nd amendment rights, I am for smaller government, I am for less government intervention, I am a fiscal conservative, and believe in a  balanced budget.  I am also for a leader that can unite a divided country, and listen to the people....NEITHER candidate has the ability to do so.  So what does one do?  I can't not vote...  far too many people finding themselves having to try and pick the "lesser of two evils".  I can't tell you home many times people tell me you shouldn't vote that way, but how can you not.  I pray, pray, and then pray some more and fill in the circle beside a candidate that I know I can't support fully, and yet know my responsibility as an American is done because i voted, and I respect the person in office and pray for them (regardless of their political party) because that is what Scripture tells me I am supposed to do.

My name is Chris Reese and I loathe election time, but I vote because it's my responsibility and right.

What is truth?

 

As I stated in an earlier blog (titled "Good News) we live in a society that it is hard to know when we are being fed the truth and when we are being fed untruth.  It is hard to watch the news anymore because it is hard to know whether what we are being told is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  As a believer you want to keep up with local, national, and world news, however, if I am honest many days it is hard to stomach what we are being told because most of it has an agenda behind it.

So is there truth that you and I can hold on to, is there solidarity in what we read and hear.  How do we know?  Who can we trust?  What can we do?  Let me remind you of Psalm 33:

      4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; 

         he is faithful in all he does. 

      5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; 

         the earth is full of his unfailing love. 

      6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, 

         their starry host by the breath of his mouth.   

      9 For he spoke, and it came to be; 

         he commanded, and it stood firm. (Ps 33:4–6, 9). 

1- there is the solidity of the word, three key words in verse 4: right, true, and faithful.  All three words express the solidity of the Word of God.  Right, true, faithful;  God is truth, it is His nature, it is in His being.  Truth is God.

2- His word creates.  By the very spoken Word, God created everything!!  How do we know that to be true.  Simply look around.  The earth, its substance, its decor, its inhabitants, and most importantly you were all created by Him.

3- His word has Power.  There is power in truth.  All God has to do is speak and it comes to be, He commands and it stands firm.  What He says and does cannot be undone.

So in a world where the truth is hard to decipher, stay in His Word.  His Word it truth.  His Word will sustain you in days of doubt, His Word will encourage you in days of discouragement, His Word will build you up when the world is bringing you down.

So What is truth?  God is truth!

Have a great day, Chris

Good news

I have to be honest I quit watching the news.  I don't want to be a conspiracy theorist and say that the news is "fake news" or politically driven, but I do say that most have an agenda.  However, I quit watching the news because they never seems to have good news.  The most powerful button I have found is the "off" button on my remote.  We are so inundated with depressing, bad, agenda driven news that I just had enough.  I used to watch ESPN Sportcenter for sports news, but now it is political and agenda driven, so everything now that I need I find it on an app.  I digress and get to my point.  I was reminded today of some great, no some awesome news.  As a Believer in Jesus Christ we already know the following, but let's be reminded of good news:

      1 Blessed is the one 

         whose transgressions are forgiven, 

         whose sins are covered. 

      2 Blessed is the one 

         whose sin the LORD does not count against them 

         and in whose spirit is no deceit. 

    and....

      5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you 

         and did not cover up my iniquity. 

         I said, “I will confess 

         my transgressions to the LORD.” 

         And you forgave 

         the guilt of my sin.  (Ps 32:1–5).

Some points of good news to ponder:

• You are blessed! and what follows is how/why
• your transgressions are forgiven - things you have done/will do are gone as if they never happened
• your sins are covered - hidden never to be found
• your sins are not counted against you - God does not keep the list of things you have done wrong, they are not added up and brought back up, they are gone
• I acknowledge my sin to You - we can go before God and confess anything, He does not belittle, make fun of, roll His eyes, beat, slap, or ridicule us
• greatest of all: He forgives the guilt - God doesn't just forgive us, He forgives the guilt.  We walk around with so much guilt of things we have done, God has forgiven He does not hold us accountable to that which we have asked for forgiveness for.

So, be reminded of the good news of the Gospel.  God is so great, we are so blessed.  With a world that is overrun with negative media, bring some positive into your life.  

Blessings, Chris

The Beauty of Creation

General Revelation: Where God reveals Himself through His creation.

(WLOS tower on top of Mount Pisgah)

      1 The heavens declare the glory of God; 

         the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

      2 Day after day they pour forth speech; 

         night after night they reveal knowledge. 

      3 They have no speech, they use no words; 

         no sound is heard from them. 

      4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, 

         their words to the ends of the world. 

 (Ps 19:1–4). 

 Today's blog is a little different.  The verses are pretty self explanatory.  God's creation is beautiful and screams the glory of His handiwork.  Creation needs no speech, used no words, and no sound is heard from them, and yet  His creation reveals who He is.  Enjoy this blog as I post some of the most beautiful places I have seen.  

(Cumberland Gap, Tennessee and Kentucky) - above

(overlooking El Paso, Texas)

(Arizona or New Mexico?)

(Pacific Ocean, San Diego CA)

(The View from 30,000 +/- feet)

(Rainbow over Hominy Valley Fields)

(or just a beautiful sunset from your own backyard)

There are so many more that I could share (Grand Canyon, painted desert, etc.) but that would take a while.  

What a beautiful creation we live in, but also YOU are a beautiful creation.  Created in the image of God.

Have a blessed day, Chris

Beware of Pride

      4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; 

         in all his thoughts there is no room for God. 

    

      6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” 

         He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” 

(Psalm 10:4,6 NIV)

One of the most dangerous feelings that a believer can have, and honestly probably what keeps many away from God is pride.  So what is pride?  Pride is defined as: a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements.  They key in that definition is "derived from one's own achievements.  In our own pride we essentially say, "I've got this, I don't need God, I can handle this".  There is so much me, me, me in that statement that as the psalmist said "in all his thoughts there is no room for God".  Pride can build up and push us to verse 6, pride here turns to arrogance.  "nothing" and "no one", shows pure arrogance in that we can make ourselves seem untouchable.

You could make a whole list of things in your life that could take you down, harm you, harm your family.  There are people stronger, more intelligent, and better equipped than you.  Knowing this, you and I should be able to humble ourselves and seek Him, let His thoughts overwhelm our thoughts, realize that something CAN shake you, and that someone COULD do you harm.  However, God is bigger than anything and everything, smarter than everyone everywhere, and hold the key to both death and life.

Humility does not make us weak, it makes us strong.  Humbleness is NOT a character flaw, it is a relationship building block with you and the Creator.  Never allow anyone anywhere anytime to belittle you because you trust in Jehovah God to take care of you.  

Have a blessed day, Chris

Dare to be different

"To be one, to be united is a great thing. 

But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." -Bono

      1 Blessed is the one 

         who does not walk in step with the wicked 

         or stand in the way that sinners take 

         or sit in the company of mockers, 

      2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 

         and who meditates on his law day and night. 

      3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, 

         which yields its fruit in season 

         and whose leaf does not wither— 

         whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Dare to be different.... in a world that is screaming at you to conform.  Stick to your beliefs in a world that is telling you that your faith is outdated.  Stick to your morals in a world that is telling you immorality is ok.  Stick to the Words of the Holy Scripture in a world that wants you compromise your beliefs.  Stay true to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in a world that wants you to flow with society.

It continues to astound me that we are living in a society that wants all to be tolerant of all beliefs, and yet they won't be tolerant of what the conservative Christian believes.  They don't want us to cram down their throat what we believe, and yet they continue to cram down ours what they believe and say that we are being intolerant if we don't accept it.  I/we have the right to believe what we want and can live according to that, as does others in society.  I get that.  

I have the right to believe that abortion is murder, I have the right to believe that homosexuality goes against human nature and the purpose for which we are created, I have the right to believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, I have the right to believe that we are created in the image of God, I have the right to believe that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, and pure word of God, and so do you.  On the flip side you also have your right to what you believe, I support that right.  I am responsible for me, and you are responsible for you.  Just because I don't believe what you do, does not make me intolerant.  Just because I don't think, act, or believe like someone else doesn't mean that I am mean, ignorant, or intolerant.  I won't vote, support, or hang in circles like you do, but that doesn't mean we are enemies or that we can't be friends.  However, there is a limit, and that is in verse 1, I will not sit with mockers.  If you are going to make fun of me and what I believe then it will be impossible to be friends.

We are called to dare to be different, we are called to not walk with society if that leads away from what is True and Right.  Don't walk the path of society that is leading to destruction, you don't have to be part of it.  Don't stand with sinners, you don't have to be still.  Keep moving forward with God.  Take delight in who He is, in who you are, and the greatness of the Gospel.  Meditate on His Word for it will never fail you.

Dare to be different, Jesus did.

Have a blessed day, Chris

Not listening

Isaiah 65:12b:

         for I called but you did not answer, 

         I spoke but you did not listen. 

         You did evil in my sight 

         and chose what displeases me

If you have children you will totally get this.  Children have the innate ability to pick and choose what they hear (lets face it men so do we, haha).  You can have them look you in the eye and specifically tell them what to do, and yet they will tell you a little bit later that they never heard you say it.  Unfortunately, we do the same thing to God.

I have often heard it said that God answers prayers in one of three ways: yes, no, or wait.  There is something else to consider here when we think that God has not answered our prayer, and that is maybe, just maybe we aren't listening.  So why do we not listen?  Most immediate answer is because we know we won't like what He is going to say.  God is telling us something that maybe to us will make us uncomfortable, maybe it is unorthodox, maybe it goes against our traditions, or maybe its a sin we don't want to let go of, or maybe, just maybe it is a command that we have ignored our entire life and we just don't want to hear it anymore.   The easiest thing for us to do is not answer, not listen.

It is the easiest, but  most damaging.  Like anything else in life when God speaks we should listen.  We may not always like what we hear, want to do what we hear, or get the answer we want.  However, God has the ability to see beyond the here and now.  He has full perspective of eternity.

Eventually we learn as a child to listen (well some of us do).  The same is true of being a child of the Almighty Jehovah God, just listen and life will come together like it is supposed to.

So the challenge for today is listen and eat your broccoli, ok just listen.....

Chris

I don't get it

I have found myself saying this to God a lot since March 2020, "I don't get it" or "I don't understand".  The Pandemic, Civil unrest, and list goes on of CRAZY things this year.  I have found myself wondering how or why are we having to shut down churches, businesses, and basically the world.  People are without work, kids not in school, and our world turned upside down.  I keep telling myself that God is up to something, but what??  Leave it to Isaiah to help me here:


      8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
         neither are your ways my ways,”
           declares the LORD.
      9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
         so are my ways higher than your ways
         and my thoughts than your thoughts.
      10 As the rain and the snow
         come down from heaven,
         and do not return to it
         without watering the earth
         and making it bud and flourish,
         so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
      11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
         It will not return to me empty,
         but will accomplish what I desire
         and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11, NIV)

I don't have to understand it, I don't have to get it.  God has a plan and I don't have to know what it is.  I just have to follow Him, I just have to trust Him.  His thoughts and ways are not mine, His thoughts and ways are higher (mind blowing) compared to mine.  God has a plan for all of this, God knew what was coming in 2020, He has something in store, He has a master plan that cannot be stopped, paused, or changed.  God will accomplish what He desires, He will fulfill His purpose for 2020 and beyond.

There is freedom in not having to have all the answers, there is comfort in knowing that God has this even if I don't understand.  You and I are not asked to figure everything out, we don't have to spin our wheels wondering what to make of all this.  All we are asked to do is follow in faith and know that God sees the bigger picture, He knows how this will change His people and this world, and He will get glory someway somehow at the end of the day (so to speak).

Dear child of God, you don't have to understand, you don't have to get it, just trust Him.

Have a great day, Chris

I AM

When we think of the "I am" statements in Scripture our minds usually go to two places.  My mind goes first to Exodus 3 where God tells Moses "I AM WHO I AM" and "tell the Israelites "I AM has sent you.  The second place my mind goes is Gospel of John with Jesus' 7 I am statements:

1) I Am the Bread of Life.

2) I Am the Light of the World.

3) I Am the door or gate & 4) I Am the Good Shepherd.

5) I Am the resurrection, and the life.

6) I Am the way, the truth, and the life.

7) I Am the true vine.

However in my reading this morning I was reminded that Isaiah has numerous "I am" statements as well:

         I am the first and I am the last; 

         apart from me there is no God (44:6)

       I am the LORD, and there is no other; 

         apart from me there is no God. (45:5)

         I am God, and there is no other; 

         I am God, and there is none like me.(46:9)

      “Listen to me, Jacob, 

         Israel, whom I have called: 

         I am he; 

         I am the first and I am the last. (48:12)

         I am the LORD your God, 

         who teaches you what is best for you, (48:17)

There could be more in chapters ahead, however my reading stopped in chapter 50.  Five times in this discourse God tells the people (through Isaiah) that He is the "I am".  Apart from Him there is no God, He is the first and last, and He is your God who teaches us what is best.  So the question that is posed is as such, "Who is God to you?  Is He your I AM".  I am means that He is everything, He knows what is best, and He is all we need.  Is God enough for you?  There is no more.  To be our everything means I don't need anything else. Money, power, and prestige is not what I need, it may be what I want, but it's not what I need.  I need God and nothing else will suffice.  Only when you and I discover that God is enough will we find fulfillment in Him in this world.

So, Is God your I AM?

Have a great day, Chris

I'm not hurting anybody

I'm sure you have heard this a million times if your like me.  You know someone, or it may even be you, that their sin (or yours) has been found out.  You tell them that their sins will hurt someone and they respond with "I'm not hurting anybody but myself, I am the only one who will have to deal with the consequences".  Reality is you and I both know that is not true.  No matter what the sin it has detrimental consequences to not only you, but the people around you.  Sexual sins destroy marriages and families, alcoholism ruins relationships, anger can be explosively destructive, and the list could go on but you get the point.

So we think about the effects it can have on others, and ourselves, however have you ever considered what it does to God?  The nation of Israel was openly rebellious to God, they absolutely would not listen.  God was abundantly merciful and yet they continued to be unfaithful.  Does this sound familiar?  We have become a nation that is openly rebellious against God, people have no shame anymore, they take what God has called sinful and beautified it as now a norm in society.  We are a country that has been so blessed by our creator and yet we continue to call good that which is evil, and evil that which is good.  I could go on, but I think you get the point.

This brings me to some verses in Isaiah:

         But you have burdened me with your sins 

         and wearied me with your offenses. 

      25 “I, even I, am he who blots out 

         your transgressions, for my own sake, 

         and remembers your sins no more. (Isaiah 43:24b-25)

I underlined for emphasis, but do you see it?  Two words burdened and wearied.  I have never viewed God's forgiveness of my sins that way.  I have always viewed God as patient and merciful when it comes to my forgiveness of sins, and scripture backs that up.  However, that is because I am His child in whom He is well pleased.  My sins are many, but My God is faithful.  My sins are not because I am intentionally trying to hurt God.  But what about those who know they do wrong and continue to do so, with no thought as to who it hurts or affects.  If we look at these verses in Isaiah we see that God sees them as a burden and wearisome.  Does He forgive, absolutely, but He does it for His own sake and not theirs.

So the bottom line is this the question is no longer just "are you hurting someone else with your sin problem" but also "are you burdening God and making Him weary with your sin"?

Thank Goodness for Grace, no matter what the sin may be we can and will find forgiveness through Christ.  Want proof of that look up 1 John 1:9....

May you be blessed!  Chris

What is hidden behind His back

Isaiah 38 is a beautiful chapter, as most are.  In this chapter God tells Isaiah to go and tell Hezekiah to get his house together that he will die (boy talk about being the bearer of bad news).  When Hezekiah hears this he turns his face to the wall and prays (38:) and weeps bitterly (38:3).  God then relents and adds 15 years to his life.

What is recorded next is what Hezekiah wrote after his illness and recovery.  This contains beautiful thoughts that are inner twined with emotion.  There is one verse in particular that caught my eye today, that is Isaiah 38:17b:

         In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction;
         you have put all my sins behind your back. (NIV)

Do you remember playing that game with a child of hiding something behind your back, to the person you are playing with whatever you are hiding is gone.... out of sight..... disappeared!

In this verse Hezekiah is reflecting on what God has done for him, and it is a helpful reminder to you and I what God has done for us.  In God's unconditional infinite compassionate deep love for us, He saves us.  He saves us from Hell, He saves us from the enemy, and He saves us from ourselves.  Our sins, the many sins that we have, He has graciously taken those off us and has put them behind His back.  So that neither He nor us have to look at them any more.  You are forgiven, no matter what you have done, God takes them and He does not return or mention them again!  Thank goodness for grace.

Chris

something to think about

As you may have gathered already I am reading through the book of Isaiah.  As I was reading today I had a thought, I know surprising isn't it :) . I have wondered this many times, and it is this:  Why doesn't God do things today like we read about in the Old Testament.  There is a great theological answer and that is that from the New Testament to today God has revealed Himself through His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3).  I get that, I really do.  However could you imagine if God did things today like He did in the Old Testament.  Like the 10 plagues, parting of the Red Sea, providing manna, water from the rock, and so on and so forth.

I am not suggesting by any means that we should go back to priest, high priest, and sacrifices on the alter for our sin.  But imagine for a moment if God did these things how people may react.  Quite frankly I don't think it would make any difference.  Anyway, getting to the point of this blog.

In Isaiah 37 Sennacherib was bearing down on King Hezekiah and things were looking pretty bleak for the nation of Israel.  Hezekiah does what we should do when things start looking bad, he prayed.  Now here is where I am going with this.  In Isaiah 37:14-20 is his prayer, the key is found in the closing of his prayer in verse 20:

20 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God." (NIV)

There it is in black and white, Hezekiah's motive.  He didn't ask for deliverance because he was scared of losing his kingdom, afraid of dying, or losing loved ones.  He wanted God to deliver them so that He (being God) would get the glory.  Maybe, just maybe, our motives are too selfish.  Maybe when we pray, we are so focused on our own wants that we lose sight of what God wants.  We pray with the mindset that we don't want to get hurt, we don't want to be sick, we don't want a family member or friend to deal with problems.  I know what you are thinking: Chris praying like that is not selfish we are praying for others.  True, but are we praying for them so that we can feel better about ourselves and our lives..... or because we want people around us to know that the LORD is the only God.

Now, here is the verse that got me thinking about this whole scenario, it is one of those times God did something dramatic, unbelievable, and jaw dropping:

36 Then the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. (Is. 37:36-37)

Can you imagine waking to this scene.  Thinking that morning that you would be facing a huge battle, and yet waking to find 185,000 of the enemy soldiers dead.  So why was this done, why did God do it this way?  "so that all the kingdoms of the earth would know that you LORD are the only God".

Hezekiah's motive was pure: He wanted his enemy to know that his God was the true God.  Just something to think about when we pray.

Have a blessed day!  Chris

the key

      2 LORD, be gracious to us;
         we long for you.
         Be our strength every morning,
         our salvation in time of distress.
   
      6 He will be the sure foundation for your times,
         a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
         the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.  (Isaiah 33:2 and 6, NIV)


Who wouldn't want God to be gracious, be our strength, our salvation, and our foundation?  If we were to ask anyone we knew about that the overwhelming response would be YES.  It's like getting something free or winning a contest.  God wants to do this in our lives (Isaiah 30:18), He longs to do all of this.  God has His part in this scenario, and we have ours.  Don't misunderstand me, we are not people of works, you don't earn it.  You just have to want it. 

There are two clear statements that Isaiah gives here for us to understand.  The first is that, yes, you do have to want it.  That is the word "long".    This is what Isaiah is talking about in verse 2 "we long for you".  That is the questions we all have to ask ourselves is, how bad do you want it?  To long is to have an unquentionable desire that can only be filled by God.  Do you have that desire, or is it just a passing thought.  Many times God speaks to us and we just dwell on it for a few minutes, maybe even an hour.  When we say we "long" for something it is an idea, thought, or desire that you just can't get away from.

The second part of this is the statement that pre-requisites the key to "this treasure", and that is the statement of "the fear of the LORD".  So we ask: What is the fear of the LORD?.  The word "fear" doesn't mean "to tremble, or be terrified" here.  It means to have honor and reverence.  So the next question is: do you have that high honor and reverence for God?  It is the key, in fact it is the only key.  Do you have honor and reverence for the person of God, the work of God, the Word of God, the people of God, the house of God, and the Kingdom of God?  All of these fall under, well, God.

We want God to be gracious to us, He will, and He does.  If you want the key, if you need the key, frankly if you desire the key.  It is there all you have to do is grab it.

Have a blessed day, Chris