Unswerving constancy ∙∙

Unswerving constancy ∙∙

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life God promised those who love him. – James 1:12

James 1:2-4

 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Life is filled with challenges, and we frequently face obstacles along the way! A wise sage once said, “Cripple a man, and you have Sir Walter Scott. Lock him in prison, and you have John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have George Washington. Raise him in poverty, and you have Abraham Lincoln. Strike him down with infantile paralysis, and he becomes Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Burn him so severely that doctors say he will never walk again, and you have Glen Cunningham, who set the world record in 1934 for the outdoor mile. Deafen him, and you will have Ludwig van Beethoven. Call him a slow learner, retarded, and write him off as uneducable, and you have Albert Einstein” (John C. Maxwell).

Is there an effective strategy to deal with life’s vicissitudes and struggles? A shortsighted solution is to try to change your circumstances; many attempt to avoid challenges as much as possible. Yet, trials have a knack for following us wherever we go. A better, more lasting approach is to allow the Father to change us rather than trying to change our circumstances. Our greatest enemy is not adversity itself; instead, it is how we respond to adversity. It’s not difficulties or adverse conditions that mess us up but our reactions to them.

The Scriptures provide a viable way forward: a distinct blend of patient endurance, relentless determination, and hard-charging perseverance.

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.

The Greek term translated as persevere, endure, or patience is hupomene. It means to strive, outlast, and resist by holding one’s ground.

The KJV translates hupomene as patience, but patience is far too acquiescent and compliant and a term to represent hupomene adequately. Hupomene isn’t about merely enduring the storm and hoping for brighter days. It doesn’t just passively ride out difficulties and wait for better times. Instead, hupomene responds assertively. Rather than simply tolerating difficult circumstances, hupomene is the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for greatness. Its essence is captured in the phrase, “We shall overcome.” “When Beethoven faced the threat of deafness, the most dreadful affliction for a musician, he declared, ‘I will take life by the throat.’ That is hupomone” (Barclay).

A two-word definition of hupomene is unswerving constancy.

But there’s more. “If Christians meet the testings of life in the steadfast constancy which Christ can give, life becomes infinitely more splendid than ever it was before. The struggle is the way to glory, and the very struggle itself is a glory” (Barclay).

REFLECT & PRAY

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other” (Walter Elliot).

Father, I am so incomplete. I desire to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Teach and encourage me to respond appropriately to the trials and difficulties You send my way.

INSIGHT

What is the purpose of going through trials?

Trials help develop our character.

James 1:2-4

 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance has its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

When trials and challenges confront us, they serve as a test of our faith. Such tests can evoke two distinct responses. When we face them with the appropriate attitude and approach, they prove innocuous and result in what we desire most: endurance, which is hupomene. As hupomene thrives, it leads us to the ultimate goal the Father sets – to become perfect, complete, and lacking nothing. Hupomene makes us whole.

The Greek term teleios, translated as perfect, connotes maturity, completion, or wholeness. It does not mean being without flaws or errors, but it signifies maturity and completeness. It implies an ongoing process. In this sense, being perfect is not the opposite of being imperfect; instead, being perfect is the opposite of being incomplete.

The Greek word translated as complete is holokleros. When something is holokleros, every part is totally complete. It is whole, entire, and lacking nothing. The Greek term translated as lacking is leipo. Leipo means to be deficient, wanting, or incomplete.

No one becomes complete, whole, or mature overnight. It is a slow, incremental process. When the developmental process is finished, we are fully formed; we have everything we need. We lack nothing.

Imagine a caterpillar snugly encased within its chrysalis, undergoing a profound transformation into a beautiful, lithe butterfly. Only when the metamorphosis is finished, and all the parts are fully formed, does it emerge and fly away, leaving behind the confines of its former self.

“As the athlete ‘endures’ bodily stress in order to achieve a high level of physical endurance, so the Christian is to endure the trials of life in order to attain the spiritual endurance that will bring perfection” (Moo).

“What James is suggesting, then, is that the Christian must practice ‘steadfastness’ in order to achieve a settled, steadfast character” (Moo).

The Father uses trials and tribulations to discipline, that is, child-train every daughter and son of the King. Frequently, we find ourselves pushed to the limits of our abilities, brought to the end of ourselves. He shatters our self-reliance, dismantles our pride, and redirects our waywardness. When we respond appropriately to these challenges, we undergo an internal metamorphosis. We come to rely entirely on the guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the workings of the Holy Spirit within us, He exchanges our human weakness for His supernatural strength, creating strength from our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 9 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

 10 . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.

James offers each child of the King a glimpse into our ongoing transformation as He guides us toward becoming all that the Father envisions for us. Once this transformation reaches its culmination, we are approved. The term “approved” in Greek is dokimos. Historically, when precious metals and coins underwent rigorous testing and were found to be authentic, they were labeled as dokimos.

They had withstood the test, proving their authenticity. They had passed the test, were approved, and were considered genuine (EBCNT). The primary objective of this test wasn’t to highlight those who couldn’t make the cut butto celebrate those who did. They were marked as approved. The Father’s deepest desire for every child of the King is to see them attain the dokimos seal of approval.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-07-3

© Dr. H 2024

Batteries not included ∙

Batteries not included ∙

Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude. – 1 Timothy 4:4

Ecclesiastes 5:10-19

 10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth – except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

 12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

 15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

 16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing – like working for the wind.

 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud – frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

 18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.

 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a gift from God.

How many of us can relate to the unforgettable words of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof?

“Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor. But it’s no great honor either! So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?” “If I were a rich man if I were a wealthy man. I wouldn’t have to work hard. If I were rich, I’d have the time that I lack to sit in the synagogue and pray.” “You decreed I should be what I am. Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy man?”

“To whom little is not enough nothing is enough” (Epicurus). When asked, “How much money is enough money?” John D. Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.”

I am sure that most of us have thought about what life would be like if we had “a little bit more.”

For the average person, comprehending immense wealth is nearly impossible. At a certain point, wealth becomes so vast that it feels meaningless. Consider the enormous fortunes of some of the wealthiest people in the world in 2023: Bernard Arnault, $211 billion; Elon Musk, $180 billion; Jeff Bezos, $114 billion; Larry Ellison, $107 billion; Warren Buffett, $106 billion; Bill Gates, $104 billion.

Wealth often breeds discontentment rather than satisfaction. Discontentment is evident in two ways: the relentless pursuit to acquire more and more (Ecclesiastes 5:8-12) and the consequences faced by those who attain it (Ecclesiastes 5:13-17).

Ultimately, it boils down to greed versus gratitude and contentment. Have you ever considered that for the wealthy, the more they get, the more they want? Enough is never enough!

REFLECT & PRAY

Would it hurt if we had more wealth? The answer is yes and no, depending on how we receive it. If wealth were to come our way, wisdom demands that we remember and be grateful to the Father who gave us the power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Father, help me to seek gratitude and contentment rather than endless greed and attainment without end.

INSIGHT

Solomon realized that there is a perspective regarding wealth that produces joy and contentment. Life is a gift from the Father. Life, with its daily struggles, is meant to be embraced and enjoyed as part of the Father’s plan and purpose.

The Father richly gives us all we need to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

The secret of contentment is actually quite simple. “Add not to a man’s possessions but take away from his desires” (Epicurus).

We have the power to control our attitude towards wealth, rather than allowing wealth to control us.

After decades of searching and contemplation, Solomon realized that the Father grants both riches and the ability to enjoy them. Satisfaction is not included with prosperity. It comes separately.

Our society is replete with advertisements: “As Seen on TV, blah, blah, blah .” Batteries are not included.

When we adopt Solomon’s perspective, everything changes.

This is one of the mysteries of our age. People move from one thing to another, seeking satisfaction but never finding it. They experience temporary highs or exhilaration from their achievements, acquisitions, fame, or conquests, but they fade and do not last.

Contentment requires a major paradigm shift.  Everything on Earth is temporary except for the word of God and human souls. Instead of focusing on temporal things, we should concentrate on what is permanent.

1 Timothy 6:6 True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

When we come to know, understand, and experience godliness, we uncover the true meaning of contentment. Genuine contentment stems from godliness in the heart, not wealth in our hands (Wiersbe).

Effort without contentment is vanity. Take a moment to reflect: Is your constant striving wearing you down or bringing you contentment and peace?

When we adjust our attitude and learn to receive the good things the Father has provided with gratitude, something remarkable happens.

Ecclesiastes 5:20 God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

1 Timothy 6:7-10                                           

 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

The Father bestows abundant wealth and possessions on some children of the King. He intends for us to encourage others and to be channels of His blessings, not mere containers. We are meant to be rivers of living water, not stagnant wells.

Is it time to step off the relentless wheel of pursuing contentment? Perhaps it’s time to cultivate “an attitude of gratitude” for what the Father has already provided.

Hamsters are born to run, tirelessly seeking food each night. But the children of the King are not hamsters; they are born to seek true godliness.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯3-0-3

© Dr. H 2024

Who moved the stone?

Who moved the stone?

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat on it. – Matthew 28:2

Mark 16:3-4

 3 On the way, they asked each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the very large stone had already been rolled aside.

Luke 24:2-3

 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.

For decades, a bizarre and rare anomaly perplexed visitors to Death Valley National Park. Heavy stones appear to move across the dried lake bed known as Racetrack Playa, leaving trails behind them in the cracked mud. Some of these trails have been measured to be as long as 820 feet. The patterns varied, with some trails forming graceful curves while others created straight lines that abruptly shifted left or right.

The sailing stones of Death Valley, also known as the moving or sliding rocks, first caught attention in the early 1900s. The earliest documented mention of them dates back to 1915 when a prospector named Joseph Crook reported seeing the rocks and their trails. Scientists have been trying to solve the mystery of the sailing stones for over 100 years.

The apparent movement of these rocks has been attributed to everything from magnetic fields to space aliens or pranksters. Some believed that dust devils might move the rocks, some of which weigh as much as 700 lbs. Other researchers thought that the strong winds frequently whipping across the vast lake bed could cause the stones to slide. These and other theories were eventually disproved, leaving scientists without a conclusive explanation. Adding to the enigma is the fact that no one had actually seen the rocks move.

All that has changed!

In 2014, researchers Dr. Richard Norris and James Norris, with assistance from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NASA, finally solved the long-standing mystery of how the stones moved. They not only discovered the solution but also captured videos of the stones in motion. (https://earthsky.org/earth/death-valley-sliding-slithering-sailing-stone-mystery-solved/).

Their research revealed that shallow pools of water are formed in the playa from rain or melting snow. During the night, temperatures drop below freezing, resulting in the formation of a thin layer of ice. When the sun comes up, the ice melts and breaks into large floating panels. These buoyant sheets of ice float on top of the water. Due to gentle winds, usually around 10 mph, the ice sheets are pushed, causing them to nudge the stones across the slick, muddy surface of the playa, leaving visible tracks. Their study was published in the journal PLOS ONE on August 27, 2014.

PLOS ONE

Who Moved the Stone?

Frank Morison, a journalist and writer, was initially an atheist and skeptical about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He embarked on an intensive investigation to disprove the resurrection, determined to show that it was merely a myth. However, as he delved deeper into his research, his perspective began to change. He found the evidence for the resurrection compelling. His book, “Who Moved the Stone?” first published in 1930, details his journey from skepticism to faith, providing a thorough examination of the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. “Who Moved the Stone?” has since become a classic in Christian apologetics. It showcases how a critical investigation led an atheist to become a believer.

REFLECT & PRAY

The angel rolling away the stone revealed an empty tomb and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection is proof that Christ’s sacrifice for sins met the Father’s requirements for salvation

Father, thank You for telling us who moved the stone so that we might have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

According to the Bible, an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the tomb. This is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

The women were well aware of the potential problems they might have attempting to move the heavy stone that sealed the tomb (Mark 15:46).

Tombs during the first century differ from those of today. The tombs of the wealthy, like Joseph of Arimathea, were commonly hewn out of rock and were sealed with a heavy stone to close the entrance. It was heavy and required two or more strong people to move it. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus rolled it into place (John 19:39-42).

Rolling the sizeable circular stone to close the tomb where Jesus was buried required the strength of both men.

The women were present when Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus prepared the body and placed Jesus in the tomb (Mark 15:46).

Observing where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placed the body of Jesus, the women took note of the spot with plans to return after the Sabbath to lovingly anoint the body (Mark 15:46, Mark 16:1-2).

On that Sunday morning, they arrived at the tomb and found the stone rolled away and the body was gone (Luke 24:2).

The women were shocked, puzzled, and troubled. Mary Magdalene mistakenly assumed it was stolen (Luke 24:4, John 20:1-2).

Suddenly, the angel’s words changed everything. Fear and confusion were transformed into faith, hope, and worship.

Matthew 28:6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come see where his body was lying.

Matthew 28:1-10

 1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

 2 Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.

 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint

.

 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come see where his body was lying.”

 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.

 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.

 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed

He lives! (Alfred H. Ackley)

Verse 1

I serve a risen Savior,

He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living,

Whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy,

I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him

He’s always near.

Chorus

He lives! He lives!

Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me, and talks with me

Along life’s narrow way.

He lives! He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Dr. H 2024

Housebroken or heartbroken? ∙∙

Housebroken or heartbroken? ∙∙

Let me again experience the joy of your salvation! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! – Psalm 51:12

Psalms 51:9-12

 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.

What does it mean to “rub someone’s nose in it”? Essentially, it means to repeatedly and forcefully remind someone of their mistakes or failures. This involves continually bringing an error or fault to someone’s attention. As sparks fly upward, people with fallen DNA are born with a natural propensity to do this.

The phrase’s origin can be traced to housebreaking pets, particularly puppies. Traditionally, correcting a puppy’s behavior involved rubbing its nose in its mess to discourage it from repeating the mistake in an attempt to prevent future accidents. However, dog trainers have since debunked this method. They have collected a wealth of evidence demonstrating its ineffectiveness.

Housebreaking has also been applied to people, particularly men. It refers to trying to train them to behave in a more socially acceptable manner [whatever that is ;-)]. Again, does this work? Not too much. Recriminations and accusations are largely ineffective.

For both pets and people, rubbing their noses in their mistakes achieves little to nothing. Instead, shaming and blaming cause discomfort, irritation, resistance, defiance, and ultimately rebellion. There must be a better way.

Consider how the Father gently, wisely, and compassionately deals with His wayward children. Strive to emulate this approach. Positive reinforcement is far more effective than negative denigration.

King David was painfully aware of his grave error, moral failure, and sinful rebellion in his involvement with Bathsheba and Uriah. He did not need further reminders, as he was already consumed by guilt and shame. In his plea to the Father, he asks not to have his face rubbed in his grievous failures but seeks relief and restoration instead. His actions had not only brought shame and disgrace upon himself but also tarnished his nation. And what of his relationship with his heavenly Father? The scandalous gossip must have been rampant: “Have you heard about David, King David, the man after God’s own heart? What kind of a God would allow his cherry-picked leader of Israel to commit such a thing?”

His sinful behavior could have ruined or even ended his life, as both adultery and murder were capital crimes under the law of Moses, warranting the death penalty. David, of course, knew this all too well.

The burden and anguish of unconfessed sin weighed heavily on David, gnawing at him spiritually, mentally, and physically. It created a rift between him and the Father, with whom he was deeply bonded and identified. Yet, the Father never moved but remained steadfast and loyal. His loving heart and open arms were waiting to receive David back once he sought forgiveness and reconciliation.

Finally, the moment arrives for David to make amends. He boldly pleads for mercy and restoration, appealing to the Father’s gracious character and loyal love.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father sees all, knows all, and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to forgive and restore all.

Father, I fail You so often. Thank You for forgiving me. But more than forgiveness, I long for inner transformation. Please give me a willing, dependable, and resolute spirit. Create an inner determination to follow Your ways.

INSIGHT

David had discovered and understood one of the profound open secrets of the Father’s heart. Although the Father established the sacrificial system, He did not take pleasure in animal sacrifices. The Father had no desire to see animals killed. Then why the sacrifices?

The death of innocent, unblemished animals served as an object lesson. What are we to learn from this bloody and somewhat gruesome practice?

Sin is grievous and can warrant severe consequences, including death in some cases. The Father does not desire or take pleasure in the death of animals. Instead, He desires repentance, particularly a broken and contrite heart.

The Father does not overlook or excuse sin, and He does not want the children of the King to do so either. He wants His children to face and address it. Outward actions are less critical than inward reflection. We are to search our hearts and acknowledge the wickedness of our sinful behavior. The Father desires that every child of the King gets their heart right with Him.

The Father wastes nothing in our lives. He uses our experiences for personal development and growth. Each of us has countless shameful acts and memories from the past that trouble us while we are awake and haunt us while we sleep. While we cannot undo or redo the past, we can strive to do better going forward.

Housebroken or heartbroken? The choice is ours.

Psalms 32:1-5

 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

The Father sent the Holy Spirit not to condemn, shame, or rub our noses in it. Instead, He is firm yet gentle, aiming to encourage us to make things right. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict us of sin (John 16:5-8).

John 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

The Greek word translated as “convict” is elegcho. Elegcho means to bring to light, expose, and convince. It is frequently translated as “prove . . . wrong” (NEB), “show . . . how wrong it was” (JB), “bring conviction” (Gdsp), and “convince” (Phps). The GeCL translates it as “he will show that the men on earth have wrong ideas about sin, about God’s righteousness, and his judgment” (UBS).

The Holy Spirit exposes and reveals our sin, bringing it to light so that we can recognize our wrongdoing. And what about us? How do we treat others? Do we handle others as the Father does, with grace and compassion, or are we prone to rubbing their noses in their mistakes?

Galatians 6:1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 5-14-3

The CHOSEN – Jacob’s well ∙∙

The CHOSEN – Jacob’s well ∙∙

You are a holy people who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. – Deuteronomy 7:6

Ephesians 1:4-5

 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. He wanted to do this, and it gave him great pleasure.

“The CHOSEN” is a television drama based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Season one was the highest crowd-funded TV series or film project ever. Season one, E8, opens with Jacob’s 12 sons digging a well in Canaan. A Canaanite neighbor named Yassib comes by for a friendly chat. Jacob tells Yassib that he and his 12 sons are sojourners looking for the land God promised to give to his grandfather Abraham.

Yassib comments, rhetorically asking, “Have you ever noticed how the gods are always promising us things, but we never really see them happen?” Jacob answers, “Sometimes it takes generations.”

Yassib asks, “What is this God of yours called”? Jacob responds, “El Shaddai.” Yassib responds, “Never heard of Him.” Jacob answers, “Not many people have. But I think someday they will.”

Being sojourners, Yassib wants to know where Jacob and his sons worship their God. Do they carry Him with them wherever they go? Jacob answers, “There are no carved idols of Him.” Yassib retorts, “So He’s invisible?” Jacob responds, “Yes, well, usually. There was one time He broke my hip.”

Yassib chuckles and quips, “Of all the gods you could possibly choose from, you pick an invisible God, Whose promises take generations to come true, Who makes you sojourn in strange places, and Who broke your hip? That is a strange choice.”

Jacob responds, “We didn’t choose Him.”

Before the foundation of the world, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit existed in eternity past. Then and there, they made decisions and choices regarding what would be. They chose to create all that is in the heavens and on earth. They sovereignly chose the children of Israel. They decided that the Son would become the Messiah and come to Earth to redeem the human race. They chose all those who would become children of the King.

How can we be sure? Because they were all alone. There was no one else around to make any choices. Yet, after the creation throughout human history, people are perfectly free to make their own decisions. This is an antinomy. It is beyond human comprehension, yet in the mind of God, it all works. The Scriptures reveal that the Father and each individual make decisions. Nothing is left to chance.

Matthew 12:18 Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

The Father sent the Son to be the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world.

REFLECT & PRAY

Romans 8:31 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Father thank You that You have CHOSEN – even me.

INSIGHT

The Father chose to create the nation of Israel, the Chosen People, via Abraham, a gentile. The Jewish people are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through the 12 tribes.

Deuteronomy 10:15 The LORD chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today.

Jeremiah 31:3 Long ago, the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.”

Will the Father ever disown His people and abrogate His covenant with the nation of Israel? In the Old Testament, they managed to rack up quite a bit of rebellion and defiance. Did their disobedience separate them from the Father? Has He backed away because of what they have done? The answer is absolutely not!

Jeremiah 31:36-37

 36 “I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to abolish the laws of nature!”

 37 This is what the LORD says: “Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Why is this significant for the children of the King? Because the unconditional covenant that the Father made with the nation of Israel closely parallels the New Covenant, which we enjoy as inheritors of these promises. For those of us who are Jewish, we were near, heirs to the covenant (Romans 11:24). For those of us who are Gentiles, we were far off but have now become fellow heirs (Ephesians 3:6).

Ephesians 2:13-14

 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once, you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

 14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

Are the children of the King secure in the Father’s love forever? The answer is absolutely!

Nothing can separate us from His love and commitment, regardless of our behavior. Consider Exhibit A: the nation of Israel, and Exhibit B: the apostle Peter.

Romans 8:31-39

 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

 34 Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

Paul’s statement powerfully declares the Father’s unwavering faithfulness. Even in the face of human shortcomings, God remains faithful and true. His nature is unchanging and independent of human actions or attitudes. His promises and commitments are always reliable. The phrase “for he cannot disown himself” underscores God’s intrinsic nature. Faithfulness is a core aspect of who He is, making unfaithfulness impossible and contradictory to His very character.

In essence, this verse reassures every child of the King that God’s faithfulness is constant and reliable, even when their own faith may falter.

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© Dr. H 2024