Does anything make God sick? ∙

Does anything make God sick? ∙

So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! – Revelation 3:16

Revelation 3:15-17

 15 I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

 17 You say, “I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!” And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

The Laodiceans boasted that they were rich and needed nothing.

In the second and third chapters of the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ addresses seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Each letter is meticulously crafted to suit its intended recipient, considering each congregation’s distinctive conditions, cultural aspects, and collective mindset. These epistles contain His personal evaluations, commendations where appropriate, critique, and instruction.

The nearby Lycus River’s water was too muddy to be potable. It was essentially undrinkable. Consequently, Laodicea’s water supply was delivered via an aqueduct, remnants of which can still be seen today. The deposits lining the pipes attest to the poor quality of the water. By the time it reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm. Moreover, due to its impurities, the water had an emetic property – it caused people to vomit.

Hieropolis, renowned for its therapeutic hot springs, and Colossae, celebrated for its pristine, cold water (Wiersbe), were located nearby. Hence, the terms “hot” and “cold” bear historical relevance that illuminates our understanding of the reproof issued by the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, this passage is misinterpreted because it is taken entirely out of its historical and geographical context. Knowing the backdrop of the local surroundings allows its meaning to be properly unpacked.

Revelation 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

REFLECT & PRAY

Ephesians 4:30 Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Father encourage and enable us to have lives that are refreshing or helpful to others. May we be pleasing in Your sight.

INSIGHT

Laodicea was unique among the seven churches in that it received no commendation. Much like its own tepid water supply, the Laodicean church was also lukewarm. “The condemnation of Laodicea begins with a picture of almost crude vividness; because the Laodiceans are neither cold nor hot, they have about them a kind of nauseating quality, which will make the risen Christ vomit them out of his mouth” (Barclay). This analogy might seem a bit confusing to the 21st-century audience, but to the inhabitants of Laodicea, the message from the Lord Jesus Christ was crystal clear.

The Greek word, translated as spit or vomit, is emeo. Emeo literally means to spit out, vomit, or throw up. The English word emetic is derived from it and refers to a substance that induces vomiting. Spitting is frequently an act of contempt (Luke 18:32). This anthropomorphism indicates the intense disgust of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to be lukewarm?

The correct understanding of the term lukewarm is understood in light of the water supply. The water of Laodicea traveled some 6 miles from the aqueduct. It was tepid, lukewarm, and emetic when it reached the city. This is in contrast to the nearby cities of Colossae, known for its cold, crisp mountain water, and Hierapolis, which had hot springs with water often used for medicinal purposes.

The water of Laodicea was a metaphor, a perfect fit for the spiritual condition of the Laodicean church. The Greek word, which is translated as lukewarm, is chliaros. This word is only used here in the entire New Testament. Chliaros means tepid, warm, or intermediate between hot and cold.

The Lord Jesus Christ found the people’s attitudes repugnant. Their hearts were tepid, impure, proud, and arrogant. How might we characterize being lukewarm? It connotes being equally removed from two opposite extremes. In that the Lord Jesus Christ used it in a pejorative sense, it could mean middle-of-the-road, uncommitted, indifferent, lethargic, unremarkable, mundane, mediocre, unexceptional, apathetic, halfhearted, lacking zeal, paltry, or the like.

They were complacent, self-satisfied, self-sufficient, obtuse, insensitive, and lacked commitment to the Father and the word of God. They were just going through the motions spiritually. They had one foot in the world and the other in church. They had fallen for the allure of pleasures of the world. They were ambivalent, being content with their wealth and materialism. Consequently, they were obtuse, blinded to their spiritual impoverishment. The Lord Jesus Christ declared that they were wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (Revelation 3:17).

Yet, despite their moribund, delusional condition, the Lord Jesus Christ continued to love them.

It is no coincidence that the Lord Jesus Christ calls upon them to repent. He makes a magnificent offer and promise.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Is Revelation 3:20 written as an appeal to non-believers? Does it target those who have not placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Or is it directed towards the indifferent children of the King?

The Lord Jesus Christ invites the hearers to experience fellowship with Him. The hearers claim to be self-satisfied and in need of nothing. The reality is quite different. From the perspective of the Lord, they are deluding themselves. Morally and spiritually, they stand exposed, naked in the sight of God. Such attitudes are not limited to any particular group. They are characteristic of nonbelievers, nominal believers, and sadly lapsed, fleshly children of the King.

The church in Laodicea reflected the values of its culture: exhibiting pride, self-reliance, and a perceived lack of need for external support, even from the Father. Comparing the church in North America with churches across various other regions of the world, it’s somewhat alarming to note how the challenges faced by the Laodiceans are eerily similar to our own (Keener).

Shallow, repetitive prayer and dry devotional times are sadly commonplace in our lives. They often arise from a diminished sense of need for the Father. Our material abundance has become a source of our spiritual poverty as it did for the Laodiceans.

“If the Book of Revelation were written today, and there was a letter to the church in America, I think it would decry the fact that our materialism and wealth . . ..” (Richard Stearn).

His knock and call are a reproof and yet a loving request. Rather than being spiritually bland, as lukewarm water, we are to be soothing, restorative, and revitalizing water: either refreshingly cool or therapeutically warm.

The church at Laodicea provides ample motivation for each of us to examine our hearts.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-29-1

© Dr. H 2024

Spiritual germination ∙∙

Spiritual germination ∙∙

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. – John 12:24

John 12:24-26

 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives.

 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

 26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

The germination process is a fascinating enigma that continues to elude complete understanding by contemporary science. Plant seeds can be likened to compact survival kits packed with sufficient food, nutrients, and a blueprint for life. These seeds burst into life, cultivating roots and a small plant, eventually emerging from the soil as a sprout. This entire sequence of events is what we call germination. For sustained growth, the seedling relies on light, water, and nutrients present in its environment.

In its initial state, the seed is dormant, appearing lifeless and serving no apparent purpose – it seems dead. By itself, the seed serves no function, and it is, practically speaking, useless. However, once it’s planted, everything changes. The seed undergoes a metaphorical death, only to be reborn with renewed vitality.

Similarly, the concept of spiritual germination is equally miraculous and paradoxical. Spiritual life and growth only come by death. To bring salvation to humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ had to die. But His death was not the end. By the mighty power of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to live again. He offers salvation and eternal life to anyone who will take it. Life comes from death.

“Jesus used the image of a seed to illustrate the great spiritual truth that there can be no glory without suffering, no fruitful life without death, no victory without surrender” (Wiersbe). All children of the King are His seeds. Each of us comes with life within, the Father’s eternal life, and an instruction manual of sorts. New pages unfold as we walk with Him.

REFLECT & PRAY

Only when we die to our personal ambitions and goals can we truly begin living for the Father.

Father how I long to fulfill Your dreams for my life. Encourage me to continually surrender my personal ambitions and goals in exchange for Yours.

INSIGHT

As children of the King, truly living and fulfilling the Father’s dreams and ambitions for our lives requires a trade-off. Dying to self is difficult, and each of us struggles with it. This personal challenge is presented to each child of the King.

“If a seed could talk, it would no doubt complain about being put into the cold, dark earth. But the only way it can achieve its goal is by being planted” (Wiersbe).

We can choose to remain alone, isolated, seemingly protected, and comfortable. But as such, we are not experiencing the spiritual life the Father intended for us. It is a decision that we have to make for ourselves. Once we choose to die to ourselves, it is a commitment that we will continue to make throughout our lives.

John 12:25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

We are the seeds of the Father; He is the one who does the sowing. He plants us wherever He desires. Consider the story involving an isolated mission station. A group of outsiders decided to visit and speak with the missionaries living there. The dialogue ensued as follows:

“You certainly have buried yourself out here!” one of the visitors exclaimed.

“We haven’t buried ourselves,” the missionary replied. “We were planted!” (Wiersbe)

But there’s more. Only when we choose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ do we become the Father’s servants and Christ’s disciples.

John 12:26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

The statement “I serve at the pleasure of the President” has been used since the 1700s. When somebody uses the phrase, it means, “I will continue to serve as long as the president wants me to.” It’s an official way to explain that the President is one’s direct boss, and only the President has the authority to remove that person from their post …and no one else. That person will continue to serve as long as the president wants them to.

The term “the pleasure of (someone),” as defined by Webster, implies that “an action is or can be performed because someone desires it.” The statement “I serve at the pleasure of” was frequently used by individuals who were in service to kings and other royal authorities. Serving the King was considered a significant honor.

“The origin (of the phrase) is the Latin durante bene placito regis, which translates as ‘during the pleasure of the king’” (William Safire).

Being children of the King bestows upon us the great honor and privilege of serving at the pleasure of the King of Kings. What a high and great calling to be a servant of the King. Yet the Father has called us to be just that.

How do we maximize our existence in this life? How do we achieve the most in this life? The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are explicit: it is done by living sacrificially, dying to ourselves, and surrendering our own desires instead of living for our own interests. Putting it another way, a life focused on self is a squandered life. Any benefits derived from a self-centered lifestyle are ephemeral and transitory. What we do in His service has everlasting consequences.

If we lead a Father-centered life, we acquire eternal significance and value. The Father will honor anyone who serves the Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:26). “People whose priorities are right have such an attitude of love for the things of God that all interest in the affairs of this life appears by comparison as hatred” (Constable).

“Of itself, a seed is weak and useless, but when it is planted, it ‘dies’ and becomes fruitful. There is both beauty and bounty when a seed ‘dies’ and fulfills its purpose. If a seed could talk, it would no doubt complain about being put into the cold, dark earth. But the only way it can achieve its goal is by being planted.”

“God’s children are like seeds. They are small and insignificant, but they have life in them, God’s life. However, that life can never be fulfilled unless we yield ourselves to God and permit Him to ‘plant us.’ We must die to self so that we may live unto God (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20). The only way to have a fruitful life is to follow Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection.”

“In these words, Jesus challenges us today to surrender our lives to Him. Note the contrasts: loneliness or fruitfulness; losing your life or keeping your life; serving self or serving Christ; pleasing self or receiving God’s honor” (Wiersbe).

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

“Death is the way to life” (BKC).

What a great honor and privilege to be able to say, “I serve at the pleasure of my King, the King of kings.”

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 12-04-1

© Dr. H 2024

God acts on behalf of those who wait ∙∙

God acts on behalf of those who wait ∙∙

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down. – Isaiah 64:1

Psalms 18:1-13

 1 He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: I love you, LORD; you are my strength.

 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

 3 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.

 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

 6 But in my distress, I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

 7 Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.

 13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.                                                                                                                                                                            

The Battle of the Alamo was a 13-day siege that met its tragic end on March 6, 1836, with the majority of the defenders being slaughtered by General Santa Anna’s forces. Throughout the siege, the commander, William B. Travis, sent numerous letters seeking additional men and resources, but less than 100 reinforcements arrived.

Faced with the overwhelming Mexican army, General Sam Houston decided against rushing to their aid with his inadequately trained troops. Instead, he initiated a series of tactical retreats to buy time to get his soldiers ready for battle.

Houston’s strategic withdrawals were met with resentment by his officers and soldiers, who criticized him for not being eager to fight the Mexicans. His insistence on proper military training was also met with resistance. His officers and troops were infuriated. However, after nearly a month of tactical pullbacks, the moment to act had arrived. The waiting was over. Houston commanded his men to confront Santa Anna’s forces at his chosen location.

On April 21, 1836, the forces under Houston initiated an attack, which resulted in a resounding defeat for the Mexican troops. Santa Anna was taken prisoner and forced into signing a treaty that recognized the independence of Texas.

For the Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became a symbol of heroic resistance, and their rallying cry became “Remember the Alamo!” Hence, the Lone Star Republic was born. Sam Houston emerged as a revered hero, with Texas bestowing numerous honors upon him, including having a city named after him – Houston, Texas.

Many children of the King become disheartened when their Father does not respond according to their expected timeline. Some even struggle to believe that the Father would wish to aid them.

Sadly, skepticism and doubt are an inherent part of the DNA of all fallen beings, including children of the King. When the Father does not act, we simply lose faith. How can we believe in a God who does not ever seem to do anything? We all face this gut-wrenching question at one time or another. We find ourselves caught in the midst of national and international upheaval. Everything is in a state of constant flux. There is no end in sight, and things seem to be getting worse. On top of that, we carry our own heartbreak. We long for the Father to intervene and take action.

The Jewish nation has endured such experiences on numerous occasions. Judah was devastated by the Babylonians, who reduced Jerusalem to ruins. The prophet Isaiah didn’t shy away from expressing their deep-seated doubts.

Isaiah 63:11-15

 11 Then they remembered those days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They cried out, “Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people?

 12 Where is the one whose power was displayed when Moses lifted up his hand – the one who divided the sea before them, making himself famous forever?

 13 Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea? They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling.

 14 As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led your people, LORD, and gained a magnificent reputation.”

 15 LORD, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now?

Did Isaiah pull away because of doubt? Absolutely not. Isaiah drew closer to the Father than ever. He boldly prayed to the Father, seeking His help and guidance.

Isaiah 64:1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.

The difficulties we face, and the subsequent doubts we experience are actually remarkable gifts from the Father. They expose our lack of faith and our immense need to strengthen our bond with the Father. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us.

James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

REFLECT & PRAY

Sadly, we often cannot imagine how God will act on our behalf. Yet He does exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. We can confidently expect Him to act when we wait for Him in faith (Stanley).

Father, how often do I pretend I can successfully manage my life independently? But the truth is, I can’t. I am in desperate need of You. Rend the heavens and come down.

INSIGHT

In the bizarre atmosphere of the 21st-century pandemic and post-pandemic fears, lockdowns, and ambivalence regarding vaccination, it seems far easier to lose our temper and our good sense and fall into fear and doubt. From the Father’s perspective, we are simply in a waiting room where hard lessons are taught and hopefully assimilated. Perspective transformation, patience, and hope are among the results.

Why does the Father so often ask us to wait? Waiting has many wonderful outcomes.

1. We discover His plan and purpose.

2. We receive supernatural physical energy and strength. Impatience drains us and wears us down. Actively waiting on Him energizes us. Waiting on Him is never wasted time!

3. We win battles. We overcome when we do things in His way and in His time. We are kept from foolish and precipitous acts.

4. We see our faith substantiated and realized. We are never put to shame or embarrassed by waiting on Him (Isaiah 49:23).

5. We see God working on our behalf. The Father works for those who wait for Him (Isaiah 64:4) (Stanley).

Although we are the children of the king, due to our fallen DNA, waiting is one of the most challenging things for us to do. Yet, waiting is not time wasted. The Father uses these times to sift our motives and strengthen our faith. When we choose to wait, the Father produces benefits that often are quite unexpected (Stanley).

Isaiah 49:23 Those who wait for me will never be put to shame.

The Father is our great hero; He also has a city named after Him: The City of God.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-28-1

© Dr. H 2024

Out of tragedy ∙∙

Out of tragedy ∙∙

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. – Romans 4:20

1 Samuel 30:1-6

 1 David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground.

 2 They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.

 3 When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families,

 4 they wept until they could weep no more.

 6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Our world is often filled with sorrow and disappointment. Sometimes, these hardships feel distant, affecting those we don’t personally know. However, at other times, they are very close and personal. Over the past few years, our world and nation have been battered by natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Recently, planet Earth has been stricken with global riots and a deadly, devastating global pandemic. The damage and loss of life are horrendous.

“If you want God’s best in your life and you want to make your life count, then you can expect to travel the road of adversity. It’s always there. And it’s amazing how somehow God uses adversities in our life to shape us, to make us fit, and to equip us to do the things that He desires to do in us and through us in life. And when you think about what adversity is, adversity is those ‘dark moments’ in our life” (Stanley).

The Father uses these challenging times and periods of darkness to grow and mature. Outer turbulence and its consequent inner turmoil are the raw materials from which strength of character and inner resolve are birthed and developed: from crisis comes courage, from tragedy, trust, from failure, faith, and from loss of leadership.

The dark moments are those times that may last for days, weeks, months, even years when “We feel depressed, anxious, fearful, thoughtless, sinful, you name it. All those things a person goes through” (Stanley).

These “dark moments” are inevitable. We cannot run, and we cannot hide. The question we must continually answer for ourselves is, how will we respond to them? It is so easy to become discouraged because of our difficulties and hardships. The road to anger, bitterness, and depression is short. But there is another path.

1 Samuel 30:6 David drew strength from the LORD his God.

Instead of wallowing in despair, David turns to the Father. He sought solace in the Father through prayer and worship. This character quality marked David’s entire life and made him a man of faith and a great leader. The Father honed David’s leadership skills and groomed him for the throne. David abandoned his own poor, faulty, and limited perspective. He had mastered the art of viewing things from the Father’s perspective. Even amid the “dark moments” that the Father introduced into his life, David had learned to see the end.

REFLECT & PRAY

Isaiah 46:9-10

 9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.

 10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.

Father help me exchange my paltry and insufficient perspective for Yours. You see the end from the beginning and are always at work to accomplish Your will on Earth as it is in heaven.

INSIGHT

In this world, adversity, hardship, trouble, and times of darkness are unavoidable.

Job 5:7 For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.

While many people allow adversity to morph into insurmountable challenges and setbacks, remarkably, others stand firm with confidence in the faithfulness of the Father. The latter has an overwhelming sense of stability and immovable strength. They weather the storm, head held high, confident, bold, not repressing anything. They feel certain their Father will see them through the heartache and bring them out whole, joyful, and more mature on the other side (Stanley).

Where is the Father when we are in the midst of adversity? Can we trust Him when He says He will never leave us or forsake us?

The Father is always with us in our adversity. Adversity is the barometer He uses to reveal to us our current level of faith and trust. However, He doesn’t leave us in these challenging times. As we learn to respond appropriately and withstand the “dark moments,” the Father cultivates our faith and trust.

The pivotal question for each of us is, do we genuinely want to worship the Father and bring glory and honor to Him? Our adversities mold our godly spiritual character. Adversity shouldn’t be seen as a sign of failure but rather as proof of an ongoing transformation. We are “a work in progress.” To be fully prepared for service, the children of the King must experience and endure heartache, disappointment, and pain. He uses these “dark times” to shape and refine us.

The Father has a specific plan for each child of the King as He shapes us and conforms us into the image of Lord Jesus Christ. He permits adversity only for as long as it serves its purpose. Once its role is fulfilled, He removes it (Stanley).

Hardship and sorrow are like a gas-powered lawnmower. Eventually, the lawnmower runs out of gas and ceases to run.

“The dark moments of our life last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose. So, there is a limitation on them. There is a purpose for them. There’s a very specific purpose. They last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose” (Stanley).

This often leaves us pondering numerous questions. “What is my purpose?” “What is His plan for my life?” Do not be surprised if the Father does not tell you. What He wants from you is your trust.

Remember, He alone is God, and there is none like him. Everything He plans will come to pass, for He can do whatever He wishes (Isaiah 46:9-10).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-27-1

© Dr. H 2024

Do you feel bad about yourself? ∙∙

Do you feel bad about yourself? ∙∙

No one does good, not a single one. – Romans 3:12 

Romans 3:23-25 

 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark” (Michelangelo).

We often find ourselves wondering what other people think about us. We are naturally afraid that we will not measure up to some real or imagined standards of others.

Do you feel bad about yourself? The Father has a simple solution for this. Instead of comparing ourselves to the standards set by others, or even our own, we should align ourselves with His. When we recognize how far short we fall, we feel far worse with an even more profound sense of inadequacy!

There’s a significant difference between feeling somewhat bad about oneself and feeling absolutely bad about oneself. When you feel relatively bad, there’s room for self-improvement and enhancement of your condition. But when you feel terrible about yourself, then there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. This lays the foundation for a triumphal resolution.

Paul pushes the boundary and logically takes us to a grim conclusion. Paul does not say that we were merely sinful, depraved, or sick before we became children of the King. Instead, he says that we were dead.

Ephesians 2:1 You were dead in your trespasses and sins.

When we evaluate ourselves against the Father’s standards, we fall short. We are inadequate. There’s no ambiguity about where we stand. We see reality for what it is. We accept and confess that we are dismal failures. We stand condemned. There is nothing we can do to improve our condition.

As condemned individuals, we desperately need the Father’s love, mercy, and grace. Paul reminds us we were not on a friendly basis and making vast improvements when the Father intervened. Instead, we were the Father’s enemies and thoroughly alienated from Him. In response to our dismal condition, He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die for us. He intervened to resolve the worst part of our darkened and human condition. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ brought about reconciliation. He removed the barriers between us and the Father.

Romans 5:10 While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.

The Father provided a significant paradigm shift for all of His children. We stood helpless, completely, and totally in the wrong and condemned. He unilaterally declared us to be righteous. And so we are! We are now enveloped in the righteousness of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 for God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Romans 3:24 God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

REFLECT & PRAY

You don’t drown by falling into water. You only drown if you stay there (Zig Ziglar).

Father thank You for lifting me out of the miry pit and placing me on solid ground.

INSIGHT

Imagine you are walking in rather swampy woods. Suddenly, you find yourself a couple of steps into quicksand and rapidly sink up to your neck. First, you must find a way out of the terrifying and deadly mess you find yourself in. Second, you have to get cleaned up. All the muck and mire covering you from the neck down has to be removed.

That is precisely what the Father has done! He has freed us from the miry pit, the ugly mess we made of our lives. Then He made us thoroughly clean as if it had never happened. We are no longer sullied. All the stains and blemishes have been wiped away.

In a way, we faced trial and were declared guilty. We stood condemned. But the Father did something extraordinary. We have been given a brand-new legal standing. Through faith in Christ, we have been justified and declared righteous by the Father, once and for all. The result is that the children of the King no longer live under the fear of judgment or the wrath of God. Remarkably, we have peace with God. This peace is not merely a subjective feeling but an objective reality (ESV notes).

While the enemy focuses on the old mess we used to be and rubs our noses in it, the Father concentrates on our redemption and cleansed lives. He provides affirmation and encouragement to every child of the King.

This provides us with an unexpected yet delightful opportunity. We can either continue to dwell on and remember the dark failures of our past, or we can focus on the pure, righteous redemption He has wrought.

Darkness or light, death or life, condemnation or acceptance – the choice is ours.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 1-30-1

© Dr. H 2024