It was my observation while reading the book of Exodus – The one true living God said — “You have seen what I did when you were captives of the Egyptians, I placed you on the wing of an Eagle and brought you unto myself.” (paraphrased from Exodus 19:4) Continue reading “Rescued on a Wing”
Tag: Matthew
Angelic Protection
It was my observation while reading 2 Kings that angels are part of our story. Please look at 2 Kings 6:9-17, the angels in this story remind us that God’s servants are invisibly at work among us. Notice that Elisha prays his servant’s eyes be opened to see the rest of the story. “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” What a powerful moment — God is always at work among us, His angels are always close by, even when we do not see it. Continue reading “Angelic Protection”
Angels all Around Us
Pepper asked me a few weeks ago – “What exactly is an Angel?” I did not have much of an answer. So, a few days ago I scribbled the word Angel on a blank page and started learning afresh. Here is a portion of what tumbled out of scripture. There will be more from me in other missives soon to be written on this topic. Continue reading “Angels all Around Us”
God is Self Sufficient
It has been my observation while reading Psalms 50 that God is fully self-sufficient. He says – “I know every bird in the mountains, the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in the world” (Psalms 50:11-12). In this single observation a core truth of God quietly appears. Asaph is telling us that God is self-sufficient (self-contained, stand-alone, all-encompassing). The one true living God is contained within himself. All life is in God and from God, whether we are discussing the lowly simple prokaryotes, the light from the sun, or intelligent life force of an angel, everything emanates from God. This life that God has, was not given to him, it was not a gift to him, he did not take it from something else, it simply exists in Him always – period. If there was another being that granted the gift of life to the one true living God, or any other gift, then the other being that granted the gift to God would be superior to the one true living God. Our God would not be whom we think he is. Continue reading “God is Self Sufficient”
Do It Now Oswald Chambers
Settle matters quickly with your adversary. — Matthew 5:25
Jesus Christ is laying down a principle: we must do what we know we should, and we must do it quickly. If we don’t, an inevitable process will begin to unfold, and before it is over we will have paid all we have in agony and distress: “Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny” (Matthew 5:26). God’s laws are unalterable. We cannot escape them.
This teaching of Jesus speaks directly to human nature. Naturally I want my adversary to give me what is rightfully mine. But from my Lord’s standpoint, it doesn’t matter if someone takes advantage of me. What matters is that I do not take advantage of someone else. What matters is that I pay what I owe. It is a question of eternal and imperative importance to my soul. Am I insisting on my own rights, or am I looking at things from Jesus Christ’s viewpoint and paying what I owe?
Bring yourself to judgment now on anything unsettled in your life. Our insistence in proving that we are right is nearly always a sign that we’ve been disobedient. As long as you are disobeying any point of God’s teaching, he won’t prevent his Spirit from working on you, putting you through the inevitable process. No wonder Scripture urges us so strongly to keep in the light as he is in the light (1 John 1:7). God is determined to have his children as pure and clean as new-fallen snow (Isaiah 1:18).
Have you suddenly turned a corner in one of your relationships and discovered anger in your heart? Confess it quickly. Put it right before God quickly. Be reconciled with that person. Do it now.
Job 17-19; Acts 10:1-23
Angelic Comfort
It was my observation when collecting intel on Angelic Operations that a singular impact of their effort appears often – comfort. God reigns in heaven surrounded by a heavenly host of angels. In 1 Kings we read – I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him (1 Kings 22:19). Angels are always looking after us. Moses says — Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared (Exodus 23:20). They clear the path for our progress so we can serve God unfettered by troubles.
Angels are messengers of God; they reinforce his active presence in our world, they add credence to God’s justice, love, comfort, and protection. God’s love is revealed as angels announce the ministry of grace conducted by Jesus. Angels announced the birth of Ishmael (see Genesis 16:11) and Samson (see Judges 13:3-5). Angels announced the birth of John the Baptist (see Luke 1:19), the birth of Jesus (see Luke 1:26), and Jesus’ resurrection (see Matthew 28:5). David says — The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them (Psalms 34:7). This is comfort. Continue reading “Angelic Comfort”
I Am Redeemed
It has been my observation that Paul presents a clear, unmistakable path for restoration with God in Romans. In Romans 10:9-10 he defined the restoration in simple unambiguous terms. God assures an amazing outcome for every scared timid soul who approaches the one true living God with their head hung in submission, seeking forgiveness. Our redeemer clears the path, we are forgiven. Then, in parallel, the Holy Spirit helps us to slowly assimilate the message until our heart is flooded with a brilliant light that only God can make. In this essay, I want to examine this remarkable path.
Continue reading “I Am Redeemed”
Shalom Talk 