WHAT'S WRONG HERE!

The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure!

Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17.10

From within, out of the heart come evil thoughts...;

evils come from within

and make a man unclean.

Mark 7.20-23

Seventy-five years ago, our world was facing chaos and disaster again.

An English paper invited readers to send their answer to this question:

“What's wrong with the world?”

The friend and mentor of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, wrote back,

“I am.”

MacDonald took Jeremiah and Jesus seriously!

“I am?”

Seriously?

Me?

Were Jesus and Jeremiah talking about me?

Seriously, now? Are you really serious?

Me.

Deceitful...beyond cure...evil...unclean?

Me?

Yes, Me.

And you, too.

Me, you, and currently a few more than

7,000,000,000 of us.

All of us—

Seriously...!

Do you think we might find someone among these billions

who is not a little short on perfection?

How does this short-coming come about?

Our Bible tells us that Adam fell short of the good things God gave him.

Goodness was, is, and always will be what God gives us.

Goodness is in all our minds today.

But today our goodness is seriously mixed up with these short-comings:

Deceitful...beyond cure...evil...unclean.

With me.

And you.

And the other more than 6, 999,999,998 of us.

All of us fall woefully short of God's good intentions.

So let's change the question:

HOW CAN THE WORLD BECOME RIGHT?

FOUR STEPS:

1. Believe that God will help you and me as we earnestly and honestly seek Him about this matter.
   He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
   (Jeremiah 17.10; Hebrews 11.6)
2. Pray. Ask God:
   “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my (evil) thoughts.
   See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.”
   Psalm 139.23-24

3. Seek and follow the correcting and redirecting leadership of Jesus Christ:
   The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure;
   then peace-loving...

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
James 3.17-18

4.  The difference Christ makes in our life will enable us to make a difference in the lives of those we know and meet.

HOW SIN AND SINNERS

TROUBLE US

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in the way of the wicked,

or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers.

Psalm 1.1

“WICKED” “SINNERS” “MOCKERS”

Really?

Do we really think of our family and friends with these names?

Aren't these names reserved for the bad people out there somewhere?

??? “WICKED” “SINNERS” “MOCKERS” ???

When we think and speak of others with these words, what are we really saying about them?

More importantly,

when God uses these words to describe people,

the human race,

you and me,

what is He saying to and about us?

If we are seriously interested in what God is saying about us, in any or each or every word He uses, we can easily do so online at this website:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.cfm

Here we would find “Wicked” defined as “trouble,” “troubled,” “troubling,” as in Isaiah 57. 20. 20-21: “The 'wicked' are like the troubled sea...”

“Sinners” are defined as those who “miss the mark,” (and so "mistaken," "misunderstood," “coming up short,” etc.) as in Judges 20.16: “seven hundred select troops...who could sling a stone at a hair and “not miss.”

"Mockers" are seen as those who say critical, condemning, blaming, shaming, cruel things...etc., about one another, as in Pro. 9.8: “...a mocker...will hate you...” and Pro. 14.9: “Fools mock at making amends for sin...”

If we are around troubled, mistaken mockers, we may very well be seriously affected by these people.

Worse, we will become like them in reaction. Just as a smile brings forth smiles, and a frown brings forth frowns, trouble causes trouble, misunderstanding causes misunderstandings, mocking...mockings.

It is the effects of these people on us that Psalm 1.1 is addressing.

It is these effects that Jesus has in mind when He says, “From within, out of the heart of men, come 'evil' thoughts....”  Mark 7.20.

“Evil” here is the internal problems caused by the effects Psalm 1.1 that Jesus is addressing.

It is from these very destructive forces within us that Jesus came to save us:

Jesus came

“to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,

and enable us to serve him without fear

in holiness and righteousness

before him all our days.”

Luke 1:74-75

The Gospel of such a salvation

is the reason

for such a season.

ALL THE KING'S MEN

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord;

He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.

Proverbs 21.1

Here are some very helpful directions from our Lord for loving one another:

___DO_________DON'T_______

Be Patient                     Envy

Be Kind                         Boast

Rejoice with Truth        Delight in Evil  
Protect                          Be Proud

Trust                             Be Rude
Hope                             Be selfish
Persevere                      Be easily-angered
Never Fail                    Keep records of wrong
            Love never fails.

The King of Kings, the Creator and Ruler of the eternal Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, wants to direct our hearts in these ways.

He rules with righteousness, justice, and goodness, and will guide and direct those who trust and obey Him.

He who so rules the Universe wants us to trust and obey Him

The eyes of the Lord are on those...

whose hope is in His unfailing love...

Psalm 33.18

Jesus tells us to pray,

“Our Father in Heaven...Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

And Jesus tells us what that will is::

Love God with all your hearts and your neighbor as yourself.

The Love of 1 Corinthians 13.4-7 never fails.

QUALITIES OF THE KING

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;

he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Proverbs 21.1

(God) has made us to be kings and priests to serve his God and Father--

to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Rev. 1.6; Rev. 5.10

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,

but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14.17

You and I represent the King of Kings, the Creator and Ruler of the eternal Universe.

The Bible tells us hundreds of times what God wants of us.

Here are six qualities God wants from those He “puts in charge” to be kings in His eternal kingdom (given in Proverbs 16.10-15):

“An “oracle'”--one who gives good counsel for decisions, choices, good judgments

“Honesty” A--in business dealings and work relationships and responsibilities

“Honesty” B—with all others in any and every relationships

“Righteousness”--Attitude of humility, submission, and faith; willingness to do what is right in any and all responsibilities and relationships

“Truth”--What is true as opposed to lies, deceptions, manipulations, avoidances, half-truths, etc.

“Wrath”--Reaction to wrong, with purpose of bringing about repentance.

“Brightening of face”--response of approval, affirmation, encouragement, strengthening what is good and right


*βασιλεία--occurs 162 times in New Testament, with the following definitions given.
1a) the right or authority to rule over a kingdom
1b) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom

2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king

3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah

*(Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for basileia (Strong's 932)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 10 Nov 2011. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=G932 & gt;)

SO...WHO CARES?

Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath,

the synagogue ruler said to the people,

"There are six days for work. 

So come and be healed on those days,

not on the Sabbath."

Luke 13.13-17

This is a "Can you believe this!"  attitude and reaction!

A crippled woman healed after eighteen years of suffering!!!

Who would care about the day or place!?

The woman was healed and people were delighted and amazed.

Except for the synagogue ruler.

This "ruler" condemned the work and the Worker!

A woman crippled for eighteen years, bent over and not able to straighten up at all.

Could she have been so bad that the ruler was justified in using his rule to exclude her from restoration to life?

Did people avoid her?  Was she a nuisance to them? 

Was she ugly?  Was she poor?  Unintelligent?

Objectionable in any way at all?

What was this ruler thinking?

Had he ever seen anyone healed from anything in all his life?

Had he ever considered what this was like for for her?  

For eighteen years!

Had he any idea what she must have "felt" all these years? 

More:  Did he ever

Care for the heart, soul, mind, and body of this woman?

Care about anything about anyone?

Care enough to talk to people crippled in heart, soul, mind, and body?

Care how others were suffering?

Care about others as himself?

Care about anything that God cared about?

Care about God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength?

But....for me--

Do I

See the crippled people all around me?

Hear the cry of their heart?

Feel the pain of their body?

Care about their body, soul, or spirit?

Do I look when Jesus says, "Look at the fields--they are ripe for harvest." 

Do I see the people who are "Like sheep without a shepherd"?

Do I see any who are troubled, helpless, hopeless, burdened, weary, and......

Did not Jesus heal this woman, rebuke this hypocrit, and have Luke record the occasion for me to read. 

Should I not care about this woman in her grief?

And then rejoice as I see Jesus' healing her body and soul?

Should I not realize that Jesus shows me this story because He wants me

to care about sheep without shepherds around me?

Does He not want me to speak and touch these broken, helpless, and hopeless people?

And touch their body, soul, and spirit?

With the same healing He gave her?

With compassion, mercy, goodness, and grace He gives me for them?

Do I not need to spend more time with Jesus and with others?

Listening to Him and others?

Learning from Him and about others?

Do I not need to ask Jesus to let me love others like He loves them?

If I do not,

                      Am I not in danger of hearing from Him one day,

"You hypocrit!"

THE EPISTLE OF FIRST JOHN

...That you also may have fellowship with us and...

with the Father and with His Son, JEsus Christ.

1 John 1.3

This "epistle" (no, not the wife of an apostle) is a letter of instruction and revelation of the way the Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to our hearts. 

It is only 0.33% of the entire Bible.  Its four pages make up less than 1/2 of 1%.  But its message from the life experience of the Apostle John is a summary of the life our Lord is imparting to us at this very moment.

John says the battle for our souls takes place in five areas:

Purity v. Sin

Light vs. Darkness

Truth vs. Lie

Life vs. Death

Love vs. Hate

First is Purity vs. Sin.  Sin is our "default" state, our natural condition, which limits and distorts every thought, word, experience, idea....everything about us and around us.  Sin is like the distorted mirrors of the circus side show, except the distortion is in us as well as around us.

Purifying our soul corrects the distortions of unbelief, pride, selfishness, anger,fear, and much more that create deadly thoughts and motives within us.  Purifying our soul also and lets us see clearly and truly the evils and lies that make us the "ways of the world" of Satan that was at the heart of the great temptations Jesus faced at the beginning of His ministry.  There being no sin within Him, He more effectively resisted the lies of the Enemy.  In His resurrection power and glory, He now works to cleanse and correct all this within us, in preparation for our place in the coming ages of His kingdom.

Second, John presents Light vs. Darkenss as the battle field of Purity and Sin.  The Holy Spirit brings Light to expose Darkness.  This Light reveals the beauty, love, joy,, and peace that come from Purity.  As the Light drives our Darkness and Purity replaces Sin, the battle within us is resoved and Peace fills our soul instead of warfare.  With Peace there is Joy and Thanksgiving.  Love will soon be released.

Third, Light comes to us in the form of Truth vs. Lie.  Here is the great source of freedom from the blindness of Darkness that is maintained by Lies.  Here is the area of change tthat sets us free from Sin.  

Fourth, by Truth "the Law of the Spirit of Life sets us free from the law of sin and Death.  This law of Life renews our minds and we are brought into the experiences of the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.  The Lies of the Devil, who has been a Liar from the beginning, are destroyed as the Truth makes us free. 

Fifth, by maintaining the disciplines of discipleship, Purity, Light, Truth, and Life replace Sin, Darkness, Lies, and Death.  We are set free from all the forces that create Hate and its evils.  The Holy Spirit fills our heart to overflowing with with the Love of God. 

Then we love one another with the love wherewith God loves us.  We fulfill the command of Christ to love one another. 

We fulfill the Great Commandment as we love God with gratitude, praise, worship, and honor with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  

We fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples of every nation, tribe, people and language as we are sent forth with this Love of Christ as the Father sent Him to and for us. 

We passionaltely teach these new disciples to obey these commands of Christ and live in Fellowship with Him, the Fatehr, and one another.

PETER'S LAST WORDS

So then, dear friends,
since you are looking forward to this,

make every effort

to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. 

Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation,

 just our dear brother Paul also wrote you
with the wisdom that God gave him.... 

,,,be on your guard so that you may not be carried away

by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To Him be glory both now and forever.  Amen.

2 Peter 3.14-18

Both 1 and 2 Peter have a special urgency about knowing and realizing truth about Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

2 Peter is almost totally devoted to this urgency.

Here is a list of at least some of Peter's phrases--

1.5--make every effort

       add to faith--(a list of additions are given in verses 5-7)

1.8--possess...in increasing measure

1.10--be all the more eager

          do these things

1.15--Remember these

1.19--Pay attentionto "the word of the prophets"

1.2-21--understand inspiration of Scripture

Chapter 2 is entirely devoted to warnings about dangers and consequences of false teachers.

3.1--Reminders to stimulate wholesome thinking

3.2--Recall writings of the Prophets and Apostles

3.3--Understand

3.8--Do not forget

3.11-13--Live looking forward

3.14--Look forward

          Make every effort

3.15--Bear in mind

3.18--Grow!

The best way for me to do this is by "journaling"--writing my thoughts about every word as I read.  I read, think, meditate, and pray my way through my readings and their applications to what is happening in my life day by day.  Writing helps me put into words what I am presently learning and understanding from the Scriptures about my life--motives, thoughts, emotions, words, actions.  The writing focuses my attention, clarifies my understanding, furthers the Spirit's work of holiness and righteousness.  I am able to speak much more clearly about the verse and its meanings for me.

This concentrated thinking and meditation on the words of the Prophets and Apostles and the Lord Jesush helps me see, embrace, and welcome the holiness and righteousness the Holy Spirit directs me to.  The result is immediate love, joy, peace, strength, encouragement, and comfort that it brings to me and enables me to give to others. And many more...

...set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...with all wisdom...

Those who live in accordance with the Spirit

have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. 

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Go and make disciples..

teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

And surely I am with you always....

Col 3.1,2, 16; Romans 8.5; John 8.31,32; Matthew 28.19-20



VICTORY IN PRAYER

"Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me."

Psalm 35.1

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other

so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James 5.16

David, the man after God's own heart, records in Psalm 35 one example of how he prayed so powerfully, effectively, and victoriously. 

There are four parts.

First, vv.1-3, David asks directly for help--"contend with me," "fight," "come to my aid," "Say to my soul..."  This prayerful meditation lets David see his enemy defeated in many different ways.  The Holy Spirit increases his confidence, courage, and faith in God's granting a victorious defeat of his enemies. 

Second, vv.10, David  again uses repetition and different ways of seeing the enemy 's defeat and his own deliverance--"be disgraced...put to shame...be turned back...in dismay...be like chaff before the wind..." and other ways of victory by God's power. 

The result of these visions create the realization and anticipation of victory with joy, proclamation, and ministry to strengthen, encourage, and comfort others who are in any trouble.  (1 Cor. 14.3; 2 Cor. 1.3-4)

Third, vv.11-18, David takes stock of how the enemy has effected him--ruthlessly, evil, forlorn, unappreciated, mournful.... Seeing more clearly what has happened leads to a more insightful prayer for victory, v. 17: "Rescue my life from these ravages,...these lions."  Faith, praise, and thanksgiving increase--v.18.

Fourth, vv. 19-26 describes an end, a full victory over, the power this enemy.

In conclusion, vv. 27-28 look forward to celebrating great and mighty things God that has worked into his life as he prayed his way through and out of painful and difficult tribulations.

He said (says) to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more glady about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardship, in persecution, in difficulties. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

2 Corinthians 12.9-10



DAILY  WISDOM  AND  POWER

I have taught you decrees and laws....Follow them....

This will show your wisdom and understanding....

Our God is near us whenever we pray...

Be careful...Watch yourselves closely....Do not forget...Teach them.....

Deuteronomy 4:5-9

Moses' last admonitions to the Israelites have great value to us.  As for Israel, we must keep focused on the will and work of God.  The setting is, of course, 3500 years ago, but the benefits of the purpose of God--to make the people faithful for holiness and righteousness--is the same purpose as for us today.

The purpose is holiness and righteousness for God's eternal kingdom.

The plan is to follow the Scriptures.

The promise is that our God, the Holy Spirit, will be with us as we prayerfully seek His wisdom and power.

These admonitions and promises are repeated over and over, scattered throughout Moses' reviews of the laws and decrees God had given them.

Today, we have the entire revelation of God, Genesis through Revelation.  We are to read, review, and meditate on these words daily, memorizing as the Holy Spirit gives us special revelation and application to our livesfor our hearts, motives, thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.

 One more time, in the last few moments of his life, Moses admonished them,

"Take to heart all the words

I have solemnly declared to you this day...

By them you will live...."

Deut. 32-46--

Today we have the words of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Apostles.  We must take these words to heart, mind, soul, and body, that we may be sanctified body, soul, and spirit, and thereby be qualified for a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus.



The Father said, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him."

Jesus said,  "My words are life, and in them you will find life."

Paul said,  "In reading this you will understand...God's grace in all its truth."

Peter said, "Grace and peace...through very great and precious promises...make every effort...be all the more eager...if you do theses things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."  2 Peter 1.2-11

Surely we will heed the words of Hebrews--

We must pay careful attention to what we have heard...

Holy brothers, fix your thoughts on Jesus...

"Be careful that none of you...fall short...

Hebrews 2.1; 3.1; 4. 1-2

"Today is the day...for DAILY WISDOM AND POWER."





OBEY MY COMMANDS

Moses--trained for 40 years, retrained for 40 years, a trainer of God's people for 40 years--uses his last few days to review and emphasize the life the LORD gave him to give to the Israelites.

In Deuteronomy Moses reviews the Greatness, Goodness, Grace, and Glory that he had experienced in his long lifetime.  It is a review for the benefit of God's people.

Chapters 1-3 review the experiences of the victories and failures of the people along with God's Gracious Patience, Mercy, and Goodness, His frequent appearnances in Glory, and the Greatness of His miracles in their behalf.

In chapter 4, we read of the strong, strong emphasis of Moses' message that we listen and obey the Law he was giving them.  This insistance on obedience is repeated over and over.

Let's listen with our minds and hearts for a few opening lines:

V 1--"Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you.

Follow them so that you may live...

(the life) that the Lord...is giving you."

The Father said,

"This is My Beloved Son. 

Listen to Him." 

V. 2--Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it,

but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.

Jesus said,

"This is My commandment...

Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.

He who loves Me will be loved by My Father,

and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."

Vv. 5-8--I have taught you decress and laws

as the Lord my God commanded me,

so that you may follow them in the land you are entering...

Paul said,

"In reading this you will be able to understand my insight..."

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses

entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

Observe them carefully,

for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations...

Paul:
"Study...a workman...who correctly handles the word of truth."

Set your hearts...and minds...

The Lord our God is near us whenever we pray...

Jesus said,

"Ask, and you will receive...Whatever you ask in My Name."

...so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws

as the body of laws I am setting before you today...

Jesus said,

Make disciples...

teach them to obey everything I have commanded you...

I am with you always...

Deuternomy has a lot of "maintenance laws" for the Israelites.  Often perplexing to us, these many details show serve to show us how God's directions for living are.  Jesus said every word maters, and Paul said every thought must be brought into obedience to Jesus.  These "old laws" help us consider how important it is that we meditate on the laws in the entire Bible--Genesis to Revelation.  Finding and obeying results in our becoming like an oak displaying the splendor of our God.

God's Word--His laws, decrees, commandments, etc.--are empowered by the Holy Spirit to develop holiness and righteousness, character and conduct, integrity and credibility that

"will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations,

who will hear about all these decrees and say, '

Surely this great nation is

a wise and understanding people.'" 

Deut. 4.6

And so, we become the salt and light of the glory of God to this generation, chosen for us before the creation of heaven and earth.

And so, we will have many to disciple, baptize, and teach.

And so, there will be untold thousands upon thousands from every tribe and language and people and nation around the throne of the Lord Jesus proclaiming and singing in loud voices:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom

and strength and honor and glory and praise...

Then I heard every creature

in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea,

and all that is in them singing:

'To Him who sits on the throne

and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!'"

FOR EVER AND EVER!!!

CHOOSING WHAT IS BETTER

LIKE MARY

Mary has chosen what is better...

See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 

Therefore, if your whole body is full of light,

and no part of it dark,

it will be completely lighted...

Luke 10.41; 11.33-36

Mary chose to sit with Jesus and listen to Him talk and teach.  She learned things from Him, and she learned things about Him.  In choosing the "better"--the best!--Mary saw, not just a man, but the Son of Man. 

We too can listen to Him and see Him in His present glory through the simplicity of "abiding."  (Jesus will later tell His Disciples to "abide in/with Me." John 15. 1-17.)

Luke moves from Mary--Luke 1.38-42--to Jesus' teaching on prayer--11.1-11--as if to say, "To choose the better/best, we must pray."  Then Luke tells us what Jesus says about how to pray.

After giving us specific areas of prayer, Jesus uses a request for bread at midnight and a child's request for a fish to emphasize that prayer must be based on believing that our Father will always give and do good things to and for us.  

(Hebrews 11.5-6 says--He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

Romans 8.28-39 affirms--Our Father makes all things work out for our good.)

Luke shows how Jesus emphasized that we must choose these good things, as did Mary.   (11.14-26)

Then comes the point of all this report from Luke:  v.28--

"those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Vv. 29-32--Nineveh listened to Jonah.  The Queen listened to Solomon. 

Jesus is now speaking.

We, too, must listen to Jesus--

"See to it"--

now!

We must listen as Mary listened. 

To hear what Jesus said.

But also to see what she saw--

the Light of the Glory of the Father in the Son.

Mary saw a portion of the gloriousness of Jesus--

       the Messiah of the Prophets,  

       the Christ, 

       the Son of Man,

       the Son of God.

She heard His words and understood!

He was glorious. 

Mary saw Him.

Jesus said that if we see Him, we will see the Father in and through Him.

His prayer was for us to see and to know the only True God through knowing Himself--John 17.3; see also, 2 Cor. 4.6.

Peter's last words were his heart's desire for us to know Jesus--2 Peter 3.18.

As were John's--

These things have I written unto you

that you might fellowship with us,

 and truly our fellowship is with the Father

 and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1.1-3 

The glory of God comes to us as we listen to and read from, prayerfully and thoughtfully, the Words of God--Luke 11.28.  (Think about Ephesians 4.3.)

We see that glory as we look for it, prayerfully, thoughtfully, listening, reading the words God has written and kept for us.  As we look for and listen to our Father and Lord, we will see the glory of God.

See to it, then, that ...

your whole body is full of light,

and no part of it dark...

completely lighted.....

Luke 11.35, 36



MARY'S CHOICE

Martha was distracted by all the preparations...

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered,

"You are worried and upset about many things,

but only one thing is needed. 

Mary has chosen what is better,..."
Luke 10.38-42

It is very difficult not to be distracted, become worried, and then be upset about many things. 

It gets worse! 

We can save ourselves a lot of trouble by keeping first things first--listening to Jesus before we get around to anything else.

Listening to Jesus is the only thing we need to do.

When we get to the worried, upset place, listening to Jesus is what we can and must do if we want to get back on a peaceful and productive path with Jesus.

Time out.  Distaction on pause.  Time for Jesus.  Time with Jesus.  Calm down.  Peace.  Peaceful, Peaceable.  At peace with Jesus.  Other things will be taken care in their time. 

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you. 

Do not worry...(period)...

Pray and listen to Jesus.

As Mary listened to Jesus, Mary saw Jesus.  She realized something wonderful about Who Jesus Is. 

Listening to Jesus leads to understanding

 and realizing

something about Jesus.

Listening lets us understand what He is saying to us, but far more importantly, listening to Jesus opens the eyes of our heart to realize Who He Is. 

We see Him and His gloriousness fills our heart and we are transformed, as well as transfixed.

Now we can take of the other things with a song in our heart and on our lips.

(Matthew 17.1-8.  2 Corinthians 3.18; 4.6.  Romans 12.1-2.  Philippians 3.7-16.)

THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,

but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 13.3

The tongue is a fire,...

sets the whole course of one's life on fire...

James 3.6

May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart

be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19.14

The Psalm implies that the words of our mouth come from our heart.  Jesus confirms this in Mark 7:20-23--"it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come...malice, lewdness, slander..."

Proverbs 6. 16-19 tells us there are seven things that "God hates" and are "detestable to Him."  Three of these have to do with the tongue--lies twice, and "a person who stirs up conflict in the community."  A fourth is "a heart that deises wicked schemes."

The Proverbs have several dozen comments of the tongue, lips, words and mouth.

The Psalms are all about the heart that is the source of all we say, as well as do.

James 3.1-4.8 gives us guidelines for "taming the tongue."

3.1-8 tells us the power of the tongue, concluding, "No human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

3.9-12 gives us some examples of how important this is.

At 3.13 James gives us insight into how the tongue works and how God purifies our words by dealing with our heart.

Our prayer for our words and heart is Psalm 19.14 (Psalm 139.23-24 and all of Psalm 119 will help).  As we search Psalms and Proverbs for Scriptures, we will find "swords of the Spirit" (Heb. 4.12; Eph. 6.17) "attack" the bitter envy and selfish ambition, the fights and quarrels, the desires that battle within us, the coveting and wrong motives of selfish pleasures that James identifies for us.

Proverbs and Psalms, again, are key sources for "the word of God" that we need to resist "earthly, unspiritual, demonic" (James 3.15) words that come from "dark...spiritual forces of evil."  (Eph. 6.12)

This work will free us from our internal conflicts that show up in our conflicts with others.

MORE "WORDS OF MY MOUTH"

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.

Proverbs 14.8--

A gentle answer turns away wrath.

Proverbs 15.1--

Gracious words are...sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16.24

When we "put to death" the bitter envy and selfish ambition, the fights and quarrels, the desires that battle within us, the coveting and wrong motives of selfish pleasures that James identifies for us, we are ready to develop "the wisdom that comes from Heaven."   (James 3.17)

James tells us exactly what we need to work on.

He begins with the basics:  "...a good life, by deeds done in...humilty."

Then comes very specific details.

"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all

pure

then peace-loving,

considerate,

submissive,

full of mercy

and good fruit,

impartial,

sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3.17-18

This list from James is amplified in the Proverbs, again, by dozens of statements about the tongue, mouth, lips, and words.  The Proverbs are penetrating.  The tools we need to repair our words are found in the workshop of the Proverbs.

With prayers of the Psalms about our heart being pure and pleasing to our Lord, we will more and more desire the presence and the glory of God to fill our heart and words. 

Scripture will give truth fo insight into the motives and thoughts of the heart.

We will grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, loving our Father more and more, filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit our Comforter.

 to "attack."by the prayer of Psalm 19.14 (also 139.23-24, and all of Psalm 119) combined with searching Scriptures for a "sword of the Spirit" (Heb. 4.12; Eph. 6.17) to

THE CRAFTSMEN HAVE COME

"The craftsmen have come to terrify them

 and throw down these horns of the nations

who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah

to scatter its people."

Zechariah 1.21

Ephesians 2.1-3 describes our lives as being dead in transgressions and sins, following the ways to this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air.  Paul says all of us once lived to gratify the cravings of our selfish desires and thoughts, and that we were deserving of the wrath of God!"

But Paul also tells us of "weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds...that demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and takes captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  (2 Cor. 10.1-5)

This must what Zechariah pictures with his "horsemen" who survey the devastation of the people of God, destroyed by the "horns of the nations," (Zech 1.7-17), but delivered by "craftsmen" who know how to "throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people."  (Zech. 1.21)

Yes.  Zechariah's picture is "mysterious" if not outright "weird" to our imaginations today. 

But it's the same idea as Paul's "weapons that demolish the strongholds" of this world, strongholds that conform and enslave us to the ways of this world. 

Our God is always delivering His people from the powers of this world,

          from bondage and blindness,

              prisons and pits,

                  fear and darkness,

                      sin and death, 

                          devastation and dispair,

          from weakness and slavery,

              loneliness and affliction,

                  weariness and heavy burdens,

                      hopelessness and helplessness.

We have our work cut out for us if we want to offer grace to help these lost sheep for whom Jesus came to save, for whom Jesus died, and for whom He weeps still today.

If we want to become shepherds who "care for the lost, seek the young, heal the injured, and feed the healthy" (as Zechariah calls for in 11.16), I say we have much work to do, work that has been neglected for a very long time now.

We must begin immediately and urgently to "study...to be a workman...who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2.15)  We must learn to use "the sword of the Spirit...to divide souls and spirit, to penetrate the joints and marrow,  exposing the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb. 4.12) 

We must immediately and urgently "study," prayerfully reading Scripture more diligently to see  the "lost" as our Lord sees them.  We must learn to bring them to His  throne of grace.  We must be able to teach them how our Lord's mercy and grace saves and delivers them from destructiveness and death.  We must teach them how that same grace empowers us to obey the commands of Christ to love God and one another--Heb. 4.16.

All of the Prophets will help us.  Psalms will help.  The Gospels and Epistles are essential to see Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit enabling and empowering us to be disciples who are able to disciple, faithful people who will be able to teach others (2 Tim. 2.1-4).

We have work to do. 

But it is work that our Lord wants us to do and seeks those who will say with Isaiah, "Here am I, Lord.  Send me."

AN ACCOUNT OF MY WAYS

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.

I gave an account of my ways and You answered me;

teach me Your decrees.

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to Your statutes.

Psalm 119.13, 26, 59

This is so simple!!

I recount all the laws by simply reading them.

I give an account of my ways by being honest with myself about myself--motives, thoughts, feelings, etc.  I can look for myself  and my ways in the Psalms.  They will take me to the pits of my soul's dispair and degeneration, and then lift me to the highest peaks of God's glory and grace.

I turn my steps to Your statutes, and the Holy Spirit  gives me wisdom and power to turn my ways to His ways by the only thing that is needful--"Abide".

I am the vine; you are the branches. 

If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from Me you can do nothing.

I you abide in Me and My words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15.5,7

THE NUMBER ONE

This one is easy:

Jesus said:  Love the Lord your God

with all  your heart and with all your soul

and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

He went on to say:

And the second is like it:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Then:

All  the Law and the Prophets

hang on these two commandments.

Adding in Luke 6.31:

Do to others

as you would have them do to you.

This is the heart of God's loving desire for us, isn't it?

Love Him.  As He loves us.  Know Him.  To know Him is to love Him, isn't it?   We can read--search--the Scriptures and find knowledge and understanding of our Father's love.  The Holy Spirit will reveal the Father in and through the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus.  2 Corinthians 3.18 and 4.6 tell us that we are transformed when we see the glory of God in the face of Jesus.

We can see this glory as  we read the Old Testament and realize that what is said of God (Ex. 34.6-7; Ps. 103) is to be seen in the Gospels in the Lord Jesus.  Also, what we see in the Gospels about Jesus is true of the Father.  Jesus said that what He did and said was exactly what He saw the Father do and say.

When we read Scripture with prayer to see the glory of the Father in the Son, the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see wonderful things.  Then when we "walk" with the Holy Spirit in meditation on what He has shown us, He writes these things into our heart and we are lifted into the heart of God.  In this way, God enters our hearts with eternal life-giving, life-changing power.

When God's love begins to fill our hearts (Romans 5.5), we will return that love with our heart, mind, soul, and stength.  When love for God fills our hearts and flows up toward God, it will also flow outwardly to our "neighbors"--our families, friends, church, and the acquaintances and strangers that the Lord passes by us. 

OUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD

The entire life of the huge oak tree is "hidden" in the acorn, just as all the possibilities of a human life is contained in the union of sperm and egg.

Of course, there will be many factors affecting both the tree and the person, but how it all turns out is the outgrowth of the incredible tiny start of the acorn or sperm/egg beginning.

So it is with the life which we have in Christ.  So it is with the life Christ brings to us when we are "born again....of the Spirit."  (John 3. 3-5)  In that spiritual moment of  "crossing from death into life" we are "sealed" by the Holy Spirit and become "new creations" destined "to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

All that will ever be is implanted within us.  Day by day, as we send the roots of our heart and soul deeper and deeper into knowledge of and love for the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us--heart, soul, mind, body--from the deepest levels within us.  These changes are evident in the "fruit" of grace working holiness and righteousness into our motives and thoughts, our behaviors and our words.  Day by day we become more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The "Christ is us," like an oak tree in an acorn, reveals Hismself in and through us and we become a "shelter in the time of storm," to others as He is to usw.

Day in and day out, night and day, the Holy Spirit unveils and releases the power of this life, Christ's life within us, today, every day, forever and ever, for we will never exhaust the potentials with which He has endued us.

This life and all its powers and potentials is within us and is at work this very moment, today--"now is the time of God's favor,  now is the day of salvation."  (2 Cor. 6.2)

FROM PROBEM TO PRAISE

I love You, O Lord, my strength.

Psalm 18.1

Psalm 18.1-3 tells us of the salvation and deliverance we receive when we come to Him with specific needs and requests:  "I am saved from my enemies." V. 2 gives us several ways to "visualize our place and time with Him for this help.

Vv. 4-6 gives us an an example of calling to Him in serious difficulties, as Paul spoke of "I dispaired of life" in 2 Corinthians 1 and found strength in times of weaknesses when facing criticisms, oppositions, hardships, and difficulties (2 Cor. 12.9-10).  It is for wisdom, power, grace for growth in knowledge and understanding, encouragement, and comfort that we come boldly to the throne of grace for help in times of need, with courage, confidence and freedom.  (Hebrews 4.16; Ephesians 3.10)

Vv. 7-15 speak o the poswer that God releases in our behalf.  When we are seeking God's grace to empower us to  persevever and overcome the adversities of our lives, the4 world is really and truly changed by God's intervention in our behalf. We are changed, becoming wiser, stronger, and better.  We become a bigger and better person.  We have more light and salt.  We become a more powerful influence on others for restoration of the kingdom of God on earth.  We are difference and begin immediately begin making a difference on earth, in the lives of other people.  The creative and explosive power of God does great and mighty things within us and become greater and more mighty people, things  beyond what we can ask or think.

Vv. 16-19 describe deliverance.  Our God will reach down from on high, take hold of us and draw us out of deep waters and disasters (Psalm 40 calls this  "miry pits;" 23--"the valley..."). He rescues us from circumstances too overwhelming for us. 

HERE IS THE "FORMULA" (Psalm 32.8;Ephesians 1. 1-13; Ro. 12.1-2) FOR GRACE IN THESE THIMES OF NEEDS:
When we face these kind of "impossible" situations, we  need only find a place of refuge where we will immediately find the peace of God settling  into our souls.  Jesus tells us we will have these experiences as we follow Him, but, not to fear, for He has overcome all the world can throw at us. As peace settles us down and we look to Jesus or help (Heb. 4.16) and begin to search the Scriptures for directions and steps to take, the Lord begins to help us to see issues in an entirely different light.  His word gives us directions for His path for our feet (Palm 119.105).  We gain courage and confidence.  With hope from the promises He gives us, we Begin to trust and obey and He supplies grace and power for our deliverance.

Vv. 30-36 assures us that if we will follow His FORMULA, and the leadership of the Holy Spirit step by step, the Lord will reward us with more than we can dream.  Job is our example for this.  He arams us with strength and makes our way like His--"perfect" (James 1.2-5).  The time we take to be with the Lord--(Abide," "Wait," Is. 40.31; Psalm 27.13-14; Jer. 29.11-14)--will supply all our needs with wisdom and strength to be a oak of righteousness for the display of God's spendor and majesty (Is. 61.3).

Vv. 37-45 is simply a review, and therefore a forecast for us!, of what God does for those who trust and obey Him in these times of affliction.  Our responsiblility is to prayferfully describe our situation as we see it, read Scriputre looking for the HOly Spirit to show us how and what God sees and then trust and obey what He tells us to do, step by step.  Such as outcome of vv. 37-45 is the promise of God for all who will do so.

Vv. 46-50 Celebration now and forever to the praise, honor, glory, wealth, and thanksgiving to God for ever and ever. Amen.  Revelation 4, 5, 7, et al.