Get Wisdom
Prov.1:5 [ERV] “Even the wise could become wiser by listening… They gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems. 7 Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.”
C. S. Lewis in his book, The Screwtape Letters described the concept of “My”. He explained how we misuse or are misled by the concept of “My.” Read the rest of this entry
Incomparable
Isa.46:9 “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.”
As human beings, it is natural for us to create an image of someone we have not seen but our imaginations are faulty. People have created pictures of Jesus that they carry on their bracelets. It is idolatry – and it is wrong. Some people are carrying pictures of Mary or pictures of angels that look like midgets, because they want to associate with divinity and so they can feel connected to God. As much as those things make people feel good on the temporary, it robs God of His glory. Read the rest of this entry
Worship
Ex.20:4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” [with emphasis]
The second commandment is, “You shall not make idols”, and it is The Battle with Worship. Over the next couple of days, we will be looking closely at the second commandment- our struggle with worship. Read the rest of this entry
Enjoyment
Ps.63:4 “I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.”
People that actively engage in sports –soccer for instance can attest to the fact that a little rain or a lot of rain, does not affect your passion or the game as the case may be. People that play soccer are familiar with the term “Rain-ball”. Read the rest of this entry
Just Because
Ps.63:2-4 [MSG] “So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love, I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.”
When your pursuit is after the person, the passion is effortless. But when you pursue the passion, it becomes elusive and after a while, tasteless because it is all about the passion. When we gather to worship, it is because we want to cultivate our affection for God. Read the rest of this entry
Love Truly
Rom.8:31 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”
A kidnapper says, “You are mine” on the basis of power. A lover says, “You are mine” on the basis of affection. You may submit to raw power but you will never love raw power. When a servant hears, “You are mine”, do you know it creates a different set of emotions than when a child hears, “You are mine?” What goes through the servant’s mind when he hears, “You are mine” is probably, ‘one day I will get my freedom and I too will become a master.’ But the child will also say to the father or mother, “You are my daddy or Mummy!” The emotions and the responses are always different based on the relationship. Read the rest of this entry
Reciprocal
Ex.20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me.”
When a kidnapper says to someone ‘you are mine’, the person feels resentment, feels trapped and all the person wants is to escape. Unfortunately, that is how a lot of people are relating with God and with The Law [The Ten Commandments]. We relate with God like we relate with a kidnapper because that is what we have been taught. Interestingly, even with the people who are peddling grace at the expense of truth, if you really listen to their message, they are like prisoners because they see it as entrapment. However, people who are married can relate to what I am about to say next (and for those who are yet to be married, you are going to know this feeling very soon, in Jesus Name): When the bride is taken to the altar, the summary of what happens there is the groom saying, ‘I want you to be mine!’ And the brides response being, ‘I do! in other words means, I want you to be mine too!’ Read the rest of this entry
Shining Armour
Ex.20:3 “You must not have any other god but me.”
Isa.40:25 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” Read the rest of this entry
The Source
Ex.3: 2 “…Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up… 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”
God knew Moses was going to ask for His Name and God was ready to answer the question. God knows our hearts even before we speak. In fact, the entire burning bush scenario was set up to answer Moses’ question. Read the rest of this entry
No Equal
Isa.40: 25 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army… Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.
The first commandment lays the foundation for freedom. However, the challenge most times is in embracing God unconditionally. Will you embrace God with conditions or will you embrace Him unconditionally? Read the rest of this entry
