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Learning to Be You, Love

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor. – Psalm 8:3-8 
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 
– Genesis 2:7

Did you know that you are made from the flames of dying stars, freshly turned dark soil, crisp cool falling rain, raw jewels and gemstones hidden in the bowels of the earth, robust trees stretching limbs to the skies, and the eternal hurricanes that rage on Jupiter? Yes, all these are made from the same basic elements as you and me.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
“I am the Lord, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself, – Isaiah 44:24

Did you also know that everything from the sound of your voice to the shape of your hips were determined long ago by generations of love and yearning? Literally billions of souls came together to ultimately bring you in the world. You had an ancestor who walked the earth, was born, loved, lived, and died with the same nose, hair color, eye shape, toes (or all of the above) as you.

You brought my inner parts into being; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder; marvelous are Your works, and You know me completely. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being.  – Psalm 139:13-16 
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  – Hebrews 11:3 
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.  – Colossians 1:16

Now, as you read this today, one of many protagonists in an epic adventure that started with a void and will end with golden roads, you, lovely you, have been chosen to be a child of a supernatural, eternal King of All. You were formed with His hands into just what He wanted, just what He felt was beautiful, and just what He felt the world needed. You are His masterpiece.

I felt the desperate need to share this with you, and maybe He wants YOU to know just what you mean to HIM.

***

Prophets – Are You One?

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Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. – Numbers 12:6

Are there prophets now, in the present, and how can we know they aren’t just crazy people or con-men? Are you a prophet? Haha, yes I’m serious. Let’s go down this rabbit-hole together, shall we?

Prophesying is one of many God-given gifts that can used for God’s kingdom. It’s not all about predicting future events. It’s about being a spokesperson for God.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching. – Ephesians 4:11-13

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

One source states, “The foretelling of future events was not a necessary but only an incidental part of the prophetic office. The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was “to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government.” (talkjesus)

However, there’s more to being a prophet than simply speaking God’s known Word or teaching others about His ways. If you’re good at that, then you have the gift of teaching. Being a prophet is about revelation, not necessarily about the future. A prophecy is never going to contradict what the Bible says, but it may reveal something new.

Definition of Prophet: “a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God” (dictionary.com)

What does it mean to be a spokesperson? They are essentially the voice of another, making official statements and advocating on their behalf. God’s spokespeople have a few additional responsibilities. As exemplified by the many prophets of the Bible, they are to denounce sins and uphold righteousness and be a servant to others. Basically, if one is a prophet, they need to be a disciple of God too.

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. – Deuteronomy 18:18-19

I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. – Hosea 12:10

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. – Amos 3:7

Did you know that there was an official office of prophecy with a school to guide their gift back in the day?

Colleges, “schools of the prophets”, were instituted for the training of prophets, who were constituted, a distinct order ( 1 Samuel 19:18-24 ; 2 Kings 1 Samuel 2:3 1 Samuel 2:15 ; 4:38 ), which continued to the close of the Old Testament. Such “schools” were established at Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, Gibeah, and Jericho. The “sons” or “disciples” of the prophets were young men ( 2 Kings 5:22 ; 2 Kings 9:1 2 Kings 9:4 ) who lived together at these different “schools” ( 4:38-41 ). These young men were taught not only the rudiments of secular knowledge, but they were brought up to exercise the office of prophet, “to preach pure morality and the heart-felt worship of Jehovah, and to act along and co-ordinately with the priesthood and monarchy in guiding the state aright and checking all attempts at illegality and tyranny.”

In New Testament times the prophetical office was continued. Our Lord is frequently spoken of as a prophet ( Luke 13:33 ; 24:19 ). He was and is the great Prophet of the Church. There was also in the Church a distinct order of prophets ( 1 Corinthians 12:28 ; Ephesians 2:20 ; 3:5 ), who made new revelations from God. They differed from the “teacher,” whose office it was to impart truths already revealed. (talkjesus)

They have to be certain that what they’re conveying to others is actually a message from God and not a figment of their imaginations or desire from their own hearts. God is adamant that His people believe and listen to His prophets, so if anything a prophet says is incorrect or turns out to be false, they are commanded to dismiss them as false prophets.

‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper. – 2 Chronicles 20:20

They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.’ – Isaiah 30:10

As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent. – Jeremiah 28:9

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. – Matthew 24:24

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. – 1 John 4:1

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. – Isaiah 8:20

Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. – Deuteronomy 18:15-22

In other words, God is asking that we not outright deny the sayings of those who speak on His behalf. You must listen, but you must also test them to make sure they are a true prophet. That goes for yourself. If you believe you may be a prophet or spokesperson of God, make sure that what you believe you are being told holds true through the fires of God’s Word. If even one part doesn’t line up with the Bible’s message, it’s not God. If any future event or detail predicted does not come true, it’s not God.

I know it sounds crazy, but I firmly believe prophecy is not a temporary gift that was given out long ago. I think it’s still out there, for God’s children to bolster His kingdom.

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. – Joel 2:28

See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. – Revelation 19:10

If you find out that you or someone else is tested true to be a prophet for the one true God, remember that the calling is one of danger and ridicule, back in the day as well as now. Stephen, a prophet and martyr, once stated, “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?” (Acts 7:52).

Since the Holy Spirit was spread amongst all nations who are Children of God, any one of us can converse directly with God. The gift of prophecy is one that takes that a step further by not only speaking personally with God about you and those around you. It’s a monumental task of speaking on behalf of God to others, not “just” having a personal relationship and ability to converse with the God of the universe (although, speaking with God directly is a massive gift to have, all of disciples have that ability. If you don’t think you have that, well, talk to God about it. 🙂 Also, read my post named “God’s Voice”).

“On the day of Pentecost, Peter declared that unlike the more limited exercise of prophecy during the time of the old covenant, God would henceforth pour out his Spirit “on all people” (Acts 2:17). Peter said the result would be a fulfillment of God words: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18).

Prophetic ministry in the early church was widespread and diverse. A band of prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, “stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world” (Acts 11:28). Prophets were active in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1), Tyre (Acts 21:4), and Caesarea, where the four daughters of Philip prophesied (Acts 21:8–9). Prophecy, one of the gifts of the Spirit designed for edifying the body of Christ, was also utilized in the churches at Rome (Rom. 12:6), Corinth (1 Cor. 12:7–11; 14:1–40), Ephesus (Eph. 2:20; 4:11; see also Acts 19:1–7; 1 Tim. 1:18), and Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:19–22).” (thegospelcoalition)

The Bible may seem full of fantastical things that we dismiss as past occurrences simply because we have a hard time believing they still occur every day. One of those things may be prophecy. His Spirit is on all of us disciples, but each of us have many varied and equally as important gifts. Some of us have more than one gift. It’s important that if you feel you’ve been given a gift, no matter how the world may look at it, you speak with God about it, meditate on it, and bring it with you into discussions with your fellow believers. Test yourself and test those who say they are prophets. And don’t take this lightly: If God gave you a gift, you better use it.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/prophets
https://www.talkjesus.com/threads/apostle-disciple-prophet-the-difference-explained.52204/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sam-storms-what-does-scripture-teach-about-office-prophet-gift-prophecy/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/prophet-prophetess-prophecy/
https://bible.org/question/are-prophets-considered-teachers

Compassion Fatigue

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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. -Galatians 6:9

“Police say they’ve found DNA evidence connecting the suspect to a woman who gave birth in a vegetative state.”
“The brutal truth behind the shutdown.”
“Iowa’s ‘fetal heartbeat’ abortion restriction declared unconstitutional.”
“Opinion: Why Gillette’s ad slamming toxic masculinity is drawing cheers — and anger.”
“Dozens of children get cancer in suburb.”

These are just a few random articles I found under the CNN website today. CNN isn’t unique. Most news outlets will sound just the same. Maybe they’ll have a slightly different perspective, a lean into another direction, but in the end, it’s mostly bad news 24/7. Do you recall any other time in known history when world-wide news was so immediately accessible, each event written of in hundreds of articles the moment it happens? We can listen on the radio, watch it on TV, on the internet, tune into a news podcast, enter a news chatroom, watch tweets and Snaps and Facebook links pop up like flies on a corpse. Bad news gets more attention and therefore more coverage.

However, there’s many downsides to this instant and constant melodrama, one of which is compassion fatigue or vicarious traumatization.

This is the “indifference to charitable appeals on behalf of those who are suffering, experienced as a result of the frequency or number of such appeals.” (dictionary.com)

Every time we hear or see bad news, we naturally rise up internally to the cause, feeling compassion, sympathy, and possibly a drive to help. However, once it becomes an all day, every day thing, we can become apathetic, exhausted by the constant pleas, and feel hopeless in being able to do anything. This is in direct opposition to what God desires but so is the constant diet of bad news.

You are not God. You are incapable of helping everyone and championing every cause. So, it seems illogical to subject yourself to a daily dose of what’s wrong with the world.

There’s nothing wrong in being informed, but what that meant just 50 years ago versus now is a completely different picture. Speaking of the 60’s, there were two modes of news, well three if you count word of mouth, the daily newspaper and TV news (only on at certain times of the day). You had to go out of your way to find out the goings on of the world.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:7-8

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

There’s a very prominent Biblical figure who took on too many of others’ problems. Here’s what he was told.

When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” -Exodus 18:14-23

You may be called to be caregivers, messengers, and disciples, but you can’t do it all. If you are particularly moved to help someone or a cause, that is God moving through you. A lack of compassion or feeling when you see the evening news is a sign you need to see less of it. You can help your next door neighbor with groceries, you can lift up a stranger in need, you can support the education of a child in Nicaragua, or save the life of a family in China — but you can’t save the world. Let God do that, and He’ll tell you where you’re needed. Even Mother Teresa wrote to her superiors about the need for nuns to take an entire year off from their duties every 4-5 years to allow them to heal from care-giving work; self-care is essential. (Psst: Check out my past posts on the Sabbath).

Learn about the bigger matters of the world or your community and then shut the news off, unsubscribe to the news on Facebook, and preserve your sanity and sympathy so it’s there when God calls on you to spread love to the world.

Love news but want to find out about the many happy and uplifting things that are happening world-wide? Here’s some places to start:

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
https://www.ted.com/#/
http://gimundo.com/
https://www.happynews.com/
https://www.today.com/news/good-news
http://www.dailygood.org/
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news

Sources other than Bible:
http://www.compassionfatigue.org/
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/01/health/bad-news-bad-health/index.html
https://www.thecut.com/2014/08/what-all-this-bad-news-is-doing-to-us.html
https://www.complex.com/life/2015/08/the-apathy-generation
https://www.stress.org/military/for-practitionersleaders/compassion-fatigue/

Forgiveness – What It’s Not

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For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:14-15

Forgiveness is not necessarily forgetting that a person has wronged you, it’s not saying that what they did was okay, and it’s certainly not lying down as a doormat to let them wrong you again. God is the best at forgiveness, and His patterns as shown clearly in the Bible will enable us to understand what forgiveness is and how to apply it in our own lives.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. – Matthew 6:12

Forgiveness, as described in the Bible, is concerning the repayment of a debt. If you did something to destroy X, then you now owe me something equal to X. This can be seen with the concept of sin and sacrifices made to clear Israel’s sins. The problem with the Old Testament sacrifices was that the repayment was not equal to the debt. Why? Well, because God didn’t REALLY care about scorched meat. He cared about the heart of the person sacrificing. If the person did the act without a heart of repentance, then the sacrifice meant nothing. He was looking for the repentance and the owning up to the fact they sinned.

For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, – Psalm 51:16-17

When Jesus died on the cross, He was a great enough sacrifice to repay the debt as He was sinless. Yet, who really sacrificed? God did. So, where do we come in this, since we’re the ones who owe the debt? We repent. Actually, that’s all He wanted. So, why the death? Well, because the punishment of sin is death. In fact, sin creates death (figurative and literal), so we must die. However, God didn’t want us to be under the permanency of death’s hold if we changed our hearts and repented. Therefore, if we repent without God’s grace, death is still inevitable. Someone must still die. Jesus died in our place so the death of our souls would no longer be inevitable. Now, as long as we repent, we are not under the second death’s hold. He cleared our debt for us.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

Okay, so what does this have to do with you and how you should forgive? Well, look at others wronging you as sinning against you because that’s exactly what it is. They sinned, and they technically still owe a debt to you. What if they don’t regret what they did? What if they never apologize? What if they repeatedly sin against you or would in the future?

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. – Matthew 18:15-17

Do as God does and separate yourself, just like the Jews separated themselves from pagans and tax collectors. Sometimes, we think that, as Christians, we should stay and forgive and try to save this person in front of us. In reality, if they don’t want to be helped and repeatedly harm you (or would in the future; be honest with yourself), they don’t deserve to have you around. You are God’s Child. You are royalty. Remove yourself from their presence. Even God does this! Are you better able to save or forgive than God? No.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:10-12

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

To forgive is NOT to forget. It’s not to stay in a harmful or toxic situation. It’s not to allow others to take advantage of you.

So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” – Luke 17:3-4

If someone repents, you should forgive them. That doesn’t mean forget or stay where they can harm you. It doesn’t even mean trust.

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. – Isaiah 43:25

This verse doesn’t mean literally forget. It means He’ll put your sins behind Him. He still remembers everything.

One of the crazy things about God’s love is how much He can love us and still allow us to fall, experience the consequences, and learn from our mistakes in an independent way. God’s way is free will, and if that’s the way God loves others, that’s probably a great way for you to love others too.

Allow others to experience the natural consequences of their behavior, and if need be, separate yourself either temporarily or permanently, to allow them to experience those natural consequences. They may not learn from their mistakes or change their ways, but you’re protecting yourself too. This is the way God loves.

It’s a dichotomy of selflessness and self-respect that God shows, and you can see it clearly throughout the Bible. There is a verse that is misused, in my opinion, where Jesus tells His followers that if someone slaps you on one cheek, you should turn the cheek to allow them to slap you there too. This is misused to say people should allow disrespect and abuse. In reality, it’s the opposite. I already wrote this in a separate post, but here’s the run through of what Jesus really meant:

In the times Jesus lived in, the Roman government ruled over several other peoples, including the Jews. If a Roman soldier gave orders that a Jew disobeyed, it was typical of the soldier to backhand him or her across the face. The slap became known as a symbol that they looked at the Jews as inferior. Since most people are right-handed, if they backhanded someone, their right hand would strike a right cheek. However, if a soldier was ready to strike an equal, he would usually punch, which would strike a person’s left cheek. This practice of slapping was so pervasive that Jesus gave Jews advice on how to deal with it.

Don’t fight them and don’t meekly accept their behavior. Turn the cheek. It was a sign of passive defiance. It’s saying, “I demand to be treated as an equal.” It forces the soldier to either hit them as an equal (instead of as a superior) or at least take a moment to realize how they are treating another human being. (Turn the Other Cheek: Rebellion Tips by Jesus)

In as much as He is a servant, He is also a King. Jesus was here as an example for our behavior. You are a servant to others, but you’re also royalty by being a Child of God, the one true king.

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. – Micah 7:18-19

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. – Mark 11:25

It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations. – Luke 24:46-47

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. – Acts 3:19

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:13

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:31-32

Forgive, be forgiven, respect yourself, and respect other’s free will to make mistakes or be horrible people. You’re here to love, not to save everyone from themselves. Although God’s always waiting with outstretched arms for a sinner’s return, while a sinner is unrepentant, He allows them to separate themselves from Him.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, – Romans 1:24

Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12

Forgiveness is a release of anger and condemnation that demands the wrongdoing be repaid. Let it go, and let God.

***

As an aside, here’s a long verse that shows as an example God’s forgiveness. He expresses toward the end how He allowed Israel to separate themselves from Him, which turned out to be destructive to them. However, they repented, so He’s redeemed them, still holding them as cherished.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of their gods foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.” “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride. I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel. You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. Your first father sinned; those I sent to teach you rebelled against me. So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple; I consigned Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn. – Isaiah 43

God’s Hygge

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In Me, you may have peace, but in the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

If there’s something that the world is in deep, desperate need of, it’s peace. An Earth without war, sickness, division, abuse, and darkness of other kinds is coming. However, in the meantime, there’s a kingdom of God that can live in and through you if you let it.

Sometimes, trends are just a mindless scrambling for something otherwise missing in our souls, but sometimes, they stumble into a lighter place, allowing people a glimpse of what can be with God.

Hue-gah – Danish word

Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down (2017, p. vi). – The Little Book of Hygge

Hygge is a semi-new trend, but it started with a Danish and Norwegian concept. No doubt this concept has always existed in some form throughout the world for ages now, but it’s now been commercialized and deemed “in.” It’s a nice idea. Most people imagine fireplaces, fuzzy socks, a warm drink in hand, and family or a book to keep you company. It can be part of those things. It can also be part of a warm summer’s evening, a dark front porch with the stars overhead, a crowded bus station, a DMV lobby, or just another day at work. Why? In reality, it exists within you, not in your environment. It’s peace and joy.

Joy is not necessarily related to happiness, as it’s defined by the Bible. This emotion and mindset settles into the marrow of your being as an ever present hope and solid rock on which to stand during the crashing waves of life. It’s the knowledge that, no matter what else you may be feeling and experiencing at the moment, there is a true love that has prepared you for a home with many rooms.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. – James 1:2-3

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. – Psalm 47:1

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. – Ecclesiastes 9:7

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. – Psalm 27:6

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

The kingdom of God resides in the Children of God and among them, in their fruits, in their peace and joy, and in the light of truth they spread with His Word. During our last blog post, we spoke about how making a change externally must begin with a change internally. This is what God is doing to heal the world. He brings His love and light-filled kingdom to our hearts first and, eventually, His kingdom will be on Earth.

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. – Luke 17:20-21

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15

Gratitude is a large part of hygge and the joy we find in God. We are surely thankful for all of God’s blessings, including a warm, safe home to come back to, even if that home only exists as the kingdom thriving in our souls. It’s good to take a moment to disconnect from the rat-race and connect with the moment you’re in. You may hear God speaking. May you find God’s hygge waiting for you.

New Year, Same Ol’ You

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No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good’ -Luke 5:36-39

Happy New Year!

New Years are popular for resolutions. Most of us have a desire to be smarter, stronger, faster, bolder…. just better than before. The problem is, by February, most of us have fallen off the bandwagon. The reason is simple. We’re trying to pour new wine into old wineskins. We’re still us, the imperfect beings who’ve stumbled through every year before, stumbling right into this year too. Do you know what happens to old wineskins with new wine? They explode. New wine is generating gases that will expand any leather container it’s inside. The old wineskin has stretched to accommodate the wine it held before and has hardened, making it impossible to expand any further. If you have new wine, you need a flexible new wineskin.

I find new meanings or deeper insights into Bible verses nearly every time I read them, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I find new insights into my testimonial experience too. When I was a pre-teen, I desired to know how to be as perfect as possible but found it impossible to follow or remember all the commands and guidelines listed in the Old Testament. I prayed to God for something I could remember throughout my life, so that no matter what I’d know I was doing the right thing. I heard the whisper of a single word: love.

What I’ve come to realize is God was telling me something more: Before I change your heart, nothing you do will be right.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, a but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13

So, you have health, career, relationship, organization, inner peace goals. That’s honorable to be willing to better yourself. It may have even become unavoidable that you need to change your life. Understand this: that goal will fail if you don’t change internally. You shaped your life around your heart, so have you invited God to change your heart to reflect where your life will now go? You need a new heart if you want a new life, or your new life will explode from the inflexibility of your old heart.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:22-24

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! – Galatians 4:9-10

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26

Invite God into your journey, seek a change of heart, try to understand why your heart wouldn’t let you make those needed improvements before now. We fail time and time again to be good and perfect, but we are nothing without God renewing our heart.

I know this all sounds vague. You need to know how to put this change of heart into practice. Of course, as expected, you need to speak with God and focus on your goals and how you want God to be a part of the process, your reasons for the goals, and your need for a renewal of Spirit.

In order to have a change of heart, you need to change your patterns of thought and the foundation for your current behaviors. This can be different for everyone. Let me give you an example.

I’ve wanted to run more for years. My patterns of thought, however, were hindering my progress. I wanted comfort after I came home from work, I’d tell myself I was tired after a long day, and I’d fall into a million “reasons” why I didn’t need or want to run that day. To complicate things, I’d try to count calories and lump that together with running as part of my health goals. I’d get obsessed with calorie counting, get tired from low calories added to exercise, and burn out from trying to do it all on top of my normal responsibilities. I was used to coming home and sitting down, and nothing would get in the way of breaking my old patterns.

Last year, I decided to change my focus. I’d been feeling unhealthy and uncomfortable. My patterns of thought started up as I laced my shoes. I want to sit and read, I’m tired, I should spend time with the family, etc. etc. I couldn’t fight the thoughts. If I shot one down, another would pop up. I listened to the excuses but continued to lace them up. I whined inside but still put in my earbuds. I felt and thought everything and paid attention to every bit of it… and went out and did it anyway. Like a bully that’s being ignored, the thoughts would sometimes become bored and subside. Sometimes, they pop back up and demand my attention. As far as calorie counting, I voted against it. I’m not focusing on losing weight but being healthier, stronger, and happier. I’ll love my body as the temple God says it is. I’ll love myself as God loves me. I’ll love my family by being an example for them and giving them a reason to join me. More, healthier calories means more energy to run faster. When you exercise, you feel deeply the bad food or the eating too much, so that helped somewhat. Either way, I chose love instead of punishment. My heart changed to see running as a meditation and form of joy. I feel alive and free.

Sometimes, I eat badly for a few weeks or put off running. That’s okay. I’m gentle with myself. My soul wasn’t meant for strict, unrelenting things but for cycles and undulating waves. I sense God in this change. I speak to Him on my runs.

Your journey may be different. Set goals, but remember, for new wine, you need a new wineskin.

Fulfilling of a King

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Jesus fulfilled the prophecies as King of Israel when He came down to Earth.

Was there any chance that He wasn’t the Messiah? Let’s study that.

His exact genealogy was foretold. The coming King was to be a descendent of Shem (Genesis:26-27), Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), Isaac (Gen. 26:3-4), Jacob (Gen. 35:11-12), from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), specifically through Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), from the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12). Whew!

The city of His birth was foretold to be Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and His death was predicted to be before the temple and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed (Daniel 9:26).

These are all factors that Jesus, if merely human, would have absolutely no control over so, as to avoid manipulation of false messiahs.

Let’s talk about the Magi, those wise men who came to visit Jesus when He was born. They are a mysterious people were know little about; however, we have some information. The Magi were the pagan priest clan within the larger tribe of Medes, somewhat like the Levites were to the Israelites. Once upon the Old Testament time period, they appeared many times such as in the books of Esther, Acts, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Now, with Daniel, the Magi were close to be being killed by Nebuchadnezzar because they couldn’t figure out the meaning of his dream. However, Daniel stepped up and deciphered it, calling on the one, true God, after which point he was made a ruler and chief prefect over all Magi. Now, this affected them, and they began a search for a unique king, one they’d been taught would arrive by Daniel. The future King of Israel was indeed a prophecy held close to the heart of all Israelites, and Daniel would’ve let the Magi know.

The Magi were such a powerful people, politically speaking, at the time of Jesus, that no one became king in Persia without their approval. No one. They were the king makers. So, understand now the significance of their influence in that time and the fact that they crossed lands just to meet Jesus and acknowledge Him as king. If you’re imagining a few men riding camels in the night, pulling up in silence outside some inn to see Jesus, you have it wrong. They were rich, powerful men with hundreds, maybe even thousands of mounted bodyguards. They would have been a sight to behold.

Then, the Magi didn’t just acknowledge Jesus as king, they worshipped Him (Matthew 2:11). This means they understood Him to be God. They were, perhaps, the first gentiles to be saved since Jesus’ birth.

The gospels tell of how Jesus’ own people had a hard time believing He was the foretold King. They had in mind a different picture. The Jews thought He would arrive and take their troubles away. He would come in and unite the Israelites, and the Israelites alone, into a powerful kingdom on Earth. The Jews would be sought for their knowledge of God by all other nations. The world would enter into peace and utopia. They had a hard time understanding that Jesus came to unite all the peoples on Earth into a Kingdom of God, which wasn’t immediately apparent. They knew Jesus would lead a rebellion, but they didn’t see Jesus as a Messianic king leading His people in the way they expected.

What they got instead was a dusty-footed peasant with ordinary looks. No entourage, no crown. Only a commanding, yet humble presence, and a thorough yet heretical knowledge of the Torah. How would this person, who was just like them, lead them into battle against the world?

Some were surprised, sure, by His miracles. Some converted, sure. Many more were suspicious. They were right to be wary. There were many false prophets and “messiahs” who had popped up through the many years. They were desperate but already hardened.

See, since ancient times, the Israelites had wanted to conform to the other nations in what a leader and king was supposed to be like. After lifetimes of being led by God and His prophets, they begged to have a king like the others (1 Samuel 8:5). God warned them of the consequences of having a king but said He would allow it. Now, fast forward thousands of years, and they forgot that their ideas of what a king should be was completely world-derived. And, this strange man sitting on hillsides preaching strange words wasn’t it.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. – John 1:10-11

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” Luke 4:24-27

Here was baby Jesus, whom His Father heralded with the Magi’s announcement and visit. Yet, He was so very normal and un-kinglike, according to worldly standards. Yet, Jesus wasn’t here to change just the surface of things. He was here to change hearts and souls, to be the very ripple of water needed to usher a spiritual tsunami never before known.

When life looks hopeless and dark, it’s important to remember that God is there working in the small things, stirring up the world in unknown ways, in order to bring about the utmost good.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

God is by our side, even if we don’t see Him. He’s not about appearances of things but about the deepest recesses of our souls, so He’s not always obvious. However, He’s always there, forming His kingdom amongst us and within us, fulfilling His promises.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

“Then You are a king!” Pilate said.

“You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” – John 18:36-37

Jesus wished for Pilate to come to his own conclusions about His kinghood, but He states His kingdom is not of this realm. He was leading a spiritual battle.

This Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of the newborn King, the King of Kings in heaven and on Earth.

So, to which leader will you pledge your allegiance?

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_234.cfm
http://blogs.christianpost.com/confident-christian/the-king-makers-a-look-at-the-magi-13659/
http://www.egrc.net/articles/director/articles_director_0605.html

Foretelling of a King

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Christmas is coming, so our focus will be on Jesus, which is totally different from other weeks! (/sarcasm) Anyway, this week we’ll be looking at the foretelling of Jesus’ birth in the Old Testament, and how that was perceived by the Israelites.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” – Genesis 3:15

Here, just after Adam and Eve sinned and ushered evil into the world, God is already giving them hope. Eve’s offspring will be wounded by evil (on the cross) but would ultimately crush its head (resurrection and salvation).

Judah will hold the royal scepter,
And his descendants will always rule.
Nations will bring him tribute
And bow in obedience before him. (Genesis 49:10)

His descendants will always rule? Who on Earth is on the throne from the tribe of Judah? Some places want to claim Queen Elizabeth might hold that claim, but honestly, this is at most a vague connection and at worst, completely missing the point!

The Lord says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)

The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David’s descendants. (Isaiah 11:1)

The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)

You will always have descendants, and I will make your kingdom last forever. Your dynasty will never end. (2 Samuel 7:16)

I understand that you probably understand who God was speaking of at this point. The King of Judah was Jesus, and He’ll rule on the throne forever.

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. – Deuteronomy 18:15-22

Jesus referred to these words God spoke to Moses when he stated:

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” – John 5:46

Everything Jesus stated came to pass, but there was even more proof that He was the King and prophet to rule the world.

But the LORD will still give you proof. A virgin is pregnant; she will have a son and will name him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

A child is born to us!
A son is given to us!
And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,”
“Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,”
“Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Check, check ,and check. These aren’t the only signs of His coming that were foretold in the Old Testament.

“What I saw in my vision
hasn’t happened yet.
But some day, a king of Israel
will appear like a star. (Numbers 24:17)

Magi were men who studied the stars, interpreting omens, dreams, and signs. Who they were exactly have been debated apparently forever, but they were scattered throughout the country and were occasionally referred to as wise men.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”… After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. – Matthew 2:2-12

The King of Israel would be foretold and found by a star, and who better to notice that star sign than the Magi!

Honestly, we could go on for a while finding all the signs that Jesus would be born and destined to be King of Israel. The only problem is – the Israelites thought they would notice Him and make Him a King on Earth.

Next week, we’ll find out how that worked out in the Fulfilling of a King.

Are People Who Never Heard of God… Going to Hell?

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Can people be saved without hearing the gospel? Are those who’ve never been exposed to the knowledge of God condemned? What about babies who die? What about mentally handicapped adults?

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. – Romans 5:12-14

First, this entire post hinges on the idea of Original Sin. This is controversial, but I believe there’s no such thing as Original Sin being passed from Adam/Eve to us. There’s nothing in the Bible that truly substantiates this. You can disagree, but I believe Paul’s meaning was this: Humanity was displaced from a utopia where we COULDN’T sin to a corrupt world we CAN’T ESCAPE sin. We each are condemned by our own sins. We are condemned by our own rebellion. We are all destined to die a physical (first) death, but we can be saved from a spiritual (second) death.

However, we need to be perfect in order to be saved from the second death, the extinguishing of our soul (Revelation 20:14). We need to be righteous, not just sin free. We can’t escape the second death unless we’re perfect. Only One is perfect or as the Bible says, Good.

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. – Mark 10:18

Oh, was Jesus saying He wasn’t perfect? Well, if He were, then His death meant nothing. He’s asking the Jews, who didn’t know He was God. He’s saying, are you saying I’m good? Only God is good… He’s trying to get them to come to the rightful conclusion. He is God.

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:48

The Father is perfect, as well. However, none of us are God. Therefore, none of us are good. We’re all doomed… but wait! There’s more!

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. – Matthew 9:2-7

Did God give the authority to forgive sins to men? No, dear Soul.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58 

This is one of many times Jesus revealed that He was God. The Jews nearly stoned Him there because they knew what He was implying. Only the God of Exodus would say I Am that I Am. Yet, here, Jesus is saying just that.

Babies and mentally handicapped adults, if they are mentally unable to accept God’s salvation, are equally unable to rebel or sin. Therefore, they’re not condemned to the second death. They are, unfortunately, in this corrupt world with us, however. So, they are subject to physical death but not spiritual.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25

None of us are perfect, not even those who are babies or mentally handicapped. They’re human, after all. However, not everyone is under moral guilt. They’re not righteous but neither are they guilty.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s focus on those adults who never heard about God.

“So will God condemn the innocent tribesman who has never heard the name of Christ? No, because there are no innocent tribesmen.” (TGC) 

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. – Ecclesiastes 7:20

This is a tough pill to swallow. No one is completely ignorant of God. Their path to Him may be harder, but God sees into the heart. Most people in the world would agree on certain morals and heart matters, namely that life is sacred, stealing and jealousy is painful, and there’s a spirit that runs through the veins of the world.

If they live a life of love, not knowing who love is precisely, are they not walking in the right direction? Of course, there’s that little issue of faith in someone they don’t know, right?

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – Romans 10:14-17

But, wait.

And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. – Revelations 5:7

So, there are people from EVERY tribe, language, people, and nation who are saved?? How? And, there will be a lot of people from every nation, not a handful.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. – Revelations 7:9

God uses His creations to declare Him from one corner of the world to the other. Even though His people may not have reached everywhere yet, the winds, the mountains, the fauna, and the flora have reached them.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. – Psalm 19:1-6

The. world. is. God’s. witness. everywhere. This isn’t unique to our humanity. Everything is witnessing God’s glory to His people. Do you see the way most creatures treat their young or mourn over death? There is God’s wisdom everywhere.

We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” – Acts 14

Indeed, when Gentiles [i.e. non-Jews], who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Romans 2:14

Notice this: we are not judged by our exposure to the gospel. We are judged according to how much we accepted the light in whatever way we were exposed to it. Did we reject our conscience? Where does our heart stand? If they have faith in the holy spirit that comes to anyone who accepts it, whether they know God by “I AM” or by the compassion (given only by the Holy Spirit) they have for their fellow humans, they are saved.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ – Exodus 19

God claimed the whole earth, but the Israelites were a nation of priests, set apart from His nations to be the light for them all. The rest of the nations did not need to be part of His priesthood to be saved.

 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep… My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me – John 10:14-15;27

His people know His voice, and He doesn’t always speak verbally.

Just as isolated tribespeople may have never heard the gospel, in human words, neither did most of the world before Jesus. The Israelites spread much of the knowledge of God, but they were fairly secluded when compared the expense of the Earth. This doesn’t mean everyone was condemned before Jesus nor that all of the isolated tribes are now.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. – I Corinthians 4:4

I really hope to hear praise from God for the condition of my heart, and I hope that I hear the praises He gives to all of His creations.

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” – Romans 17:22-31

The Greek people didn’t know God’s true name, but they knew He was out there. There was something within them that called out to this God, and they feared angering this unknown being by not worshipping Him. So, they erected an altar for Him just in case. This is amazing. However, this isn’t unique.

There are countless stories of missionaries coming upon tribes on various continents who instinctively knew of God and recognize His ways when they are explained to them. They’ll generally point to nature as being what taught them initially.

There was a tribe of Kwaio people in Fiji who were violent and defensive, but after years of attempting missionary work, missionaries were finally allowed in when they told the Kwaio their God could save their dying chief. Haribo, the chief, listened and said,

“I have waited my entire lifetime to hear this story,” the tribe chief said. “I have always felt there was some sacred message like this. But no one ever came to bring us such words. How can I receive this Jesus into my life?” (gospelherald)

Other times, one tribe will hear from another tribe that people come with this good news, and they beg for missionaries to visit. They are hungry for God.

“The men and women of Isahu village we are very hungry for this talk that it will be in our bellies. Please have pity on us. In all other places of the ground we have heard that they have the talk of God but us ones of Isahu are still standing without, we have nothing. I have heard of others hearing this talk in other villages but this talk is not in Isahu yet. So please send some to learn our language and teach us this talk so we can know it too. (godreports)

You’ll find the belief in a god, especially a father or sky god that reigns supreme even over other gods, is an almost universal experience no matter what culture or country you visit. It’d be stranger to find a country that didn’t ever have a religion, historically.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. – Romans 1:18-20

No one is truly innocent. No one is perfect enough to escape a second death of the soul without God. Not everyone is morally guilty, but most adults are. God has and does save isolated or ancient tribespeople who have never heard the gospel in human language. The reason is God exists in our hearts, even if not on our tongues. Everyone knows God, even if they’ve never heard His name. They have the choice to follow the light of their conscience (which is the Holy Spirit) or not. All this isn’t to say that you don’t need to spread the gospel. That was a direct command by God.

And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ – Mark 16:15

Also this:

And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. – Luke 12:47-48

I’m not including this verse to assure you that the ignorant will be dealt with less severely (remember that none are ignorant of God, in the end). It’s here to ensure you understand that, like that Spider-Man line, “With great powers come great responsibility,” God has given you a whole lot. You know the gospel. You have hope. Just because there are some tribespeople who are saved without missionaries’ help doesn’t mean those tribal people have hope. They may not know the greatness of the holy spirit within them. You are here to spread that light, and because you have that within you, God expects more from you.

No worries. He’s always by your side. That’s where the great power comes from.

Thousands are waiting for your good news, the hope and joy you carry within you. Are you ready?

Sources other than the Bible:
https://www.samstorms.com/enjoying-god-blog/post/will-people-have-a-second-chance-after-physical-death-to-repent-and-believe-the-gospel
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/can-a-sinner-be-saved-after-death
http://orthochristian.com/101202.html
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/becoming-a-christian/is-christ-the-only-way/what-about-those-who-have-never-heard
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-happens-to-those-who-never-hear-gospel/
http://drmsh.com/romans-512-part-4/
http://christianthinktank.com/hnohear.html
https://www.gospelherald.com/articles/70280/20170428/tribe-chief-heard-gospel-before-dying-raised-back-life-testify.htm
https://blog.godreports.com/2016/02/when-tribes-beg-for-missionaries-to-come-and-share-the-talk-about-god/

Is the King Enthralled by Your Beauty?

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. – 1 Peter 3:3-4

There’s nothing wrong with external beauty or making yourself look nice. It’s just not important in anyway. A well-dressed businessman is not more than a mismatched cashier is not more than a filthy homeless woman. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” is not a Biblical verse, and just because you walk into a church with your Sunday finest, you’re not morally superior to the milk-stained-torn-shirt lady sitting in the back row. You both showed up to learn, and only your fruits can tell you apart.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. – Proverbs 31:30

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

Consider God the Father’s appearance. Yes, think upon what He looks like. Can you imagine Him? Not the fake, white bearded man books and movies like to make Him appear to be. I mean, what does He really look like?

As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. – Daniel 7:9

Hmmm… maybe He does have white hair. Nothing much else is clear about His appearance.

Okay, but consider Jesus. He walked among us. We obviously would know what He looks like, right? No, not artist interpretations with the long brown locks. Do you know true His appearance? Surely, they described Him in detail in the New Testament… No?

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. – Isaiah 53:2

Okay… doesn’t say much. We can assume some things. Jesus was a Jew in first century Judaea, and according to anthropology, Jews in Israel at that time were biologically closest to Iraqi Jews now. So, he probably was olive skinned with dark hair and dark eyes just like the rest of His family (Matthew 1:1-17). He blended in a crowd, easily lost when He desired in the masses (Luke 4:30). So, He probably didn’t look too different from everyone else. As a carpenter with first century tools, He was likely muscular, at least somewhat. That’s about all we got. Basically, He could look like just about anyone.

Yet, we “see” God everyday.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. – romans 1:20

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. – job 12:7-10

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. – Psalm 19:1

We know Him by His “invisible qualities,” the fruit of His works, the love He bestows on us, and the beauty He suffuses the world with His power. Even the writers of the Bible knew that His literal appearance made no difference to the message He carries.

Yet He is said to have created us in His image.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:26-27

So, we look alike? That’s hardly what this verse is saying. Maybe we do. Maybe we don’t. That’s unimportant. We were made in the spirit of His truth and love, and we are to follow Him in His ways. This is how we were made in His image. He expects us to continue as we represent Him here on Earth.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.- Psalm 139:13-14

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. – 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16

In a wedding song amongst the Psalms, we the church are compared to a bride marrying the king, in this case the King of the Universe:

Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord. – Psalm 45:10-11

God isn’t enthralled in our outer beauty. He appreciates it, as with anything beautiful that He’s created, but that’s more for us than Him. The beauty He is enthralled by lives within you, in a heart filled with His hope and love for others.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. – Songs of Songs 4:7

The beauty of a life well-lived, serving others and spreading the good news of His salvation, is something we need to learn to appreciate more than external qualities. In many ways, the beauty that we see are shadows of what lives within us as Children of God.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings news of peace, who announces good things, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!’ – Isaiah 52:7

Oh, for God to open our eyes to see the world as He does! Let us openly appreciate the enthralling, gorgeous light we see in others.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-did-jesus-look-like
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/what-did-jesus-really-look-like-as-a-jew-in-1st-century-judaea-1.3385334