dailywalkinthelight

A Daily a Walk in the Light of God's Word

Narrow is the Gate, But Wait…

There is this ache that seems to come to the surface now and then… sometimes more than others.  To be fair, I think it is always there, but at times it can seem to take over my thoughts.  That ache is this realization of all who are lost and not just the lost but all of the darkness in the world.  Yes, I always pray for the lost, but this is different.  It is a profound sadness.

The trigger can be anything from a post on social media to seeing someone just being ugly.  It can even be a memory, but when that sadness hits, I am always drawn to God’s Word for reassurance and motivation.

It is both reassurance and motivation: reassurance because I am thankful for the saving grace of Jesus Christ and motivation because I am reminded of how important it is to share God’s Word.

Here in the United States the Gospel is everywhere.  But today fewer and fewer are aware of it.  It has been removed from the public square and from our schools.  Fewer and fewer adults have even been exposed to the Gospel.  But God has shared it with me.  My parents and grandparents played a big part in that, and even with that foundation I was lost for so many years.  For this reason, I know that Romans 10:17 is so important.  Without it I might still be lost.

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

This hearing was such a gift.  It is hard to explain all that happened the day my heart changed but I am thankful that it did and now it is my turn to share the Gospel with others.

Honestly, my verbal skills sometimes get tied in knots. Because of the strokes, under stress, I lose words, stutter, or lose track. Still, God gives me the gift to be able to write out my thoughts, and I am so thankful because when the confusion sets in or I have trouble finding a word I can pause and take a breath and just thank God. The word or thought I sought will come to me or something new will.  The pace of writing verses speaking allows me to allow myself to trust in God.  Regrettably, when I speak, sometimes I take the reins from God, and that is never good.

Trust in the Lord

Before I can do anything or share anything with others, I need to trust in the Lord and His message of salvation. I know that sounds like one of those “No Kidding” kind of comments, but just think about it for a minute.  If I believe Him, and if I trust Him, why would I be reluctant to share the Gospel?  There is this passage in Proverbs that I like, and it gives me courage.  In a world that tells me I must be self-reliant God tells me something different through His Word.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

The verse that follows is excellent too.

Proverbs 3:7

7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

These verses are great counsel.  They remind me that my Heavenly Father is in control but if I do not follow this counsel, I am squandering this precious gift.  I can say that I trust in God, but all too often, I let my mouth stay shut when it should be open, singing His praise and sharing the Gospel.  I allow my own anxieties to take control.

Do Not be Anxious

There is this one thing that the adversary uses to try and distract me.  He will inject thoughts of worldly concerns like shelter, security, expenses, fear of losing a friend and just anything that could distract me.

It is just to try and make me anxious about things that have not happened, or things that he wants to convince me could happen, if I do not keep my mouth shut.  But these are things that God already has in hand.  I must remember a passage in Matthew. Jesus reminds us that he has all those things under control.

 Matthew 6:25-33 (ESV)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

That is quite a promise, isn’t it?  It does not leave any real room for doubt.

There is another promise that Jesus shares with His disciples when counseling them about persecution.

At a Loss for Words

Here in the United States, we have been blessed with little if any persecution. We still have our religious freedom, but many are trying to take it from us.  But I know that there have been times when I have doubted my own ability to speak.  I feared that I did not have all the answers and wasn’t knowledgeable to witness for the Lord.  Besides when I get nervous, I have trouble speaking.  In those times I am reminded of Matthew 10.

In Matthew 10 Jesus sent his 12 Apostles out and he warned them that there would be persecution.  We do not have the threat of persecution here yet, but this is still good counsel.  First be wise.

Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Then remember that the Holy Spirit is with you.  Set aside your doubts

Matthew 10:19-20 (ESV)

19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

And when this passage comes to mind, there are two from Paul that are in the same vain.  The first is from 1 Thessalonians, and the second is from Philippians.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Philippians 4:5-7 (ESV)

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

These passages give me strength.  Without them, my words simply ring hollow.  I can say anything, but if God’s Word is not in it or if each statement is not intertwined with God’s Word, they have no actual substance.

The Meat

The substance is Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior.  He came that we might live.  He paid our debt. He explained that there was only one way to salvation.

 

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 3:16-18 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:3

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

And Jesus came to pay our debt while we were filled with sin.  He gave it all that we could live.  I like the way Paul puts it in Ephesians.

Despite Ourselves

Jesus came and he gave his everything that we might live.  Live eternally in the presence of God.  In Ephesians 2, Paul just takes me through a full series of emotions from shame to joy.

First, the shame…

Ephesians 2:1-4 (ESV)

​1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4

Then the Joy…

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Finally, the humbling…

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

How wonderful is my God?  He came to me when I was dead in my sin, and by grace, saved me and did so by grace through faith so that I could not boast but be filled with thanksgiving at all that He had done for me.  What a blessed gift He gives us.

The Humility of Jesus

And if it is not enough that God saved us by grace through faith, remembering how Jesus showed us is so humbling.  My heart both breaks and bursts with joy as I read Philippians 2

Philippians 2:2-11 (ESV)

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Just thinking of what Jesus did for us is beyond my ability to grasp fully.  I give thanks to God that I do not have to understand fully.  The step He took, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” is more than I can fathom.  Jesus, who spoke the universe into existence (John 1:1-5, Genesis 1:1) and our mighty and glorious God, The Great I AM, gave it all that we might live.

Closing Thoughts

I sit here and think of all these things that God reminds me of and the truth of it is that the gate is narrow.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

He warns us of this point, and it is like that sharp blow to the gut.  It takes your breath away (and not in a good way).

I cannot help but think of all the darkness in this world and be saddened by it.  No, I do not dwell there, but I am reminded by it daily the symptoms are everywhere; abortion celebrated, confusion regarding gender, disrespect for one another, anger on the rise toward violence.  It just seems to get worse daily.  But the worse it gets, the clearer it becomes how much we need to share the Gospel, and to do that, we need to know it.

One Last Thing

I am writing all these things down as much for me as anyone else.  I stumble and struggle with sharing.  I get anxious and that anxiousness, for lack of a better way to describe it, turns into stutters and pauses as I search for words that I know clearly, but my mind can’t find.  That is why I need to be in God’s Word daily.

Uncertainty leads to anxiety.  I do not know the Bible word for word, but I know it well enough to find what I need now.  Sometimes I must google a rough paraphrase of the verse, but I can find it and the verse gives my thoughts strength.  Ephesians is one of my favorites to quote, especially in chapter two… but that bleeds over to chapters one and three as well. I also like the book of John and Philippians.  But I have found Matthew 10:19-20 is so true.  The Holy Spirit will give the words I need to speak.

The thing is that we do not have to share the Gospel off the top of our heads.  We have God’s Word to share.  A lion can defend himself if we will let Him out to do so.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank you for your wisdom and guiding Spirit.  Thank you for your Holy Word.  Father, Give me the strength to be bold today and share Your Word in all forms… thought, word, and deed.  Let Your light shine through me. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Quote for the Day

“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.” – John MacArthur

Love Is

A dear friend of mine shared an old song with me this morning, and that song led to a few more.  They all centered around love and mercy.  They were not specifically “Christian Songs,” but as I listened to them, I could not help but think of my Heavenly Father and be filled with a feeling of thanksgiving.

We talk a lot about the wonder of God’s creation and how beautiful it is and how just seeing these things show His power and glory.  We ask, “How could anyone see the beauty of this world and not believe in God?” I know that is true, but I have another question, “How can one truly love and not believe there is a God?

I am not speaking of lust or infatuation.  I am speaking of that love you have for a spouse that you cherish or your child.  I speak of that look you get that will melt your heart because it tells you how much that person cares for you, even in the difficult times.

Science may explain it as a simple chemical reaction.  A poet or songwriter that does not believe simply may define it as unexplainable, but we that believe; we know from where it comes.  We know love.  I like 1 John when I consider these things, as a good place to start.

1 John

This love is a deep and abiding love.  It is something the world cannot fathom because they do not know God.  When I think of God, I realize that every word that I use He defined.  He placed in my heart an understanding that I could not realize until I came to know Him.  He defined these words used by believers and nonbelievers, but without God, they are only words.  Without God, the world can and does attach their meaning to them and there is a hollowness to the words without Him.  I think love shows that more than most.  Look at 1 John 3:16

1 John 3:16 (ESV)

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Then there is 1 John 4:19

1 John 4:19 (ESV)

19 We love because he first loved us.

How much clearer can it be than that?  Without God where would we find Love?  For me, as I consider this, my heart swells with this joy and thanksgiving.  It pushes out jealousy and anger for compassion and patience.  When I consider these words it is hard to forget forgiveness, especially during passion week between Palm Sunday and Easter.  I cannot help but spend some time in 1 John 4.

1John 4

Chapter four, beginning at the seventh verse, speaks of how God is love.  John is so clear in this text it just humbles me and reminds me how awesome a gift God gives us in His love…  a love that we can and must share with one another.

1 John 4:7-21 (ESV) God Is Love

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

What a wonderful gift we have been given.  A love that without the indwelling Holy Spirit surpasses all understanding.  We cannot love like this without loving Him first.  It simply takes my breath away and fills my heart with joy and thanksgiving.  What power there is in these words that God speaks through John.

I cannot put into words how God has changed my life once I faced my old ways, repented, was baptized and truly accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God; my Redeemer and Lord.  Suddenly things changed from shades of gray to brilliant color, and the freedom I thought I had was replaced with real freedom in Jesus Christ.  This love God gave me filled me with a desire to make my life right with Him.  I mess up regularly, but He gives me the gift of grace and a desire to repent of my sins as soon as they occur.  What a wonderful love this is that God shares with us, and you cannot discuss the love of God without 1 Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13

I love how Paul puts it in this chapter.  There is no power in my words but there is in God’s Words so I will simply share them.

1 Corinthians 13 (ESV)

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I read this passage from verse 1 through 3 I see me trying to come to terms with the truth and power of love.  In verse 4 through 7 I see my savior Jesus and his loving example.  Every step he took exuded this love, especially that last week of His life and His resurrection.  Verses 8 through 13 remind me that all the things that make of this world will pass away, and that faith and hope will help me endure, as will love but love is eternal.

Closing Thoughts

I have little to say in closing today.  My words seem so small when I look at the power of God’s Word.  The more I know, the smaller I become.  The smaller I become, the greater and more magnificent God becomes in my life.

Every time I think about how much He loves me…  how much he loves us…  the more overwhelmed I am I cannot help but think of Isaiah

Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Or of Peter

Luke 5:8 (ESV)

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Both men realized that they were in the presence of God, and both knew that they were not worthy as am I, but for God’s grace and the blood of Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What a glorious gift of God’s indescribable love.  Thank you, Father,!!

Prayer

Father, I love you, and I praise you.  I am overwhelmed by your glory and grace. I cannot fathom the love that you share; it takes my breath away.  Father thank you!  Thank you for all that you are and all that you do and all that is and is to come.  Help me that I might boldly proclaim the Gospel in all that I say and do in Jesus name, Amen!

 

The Joy of Salvation

In this past few days, I have been thinking about the joy, wonder, and glory of God and His promises.  It started one day with an email, and it has just bounced around in my head for several days.  It came together last night with a Facebook post that just touched my heart.

The original verse was in 1John 5.  It just reminded me what joy I have in Jesus.  The glory and wonder of this gift I have in knowing Him and having Him in my heart.

1 John 5:12-15 (ESV)

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

The first part of that passage just thrills me – ”Whoever has the Son has life.”  It is not something we will get it is something we HAVE been given.  The next part is clear as we; the only way to obtain that is through the Son of God.  John wrote this to remind those of us that believe that we have eternal life.

The last two verses are just as powerful.  ” 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

IF we ask in accordance with His will He hears us…  What a wonderful promise and the only caveat is it must be in accordance with His will, but that is easy to find in His Word.

Reflections

I pondered over that passage for a while not because I questioned it but because of the peace and joy it brought to me, and at the same time the desire to share it with others, because of the second half of verse 12 – “whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  That is a serious issue.  See I was one of those people.  I knew who God was, but I was arrogant.  I fit in with a passage from James.

James 2:19 (ESV)

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

The only difference is that I was not smart enough to shudder.  I was whiskey bent, and hell bound and thought I was a “Good Person” and would go to heaven.  In truth, I was a foolish person.  But today I am so thankful and am filled with this wonderful news.  God snatched me from my selfish ways and showed me the truth of freedom in Him.

I ended up looking at some scriptures over the past few days.  I began in Romans

Romans 8

I began in Romans 8 beginning with verse 12. Paul was speaking of the debt that we owed and to whom.   He spoke of the gifts we have received through our redemption.  My heart nearly jumps out of my chest as I read it.

Romans 8:12-17 (ESV)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

I am a child of God.  Adopted as a son.  I know this because the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God.  I am speechless when I consider this gift and the price paid not only for my freedom from sin but my salvation and eternal life.   It makes the meaning of the next verse in this chapter so clear.

Romans 8:18 (ESV)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Some days it is hard to speak.  Some days my balance does not work and sometimes my head throbs but in all that I still have Jesus.  In all that I still am dancing on the inside regardless of what my shell may be experiencing, and I am filled with Joy and thanksgiving.  I cannot fathom what it would be like without Jesus.  I am thankful that I do not have to experience that kind of life.  I pray that others may be freed from that prison.

From Romans, I went to Peter.  I love how the Holy Spirit impacted Peter.  I love his letters.

1 Peter

I began in 1 Peter chapter 3.  Peter spoke of the kind of person we should strive to be.

1 Peter 3:8-13 (ESV)

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Now I read this passage, and I am reminded that the world is looking for an excuse to hate me and point out my hypocrisy.  I know I have been goaded by people to try and make me argue and get angry, but there is not any value in that.  When I was of the world, I used intimidation and anger to get my way.  But nowhere do we see Jesus intimidate, even in those final hours before the cross.

For me, anger was often a response to fear.  You startle or threaten the old me I got angry.  I like what Jesus said about fear in Matthew.

Matthew 10:28 (ESV)

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

I think that kind of says it all, don’t you?  No one can do that, but God and my hope is in Him.  I am a child of God…

2Peter

From 1 Peter I went to 2 Peter.  I cannot help but think about the soon return of Christ and balance that against all that are still lost.  I wish for Him to return now, but in the same breath I wish for more time to share Gods Word, and I ended up in Chapter 3 of 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:8-13 (ESV)

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

  11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

What a beautiful passage.  Peter reminds us that all things come in God time.  His desire is for all to come to repentance.  I thought it was interesting that he said repentance instead of any other words like salvation or Jesus.  The more I thought about it, the more sense it made.  Repentance is so important, but sometimes folks overlook that word for others.

Repentance

As I reread 2 Peter 3:9 this morning several other passages about repentance came to mind.  First was Peter in Luke 5.  Several were fishing with Jesus in the boat, and they fish all night without catching a fish.  Jesus told them to put their nets in the deeper water, and they would catch fish, and the catch was so big that they nearly sank the boat and another that came to help.  Peter realized the truth of Jesus and said the following:

Luke 5:8 (ESV)

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Peter saw the power and glory of God in Jesus and his wretchedness and could not bear it.  But Jesus told him not to be afraid.  The other that comes to mind always is in Isaiah 6.

Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

This too is so powerful.  Isaiah is cleansed when a hot coal is touched to his lips.  It blows me away how both these men came to realize how unworthy they were and when they realized it they were forgiven.

They realized, probably for the first time, how great God was and how small they were.  It happened for me at a very difficult time when I had no clue how to proceed and I threw myself at God’s feet and he changed the world for me; at least my world.  I will never stop being thankful for that.

Peter led me to Revelation 3

Revelation 3

Thinking of God’s timing from Peter I thought of Laodicea.  Laodicea gets the harshest of reprimands of the seven churches.  But even so they are not left without hope.  Every time I read this passage in Revelation I am reminded of the Glory of God.  He is just, and He does not hold back His reprimand, but he tells them what they must do to escape judgment.

Revelation 3:15-22 (ESV)

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

How amazing is our God?  He reminds them that He reproves those that he loves and asks them to be zealous and repent.  He does not leave it there He tells them what is in store for them if they do.  My heart is filled with joy as I read this passage.

Closing Thoughts

Our God is an awesome God.  If we truly believe we have eternal life.  His plan is very specific.  It is not multiple choice.  I like the way Paul says it in Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2:4-10 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What a gift we have been given and what an opportunity we have been given to serve with these good works that He laid out for us that we should walk in them not to be saved but because we have been saved.  I am filled with this overwhelming joy and thanksgiving.

Prayer

Father, thank you for all you are.  Lord, it is hard to find words that say more than that.  I am thankful that you have drawn near to me and given me this hope and joy that comes from knowing and loving you.  In Jesus name, I pray, amen!

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