"Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty" (Ps. 104:1).
Do we have such regard for God, "very great"?
Like the psalmist, could we really say to God: "You are clothed with splendor and majesty"?
How high and lofty is our regard for Him?
We may find it easy to say that we value Him more than our material possession. But do we also exalt Him more than our own abilities? Do we believe that He is even greater than our so-called human free will?
There are those who believe that because of our freedom of choice, we can even choose to resist the Attractiveness of God! Because of our free will, according to them, we could reject God!
Instead of teaching what God's Word declares that, those who ignore and refuse God and His Gift are in spiritual darkness or spiritually blind, and they fail to behold God's Attractiveness and Greatness -- they prefer to teach that there are those who could behold God's splendor and majesty, but they are not attracted or "refused" to be captivated by God's Beauty, because of their human choice!!
If we are not spiritually dead, if we are not spiritually blind -- our human free will to desire and choose what attracts us is NOT extinguished! Please read that again. And again.
Our freedom of choice does not extinguish our desire for what is attractive -- whether what we choose is not attractive to others.
The Great God who created us with our human free will -- has given us the freedom of choice that makes us desire what attracts us! Thus, when we are really attracted to something, we are not "forced." It is our natural tendency to desire what is admirable, as we desire for water when we are thirsty, or we want food when we are hungry.
The human free will that He gave us is NOT the kind of choice wherein we have to choose between being attracted or embrace what attracts us, and not to be attracted or resist what attracts us!
Our freedom of choice is our freedom to choose what appears desirable to us at the moment we make our decision. Our Great God has given us the human free will that we are inclined to choose and accept what is more pleasant compared with other options.
Thus, our human free choice will NOT "kill" or even lessen our admiration for God's Greatness! Our freedom of choice -- given to us by God -- will direct us to adore and come to Him.
Our God given freedom will NOT move us to ignore and reject Him, but admire and praise Him, and say, "O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty"!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
WOULD YOU REJECT THE GREATEST GIFT?
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).
What is this “free gift of the water of life”?
We also read in Revelation 21:6, “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.’”
If we have this “water of life,” we will have satisfaction as a thirsty man is satisfied in drinking from the spring of water.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman, who would draw water from the well:
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
Water and other physical things will only give us temporary satisfaction. But if we have the “water of life” given by Jesus, we “will never thirst” – we will enjoy complete and eternal satisfaction!
Unfortunately, there are those who reject and will continue to reject this precious gift.
Why?
First, let us identify this “water of life.”
We read in John 7:37-39, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By THIS HE MEANT THE SPIRIT, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
Jesus Christ was referring to the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God – His Spirit. Nothing in this world could satisfy our heart as the exceeding joy of the Spirit of Christ could give us. And yet, there are those who refuse to come to Him. They do not accept Him to control their lives. They resist the Holy Spirit.
Stephen told the Jews, who would stone him: ”You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51.)
Notice that they resisted the Spirit, because they were “stiff-necked” and “with uncircumcised hearts and ears!” – as spiritually deaf, they did not hear the call: “Come! … take the free gift of the water of life.”
Also, there are those who cannot accept Him, because they do not know Him. Jesus said in John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Those who reject the Most Precious Gift are in spiritual darkness – spiritually deaf, spiritually ignorant – and with heart of stone. They cannot perceive the Great Worth of the Gift. The “culprit” is not actually the so-called “freedom of choice” of man.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "IF YOU KNEW the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
But by God’s grace, those whom He had circumcised the hearts, whom He made spiritually alive to hear the Sovereign call and to behold the Glory of Christ, and whom He enabled to come to the Son, they would choose freely to have the Greatest Gift.
They would, then, be feasting on the Word of God (the Bible), for Jesus Christ said: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). And they would never thirst.
What is this “free gift of the water of life”?
We also read in Revelation 21:6, “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.’”
If we have this “water of life,” we will have satisfaction as a thirsty man is satisfied in drinking from the spring of water.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman, who would draw water from the well:
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
Water and other physical things will only give us temporary satisfaction. But if we have the “water of life” given by Jesus, we “will never thirst” – we will enjoy complete and eternal satisfaction!
Unfortunately, there are those who reject and will continue to reject this precious gift.
Why?
First, let us identify this “water of life.”
We read in John 7:37-39, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By THIS HE MEANT THE SPIRIT, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
Jesus Christ was referring to the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God – His Spirit. Nothing in this world could satisfy our heart as the exceeding joy of the Spirit of Christ could give us. And yet, there are those who refuse to come to Him. They do not accept Him to control their lives. They resist the Holy Spirit.
Stephen told the Jews, who would stone him: ”You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51.)
Notice that they resisted the Spirit, because they were “stiff-necked” and “with uncircumcised hearts and ears!” – as spiritually deaf, they did not hear the call: “Come! … take the free gift of the water of life.”
Also, there are those who cannot accept Him, because they do not know Him. Jesus said in John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Those who reject the Most Precious Gift are in spiritual darkness – spiritually deaf, spiritually ignorant – and with heart of stone. They cannot perceive the Great Worth of the Gift. The “culprit” is not actually the so-called “freedom of choice” of man.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "IF YOU KNEW the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
But by God’s grace, those whom He had circumcised the hearts, whom He made spiritually alive to hear the Sovereign call and to behold the Glory of Christ, and whom He enabled to come to the Son, they would choose freely to have the Greatest Gift.
They would, then, be feasting on the Word of God (the Bible), for Jesus Christ said: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). And they would never thirst.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
WHEN GOD CHOOSES...
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-" (Ephesians 1:4-5).
"For he chose us..." -- for some, they teach that "us" means "all" -- everyone. But though they teach that God chose ALL and included ALL, yet, they also add that NOT all will be adopted as God's children, NOT all will be glorified.
But, God's Word is clear. It says, "...chose us IN HIM.." He chose those who are "IN HIM" -- meaning, those who believe. As we read in verse 19, "...his incomparably great power for us WHO BELIEVE..."
Paul also wrote in verse 13, as he told the Christians in Ephesus:
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. HAVING BELIEVED, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."
We are "in Him" -- in Christ -- when we heard the gospel and when we believed. Not all are chosen. Not all are "in Christ" -- not all believe the gospel.
How do we know if we are chosen?
We read in the early part of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, BECAUSE our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction..."
Paul knew that the Christians in Thessalonica were chosen, because they heard the gospel "not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." Not only they believe, but they BELIEVED IN HIM -- "with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."
We read in Romans 8:30, "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" -- it does not say "SOME will be glorified" -- God did not choose all to be adopted as His children. But all those who really believed in Christ would be adopted as His children and would be glorified.
"For he chose us..." -- for some, they teach that "us" means "all" -- everyone. But though they teach that God chose ALL and included ALL, yet, they also add that NOT all will be adopted as God's children, NOT all will be glorified.
But, God's Word is clear. It says, "...chose us IN HIM.." He chose those who are "IN HIM" -- meaning, those who believe. As we read in verse 19, "...his incomparably great power for us WHO BELIEVE..."
Paul also wrote in verse 13, as he told the Christians in Ephesus:
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. HAVING BELIEVED, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."
We are "in Him" -- in Christ -- when we heard the gospel and when we believed. Not all are chosen. Not all are "in Christ" -- not all believe the gospel.
How do we know if we are chosen?
We read in the early part of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, BECAUSE our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction..."
Paul knew that the Christians in Thessalonica were chosen, because they heard the gospel "not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." Not only they believe, but they BELIEVED IN HIM -- "with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."
We read in Romans 8:30, "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" -- it does not say "SOME will be glorified" -- God did not choose all to be adopted as His children. But all those who really believed in Christ would be adopted as His children and would be glorified.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Do You Know God That You Can Trust In Him?
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you” (Ps. 9:10).
It says, “Those who know your name will trust in you…” – those who know the Name of God will trust in Him.
There are those who read that verse and entertain the thought that not everyone who knew God would trust Him. Before they jump into that conclusion, first, they need to consider these words from the Daily Bread:
“It's one thing to know about God, but it's quite another to know Him personally.”
“It's not enough to know God with your head; you must know Him in your heart.”
“Knowing about God may interest us, but knowing God will change us.”
And, surely, those who knew the name of God were different from those who knew about God, those who knew Him with their head.
Those who knew His Name – not those who knew how to pronounce His Name -- were those who knew Him personally. They knew God with their heart. They knew and beheld His Supreme Attractiveness. They knew that God is not only Love, but also Holy, Just and Trustworthy, so they trusted in Him!
Those who are not attracted or do not trust in God are not those who exercise their human will, so they ignore or refuse to trust in Him, after they know that God is Attractive or Trustworthy. They do not really know God personally. They do not see the Supreme Beauty of God.
But, those whom God reveal Himself will really choose to trust in Him.
Have you?
It says, “Those who know your name will trust in you…” – those who know the Name of God will trust in Him.
There are those who read that verse and entertain the thought that not everyone who knew God would trust Him. Before they jump into that conclusion, first, they need to consider these words from the Daily Bread:
“It's one thing to know about God, but it's quite another to know Him personally.”
“It's not enough to know God with your head; you must know Him in your heart.”
“Knowing about God may interest us, but knowing God will change us.”
And, surely, those who knew the name of God were different from those who knew about God, those who knew Him with their head.
Those who knew His Name – not those who knew how to pronounce His Name -- were those who knew Him personally. They knew God with their heart. They knew and beheld His Supreme Attractiveness. They knew that God is not only Love, but also Holy, Just and Trustworthy, so they trusted in Him!
Those who are not attracted or do not trust in God are not those who exercise their human will, so they ignore or refuse to trust in Him, after they know that God is Attractive or Trustworthy. They do not really know God personally. They do not see the Supreme Beauty of God.
But, those whom God reveal Himself will really choose to trust in Him.
Have you?
Monday, November 12, 2007
If You KNOW GOD'S WONDERS...
We read in Job 37:14-18, “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind, can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?”
If by God’s grace, through His Holy Spirit He would lead you to “stop and consider God’s wonders” – to behold His Attractiveness – will you end up unrepentant, unlike Job?
If He would open your mind to know not only His creative work, but also His sacrificial work to save you – will you not acknowledge your great need for the Savior?
And if you would hear His wondrous call and ask you, “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” (Job 40:8.) – what will be your response?
Would you choose to ignore, or resist Him, though you are aware of His Great Attractiveness?
Or, would you be attracted to His wonders and, like Job, you also humbly and willingly say: "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6)?
If by God’s grace, through His Holy Spirit He would lead you to “stop and consider God’s wonders” – to behold His Attractiveness – will you end up unrepentant, unlike Job?
If He would open your mind to know not only His creative work, but also His sacrificial work to save you – will you not acknowledge your great need for the Savior?
And if you would hear His wondrous call and ask you, “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” (Job 40:8.) – what will be your response?
Would you choose to ignore, or resist Him, though you are aware of His Great Attractiveness?
Or, would you be attracted to His wonders and, like Job, you also humbly and willingly say: "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6)?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
GOD'S CALLING IS IRRESISTIBLE!
“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice" (John 10:1-5, NIV).
Why will “some choose to resist the Holy Spirit and throw God’s gift of grace back at his feet and reject him?” Why will some ignore or reject God’s calling?
Those who know the “attractiveness” of God’s calling – those who know His voice – listen to His voice and follow Him, according to Jesus Christ. They know they are called, so that they “may receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15). They know they are called, so that they may “inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). They know they are called “out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). They know they are called “to his eternal glory in Christ” (1 Peter 5:10). They know they are called “into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12). They know they are called to eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12). They know they are called “to peace” (Col. 3:15; 1 Cor. 7:15). They know they are called “to one hope” (Eph. 4:4; 1:18). They know they are called “to be free” (Gal. 5:13). They know they are called “to belong to Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:6) – “into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:9). They know they are called “to be holy” (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Tim. 1:9).
Will you reject or resist the calling of the Shepherd, if you know He is Supremely Good?
Will you refuse to follow Him, if you know that with Him you “shall not be in want”?
Will you resist His call, if you know that He will make you “lie down in green pastures,” He will lead you “beside quiet waters,” He will restore your soul, He will guide you “in paths of righteousness”?
Will you ignore Him, if you know that though you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” you “will fear no evil, if He is with you? Will you choose to avoid Him, if you know that His “rod and your staff” will comfort you?
If you know that the Good Shepherd could even prepare a table before you “in the presence” of your enemies, He will anoint your head with oil and your “cup overflows,” and you can be sure that goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the LORD forever – will you still “choose to resist the Holy Spirit and throw God’s gift of grace back at his feet and reject him”?
It is unbelievable and unfathomable that there are those who are teaching you may not respond positively though you know the attractiveness of His “calling”!!
But Jesus Christ said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you (no other than the Good Shepherd), you would have asked him… “ (John 4:10.)
He also said in John 14:17 that the world cannot accept the Spirit of truth, “because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you (His followers) know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Why will “some choose to resist the Holy Spirit and throw God’s gift of grace back at his feet and reject him?” Why will some ignore or reject God’s calling?
Those who know the “attractiveness” of God’s calling – those who know His voice – listen to His voice and follow Him, according to Jesus Christ. They know they are called, so that they “may receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15). They know they are called, so that they may “inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). They know they are called “out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). They know they are called “to his eternal glory in Christ” (1 Peter 5:10). They know they are called “into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12). They know they are called to eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12). They know they are called “to peace” (Col. 3:15; 1 Cor. 7:15). They know they are called “to one hope” (Eph. 4:4; 1:18). They know they are called “to be free” (Gal. 5:13). They know they are called “to belong to Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:6) – “into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:9). They know they are called “to be holy” (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Tim. 1:9).
Will you reject or resist the calling of the Shepherd, if you know He is Supremely Good?
Will you refuse to follow Him, if you know that with Him you “shall not be in want”?
Will you resist His call, if you know that He will make you “lie down in green pastures,” He will lead you “beside quiet waters,” He will restore your soul, He will guide you “in paths of righteousness”?
Will you ignore Him, if you know that though you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” you “will fear no evil, if He is with you? Will you choose to avoid Him, if you know that His “rod and your staff” will comfort you?
If you know that the Good Shepherd could even prepare a table before you “in the presence” of your enemies, He will anoint your head with oil and your “cup overflows,” and you can be sure that goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the LORD forever – will you still “choose to resist the Holy Spirit and throw God’s gift of grace back at his feet and reject him”?
It is unbelievable and unfathomable that there are those who are teaching you may not respond positively though you know the attractiveness of His “calling”!!
But Jesus Christ said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you (no other than the Good Shepherd), you would have asked him… “ (John 4:10.)
He also said in John 14:17 that the world cannot accept the Spirit of truth, “because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you (His followers) know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Monday, October 22, 2007
Does EVERYONE Know The BEAUTY Of God's Voice?
Nothing is more compelling, captivating and thrilling than to know the beauty of the Goodness of God.
King David declared in Psalm 27:4, "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."
If we are attracted to physical beauty, what would it do to us if we are given the privilege to have a glimpse of God's Glorious Beauty?
Jesus said, "... the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:3-4).
But does everyone know the Attractiveness of God?
While there are those who teach that everyone does, the Bible is plain that others know more the attraction in this world. They know the attraction of good paying job, good health, or good standing in the community.
In the churches, they know the attractiveness of good attendance, good income, good sermons, good theologians, etc.
Others know the attractiveness of sin.
God’s Word tells us that there are those who “do not know God” (1 Thess. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:8). We also read in 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
If we know and hear God’s Voice, which is just attractive as His Being, I would rather assume that we will surely follow and gravitate to the Source than to assume that we will just ignore it. Only the spiritually deaf would refuse to answer His Call. Only he who does not know His Supreme Attractiveness will resist to come to Him and prefer the lesser attractions in this world.
Should we not desire to become more acquainted with the Beauty of His Goodness (as He reveals Himself in His Word) than to learn the “attractive” and acceptable teachings of some theologians?
Besides, we read in Jeremiah 9:23-24:
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”
King David declared in Psalm 27:4, "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."
If we are attracted to physical beauty, what would it do to us if we are given the privilege to have a glimpse of God's Glorious Beauty?
Jesus said, "... the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:3-4).
But does everyone know the Attractiveness of God?
While there are those who teach that everyone does, the Bible is plain that others know more the attraction in this world. They know the attraction of good paying job, good health, or good standing in the community.
In the churches, they know the attractiveness of good attendance, good income, good sermons, good theologians, etc.
Others know the attractiveness of sin.
God’s Word tells us that there are those who “do not know God” (1 Thess. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:8). We also read in 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
If we know and hear God’s Voice, which is just attractive as His Being, I would rather assume that we will surely follow and gravitate to the Source than to assume that we will just ignore it. Only the spiritually deaf would refuse to answer His Call. Only he who does not know His Supreme Attractiveness will resist to come to Him and prefer the lesser attractions in this world.
Should we not desire to become more acquainted with the Beauty of His Goodness (as He reveals Himself in His Word) than to learn the “attractive” and acceptable teachings of some theologians?
Besides, we read in Jeremiah 9:23-24:
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)