“The Refrain of Grace"

  "The Refrain of Grace"

     Our spiritual enemies cannot steal the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ from our lives - "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  Thus, as in the case of the Galatian Christians tempted to add ritual to salvation, our foes seek to nullify our experience of Christ's presence - "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4).

    The more we realize our Lord's faithful and abiding presence in our hearts and lives, the more likely we are to avail ourselves of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).  Our enemies know this better than do we ourselves.  They constantly seek to discourage our "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).  We counter by remembering and affirming the ongoing refrain of grace declared in the pages of Scripture regarding a Savior and a salvation "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).  Such confidence leads to the expectation of faith whereby our hearts and minds are far more likely to realize and recognize the dynamic presence of our Lord's working in our lives.  However, if we allow our enemies to cast a shroud over our awareness of the abundant life of the risen Christ, we expect little and receive according to our stilted anticipation.  We "fall from grace" and "Christ is become of no effect" in the sense that we fail to avail ourselves of His glory because disbelieve the reality thereof.  "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

    We need not - we must not - live our lives as if our Lord has left or forsaken us.  He has not - "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).  Our enemies would tell us otherwise.   They are liars. Thus, we join Moses, who "endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27).  We overcome the clouding and enshrouding attacks of our spiritual foes by believing the Word of God that word after word, verse after verse, and page after page declares the presence, power, and involvement of the Lord in His people - "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).  We arise, we open our eyes, and we testify that "the Light shineth in darkness" (John 1:5).  It does - He does - and the devil himself cannot douse the illumination in all who immerse themselves in promises that cannot be broken, and in Truth that forever abides.

"As You Go"

     

I wait for you, My child, wherever you may go.

I'll be there when you arrive,

I'll be with you as you go.

We live our life together, you venture not alone.

Our hearts made one forever,

united in My Son.

I wait for you, My child, I'll be with you as you go.

I made you for such grace, to be My Spirit's home.

Oh, look into My face,

and with assurance know

that we'll always be together,  you'll never be alone.

We'll be as one forever,

each other's love to know.

I wait for you, My child, I'll be with you as you go.

Forever beckons to us, as does this day, this hour.

My Spirit's peace imparts

the presence and the power

for you to journey with Me, in darkness or in light.

I am in your heart forever,

and in this day, this night.

I wait for you, My child,  I'll be with you as you ago…

I'll be with you as you go.

"The Lord thy God, He it is that shall go with thee."

(Deuteronomy 31:6)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

(Proverbs 15:1)

   

    

  

“Attacked? Counterattack!

(a repeat from 2012)

  "Attacked?  Counterattack!

     We live in a world that frequently offers sights, sounds, images and ideas of discouragement.  Our flesh is also subject to downcast feelings and sensibilities.  Devilish spiritual enemies furthermore desire to lead us into sloughs of despondency that hinder the "joy unspeakable and full of glory" promised to all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:8).

     How do we respond to this three-pronged attack of the world, the flesh, and the devil on our walk with God and ministry to others?   The Biblical answer commands a three-pronged counterattack, as enabled by the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the church of God.

     First, we remember and affirm the countless assurances of Scripture that promise a heart of joy even in the midst of feelings and experiences of sorrow.  "Thy words were found and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16).   Read consistently with a trusting, humble attitude, the Bible will so reveal the Heart of God to us that our own hearts will find in Him our truest and purest joy, that is, Himself.  "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11).   Indeed, we could lose everything, but if Christ remained in our hearts, the essence of our joy would abide.

    This speaks of the second line of counterattack, namely, the indwelling Holy Spirit.   "The Comforter" applies balm to sorrow whereby our joy can be unhindered.  Most importantly, He reveals and glorifies the Lord Jesus unto and within the trusting heart, providing cause for joy even in times of grief and loss.  "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" confessed the Apostle Paul, a man whose chronicle of suffering would seem to have made continual rejoicing impossible.  Nothing could be further from the truth, even as Paul wrote the joy-filled epistle to the Philippians from a Roman prison.  "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

     Finally, we seek encouragement through the body of Christ, that is, in our fellow believers.  We receive comfort from our brothers and sisters in Christ as we avail ourselves of their fellowship.  However, our primary means of personal strengthening flows from encouragement we give out to others.  "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).  When we feel down, we can be sure that we are not alone.  Other brothers and sisters are going through the same.  Thus, our personal challenge provides opportunity to offer ourselves to the Lord for the encouragement of others.  This may come through a word, an action, a prayer, or perhaps simply the caring countenance of our face as we self-sacrificially determine to use our sorrows as opportunity to minister comfort to others.  "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

    The world, the devil, and the flesh, including our own, seek to discourage us.  Let us get our spiritual dander up about it, as it were.  By definition, born again believers in the Lord Jesus are vessels of His joyful heart.  "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth" (Psalm 28:7).  Indeed, when attacked by despondency, the Captain of our salvation purposes that we execute  a counterattack.  Let us hear His command, and through His Word, His Spirit, and His church, let us stand to "fight the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12).  The victory of the risen Lord Jesus shines forth from us thereby, and joys ascend from our sorrows we would never had known had we not been tempted by defeated but blustering enemies.

"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more."

(Psalm 16:11)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

(Colossians 2:8)

    

  

“The Word and the Word”

"The Word and the Word"  

  

   

    The Lord Jesus Christ is the living, personal Word of God.  "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).  The Bible is the written, doctrinal Word of God.  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).  The former provides the theme and subject matter for the latter.  The latter perfectly reveals the person and work of the former.  "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

   As we ponder our Savior and His redemptive work in our lives, we do so in terms of Scripture.  We must seek the true and authentic Christ, as opposed to "another Jesus" of which the Apostle Paul warned (II Corinthians 11:4).  Only the Bible perfectly reveals our Savior to us.  Other books penned by devoted believers may provide rays of light that help us in our understanding and response to God through Christ.  Scripture alone, however, is light in the sense of Truth.  Thus, in seeking to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ", we rightly glance at faithful literature that concerns Him.  But we gaze upon the pages of the Bible, knowing that as we seek God therein, perfect purity of illumination awaits our hearts and minds.  "How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103).

    As we read and consider the Scriptures, we do so in expectation of their revelation of Christ.  "Search the Scriptures… they are they which testify of Me" declared the Lord Jesus of the Old Testament (John 5:39).  Although never directly named in the pre-Incarnation documents, the Savior shines forth no less in the writings of Moses, the prophets and the psalmists than in the New Testament that brings Christ into open display of light and glory.  The Lord Jesus illuminates every letter, word, sentence, verse, passage, book, and Testament of the Bible.  We may not see Him clearly as we read and ponder, but He is there.  The Holy Spirit who inspired the words of Scripture purposes always to glorify the Son.  "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:13-14).

   The Bible reveals the person and work of the Lord Jesus.  The Lord Jesus comprises the purpose and understanding of the Bible.  Again, "in Thy light shall we see light."  The living and the written Word of God go hand in hand, heart in heart.  No truth about Christ and the Bible is more important to learn and to embrace.  Every time we open the Scriptures, we look for the Savior.  And every time we personally seek the Savior, we search in the light of Scripture.  This provides the key to knowing God in living, personal reality, and to understanding the Bible.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Nothing else.

"God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

(II Corinthians 4:6)

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."

(Jeremiah 15:16)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

(Colossians 2:8)