Rev. Patrick Vincent
“‘Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.’ And he urged him, and he took it.” – Jacob (Gen. 33:11)
Jacob has an infinite God as his portion. He had well more than enough. In the Hebrew, it reads, “I have all.”
As does anyone who trusts in the Lord. There is no fear of want through Jesus.
“Though a million men behold the sun, there is light enough for them all.” – Thomas Watson
I let my kids play in the busy street today. They wanted to really bad and who am I to tell them what they ought or ought not do? So I let them.
I also let my kids eat as much candy as they wanted. I told them it was bad in the long run, but they complained saying I didn’t really know what I was talking about. So I let them.
Then I let my kids out in the woods with a pack of wolves. I explained that the wolves looked soft & cute, but were actually extremely dangerous, but they said I was just being silly. So I let them.
Am I a good parent? Of course not! Those actions wouldn’t prove that I love my kids – it would prove that I don’t love them. It would be irresponsible and disqualify me as a parent.
So why do we doubt, second-guess, and complain about God’s ways?
GOD’S BOUNDARIES & GUIDANCE ARE FOR OUR GOOD, NOT HIS.
“For the Lord corrects those He loves and disciplines those He calls His own.” – Heb. 12:6 (Deut. 8:5; Psa. 94:12; Prov. 3:11)
REMEMBER THE PSALMS WERE WRITTEN TO BE SUNG!
“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever,” – Psalm 104:1-5
Yamma Ensemble, Global Hebrew & Jewish Music
We are called to not only be merciful, but to love mercy (Micah 6:8). To love it! When you love something you sacrifice for it, you protect it, and you put it before yourself.
Mercy (not getting what you deserve) is like that for a Christian and here’s why: God has shown us such immense mercy (hesed), the obvious response is to show mercy to others (Matt. 18:33).
Jesus and merciful are synonymous. Christian and merciful should be likewise.
Mercy, although not easy, is a requirement. The LORD expects it of His children.
Are we showing it?
There’s no way the Old Testament is relevant to me. People from 3,000+ years ago and 6,000 miles away living in a culture radically different than mine could NEVER speak into my life! Oh really.
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. – 1 Kings 18:21 (NKJV)
Is this not the same exact question we must answer today?
The original Hebrew is really vivid. The literal translation is: ” ‘Till when are ye leaping on the two branches?” (YLT)
Here’s the word picture Elijah is painting: a bird is walking down a branch and it forks. Instead of choosing one branch or the other, the bird begins leaping between the two.
He’s saying: YA GOTTA PICK A BRANCH!
Is it going to be God or satan? There is no third branch.
A fork in the road splits the road. Now it runs in completely different directions; one goes North and one goes South. The further along you go, the further away from the other you get.
The word pacach; to halt or hesitate also has the idea of “dancing” between two.
Are you dancing between God and satan?
Try showing up to Prom with two dates and see how that ends up for you. No, both demand your affection & loyalty. But you can give it to only one.
Jesus said you cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24a). At least have some conviction; If the LORD is God, (which He is, of course), then give Him your 100%. If the Baal is God (which he is not, of course), then give him your 100%. This wishy-washy, back-and-forth nonsense is just annoying.
Notice the people’s reply. Crickets. What’s your reply?
You CANNOT be silent on this issue. Its the most important issue of your life! God has set before you life & death, blessings & curses; now choose life! (Deut. 30:15-20)
Hmmm, the OT’s seeming awfully relevant suddenly, isn’t it?
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Ref:
God prefers love to Him & love to your neighbor above religious lip service. Worship with no heart disgusts Him.
Do you call the Sabbath a delight?
“If you turn away… From doing YOUR pleasure on MY holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight,… And honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD,”– Isa. 58:13-14 (Emphasis mine)
Where does God want the focus? On Him or your service? He desires you to actually WANT to worship, not HAVE to. If you want to worship God, then you will definitely find joy in the Sabbath!
God is not a means to an end – Serving God is satisfying in itself.
Far too often we have the incorrect response to God, myself included. Micah 6:8 is the correct response. He lays out what is required of God from His followers. This is is what’s expected:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8
Micah 6:8 is the RECIPROCAL RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE. It is a lifestyle of justice, mercy, and humility. It is the by-product of loving Jesus.
Let us all strive to embody His lofty requirements!
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God sent Jeremiah on a field trip to a potter’s studio where he saw an artist forming & fashioning clay as he saw fit. The end result was a beautiful, useful pot.
This simple, but powerful analogy illustrates how God shapes the lives of nations & individuals.
With total authority, God patiently & purposefully uses circumstances & people to mold us into what He desires.
He forms us into His image, we do not form Him into ours!
To be in God’s will is to be on His wheel.
When we face difficulties, often we ask, “God, why is this happening?” But we must remember to trust the hands of the Potter. His way is best, even when we can’t understand it. He knows how hot to make the kiln and how long to keep us in there. Without faith, it is impossible to please God! (Heb. 11:6)
Jeremiah 18 is a wonderful reminder that God loves to remake marred vessels. He continually sanctifies us. Without the Potter, the clay can do absolutely nothing! Yield & submit to the Potter; His ways are best.
He is in the people-molding business. God looks at that marred lump of clay and sees the potential pot yet to be formed in the future.God can use whatever He wants in order to turn you into an honorable vessel for His service; pain, relationships, promotions, & demotions.
This may seem depressing – but when you really think about it, it’s VERY HOPEFUL!
It’s really a story about the Potter’s Grace!
When you see a wonderful & beautiful vase, you don’t think that the vase made itself: you marvel at the Maker!
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Ref:
Parents love to give their kids gifts, don’t we? We also love it when they actually use them!
We are all given spiritual gifts from our Heavenly Father. We will all stand in judgement to give account of how we used our gifts at the “bema” judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10)
HOW ARE YOU USING YOURS?
The person to whom much is given, much is expected, & much will be rewarded (Luke 12:48). The person who is not using their gifts for Christ everything will be taken from him (Matt. 25:14-30).
We all have gifts from the Holy Spirit, let us use them! (Rom. 12:6)
I want to here Him say: Well done, good & faithful servant! (Matt. 25:21)
Don’t you?
Let’s say someone comes up to you, removes your coat, and sends it away. Would you say you still had your coat?
No. It was removed. It was sent away. Literally, the coat is no longer here.
Jesus takes our sins away. (1 John 3:5). When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:19)!”
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 (Emphasis mine)
Just like that coat; they’re gone. Now, of course we don’t miss the coat or go shopping for new coats, right?
“No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin,” – 1 John 3:9 (AMP)
Therefore, if we repent and turn to Him, Jesus forgives our sins (something only God can do, by the way).
The Greek for “forgive” carries the word picture of discharging something so as to leave.
I note it because:
Therefore, because of Jesus’s wonderful Love & Grace, your sins have been:
Let go; fired, dismissed, sacked, axed, laid-off, and canned. They have been given their “pink slip” and “walking papers.” Like Elvis, your sins have left the building.
Brother and sister, they are not even there! (Heb. 8:12, Rom. 11:27, Mic. 7:19, Psa. 103:12)
To pretend otherwise is to act like you still have that coat on that someone removed from you and sent away.
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Octavius Winslow said the Bible was “the book for the afflicted.” Afflicted; troubled, burdened, distressed. That is to say, it is for every single last one of us: male or female, rich or poor,,… even Democrat or Republican:
We are all deeply, deeply afflicted.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray – but now I obey Your Word. You are good and what you do is good,” – Psa. 119:67
Troubled? Stressed? Harassed? Worried? Burdened? I got the book for you.
God’s Word is ALIVE & ACTIVE (Heb. 4:12) and for the AFFLICTED! I need it as much as I need the next breath I take. Without it, I perish. Without it, you perish.
Without it, there is no hope for any of we, the afflicted.
