A human
observation seems that in order for Jehovah to become human, entering His own
creation as Jesus, He needed to use some form of freedom to serve, rather than
the “might makes right” approach of the Old Testament. The strategy seems to
change.
“Freedom
to choose” was a downfall in Genesis story of Eden.
Freedom to choose is
salvation “up fall” in the New Testament.
Just some of God’s ways not our logic.
Praying
to Jehovah God revives our memories.
“Our
help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth”, PSALM 124: 8,
(ESV)
PSALM
103: 2,” Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all
His benefits”
(NKJV).
“Forget not all the good
he has done.” (NIV)
“doesn’t forget a single
blessing” ( Modern trans. Message)
Language
scholars say the word g’mul (the word benefit) in Hebrew is often used
with behavior words and means ‘it’s a done deal’ God may still have progress happening
but has finished those benefits for the believer.
True
salvation is not some religious commodity to be advertised, long-windedly displayed, or presented as a way
by actions to purchase through behavior ideas.
True
salvation, with benefits, is completed [ a done deal] a Christ-centered process
in which a real person Jesus/God processed and joins us as a partner for
whatever life throws at us.
The
invisible Jesus-Holy Spirit energy moves through us like a well-stocked savings
account of character growth.
Slow
down! Breeeeethe in the blessings.
For
the believer:
The human imagination is
wonderful.
And
too. Not anything imagined by a person is overlooked by God. All the main elements
are covered. The word “there” is earth bound.
“If
I ascend into heaven, you are there” [air]
“If
I make my bed in Sheol (hell fire), you are there” [fire]
“If
I take wings of the morning and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea, even
there ...” [water] Psalm 139: 8-9.
God
has us covered.
God’s
word, scripture, embraces ALL things in relationship to the human soul
and earth itself.
God
has shared himself in Jesus and couched all issues in the physical, laced with
the spirit world.
Prayer
joins with Him as it raises our consciousness into the larger spirit world and
is joined by Christ in person. This cooperation makes us a family, always cared
for and embraced, even when we do not feel our involvement.
The
Matthew chapter 5 verse 3 promises an amazing condition for those who turn the
self over to Christ.
We
find a great reward and act of graciousness when the scripture says, “theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.”
Here
is what’s so amazing. We do not just belong to heaven. . .heaven belongs to us
along with the Almighty!
Does one truth of scripture
ask us to be poor?
“Blessed are the poor in
spirit…” [Mt. 5: 3]
To
define “poor” in America becomes a real challenge since we have a very strong
middle class economically. The Bible days seem to have mostly rich and poor. Many
more just struggled to make the basics, like food and good water, through the
day. Maybe so today?
However,
Jesus used the word poor and people’s ears perked up. . .but then He added “in
spirit.”
Being
poor in spirit means a condition of surrendering the survival-self
to something
or someone greater than survival. Some think that is family or money or some
tangible. Not so.
Jesus
meant to surrender a false self for the truer self that is found and
established in submitting all to Christ.
A thought about the Cross of
Jesus.
He endured the pain of the
Cross as NO RELIEF so we could ultimately have relief.
We
do not always understand, can mostly accept by faith in God’s Grace, that He
somehow inverts his authority by his essence of love. His merciful love through
the humiliation of His Son on the Cross keeps on inventing history as if humans are in
charge.
Yet, we are not!
