Thursday, March 18th, 2010

 

Dear Ones,

 

God is so gracious and wonderful to us.  It is when we, like the Olympic contestants passionately pursue the gold,  seek Him in all that we purpose in our heart to think and do that we come close enough to see him and be changed by Him.  But in the course of seeking, it tends too often to be our nature to seek that place out front in the limelight for all to see how smart, spiritual, pious, holier than, faithful or just more religious than others. 

 

Over the past days, months and years I have wrestled with some of the evidences of relations in the family gone awry. The rise of dissentions resulting in divisions are all to common. 

 

Paul found some of these things among the young churches and wrote;
Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (KJV)

 

We tend to use these scriptures to justify our actions when we feel we have been hurt or wronged.  "I will exercise tough love here and they will have to come to me" or "I will be ridiculously nice to them and by so doing heap coals on their head."  But no, that is not the attitude nor is it what Paul is saying. What he is saying is something totally different!  Paul is not questioning if it be possible but, regardless of it's possibilities, you do it! "Whether it is possible you live peaceably with all men."  For we know that all things are possible through Christ! It is a choice that we make!

 

Two key words seem to imply separate meanings but agree even though I prefer a different word.*

 

"Whether it is possible or not, you live peaceably with all men regardless."  By your action the other party will be burdened with his conscience and have to make the  choice to change. 

Proverbs 16:7  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (KJV)

If I do my part in seeking to please God, then, and only then, when I please him will others be pleased with me.

 

In every encounter between God and the characters of the Bible the result was change in  the character not change in God. It is our purpose to fit into His plan not His plan to fit into ours. 
 

Genesis 32:30 (b) ..... for I have seen God face to face,  (KJV)
 

Jacob was never the same. He left there with a limp and a new name (Yisra'el-) Israel = "God prevails".

 

It is when we like David stop complaining to God with woe is me and seek his face that God responds.
 

Psalm 27:8  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. (KJV)

God continues to seek us and encourages us to seek him but we are too occupied seeking ourselves. We tend to place ourselves on the high seat in the kingdom only occasionally noticing His absence. Paul had been there, done that but Christ revealed Himself to Paul there on the road to Damascus and his life was never the same.

 
Romans 11:33-36 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (KJV)
 

J. B. Philips poses the question "when we have seen God's mercy and wisdom: how shall we respond?"  He answers his question in the 12th chapter of Romans when he paraphrases these verses, "With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.  Don't let the world around you squeeze you into it's own mold, but let God mold your mind from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands, and moves toward the goal of true maturity.

 

As your spiritual leader, I give this piece of advice to each one of you.  Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all."

 

Heavenly Father, before entering fully upon the duties of this new day, I bow before You and raise my heart and my voice in prayer. I pray Thee heavenly father, that I may be truly conscious of Your presences with me as I begin this day.  Help me to know, that in all the work of this day, that the still small voice that speaks within me and calls me to the best things, is the voice of God; that the power that tugs at my heart is the hand of God; and that the light that falls upon my pathway, directing me in the right way, is the light of the love of my father God. So may I walk this day with thee as Thy Holy Spirit guides me, and as I have been taught by Thy Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ the Righteous. 
 

I give Thee the love and gratitude of my heart for all the blessings I enjoy. Take my heart now dear Father into Thy loving care as I go forth to the duties of this day. May my life be a benediction and blessing to all who need them. Lead me ever in the way You would have me to go, and when the journey is done, gather me home at last; in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A prayer claimed and made personal to me from Rev. Frank G. Smith 
 

*First,  ei; is a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.: I prefer (whether) because (if) limits the condition "to the existent" where whether seems to remove the limits and leaves "regardless."
The second  humon (hoo-mone'); genitive case of (from or concerning) you: ye, you, your (own, selves)  to me I prefer "your own selves (you)".