You are a child of God

I John 3:2 (NLT)

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. 

The apostle John authored both the gospel of John and I, II, and III John. The purpose of the gospel of John was to “arouse a saving faith” (John 20:31) while the purpose of I John was to establish certainty (see I John 5:13) regarding that faith.  Henrietta Mears described I John as the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) of Jesus Christ.  Martin Luther described I John like this—“I have never read a book written in simpler words and yet the words are inexpressible”.  I think that I John is among required reading for brand new Christians. 

John describes believers in Christ as God’s children.  What does it mean to be a child of God?  A Christian friend gave me the following “letter” years ago when I was going through some really tough times years ago, before the internet was available.  I frankly don’t know who authored this beautiful letter from God[1].  I have treasured these words and I hope that you do too:

My Beloved Child,

I see your loneliness and fears, your guilt and frustrations.  I see your endless search for love and fulfillment.  All this must be in order for you to come to the end of your own understanding ---then you can hear My voice.   Listen carefully amid the noise of the world and you will hear.

I love you!  I shed My blood for you to make you free.  Give yourself completely to Me.  I created you to be just as you are, and you are lovely in My eyes.  Do not criticize yourself or become depressed for not being perfect in your own eyes.  This leads to frustrations.  I want you to trust Me one step, one second at a time.  Dwell in My power and My love and be free; be yourself.  Don’t allow other people to control you.  I will guide you, if you let Me, but be aware of My presence in everything.  I give you patience, love, joy, and peace.  Look to Me for answers for I am your Shepherd and will lead you.  Follow Me only.  Do not ever forget this.  Listen and I will tell you My will.

Let My love flow from you and spill over to all you encounter.  Be not concerned with yourself.  You are My responsibility.  I will change you without your ever knowing it.  You are to love yourself and love others, simply because I love you.  Take your eyes off yourself; look only to Me.  I lead, I change, I create, but not when you are striving.  You are Mine....let Me have the joy of making you like Christ.  Learn from Him--be meek and humble of heart.

Your only command is to look to Me, and Me only--not to yourself or to others.  Do not struggle, but relax in My love.  I know what is best for you and I will do it in you.  Stop trying to become, and let Me make you into what I want.  My will is perfect; My love is sufficient.  I will supply all your needs...only look to Me.

I love you, 

Your heavenly Father

God is purposeful for not describing to His children in Christ what we shall be like after we die other than assuring us that we will be like Jesus and with Him.  So whatever we read about the personality and character of Jesus in the gospels and the rest of the New Testament, we can be assured that each of us will be like Him.

May these words give you great hope and comfort and may they strengthen you not only in your own efforts to be faithful and obedient, but also to influence others around you to become God’s children.

---

[1] http://www.newfoundationspubl.org/from3.htm

God's hedge of protection--one of my favorite verses

Job 1:10 (NIV)

“Have You not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?

This verse is the basis for the phrase, “God’s hedge of protection”.  I pray for His hedge of protection all the time.  I pray for His hedge of protection around my house when a major storm is coming.  I pray for His hedge of protection when I and/or a loved one are going on a trip.  I pray for His hedge of protection around my wife, children, and grandchildren as they go about their lives.  It is a most wonderfully comforting thought that God’s hedge of protection shields and guards His children.

Who spoke these words to God?  Satan!  Job 1:6 states that the angels came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came with them.  It was the Lord who first spoke to Satan and after Lord praised Job in verse 8, Satan retorts with this cynical rebuttal.  While indeed a rebuttal, it was a fact that God protected and blessed Job and He had the power to keep trouble away from Job. 

Job lost God’s protection because it was God’s choice, not because God no longer had the power.  Scholars have contemplated and debated for centuries why God used Job the way He did and caused Job to lose everything.  Yet a major learning point from this story is that God is God and has the power to do whatever He chooses.  Also, the end of the story for Job was receiving wonderful blessings.  

It takes great faith to believe with all of your heart that God will protect you and those you love.  Indeed, He has the power and desire to do so.  God’s power and desire has another name---grace.  God’s grace will put a hedge of protection around you and your loved ones.  What a promise!

What does He protect you against?  Whatever you ask Him.  Protect you against physical danger—He will.  Protect you against Satan’s temptations—He will.  Protect you against losing your faith—He will.  Protect your children against the forces of evil.  He will.  Whatever you ask Him to protect you against, He will, but you must believe that He will with all of your heart.

“God's protection has always been with me.  It's just a matter of understanding that He loves us and He wants us to be safe.  He will keep us safe if we just put our trust in Him.  That's the thing...that's all there is to it.  Prayer is a powerful thing.” –- Charlie Daniels

Making excuses

Luke 14:21-24 (TNIV)

“The servant came back and reported this to his master.  Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'  'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’  I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” 

The context for this story starts in Luke 14:15.  This is the parable of the Great Supper.  Many people were invited to the Great Supper, but so many had excuses for why they could not come:

·  The excuse of possessions (verse 18)

·  The excuse of career (verse 19)

·  The excuse of relationships (verse 20)

These excuses show the humor of Jesus.  For example, how can one go out and look at his property when it is dark (the dinner was at night)?  Would someone buy oxen, then determine if they were worth the investment?  The excuse about the wife in verse 20 surely generated some laughter with Jesus’ audience!

When so many refused to accept the invitation (or had backed out after first accepting the invitation), the owner became angry and told his servant to invite the less fortunate and those in remote areas. 

What is the meaning of this parable?  Jesus was talking to the Jews.  The supper was a feast of salvation.  Salvation is an invitation from God, all anyone has to do is accept it, everything else is provided.  When the original guests started making lame excuses the host was insulted.  The result?  He shut the door on those originally invited (the Jews).  They will not get a taste of the prepared meal, the banquet.  Instead others (the Gentiles) will take their place at the banquet. 

God will fill His kingdom, no matter what.  Likewise, your church should/will make room for everyone.  If those originally called refuse the invitation, others will take their place.  Jesus is saying that He demands full participation in His kingdom.  Are you accepting His invitation to be part of His kingdom, His banquet, His celebration?  Or, are you making excuses?  Are you doing your part in inviting and welcoming others to be part of our church? 

God heals the brokenhearted

Psalm 147:1,3,5,11 (NLT)

Praise the Lord!  How good to sing praises to our God!  How delightful and how fitting!  He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.  How great is our Lord!  His power is absolute!  His understanding is beyond comprehension!  The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love. 

There are 150 Psalms with the final 5 Psalms called the “Hallelujah Psalms”.  Billy Graham has suggested reading 5 Psalms a day so that over a month, you will have read all 150 Psalms.  Also, there are 31 chapters in Proverbs so reading one chapter a day will enable you to read the entire book of Proverbs in one month. 

May I pick on the men here?  I notice most men (and some women) do not sing when praise songs are sung and played.  I admit that sometimes I don’t sing either.  Yet the Bible here says how good, delightful and fitting it is to sing praises to our God.  Delightful means pleasant in the Hebrew that literally means to be agreeable; that is, by singing to the Lord you are in agreement that He is who He says He.  To sing praises is also fitting; that is, it is appropriate that all God’s people sing His praises.  Not to sing, not to at least voice words of praise is inappropriate.  Please remember this from now on when participating in a worship service. 

Verse 3 says that the Lord heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.  Many reading this have broken hearts and wounds right now.  The Hebrew word for brokenhearted literally means broken into pieces or crushed.  The Hebrew word for wounds means to be in pain or to hurt from injury.  Often wounds come from other Christians.  It’s sad but true.  Christians wound other Christians, even to the point of breaking their hearts.  We take our faith, our church and our Christian brothers and sisters seriously and when something happens due to words by people or practices in the church, people are wounded significantly.  Anyone who has left a church because of words and/or actions of church leaders or members know what it means to be wounded.  Wounds from church are the last place you would expect to be hurt, but I believe that it happens to almost all Christians at one time or another.

Regardless, how great is the Lord who can help you if you are brokenhearted and/or wounded.  He has power to heal you and He understands your hurt.  Can you imagine how He felt seeing His Son so terribly wounded by His chosen people?  You cannot comprehend His understanding and appreciation of what you are going through.  But, of course, it takes faith for you to believe this.  Faith and fear (reverence) go hand-in-hand and this is what it takes to please the Lord, to enable Him to be delighted in you.  Knowing His delight in you will help you keep your hope in Him and His love that never fails (I Corinthians 13:8). 

Clearly cry out and tell the Lord what breaks your heart, what wounds you have and what hope you have in Him to help you overcome these afflictions.