I was driving back from getting groceries yesterday. It's 40 minute drive and I love to sing and pray in the Spirit.
I was thinking about how blessed I feel and that even though our income has not changed that much in the past few years, we seem to have more. But not just money. Our family has more peace, more joy, more grace toward one another. We don't seem to strive like we used to when we hit a rough patch. So I asked the Lord, "Why is it that we just seem more blessed?"
He brought the scripture in Luke 6 that says, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
I was thinking, we have not given that much more in the monetary sense. So, I kept pressing into what the Lord meant by this scripture.
He said, "You receive into your lap. This word bosom is the key to understanding."
I started to think about a lap and really the only time we "have" a lap is when we are resting. I got pretty excited and then asked the Lord if that was what He meant. I felt Him smile because He knew that I understood.
We are blessed more and more as it is poured into our lap because we are resting and focusing on the finished work of salvation that Jesus provided. He did the work; we get to reap the benefits.
Hallelujah!
Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Blood, sweat and tears~Why does it say our sorrows will be multiplied?
So why does it say in Psalm 16: 4 that their sorrows shall be multiplied?
I mentioned in Galatians 3:13, it states we bring a curse upon ourselves when we try to mix law and grace. In Psalms 16:4 it explains that if we offer our own blood or as the expression goes “our blood, sweat and tears,” (our own works of righteousness) then it is logical to conclude that we are not focusing on the perfect, completed sacrifice of Jesus. Instead, we put an emphasis on our own “good” works to please the Father. Focusing on our own works is what leads to sorrows. God set this spiritual principle in motion and we can choose to disagree and continue to think we need to do something for God’s favor, but the spiritual precept is no respecter of persons.
Isaiah 64:6 explains our righteousness is as filthy rags. When we focus on our works it’s like an insult to God sending His Son. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right unto a man but in the end it leads to destruction.” I thought it was a good thing, a right thing, to work to get God’s approval. We need to get a deeper revelation that we can go boldly to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:16) Jesus paid it all. We need to focus on the finished work of Christ. If we have a mindset or an old wineskin as Jesus called it, then we will continue to focus on our works or lack of works and we will not have the confidence to go to Father God for what Christ died for. Jesus said “It is finished” but we seem to think we still need to do something.
I know this destructive mentality of believing I had to do something to gain God's favor is most of the reason I was so exhausted for so many years. Paul had some pretty strong language to express the truth he knew to the Galatians Christians. These Believers were twisting the gospel and telling the gentile Christians that they needed to be circumcised (or trust in the Law of Moses) before they could become baptized as believers in Christ. I found myself doing the same thing when I knew I was saved by grace but felt the need to do “good” deeds to gain God’s favor. This performance driven, religion-based way of life only brings death to our spiritual growth.
I mentioned in Galatians 3:13, it states we bring a curse upon ourselves when we try to mix law and grace. In Psalms 16:4 it explains that if we offer our own blood or as the expression goes “our blood, sweat and tears,” (our own works of righteousness) then it is logical to conclude that we are not focusing on the perfect, completed sacrifice of Jesus. Instead, we put an emphasis on our own “good” works to please the Father. Focusing on our own works is what leads to sorrows. God set this spiritual principle in motion and we can choose to disagree and continue to think we need to do something for God’s favor, but the spiritual precept is no respecter of persons.
Isaiah 64:6 explains our righteousness is as filthy rags. When we focus on our works it’s like an insult to God sending His Son. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right unto a man but in the end it leads to destruction.” I thought it was a good thing, a right thing, to work to get God’s approval. We need to get a deeper revelation that we can go boldly to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:16) Jesus paid it all. We need to focus on the finished work of Christ. If we have a mindset or an old wineskin as Jesus called it, then we will continue to focus on our works or lack of works and we will not have the confidence to go to Father God for what Christ died for. Jesus said “It is finished” but we seem to think we still need to do something.
I know this destructive mentality of believing I had to do something to gain God's favor is most of the reason I was so exhausted for so many years. Paul had some pretty strong language to express the truth he knew to the Galatians Christians. These Believers were twisting the gospel and telling the gentile Christians that they needed to be circumcised (or trust in the Law of Moses) before they could become baptized as believers in Christ. I found myself doing the same thing when I knew I was saved by grace but felt the need to do “good” deeds to gain God’s favor. This performance driven, religion-based way of life only brings death to our spiritual growth.
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