Category Archives: Christian Life

WHERE IS GOD?

Christian life, ,

An insignificant incident happened that answered this question for me.

I think of Job in his tragic and painful circumstances. He searched for God but couldn’t find Him. He cried out to God but his cries were unanswered.
His friends accused him of secret sin which he vehemently denied. He wasn’t interested in theological or philosophical answers to his dilemma. He wanted God, and God was strangely silent, even absent in his time of need.

‭Job‬ ‭23:3‬ ‭NLT‬
[3] “If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court….
[8] I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. [9] I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed.”

Sometimes, we need God in huge crises and sometimes we call on Him in small but irksome situations. Sometimes God seems farther away than the outer limits of the universe and sometimes He feels very near.

My little need was infinitessimally small compared with other people’s experiences but… the answer that came made a huge impression on me.

I had been shopping for weekly requirements which included shopping for an elderly friend. It’s my practice to put all the till slips into a plastic sleeve to reconcile my bank statement with my spending tracker when I got home. I also needed the till slips to claim a refund for my friend’s weekly needs.

Came the time to do the reconciliation, my little plastic packet of till slips was nowhere to be found. I searched all the places it could have been in my home but it was missing. I looked outside to see whether I had dropped it on my way in but…nothing.

I whispered a prayer to the Lord and, instantly, I had a clear impression in my mind, not words, just a thought. “Look in the dustbin.” I had disposed of some trash from my car on my way inside. Did I perhaps throw it into the bin with the trash?

Then the penny dropped. I knew it was there before I even before lifted the dustbin lid! Fortunately, the dustbin bag had just been renewed – it was almost empty. All I did was open the dustbin, move a few items, and there it was!

I was overwhelmed with the intimacy of that moment. Yes, the Holy Spirit was so near, in fact, right within me. He heard my thought-prayer and back came a thought-answer, as insignificant as my need happened to be.

Why did the Holy Spirit answer me? It was not that He answered me that matters. It’s the reason He answered me that is so special. He cares! It mattered to Him that I needed those till slips. Really? Yes, God is so intimately involved in our lives that He cares about the smallest details that affect us.

Where is God? Out there in the universe somewhere? No, He is wherever you want Him to be. He is nearer than you breath or as far away as you have pushed Him. He will never intrude if you shut Him out.
You take the initiative.

‭James‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT‬
[8 “Come close to God, and God will come close to you…. ”

David’s meditation in Psalm 139 produced an awareness of God’s nearness and tender care of His child that overwhelmed him. What captured David’s heart was God’s infinite love in blessing, guiding and supporting him through all of life’s doings regardless of his failing fallen humanness.

So it is with us. God know us deeply, intimately, thoroughly, yet He accompanies and supervises every detail of our lives, intervening to meet every need and adjust our direction so that we will arrive at last at our desired destination – His presence forever.

He has planned and recorded every day before we live it. His thoughts about us are inestimably innumerable. We can never count them or get to the end of them.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:17‭-‬18‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[17] “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! [18] I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”

So, let’s just throw ourselves on Him where we are safe.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

Christian life, ,

Recently, I listened to a pastor, on a video clip, explain the reason for the first verse in Genesis 1. Why does the Bible start with the record of the way God brought order to a chaotic planet? Not only did He create the earth but He also prepared it for human habitation.

He lit up the planet to expose the chaos then, step by step, He restored functionality on every level. He made plants and animals and, when everything He made was “good”, functional, He fashioned a human pair to set the process of inhabiting the earth in motion under His authority.

All the details of this process point to one fact,

‭Psalms‬ ‭24:1‬ ‭NLT‬
[1] “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.”

Ownership! And… ownership means accountability. However much people hate, deny, and run from accountability, they can never escape the fact that everyone is answerable to God for what they do and the way they live.

The Bible is adamant that everyone must stand before God.

‭Romans‬ ‭14:11‭-‬12‬ ‭NLT‬
[11] “For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” [12] Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”

‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:27‬ ‭NLT‬
[27] “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment..”

‭Revelation‬ ‭20:11‭-‬12‬ ‭NLT‬
[11] “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. [12] I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.”

It was Adam, the first man, who chose to reject accountability to God and strike out on his own but… his decision did not automatically cancel God’s ownership of the human race yet to come. It only heightened the guilt of all who deny their answerability to the God who made them.

On what grounds then, does God judge every person who either submits to or denies their accountability to God?

God’s right to judge is enhanced by His solution to man’s rebellion.

‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬
[16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

By paying the debt for every person’s rebellion, the incarnate Son of God, Jesus, gives everyone who believes in Him, i.e., submits unconditionally to His supreme authority, a new beginning. Their disposition is transformed from rebel to son. They recognise and accept their accountability, live by His instructions, fix their gaze in Him, and move in the direction of eternal life.

Those who reject God’s solution and continue to express their rebellion by living in purposeful contradiction to God’s instructions, must accept the consequences.

‭John‬ ‭3:18‭-‬20‬ ‭NLT‬
[18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [19] And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. [20] All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.”

The only sin for which people will be judged is their refusal to accept accountability to Jesus, who is their judge because He paid their debt.

‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭17:24‭-‬26‬ ‭NLT‬
[24] “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, [25] and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. [26] From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries….
[30] “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. [31] For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

There is a day coming when every person will stand before Jesus, the Judge, and give an account of his/her accountability. No excuse will acquit the guilty.

The standard of God’s Word will be the measure by which people will be judged and that standard is clear and inescapable.

‭Psalms‬ ‭119:130‬ ‭NIV‬
[130] “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

‭1 John‬ ‭5:11‭-‬12‬ ‭NLT‬
[11]”And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”

Everyone must answer the same question,

Matthew‬ ‭16:15‬ ‭NLT‬
[15].. “But who do you say I am?”

PSALM 91

Christian Life, ,

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
  you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation. ”

Psalm 91

There’s a place of rest and shelter

‘Neath God’s shadow, near His heart.

I declare, “You are my refuge,

Place of safety, my protection,

Covered there, from harm apart.”

He will save from the devourer,

Keep you from the fowler’s snare,

Fatal plagues will never touch you,

Safely in your dwelling keep you

‘Neath His wings, abiding there.

For His word is your protector,

All His promises are true:

Light and darkness hold no terror;

Plagues of night, nor day’s disaster,

These will never trouble you.

Though a thousand fall around me,

Evil will not touch my life;

Yes, though sinful men are dying,

Punished for their wicked living,

God will keep me from the strife.

For Jehovah is my refuge!

God above all gods, my Fear;

Covered by His holy presence,

Sheltered safe beneath His shadow,

How can any plague come near?

Yes, He gives His angels orders

To protect you where you go:

With their hands they hold you steady

Lest you trip on rocks, and stumble,

For Jehovah loves you so!

What if lion or serpent meet you?

You need never be afraid;

He will give you power to trample

On them, they will never hurt you;

List’ to what the Lord has said.

“‘Cause he loves me, I will rescue

Just because he trusts in me;

When he calls me, I will answer,

When in trouble, I will help him;

Long life is his destiny.”

PSALM 51

Christian Life

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 51

How kind1 How merciful you are

O God, how full of grace!

Forgive my sin, how great it is —

Turn not away your face.

O wash me , cleanse me from this guilt

My rebel heart incurred

When I ignored your righteousness —

Despised your holy word.

Restore to me the purity

I had within my heart

Before I did this shameful deed —

It haunts me day and night.

‘Twas you I hurt, ‘gainst you alone

I sinned, O God, how bad

I was to do this dreadful deed

That made your heart so sad.

You saw it all, I could not hide

My actions from your face —

How just you are to sentence me,

To punish my disgrace,

For I was born a sinner, yes,

Conceived with evil heart

While still within my mother’s womb,

Unrighteous from the start.

‘Tis honesty that you deserve,

Sincerity and truth:

I cannot live without your help;

I’ve tried it from my youth.

I need the cleansing blood to wash

Away my awful stain,

To cleanse away this guilt, and make

Me white as snow again.

And when my punishment is through,

Please give me back my joy,

And see me like you used to do

When I was just a boy.

O recreate my heart and fill

My thoughts with righteousness;

Don’t banish from your presence, Lord,

I need your hand to bless.

Don’t take your Holy Spirit, O

How much I need Him near;

Restore my joy again to me,

Give me a listening ear.

How eager I will be to teach

To sinners righteous ways,

To turn them from their wickedness

And seek you all their days.

Don’t sentence me to death, my God,

But come and rescue me:

Of your forgiveness I will sing

And joyful I will be.

Not sacrifice is what you want —

How gladly I would give

My bulls and goats in penance.  Lord,

If they could make me live.

A broken heart is your desire,

A contrite spirit too,

A life submissive in your hand —

This is what pleases you.

(Don’t punish Israel for my sins;

Protect Jerusalem).

O see the good deeds I will do

And take delight in them.

And when I bring to you each day

My sacrifice of blood,

I’ll offer from a grateful heart

My worship, O my God.

PSALM 46

Christian life

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and our strength,

A tested help in trouble;

We need not fear, though earth explodes

And blows up like a bubble!

Let oceans roar, let mountains fall,

Our hearts will never quiver

For through the city of our God

There runs a joyful river.

That city is God’s dwelling place;

It stands unmoved forever,

Though chaos rips the world apart,

God’s city’s shaken never.

He’ll not withhold His proffered help —

The nations rage in anger,

But, when God speaks, earth bows the knee;

It can withstand no longer.

All human kingdoms fall in ruins,

For God, heaven’s great Commander

Has come to earth to rescue us;

Come, bow in awe and wonder.

His works are awesome, come and see

How kingdoms shake and totter;

He causes wars to cease on earth

Destroying every rotter!

Be quiet!  Know that I am God!

I call to every nation

To honour me in all the earth,

Each part of my creation.

Commander of the heavenly hosts,

Our God is always for us

To rescue us Jehovah comes.

Come join the mighty chorus.