Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
One way to find the truth is to look at what Satan and the world hates. They hate the humble. They hate and mock those that live in the right. They hate Christ.
So it shouldn't be any surprise that a savior coming humbly is mocked by the world. The world loves the arrogant. The world loves the proud. So the world puts them up above the rest of us.
And yet the world is still self hating. And with glee rips apart those they had lifted up and throws them broken upon the ground. Only to replace them with the next arrogant and proud man.
Christ came humbly to show us how to live. So reject the world's way and follow Christ's example.
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
I love the visualization of God melting down my soul, my very being.
Through the fire of hard times, His Word, and whatever He brings into my path I see Him working at the forge. Melting me down again and again. Slowing burning off the impurities until all that is left is what is best for His design.
My sins are cast far from me. He no longer holds them against me for Christ has born the punishment. But, I don't get keep those impurities within my soul. They must be removed for we must be forged for His purpose.
So again and again you will be melted down.
Praise the LORD.
When You Lie Down ... Revelation 20-22
Chapter 20 in mp3 Chapter 21 in mp3 Chapter 22 in mp3 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you. You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths.
Rather fitting description for what you watch on TV and experience in our culture. And if you fill your daily thoughts with that ... how sad the LORD must be trying to get through the mess of what is left of our minds. And if that is your actions ... be prepared for the smack down.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.
Many times the suffering of others has been to our grace. The powerful speaker at the front of the church is many times the person who has suffered greatly and came through the other side. And I can understand things without having to experience it by understanding those people that HAVE experienced it.
Yet, I can't imagine being told before hand that you are about to suffer as a lesson for others. It is one thing to be prepared that God may call you for that kind of suffering. But, to be told that you were going to lose what you love before it happens? That would be hard. Even Christ prayed that the cup would pass from him.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Suffering is suffering. It isn't that you should actually rather feel joy. You are suffering! But, intellectually we can understand we are sharing the same pain, the same loss, the same sufferings as Christ. And in that we can rejoice.
There is nothing wrong with being sad and in pain. There is nothing wrong in trying to see the LORD's good in it. It is a hope that can get you through some of the darkest hours of your life.
Speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.
The Word of God is true and eternal. It doesn't favor anyone. Not and rich and not the poor. Not the people up high and not the people down at the bottom of life.
When we read it God is speaking to us. On how to live and on how we will be corrected if we continue on the wrong path.
We listen to it and we read it. And we know that whether we actually listen and burn it upon our minds and hearts ... or refuse the truth. It is still true.
Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.
As a Christian what is the temple of the LORD? You are.
God points out to Ezekiel the abominations that were in the temple. Other gods. Idols. The worship of the sun. If God took you on a tour of your own soul what would you see? When you look in deep within yourself do you see other gods?
Our time is spent on us. So I suppose you would see a huge golden idol made to look like the ideal you. Sculpted muscles and a beautiful body.
Our time is spent chasing after money. So I suppose you would see carvings of the chase upon the walls. Wealthy men purchasing the best of everything. Wealthy women at leisure doing as they pleased.
And you would would be found bowing down under a bright spot light. The spot light of fame. Where others cheer you on and praise all the little things you do. No matter how stupid.
I know I need to clean the temple of the LORD. Do you?
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.
"They will get what the deserve in the end." I've said that and have heard other Christians say that as well. If said in the context of this world and this life ... it isn't true. If said in the context of a saved Christian ... it definitely isn't true.
In this world good people pass on never getting a break or having peace in their lives. And evil people pass on never being punished for their sins.
And a saved Christian KNOWS that they will not get what they deserve in the end. Because they know what they deserve is eternal punishment. They are joyful that the Grace of God rather gives them what they do not deserve.
It is easy to talk, it is not easy to actually walk in the way you know to be true. I always give advice to my students about working early in the semester and long before the exams come around. But, I personally struggle with that in my own life.
I know what is right ... yet I still hold back on acting out on it. I need to confirm what I say ... and DO IT.
Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name.
Do you believe the LORD is strong? That He can do anything?
Or do you hold on to your daily life? Your finances? Your everyday decisions?
When things are going smoothly it is so easy to walk your own path. One where you ignore God and where He wants you to go. Remember: Your God is strong. Trust in Him.
I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
You know the difference between what "the rules" say and what is right and wrong. Kind of like when you are speeding down the highway. You know it is wrong, but you still try to get away with it. Until your heart drops out of your stomach when you pass the cop you didn't see. Then you slow down for a bit ... and then go back to speeding.
God has placed His Law within you. You know the Truth.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
I tend to read the above in a negative way. You know ... you've been bad and are about to get a switch on your backside type of negative.
But "according to the fruit of his deeds" is also positive. And God blesses us in more ways than just getting a physical reword. Can you really put a price on the joy YOU feel when you help out your kids? When you read them a story, play catch, or help them catch a toad? Or when you give to a family that has nothing.
So ... what types of fruits are your growing in your life?
Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, declares the Lord; you who say, ‘Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter our habitations?’ I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the Lord; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her.
Now back to the switch on your backside type of fruits.
I had a brand new jacket my parents had bought me. It was cold outside when my brother and I went out to play hide-n-seek. So wearing my new jacket I decided to hide under the car.
Dad told me I would get a swat for each of the grease stains on my jacket. It hurt a bit. But I also remembered to take care of all the things that are entrusted to me. Not just a jacket.
So often we flit from task to task ignoring the important people and things around us. We get lazy when we hit the 'zone' of our lives. Just remember that with a small spark all that you have found comfort in can be gone.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God.
"Acknowledge your guilt"
Oh how hard it is to admit when you are wrong. We point our fingers at others. We declare that there are others worse then us. We crush the hopes of the people around us just trying to shove ourselves above them. And in the process shove their faces into the ground. All to get out of saying the words "I Was Wrong ... I Am Guilty".
For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.
After we admit to our sins. To our guilt. Then comes the next part. STOP DOING IT! Yeah I yelled that.
And I'll yell it again: STOP! Then turn. Turn and do good. Don't use the Grace of God as some sort of cover; imagining that you can continue to do evil. Or deceiving yourself into believing that what is evil is good.
Our walk with God happens every day that He has blessed us with. You getup and then plan on how to fight temptations and evil. And plan on how to do the good works of God. Listen to His voice and act on it.
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
Everyone can admit that the above list is of good things. And it may be surprising that we have to fight to do them. Fight our own bodies and desires. And fight our culture and its desires. Our flesh is so against God that it will fight your will on being righteous, godly, faithful, loving, steadfast, and gentle.
And it only takes a moment of watching our own culture to see how it seeks glory in filth, evil, adultery, hate, laziness, and anger. And it will work hard to step on you if you stand in its way.
But, be steadfast ... and stand true. Stand for God.
For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”
The world hates the light.
The world doesn't want to see. The world doesn't want to hear.
All around you today is the serpent's tongue whispering that whatever your heart desires is right. It is a tempting argument as well. Because then you only have to worry about fulfilling your desires.
It is up to you to know God's truth. To work on aligning your heart to the will of God. And to bring your mind and body under the control. These things are hard. But the reward is eternal.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
I'm not a Paul. I'm not even one of the lowest men and women who worked along side of him. Paul was good at coming up with lists of things that make me KNOW that I still have to work to be more like Christ. I definitely can't say as he does: act like I do.
But, there is one small, and yet huge, thing that all Christians can act as Paul did. Do not cease to pray. Pray that you and other Christians will be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all things and of God's love.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’
The sin of Satan is also the first and continual sin of man. We try to make ourselves as God. We first deny God and then setup either ourselves or things we have made with our hands and minds as our gods.
We may not setup little wooden idols on our fireplace mantles. But what you sacrifice to, what you listen to, what you spend your money on ... that is what you worship. Is it God? Is it your desires?
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
I always feel like I'm walking the fine line of guiding my children or provoking them. They want to drive in the way of what they want at the moment. I stand in their way when that direction is wrong.
It can provoke them to anger, but like a road's guard rails are put up to keep us from driving where we want for a reason. As a father I believe God has called me to a guard rail for them in their lives. I can't always keep them from going over the cliff. But, I can make it hard.
Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
In an effort to justify the evil in our lives we tend to shift what is evil and rather just call it good. We want to sin so we hate the one that confirms what we already know in our hearts.
In the end, it doesn't matter what we think or desire. Sin is sin. And running around calling it natural or your choice will never change that. We will not be able to stand in front of God and argue: "But ... I wanted to do it!"
When You Lie Down ... Galatians 5-6 , Ephesians 1-2
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
And do not deceive yourself. You can't mock God. If I live for myself, I should not be surprised when the full accounting of my sins are dumped back upon me.
For a time we may imagine that we can "get away with it". That God doesn't see or doesn't care. But, He does see and He does care.
A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
"Know what I mean ... Huh Huh ... wink wink nudge nudge ... Huh Huh ... Know what I mean?" That may be a from a comedy skit, but we all know (or are) the worthless person described in Proverbs above. Another good example are the political comedians on TV.
If it rather is speaking of you ... Stop. You will be broken by your own actions.
If you are friends with them ... don't laugh along with them and enable their perverted heart. Try to correct them and be an example to lead them back to God.
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you. ... The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.
Wit in the mouth of an evil man is very dangerous and painful. It is difficult to correct them because of their quick and bloody tongue. It will cut you and invite abuse upon your actions. If you reprove them they will hate you, and they will try to get even.
They are loud and make people laugh at their hate and evil. Wit if very seductive even when backed by nothing. The scoffer is an empty grave quickly running to fill it with their own hatred.
The only advise I can give you is to let them starve for attention. Understand that they may have a "golden tongue" ... but it speaks nothing.
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
To take a modern paraphrase ... Don't put your trust in "Hope and Change". The leaders you place your faith to do good for you ... Will not.
No matter how powerful we think we are, we will breath our last and all that we want will pass away with us. Look only to the LORD. Only He thinks on what is best for us. Men think on what is best for them.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
While I was growing up my grandfather always reminded me to read all of Proverbs. To read it and place it in my heart. And there has never been a time in my life when it didn't speak to me. Guiding my thoughts and teaching me.
Only a fool will ignore God's wisdom. Of course the problem with a fool is that they will not care and will only scorn the truth anyway.
On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
When the income tax was first put in place they didn't have people set anything aside. They were just going to collect at end of the fiscal year. Come collection time it looked like basically everyone didn't have enough money put aside to play their taxes. And that meant everyone would be breaking the law.
So they were faced with an issue of what to do. They couldn't arrest everyone. So to get rid of income tax as a failure or change how it was collected. Seeing that we now have our jobs remove the tax from every paycheck you can guess what was decided.
If you plan to help others financially or with time take a little at a time. Set aside your time every day and every week. Taking it piece by piece the burden is lighter. You can't pick up a roof and place it over a house. But, you can move it one shingle at a time.
Birds sing the most beautiful songs. It is so amazing the diversity of creation. The sound of the wind and waves. The songs of the small birds. The laughter of children.
Our lives are so fleeting. One moment we are here and the next we are gone.
So why do we do what is wrong? It should not be: Do what ever you want for soon you will be gone.
For every moment we have is a blessing from God. So show God how thankful we are. Live a life where God is upon our hearts and loving our neighbors is in our actions.
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
I teach problem solving and logic a lot. And I always want my students to know what they think and why. Why do they believe what they believe. Why do they have their opinions. If they can defend them. To know when to doubt what they are being told. To know when someone else is manipulating them with words.
The wisdom of man has become an idol for us today. We listen and obey what "a better" has told us. We don't inform ourselves of the truth, because we are told what it is.
But, the wisdom of God destroys our faith in our own hands. And in the faith in the hands of man.
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
My youngest son loves to sing with loud shouts. I really like the VBS cd's for that reason. Listening to a 5 year sing out "Our God is an awesome God!" really really loud is a blessing to my heart.
Maybe we should remember that our adult hearts should be as tender as a child's heart. And our songs should be loud shouts from the heart as well. To not let the tongue wagging and head shaking congregation stand between us and heart felt declarations of praise.
When you sing your songs ... Know what you are saying. And, know to who you are singing praises. And sing it like you mean it.
And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
In a world like ours today the typical reaction you will get when talking about being right with God, controlling yourself, and the judgment for not doing so is alarm. Alarm and all its byproduct emotions ... anger, rage, hate, and spite.
Expect it. It was so in the time of Paul and it is that way today. And if you expect it you can prepare yourself to be as Paul. A man who could talk openly about his faith. A man who led many people to the truth of Christ. A man who was stoned, and thinking he was dead, dragged out of the city. A man who was beat for his words. A man hated and loved. A man on fire for God's heart.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
That is a hard thing to pray. To be put through the fire. There is a song I like to listen to to get pumped up: God Of Elijah by Disciple. One part of that song is ...
God of Elijah, send your fire Let it burn up inside me, melt me down
LORD ... melt me down as the fire melts down precious metals. I know we are precious to you and for that you bring us through the fire to refine who we are. Help me to stand within the flame and to know that it is for You that I am there.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
There are always two who know your sins. God and you.
People are interesting things when it comes to stories and ideas. We just can't keep a good idea to ourselves. They infect our minds in such a way that we almost become sick if we don't tell them to someone. We all have experienced that with a good joke or a story that really touched us. The corruption of that feeling is the making of a gossip.
But when it comes to the sin that we try to hide inside .... I can think of no better description than it feeling as if your very bones are wasting away. When we are in the wrong, we KNOW it. Down to our bones. Daily God will remind you of what you have not brought before Him to ask forgiveness of.
But, Oh what a blessed feeling of freedom when you finally present yourself before God to ask forgiveness. And to know you are forgiven!
Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.
At all times we are called to share the Truth. No matter if it is to be in times of ease or in times of great difficulty. Always share the good news.
And don't be too surprised when God brings people into your life at the right time for Him ( maybe the wrong time for your plans ). For in all things that happen ... The LORD will be praised.
The below images are from a Kansas Reader textbook printed about 1920 by the State of Kansas for local schools. Click on them to read. And ... yes ... these are from the State of Kansas. It is amazing how far away the modern concept of 'separation of church and state' has removed our nation from the LORD.
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Today working hard is a rarity. My grand parents worked harder than I do. And today the rage is "work smart not hard".
Work is a blessing from the LORD. To be able to produce and create is a gift not a burden. To often we look at leisure as the goal rather than work and its bounty.
Work hard while you can. And give away the results of that work the LORD has blessed you with ... while you can.
And now the LORD answers Job. Eventually God told Job all that happened from the beginning of this story. Or we obviously wouldn't have the first few chapters.
But for now what answer does Job get? ... "I'm God. Period."
It all really boils down to that essence of truth. We are dealing with I AM. Hold up your hand and look at it. The details of all that you see. Everything you have ever done. Holding your children. Striking in anger. All that you are. Only by the will of God are you here. With a simple breath and desire it could all be gone. And by His amazing love our soul will continue for eternity.
No matter the situation you find yourself in ... remember. Remember the love of a Dad who takes the punishment deserved by you. Remember the love of a Dad who, through His infinite will, sustains your life and your eternal soul. Our LORD is the great I AM.
Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
I used to struggle with the above. I used to think that I would be praying AGAINST someone with those words. But, being a Dad I now understand the idea of consequences.
Many people will not change unless they are humbled. I've mentioned before about needing to soften our hearts. And I can think of two ways ... We try to tenderize our own hearts or God will tenderize our hearts with adversity.
They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
This is an invitation to judge me.
Never read or listen to anything without examination when someone is speaking about the LORD. God wants a personal relationship with you so don't allow someone to stand in between you and Him. I don't believe in a holy interpreter. I believe in the LORD.
So many came before me that had a greater relationship with God than I. Yet I will weight their words and actions against the Word and against what I know to be true about God. I say to do this because I am a man. And I know my heart. They were men as well who had the same heart of flesh. Even Peter was corrected by Paul.
Remember when you knew everything there was to know? Back when you were young?
It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’
Yeah, I was like that. No wait ... I still am. Or else I wouldn't be typing this right now. Listen to me! Let me declare my opinion! That thump you just heard was my heading hitting my desktop.
There is a balance in what you know, or what you feel you are being led to say, versus preaching to hear your own voice. I never want to become the man standing in front of others who loves the sound of his voice. Who is certain their words are golden. Who others declare to be as eloquent as great men of old ... even before the speech has been given.
My biggest worry in what I type is that I become Elihu. The words may be smooth at times. They may be rough at times. They may form a speech that people can nod their heads to and agree with at times. "Yes that is so well said." Or not.
But, within the words there is no glory given to God. That is my worry in my life as well. That within the pages of my life I don't reflect who God wants me to be. That I become a wall ... rather than an open window.
LORD, humble me. Open me. Help me to pull back who I am and let you come through.
We all have an unjust accuser. It may be a family member, an enemy, or THE Enemy. But, the one I'm thinking of looks back at you from the mirror.
Elihu condemned Job and then wrapped himself with words about God. Don't you find yourself filling both roles in your life at times? You are hurting and you have that whisper in your ear reminding you about your sins. About what you have done wrong. How can a person so flawed NOT be punished by God?
Just remember what Christ said ... You are forgiven. Go and sin no more.
Yes we are flawed. Yes we are fallen. But, as you look in the mirror don't see with the eyes of an accuser. Eyes that are blinded and see only darkly. See with the eyes of Christ.
Who loved you so much as to be beaten beyond recognition for you. Who loved you so much that thorns were jammed upon his head. Who loved you so much that he willingly took nails being driven through his hands and feet. Who loves you so much He stood between you and the punishment.
Can you imagine the love that must be in His eyes as He looks upon you?
And with Christ's sacrifice is freedom from the Law. Of course that is actually somewhat harder on us. Because no longer is the Law a written thing on paper for us. It is the Law that God has written upon our hearts.
You can always try and justify breaking the laws on paper. You speed down the road well above the speed limit ... but you didn't hurt anyone. We can always change what is written or argue about the meaning of the word 'is'.
Upon our hearts means one-on-one with God. You know when you are wrong and when you are in the right. No cheating there.
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
All of us have access to the original Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. And very very few people read and speak Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. The only way we understand anything is if the Word is put into the words that we know.
Translations come not only in many languages, but a single language may have word-for-word, idea, and paraphrase translations. Before you get caught up in "The [insert your favorite] translation is the BEST!" arguments understand what you are reading. Beside the listeners in Jerusalem stood Ezra, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites. Beside you, as you read or listen, stand the men and women who are helping you understand the Word of God.
If Jozabad helps you understand better than Maaseiah. So be it. If you would rather have Shabbethai. Sounds fine to me. As long as they are honest Men of God who are devoted to the Word and to God.
And lastly, do not confuse the helper with the LORD. They are there to help you understand. Understand the difference between their words and the Word of the LORD.
And as we rejoice, do so together. Not only share our burdens. Not only share what materials we have. Share our voices. Cry out to the LORD as one voice.
