Who May Ascend
Psalms 24:1-6 1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.,
Today we take a glimpse into the sovereignty of God and who is able to approach Him. The King James Translation says, “The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof—there is nothing on this earth that does not belong to God.
Are we foolish enough to believe we are actually self-made and that everything we have is from our own efforts? That kind of thinking leads to idol worship, with the idol being ourselves.
If we truly desire to ascend to the holy place of God, we must have clean hands and a pure heart. In other words, God requires a heart that has no sin or evil intentions, and hands that have been free from actions that are harmful to others and steals God’s glory.
How do we accomplish such requirements? By placing everything before God and by giving Him all praise and honor.
May we today and everyday focus our attention on the One, True and Living God, so that we may approach Him freely and without hesitation.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Wake Up, Christians!
Romans 13:8 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:11-12 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Ephesians 5:14-20 “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.”
When I read the book of Romans, I am getting a lesson on the history of Christianity. Paul recounts what life was like before Christ, and he instructs the converts that they are no longer under the law, but under grace. But grace does not free them to continue in their sin. As Paul says, God forbid. Rather, grace frees them to live in victory over their sin.
Our scripture today begins by telling us love does no wrong to a neighbor, love is the fulfilling of the law. Amen and amen. When the love of God begins to permeate our beings, then we will know we’ve moved beyond mere Christianity and into kingdom living.
Loving people who are like you is easy, but loving those who are different is not. Have you ever known someone who is just plain contentious? If you say black, they say white, if you say straight, they say crooked. As disciples, how do we react?
1 John2: 5 But if anyone obeys his Word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him. 6 Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
The key to loving all people is obedience to God’s Word. Is it easy to love all people? No. But it is necessary. When we move into kingdom living, we are not made perfect but we are perfected in love. Our humanity is covered by Christ’s divinity, and because of Christ we are able to choose love.
Paul says to wake up from sleep. What does that mean to us? We must stop playing church and be the church wherever we are. When we serve at a soup kitchen, do we perform such service as an obligation, or do we throw ourselves into what we are doing with a spirit of joy? When we see someone in need, do we hope someone else will stop and help so that we don’t have to, or do we give of ourselves, even if it is inconvenient?
May we wake up, Christians, not to a new way of doing church but to a new way of being church.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Do What is Right
1Pe 1:8-9 (NIV) 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Romans 12:17-18 (NIV) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Have you ever known someone who just must have the last word? That was me! When I was a child, my mother said I didn’t start a fight with my twin, Cheryl, but I was going to finish it. After years of prayer and some amount of perseverance I finally am able to hold my tongue. Let things go. And, if it is possible live at peace.
Some might call this behavior being a people pleaser. But you know I am much more interested in pleasing God. And when we please God, we are on the pathway to holiness.
May we seek God’s guidance as we go through each day, knowing, believing and understanding that when we honor our fellow man, we honor God. And that is a blessing to all.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Scriptures of my Life
Psalms 27 Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation —
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalms 42:1-2 1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Psalms 91:2-4 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.
Isaiah 40:29-31 29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Lamentations 3:22-23 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Micah 6:8 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 6:10-17 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Philippians 1:6 he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:23-25 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him be
When I preached, I often began my sermon with the phrase, “Today I am reading one of my favorite scriptures.” I said this so often that upon retirement, my congregations bought me a new Bible, and they highlighted some of their favorite scriptures.
What are some of your favorite scriptures? Is there a theme that sustains you? Do you know these scriptures by heart? I have to admit my memory has holes in it, so I am in the midst of trying to relearn these scriptures that have been so important to me.
May we be so intentional in our discipleship that we relearn some of our favorite scriptures so that we can pluck them from our memories whenever they are needed.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Conform to the Spirit
1 Peter 1:14-21. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
What is precious to you? Is it your family, your church, your job, or perhaps your reputation? Well, for God it is we who are precious in his sight, and we are bought with a great price.
It is important for us to grasp the concept that God did not create us first , and then saw that we could not be holy, and ultimately developed a plan for our salvation. No, long before we committed that first sin, God put into place a redemptive plan. We either accept God’s plan or we behave like Jonah, running in the opposite direction until God creates a fish big enough to swallow us whole!
Remember, when God says, “I am holy, be thou Holy too, it is not a suggestion, it is a commandment.
May we be obedient to the Spirit, disregarding our flesh.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
since Jesus came into my heart.
Refrain:
Since Jesus came into my heart,
since Jesus came into my heart,
floods of joy o’er my soul like sea billows roll,
since Jesus came into my heart.
Seeking Holiness 