"Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)
I wonder, my brothers and sisters in Christ, how much do we really know personally about our God and Father? If we don't know Him intimately, the fault and shame of it may be our own if we've failed to seek Him out on His own terms as He sovereignly requires...
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
The Lord God declares His rightful place in existence over everything and everyone that He's created in order to share life and place with under His watchful, never slumbering, eye. Everything that has form or the spark of life within the expanse of His domain is small and weak by comparison - completely subject to His terrifying, omnipotent power and omnipresence...
"Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’" Isaiah 46:9-10 (NKJV)
... And yet, at the same time He's offered up and condemned what is most precious to Himself in order to provide opportunity to reconcile to Himself from among the most wayward of all that He's created. He's done this for the opportunity that mankind might choose to submit to Him and live and have relationship with Himself. His selflessness and humbleness to sacrifice so horribly in order to offer greatness in relationship with Himself - the offer of the Author and Creator of all that He's declared and spoke into existence, that is made to the brokenness that is mankind, is forever unmatched.
"Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." Psalm 144:3-4 (NKJV)
Our God's not ever just one thing that He's made known of Himself, but all things all at once, all of the time. He is complete and perfect, without blemish, defect, or need of anything or anyone else, but humbly allows Himself the desire of relationship with far lessor beings in order to share of Himself with them. He is perfect in every facet of His awesome character and being. He stands far above all that exists in His majesty, holiness, and power. ... And yet, He has expressed His desire in unmatchable ways to even the most undeserving among mankind in the hope that they should choose to live and share of themselves with Him and walk in His ways. And let there be no doubt that we are all undeserving. I am convinced that there is no greater purpose or reason for this life than that of responding to God and that we are responding daily- either consciously of unconsciously.
I wonder, my brothers and sisters in Christ, how much do we really know personally about our God and Father? If we don't know Him intimately, the fault and shame of it may be our own if we've failed to seek Him out on His own terms as He sovereignly requires...
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
The Lord God declares His rightful place in existence over everything and everyone that He's created in order to share life and place with under His watchful, never slumbering, eye. Everything that has form or the spark of life within the expanse of His domain is small and weak by comparison - completely subject to His terrifying, omnipotent power and omnipresence...
"Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’" Isaiah 46:9-10 (NKJV)
... And yet, at the same time He's offered up and condemned what is most precious to Himself in order to provide opportunity to reconcile to Himself from among the most wayward of all that He's created. He's done this for the opportunity that mankind might choose to submit to Him and live and have relationship with Himself. His selflessness and humbleness to sacrifice so horribly in order to offer greatness in relationship with Himself - the offer of the Author and Creator of all that He's declared and spoke into existence, that is made to the brokenness that is mankind, is forever unmatched.
"Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." Psalm 144:3-4 (NKJV)
Our God's not ever just one thing that He's made known of Himself, but all things all at once, all of the time. He is complete and perfect, without blemish, defect, or need of anything or anyone else, but humbly allows Himself the desire of relationship with far lessor beings in order to share of Himself with them. He is perfect in every facet of His awesome character and being. He stands far above all that exists in His majesty, holiness, and power. ... And yet, He has expressed His desire in unmatchable ways to even the most undeserving among mankind in the hope that they should choose to live and share of themselves with Him and walk in His ways. And let there be no doubt that we are all undeserving. I am convinced that there is no greater purpose or reason for this life than that of responding to God and that we are responding daily- either consciously of unconsciously.
All else outside of Him and His ways is perishing distraction- a trap laid against our own lusts and greed by the enemy of our souls. There's no need to horde what actually belongs to God. There is nothing to be gained, collected and stored away that did not come from something that our God provided and can provide again and no skill, gift or talent that He didn't allow- how and what we use His provision for is always seen by Him. It's not those things, but what we allow into our hearts because of them that He's concerned with.
Who is this God of ours? He's dictated an expansive love letter to mankind to make Himself known. How well we know it.. and by it... Him, is a part of the true measure of the successfulness of this life that He's given us. What purpose has He given for the breath of life that He's given us beyond that of responding to Him? By earnest and determined study of His word and heart we discover His desire for relationship with us - to know and be known by Him. In all of our lives there is no greater purpose given for us than to respond to the God who created us for His own good pleasure.
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
The Lord God is both Abba and EL Elyon - our Father and God Most High, unmatchable in power and holiness, perfect in righteousness, and yet tender hearted and loving toward those who truly love Him - not only in words or emotion, but in truth, walking in His ways as He commands.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:15-18
I personally think that to truly submit to know Him in relationship is our most wonderful grace-wrought choice, but to know of Him only in passing is our shame, loss and folly, if we fail to make the effort to meet Him as He desires. We lose far more by our failure to walk with Him in relationship than we could ever hope to gain from investing in this world- even under the very best of circumstances. I'm speaking from my own experience with Him, but also from studying the living content of His word - His love letter to me, and to you. If you truly search Him out, you will find Him in ways well beyond that of just knowing Him in-passing - and you'll find that that's His purpose for us.
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy." Psalm 145:8-12 (NKJV)
If you haven't already, dare to step out in sincere faith and know Him well. Meet Him in sincerity and honesty and you'll discover the rapture of His awesome presence as He meets you to inhabit your praises. He'll meet you there and you'll never be the same... or want to be.
Who is this God of ours? He's dictated an expansive love letter to mankind to make Himself known. How well we know it.. and by it... Him, is a part of the true measure of the successfulness of this life that He's given us. What purpose has He given for the breath of life that He's given us beyond that of responding to Him? By earnest and determined study of His word and heart we discover His desire for relationship with us - to know and be known by Him. In all of our lives there is no greater purpose given for us than to respond to the God who created us for His own good pleasure.
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
The Lord God is both Abba and EL Elyon - our Father and God Most High, unmatchable in power and holiness, perfect in righteousness, and yet tender hearted and loving toward those who truly love Him - not only in words or emotion, but in truth, walking in His ways as He commands.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:15-18
I personally think that to truly submit to know Him in relationship is our most wonderful grace-wrought choice, but to know of Him only in passing is our shame, loss and folly, if we fail to make the effort to meet Him as He desires. We lose far more by our failure to walk with Him in relationship than we could ever hope to gain from investing in this world- even under the very best of circumstances. I'm speaking from my own experience with Him, but also from studying the living content of His word - His love letter to me, and to you. If you truly search Him out, you will find Him in ways well beyond that of just knowing Him in-passing - and you'll find that that's His purpose for us.
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy." Psalm 145:8-12 (NKJV)
If you haven't already, dare to step out in sincere faith and know Him well. Meet Him in sincerity and honesty and you'll discover the rapture of His awesome presence as He meets you to inhabit your praises. He'll meet you there and you'll never be the same... or want to be.
We will likely not be perfect even still, but we will be truly changed, while walking in His ways, covered by His promises as He's made known in His letter to each of us. Do you know it? Do you truly know Him? Who is He?
In Scripture...
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." Deuteronomy 10:12-14 (NKJV)
In Scripture...
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." Deuteronomy 10:12-14 (NKJV)
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