The Look of Jesus

Luke 22:54 61a, 62 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter… And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

That look! Look of tenderness, love, and yes, sorrow. A look that caused Peter to weep for his betrayal. He who said he would go to the ends of the earth, dropped the ball when it really counted. But that look was also a look of forgiveness. The Lord who knows our frame and our weakness, our failures and shortcomings does not cast us away. He knows the way we have taken and wants us to get back up. If we have sinned, confess to Him our failure. If we have erred in judgment, He see our humanity. Jesus looks and has compassion on us. Let us weep with joy that He cares, and wants us to come unto Him.

Heart Perfect Toward God

2 Sam. 12:13 1 king 11:4  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die..Solomon’s…heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

The Amazing mercy of God does not always do away with the consequence of sin. What man reaps, he will sow. David, a man who had a perfect heart toward God found himself wanting. The faithfulness of God revealed to David the error of his way. David’s heart was seen as perfect because once he acknowledged his sin, he humbled himself before God. Remorse and guilt troubled the heart of David until he laid it all out before God. The life of David illustrates to us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive. It also shows us that even though we can live right for most of our lives, that sin can separate us from having right relationship with the Lord. Justice was served, David lost his son, and his sin was made open in public. But, his soul was saved because he cried out to God and asked for forgiveness. God, who sees the motive of every heart, saw that David’s motive was perfect in his confession, and God had mercy.

He Gave His Life

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

His blood was shed, He took His last breath, and He died. The Son of God, Jesus who was perfect and blameless allowed sinful man to put Him on the cross and put Him to Death. Why? Because He loved us so much that He was willing to be the supreme sacrifice to atone for my sin and yours. His blood that was shed on Calvary rent the vail in two giving us access to the Father. Hanging on the cross, He spilled out His blood that we may have fellowship with the Father and have a relationship with the Triune God. The history books have recorded it, and millions have availed themselves to the cleansing blood that continues to flow from Calvary.

The Mercy of the Lord

Psalm 103:17,18 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;..To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

He is a God of love and mercy. His love reaches to the deepest and most insignificant parts of the earth. Yet, to them that fear Him and keep His commandments His mercy is promised them and to their children. God is no respecter of person, and will have mercy on all that will enter into His gates. All have sinned and come short of God’s approbation. But mercy was extended. We were all condemn to everlasting punishment, but the mercy of God made a way of escape. He is a God of compassion and desires to forgive all that are willing to confess their sin(s) and to keep His covenant. Love and mercy follow all that abide in Christ. Those who live in Christ do not have to ask for His love and mercy, for God’s love and mercy abides in those who live in Christ and keep His commandments.

In The Face of My Enemies

Ps. 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: 

After experience being in an accident yesterday, I reflected on what happen and my response to the situation. The other drive who was at fault was extremely mad calling me all manner of names. I tried to tell him it was not my fault, and was sorry that the accident happen. But, at that point I was his enemy. I walked away praying that God would give me peace of mind and to prepare my heart not react unkindly. In the presence of my “enemy” I asked the Lord to take control. Frustration and stress was inevitable, but tho I walk this life not understanding all that happens, I can rest assure that He can walk with me. He prepared my table, and I was able to eat and drink from His bountiful grace

The Spirit Leads

Acts. 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

One of the office works of the Holy Spirit is to led people to truth. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the God head plays a vital part in the life of a Christian.  He is the promise of God sent by the Father to guide and direct those who seek to follow the steps of Jesus. He was sent to believers to purify the heart of selfish motives, sent to give power to them to overcome the world, and provide direction in the way we should take. Philip, desiring to share the message about Jesus was led by the Spirit to witness to just one person. The Spirit works in the hearts of men individually. Sharing the good news of Jesus is not only done from the pulpit of the church, but it is made possible when we open our hearts to the Spirit’s leading, speaking God’s word one person at a time.

Being Perfect

Matt 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Perfection doe not mean living life without making mistakes, or misjudging. Being perfect is a matter of yielding your life over to Christ. Keeping the commandment by abstaining from sin is good, but it is not the criteria to living a perfect life. Confession and repentance by accepting Christ into our hearts is the key to entering the Kingdom of God. God calls us to a life of holiness, a life whose eye is single toward God. The world says no one can be perfect. Christ says, if you will be perfect, give all that is important in your life over to me, and follow my footstep in obedience to the will of God. The Holy Spirit was sent to those that believed in Christ to guide them into all truth, and to live a life perfect before God.

The Rest of God

Hebrew. 4:9,16 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God…Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God is not blind to our needs. His word reveals the very motives of our heart and the desires to enter into His rest. Rest from the struggles of the flesh, rest from the condemnation and guilt of sin. We can come without fear into the presences of God, knowing that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father. He who has experience the struggle of life on earth and know our weakness, makes our petitions in our behalf to the Father. We can lay all our cares and burdens at the throne of God, and rest in His grace. Our works to please God must go beyond the works of righteousness. God is pleased with our good deeds, but it is not the works of the flesh that give us rest.  It is faith in His mercy and grace given to us through Christ that we can enter into His rest. Let us not stop short of this promise. Let us cast away our fears and trust of God who knows all things and desires to help us in time of need.

A New Heart

Ezek.36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

The promise of God is to restore man. He takes a heart that is callous and cold, a heart that is void of spiritual life, dead in trespasses and sin, and breathes in new life. The old heart’s affections were set on thing of this earth, its focus was on pleasing the carnal nature. The new heart given to the one who turns their heart over to the Creator is made alive. God, through Christ fills the heart with His Spirit and a new life in Christ has begun. The blood of Christ now flows through. cleansing the heart of all impurities. We are no longer harden by sin and enslaved to the world. His Spirit has given new life. “All things have passed away, behold all things are become new.” (2 Cornith 5:17)

Trails and Afflictions

1 Peter 5:10 The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

Becoming a saint or a godly Christian come only through trails and afflictions. It is God’s desire that all that serve Him be made perfect in the image of His Son. Not perfect in our humanity, but made perfect in our love to Him and others. His goal is to establish us to a place that we know where we stand and our faith is   able to detect deception from Satan. We are made strong to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy. When all hell breaks loose in our lives, we settled the question long ago. No matter what happens, I believe in a God who cares and is able to take us through.

New Commandment

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

The evidence of discipleship in Christ has always been seen in the way they love people. How does one love in a way that conveys God’s love? Human nature strikes out in retribution or malice to those who treat us unkindly. The carnal nature seeks to please self and put our own needs and wants first. If there is time and resources, then we may reach out to help and show kindness to others. But the love of God goes beyond human duty or responsibility. It even touches our enemies. It goes to even those we may not agree with. This commandment is new to humanity. The Love of God can now dwell in our hearts by faith. Helping us to love others regardless of the circumstances and situation.