1Samuel 2:6-10

6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. 9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.

1 Sam 2:6-9 (ESV)

Here in 1st Samuel we see Hannah praying to the Lord giving him thanks and glory. She had been depressed for a long time for she could not have kids and was constantly provoked and ridiculed by her rival, her husbands other wife. But the Lord answers her prayer and she gives birth to Samuel who will be the last judge and first prophet of Israel. I really like the way she contrasts the Lords power.

Jesus Glorious Arrival

27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:27-28 (ESV)

God works all things for His glory

I was reading Luke 21 today. Here the disciples inquire of Jesus what signs will come to help notify them beforehand of the end of days. Jesus gives them many illustrations starting in vs. 8 to about vs. 36. But it is so marvelous and amazing how Jesus tells us that amidst these troubling times and all the strife and persecution that will come to pass that he still calls us to witness. Even when we are handed over to persecution for standing for the Lord.

12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

Luke 21:12-13 (ESV)

Therefore we must keep our minds & hearts focused daily on heavenly places and stay buried in the Word to strengthen our faith and knowledge of the truth.

17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.

Luke 21:17 (ESV)

We have not to fear for our Savior promises us that if we remain faithful and steadfast in the Word that He will protect us and deliver us unto eternal life.

18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Luke 21:18-19 (ESV)

Luke 15:7 "Heaven Rejoices Over the Saved"

Jesus' parable about the lost "sheep" of the pasture. When even 1 out of 100 becomes lost, he searches to find him. And when he finds him, he goes to tell all his neighbors to rejoice with him.

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:7 (ESV)

You see, the Bible writes of Jesus' own words spoken that he loves all of us even the sinners and unbelievers. Once a person comes to the Lord and accepts the free gift of salvation from Jesus Christ the entire host of the heavens rejoice! That is how important, special, and loved we are.

Luke 14:12 on Giving & Building up earthly treasures

Another excellent lesson taken from the parables of Jesus was about a banquet.

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Luke 14:12-14 (ESV)

As I read, I perceived that as we often do things for others we tend to have an underlying theme of getting something back in return to better ourselves. Jesus rejects this way of giving to others and rather teaches us to give freely without thought of reward or repayment. In doing we receive no earthly reward but our Father in heaven takes note and knows our heart and we will indeed receive a heavenly reward that cannot possible compare.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matt 10:8 (KJV)

Luke 14:7 on Being Humble

As I read this chapter of Luke today, I was convicted by the Lord about my pride. Jesus told a parable starting in vs. 8

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:8-11 (ESV)

Jesus uses the example of a party to convey how we see ourselves as matters of importance and automatically put ourselves at pre-defined levels of honor. But Christ makes an excellent point that we are to humble ourselves everywhere we go. The man who humbles and forsakes himself will in the end be risen up and exalted whereas the man who marvels and puts himself highest in moral and social stature has only one direction to go and that is down.

If we have accepted Christ's free gift of salvation than we accept his death as our own. Likewise we are reckoned to be dead to sin. How much sin can a dead person commit?

The only way life works is God's way.

You cannot run from God

Life certainly takes on new meaning. To know that we are constantly in the immediate presence and proximity of our all-knowing and all-powerful God. How then are we to be day to day. He relentlessly pursues us.

Matthew 7:15-23

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matt 7:15-23 (ESV)

Jeremiah 28:9

9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

Jer 28:9 (ESV)

Mark 11:24-25

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”