A desire for all the nations of the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
Let us Ascend the Hill of the LORD with clean hands and pure hearts together!
Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (NASB, Mat. 7:1-2).
Sometimes we can be very critical of others but what if God was to use our own standard of judgment against us? Would we be able to withstand his judgment?
Check out today’s video and learn more.
The Bible tells us that the glory of this new covenant we have with God is greater than the old. There were a lot of glorious things that happened under the old covenant such as fire coming down from heaven, Moses’ face emanating light, the red sea being parted, and the sun standing still in the sky. So how can this be? Check out the latest video and tell me what you think.
Pointing out a problem without giving a solution always leads to one or more of the following: discouragement; anger; bitterness; hopelessness; fear; anxiety; helplessness; unworthiness… the list goes on. The thing is, pointing out a person’s problem doesn’t really help them, it just leaves them wanting. With no solution, facing these problems seems daunting and turns into fear and discouragement.
These problems scoff and laugh at us. They blaspheme the armies of the living God as we sit on the sidelines shaking in fear, too afraid to say anything against the insults and blasphemous slander. Just like Goliath, they stand in the way of God’s kingdom, openly opposing its advancement.
David believed in the Solution more than the problem. He didn’t ignore the problem and act like it wasn’t there. He addressed the issue by faith. He knew there was an issue, but he knew his God was bigger than the problem. David when looking out at this giant saw an enemy of God’s people and knew “if God be for us, who can be against us” (from Rom. 8:31). He gave his fear to the Lord instead of fearing this Philistine. He glorified the living God and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
When David looked out he saw a problem, but he did not shrink from it. He glorified God and knew the God who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear will deliver this Philistine into his hands. We look at David like he had courage in himself to do this great feat, but we so easily forget that David is a man just like me and you. His courage was not in himself, he just believed in God. It’s very easy to exalt a champion of the Lord’s, and they are champions indeed, but their victory didn’t come from themselves it came from believing in God. As we think about the great cloud of witnesses that went before us, let us be reminded that they accomplished everything through faith in the living God. So, we must be victorious through faith in the living God as well.
“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”
Hebrews 11:33-39
A couple of days ago, my wife gave birth to our twin baby girls! I am so excited and in love with these precious girls. They are beautiful, perfect, wonderful princesses! But with all newborns, the babies need to go through different tests to make sure nothing is wrong with them. Withdraw blood, jaundice tests, reflex tests, etc.
Yesterday I watched as the nurses pricked my little girl with a needle to get blood for various tests. They poked her and started to squeeze her foot to get the blood as I watched through a glass wall… It was hard.
Everything in me wanted to yell at them and tell them to stop! I clenched my fists inside my pockets, stood up on my toes, and leaned forward on the glass. One of the nurses outside was watching me and she seemed like I was making her uneasy. I didn’t care though because all I had on my mind was my baby. I saw my baby getting hurt and I wanted to snatch her out of their grasp.
I had to tell myself that this had to happen. She had to go through this so that they could get the results of the test. It didn’t make it any easier though, watching my baby in pain. My heart hurt for my precious child, and if there was any other way to get these tests accomplished I would have done it.
I instantly thought about our heavenly Father. He does not just look on in apathy while we suffer the pain of our trials. He sees us in our sufferings. He knows our pain, and his heart hurts for us.
He also knows that we need to go through certain trials to be tested and purified. That these things must happen to accomplish something in us that in the end will produce something more precious than gold.
“By trusting, you are being protected by God’s power for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of [Jesus Christ].”
1Peter 1:5-7
Just because he knows this that doesn’t mean he is not concerned with how we feel. I know this to be true. He is a good Father, and I am a reflection of him. If I feel these things for my children I know my heavenly Father feels this more than me. But I have a more sure word than my own judgment as a loving father; I have His word, and it says,
“In all their affliction He was afflicted. So the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, then He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.”
Isaiah 63:9
Jesus also had to go through his trials and he prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me! Yet not as I will, but as You will” (from Mat. 26:39). He knew the suffering he was going to endure; yet, he trusted his Father’s judgment. God knew that this was the only way and on the other side of this suffering, which was for a moment, it was going to produce for him an eternal weight of glory that is so awesome that the suffering is not even worthy to be in comparison.
Did this mean Father didn’t care that Jesus went through what he did? Of course not! It is so evident that our Father cared deeply. So deeply in fact that darkness covered the face of the earth and a great earthquake happened. When the Roman centurion saw this he exclaimed, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” (from Mat. 27:54).
He cares about our suffering, but he knows that it is for our good. God bless you guys, do not think for one moment that our Father does not take notice during your afflictions. He is so near. He loves you so much! I am so astounded by his goodness. His gentleness makes us great!
"For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion, because we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal."
(2Co 4:17-18).
"Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" ~Jesus
(Luke 24:26).
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
(Heb. 12:2).
Image source: @ula.la.land on Instagram
A desire for all the nations of the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. 