What A Vision!

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

                                                          

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 

                                                                          (Isa 6:1-8 KJV)

Who will go? With a vision like Isaiah had of the Lord I'm thinking that we would all go if we saw the same! 

But, we don't get to have the same vision Isaiah had so who will go? Who will bring the message of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ to the world? Oh, yes... that would be the clergy. But, not just the clergy. Every single person who knows the truth who is Jesus the Christ will bring the truth to others. We do this because we know the awesomeness of God and we want to share it.  We know the great love that Jesus has for us; a love so great he was willing to die for us. And... because his love so overwhelms us we cannot do anything but share the knowledge of his love with others. 

The presence of God Almighty in Isaiah's vision overwhelmed him so much that he was willing to do whatever God asked of him. The presence of God in our lives will do the same. Once you know this God who loves you your love for him will overflow and you will go wherever he sends you. Everything else will take second place. When God asks you to go you will go. If at first you say no and this is most likely going to happen, be aware. He will keep on asking. He never gives up on us.

Isaiah's vision was tremendous. Here is a tremendous picture to consider:  A child born in a manger grew up. This innocent man was persecuted, tortured, and hung on a cross to die for our sins. He was found guilty. We were acquitted so that we could receive the inheritance of eternal life in our Father's house; in the Kingdom of God where Jesus reigns! Now, that is a vision to keep focused on!

When he calls you to deliver this message of the Kingdom; will you go?

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Give God The Glory!

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

                                   (Rev 14:6-7 KJV)

Immediately following John's vision of a Lamb standing on Mt. Sion he sees an angel who carries the gospel to be brought to all people declaring that we are to give God the glory. Indeed, all glory belongs to God for giving the Lamb, His only begotten Son, as the sacrifice for our sins that we might receive forgiveness of sins and be reconciled to God and one another.   

To God belongs all glory for all the marvelous things He has created and  not just for creating us in the first place but for loving us enough to recreate us in the image of His Son. Our baptisms into Christ brings about the death of the old man that resides in us and gives us a new life in Christ. 

We do not have this new life because of anything we have done. It is a gift from God who deserves all glory and honor! God help us to live life more fully in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Seek Counsel From God

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

                             (Isa 29:15-16 KJV)

We neglect to hear the counsel of the Lord. instead we turn to the understanding of the world. We make a very big mistake when we trust the words of those who hunger for power; who seek to lead us astray for their own benefit, instead of the one who is all powerful and all knowing and does all things for the benefit of his creation.

In Isaiah's vision he hears that there will be sorrow for those who think that they can hide the things that they do from the one who created them. 

God knows what his children; his creation think and say and do. He knows what is best for you. Listen to him!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Set Free

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 

                                                                                      (Acts 12:3-11 KJV)

Peter could hardly believe it. He thought at first that he was dreaming. But, it was no dream or vision. An angel of the Lord released him from Herod's prison.

When Peter showed up at Mary's doorstep they could hardly believe it. Believe it! God can open the chains that bind us. He can unlock the doors that keep us locked up no matter whether those doors are physical or spiritual. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

You will be free just as Peter was to go and tell the world what the Lord has done for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Grass Is Not Always Greener

The Tenth Commandment.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

There are many who seem to always be looking for greener grasses. They simply will not be satisfied with what God has already given them. They are not able to recognize that what they have is already very green and good. Beware, for the grass is not always greener on the other side of the road. Sometimes, it just looks that way from a distance. 

I and other members of my family are a bit color blind. It doesn't affect life too adversely; unless, you happen to be working with electrical wires that are color coded. That can be a problem. Mostly, I recognize every color. They just look a little different to me than to those with good color vision.

Sometimes we can all be a bit color blind. We see greener grass when in fact what we may be looking at are dried out weeds. Just because someone tells us the grass is greener; doesn't always make it so. Beware of covetous people who would draw you away from what you already have to supposedly greener grasses for their own selfish purposes; to fulfill their own egos.

Sometimes we see someone that we might think we want; but, once we get to the greener grass we find that we have lost that which was truly good for us. Beware the grass is not always greener... And, as you are striving in vain for something better than what God has already given you; ensure that you are not also falsely enticing others to leave the ones who love(s) them. If they would leave them for your sake; they well might leave you for another.

Learn to love what is yours and leave your neighbors' alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J