But I Say Unto You

"But I say unto you..."  

Jesus often used these words to remind us to forget what other's may have told us-

Forget what you might have read-

Pay no mind to what you see around you-

But focus on what I am about to tell you.

When I read those 5 words, I know that what Jesus is about to say is very important.  What He is about to say is key to help me in my Christian walk and fellowship with Him and with other brothers and sisters in Christ.  It's key in order to help those who are lost and are in need of salvation.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Words of Jesus, Matthew 5:44

When I read this verse, words spoken by Jesus Himself, I realized that what He tells us to do was exactly what He did.

-He loved His enemies-

-He blessed them that cursed Him-

-He did good to those that hated Him-

-He prayed for them which despitefully used Him-

-He prayed for them that persecuted Him-

In other words, 'FOLLOW ME AND DO AS I DO.'

Not always easy, is it?  We want to retaliate, hurt those who hurt us.  But God wants us to love as He loved.

What an example!

Jesus never asks us to do anything He hasn't already done...

    But that's just me!

"Earnest intercession will be sure to bring love with it.  I do not believe you can hate a man for whom you habitually pray.  If you dislike any brother Christian, pray for him doubly, not only for his sake, but for your own, that you may be cured of prejudice and saved from all unkind feeling."

C.H. Spurgeon

"The best way to destroy an enemy is to turn him into a friend."  F.F. Bruce

No Bounds

Psalm 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Psalm 62:2 “He only is my rock, and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”

Psalm 62:6-8 “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Have you ever felt like your prayers were confined?  Has your heart ever been overwhelmed with fear? I have.  I'm thankful that David did too, because being moved by the Holy Spirit he wrote the verses we just read.

David always knew to turn to God in every situation that he faced.  As he fled from the face of King Saul, he turned to God for protection, strength, and encouragement.  And not only did he do that for himself, but to encourage those around him.  In the very face of danger, he prayed.  In the depths of discouragement, he reminded himself and those around him to remember where their Source of strength came from:  God.

The phrase, ‘from the end of the earth’ in 61:2, means that prayer has no bounds.  There is no constraint, limitations, or confinement when it comes to prayer.  I love that!

No matter where you are or what you are going through, you have access to God by prayer.

There is a comfort in that.

David cried unto God when his heart was overwhelmed.  Can you imagine the fear David felt knowing that King Saul sought his life? Fear, sudden terror, overcome by feelings, David ran to the One who would stabilize not only his steps, but his mind and his heart.

God is our Rock.  He is above all circumstances.  David wanted to see from God’s perspective and be comforted. 

Rock is a sure and solid foundation.  It allows sure footing, balance and support. 

David acknowledged that God alone was his Rock, his salvation, his defence, his glory, strength and refuge. 

Standing on the Rock allows you to be unmovable.  The earth may shake, and the mountains may fall into the sea, but God will keep us from falling! (Psalm 46:2)

And because God is our Rock, salvation, defence, glory, strength and refuge, we can trust Him at all times and pour out our hearts before Him in prayer, because He is our refuge.  (verse 8)

I'm thankful that my prayers have no bounds...

    But that's just me!

"Prayer is a place where burdens change shoulders."  Anonymous

    

 

Conditional Promises

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14

This verse is such a well-known verse.  It's one that is often quoted.  This verse shows us God's requirements for blessings: 

    Humility-

    Prayer-

    Devotion-

    Repentance.

IF:

    My people who are called by my name-

    Humble themselves-

    And pray-

    And seek my face- (turn to Him)

    And turn from their wicked ways- (that's repentance!)

THEN:

    He will hear us-

    He will forgive our sin-

    He will heal our land.

This is a 'conditional' promise.  There are 'conditional' and 'unconditional' promises all throughout Scripture.  An unconditional promise is something God promises to do regardless of what His children do or not do.  And then there are conditional promises when God will fulfil His promise when we do what He asks.

I remember when my boys were little, they could be little monsters all day long and then we would go to the store and instantly they would become little angels and ask for a toy.  I would look at them and say, 'Not today because you didn't obey me at home.'  It gave them cause to think about their behavior.  This verse gives the child of God cause to examine their heart attitude, motives, worship and testimony.

All good things to think about...

    But that's just me!

Afflicted or Merry?

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.  Is any merry? let him sing psalms."

James 5:13

There are two responses to two types of situations:

    When I am afflicted, (troubled mentally or physically) I am to pray.

    When I am merry, (full of high spirit) then I am to sing psalms.

I am to pray to The One Who can remove my affliction-

I am to praise The One Who brings me joy!

So, the question is, do I go to Him when I am troubled, or is my first response to turn to a friend or family member for help?

When all is well, do I remember to praise The One Who causes me to rejoice?  Or do I take my present circumstance for granted?

A lot to think about today from such a small verse...

    But that's just me!

"As sure as God puts His children in the furnace of affliction, He will be with them."

Charles Spurgeon

"Joy is not the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God."

Robert Schuller

In Truth

"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." 

 Psalm 145:18

"The LORD is nigh"- Our Lord is near.

"Unto all them that call upon him."-This is a promise for all.

"*To all that call upon him in truth."- is a conditional promise based on truth.

God knows our hearts.  He knows when we are just going through the motions, or the mechanics of worship and prayer. God knows when we lie, exaggerate or polish up a sin to make it not seem so sinful.

But when we do that, we are pushing away the only One Who promises to draw near.

I remember when I was a little girl, my mom would ask me a direct question about something that I did. 

She already knew the truth, already had the facts and evidence of my transgression, but she would still ask me what happened.

Sometimes I would start out with a lie.  

I can still see her face when she looked at me and said, 'When you are ready to tell me the truth, I will listen."  And then she would walk away.

The absence of my mother's presence provoked me to tell her the truth.

God's presence provokes me to call upon Him in Truth.

The Lord promises to be near us...

        When we call upon Him in truth...

            Truth matters to God...

                But that's just me!

-

Good Gifts

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"   Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:11

Don't you just love giving gifts to your children?  I do.  I love it when I see a need in their lives, and I can provide it for them.  When they were younger, they would ask for certain things; sometimes we could get it for them and sometimes not.  Sometimes they asked for things that were not good for them, and so as parents, we had to discern what was best for our children to have or not have.  I especially love to surprise them with unexpected gifts.  Unexpected gifts are often times the most treasured.  To be given something when you least expect it, allows the receiver to understand grace and unconditional love.

My Heavenly Father delights in gift giving!  His gifts are always state-of-the-art and top-of-the-line.  They are not 'used,' 'second-hand,' 'left-overs,' or the wrong size.  His gifts for me are not universal, one-size- fits-all, but His gifts for me are personal.

His gifts are just for me.

His gifts are not thought-less, but thought-full.  He knows just what I need.  (even before I ask)

When I continue to be persistent in my prayers, He is faithful to answer my prayers, and to not only give me what I ask for, but He gives me more than I could ever ask for.  He goes above and beyond all expectations when giving me gifts.

And not just physical provisions and needs, but my emotional and Spiritual needs as well.

Sometimes my gift is 'no.'

I accept that gift because it is the best gift for me at that time.

Jesus is all I need.

Jesus is not only the Giver of the gifts...He is also the gift.

God is faithful to give us good things...

    Not only for our good...

        But for the good of others...

            But that's just me!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  James 1:17