Mark 2:16-17
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners,
they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (NKJV)
A repentant person is one who sorrowfully recognizes the fact that they are indeed a sinner and decides to turn from their sinful ways and walk humbly in the presence of God. And then there are people who do acknowledge their sinfulness, but think they are too righteous to repent of their sins. These kinds of self-righteous people are not the main focus of our Lord, instead He came to rescue those people who were sick and without hope—those who were unaware of their condemnation.
Jesus not only came to heal His children physically, but most importantly, He came to heal our sin condition (1John 1:9) which is for more devastating then our physical condition. But in order to allow God’s healing power to repair the damage, we must first acknowledge our sickness and then admit our inability to fix it (1 Corinthians 1:25). Even though Jesus came to heal and give hope to the less fortunate, we must remember that no one is beyond the healing power of God. It makes little difference to the LORD where you stand in the world; He came to heal and give eternal life to everyone no matter how far they have strayed from the Truth. The world in its fallen state is merciless to every man, woman, and child, and the only hope any of us have is found in the grace and sovereignty of our LORD God, Jesus Christ. There is absolutely nothing, my friends that our Almighty God cannot heal and save (1 Chronicles 29:11). From the moment He arrived in our world, the Lord Jesus has been bringing forgiveness and healing to multitudes of sick and sinful people who have cried out for His healing touch!
A Whisper of Hope
I Am your Hope…the only Hope that can save you from the grip of Satan. The power of the evil one is puny compared to the Creator. When you walk with Me in submission, you have nothing to fear; for I control all that is seen and unseen. I can fix any situation; any circumstance that arises. There is absolutely nothing beyond my power. And this same power is available for everyone who gives there life to Me.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 1:25
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (NASB)
1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in
earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you
are exalted as head over all.
Monday, February 7, 2011
"Joy In Forgiveness"
Psalm 32:1, 2
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record
the LORD has cleared of guilt. (NLT)
As imperfect, sinful human beings, there is never a day that we do not disobey our perfect and holy God, and for many people (as it had been for me) I was totally unaware that my lifestyle was one of total disobedience; going against the very grain of God’s will and purpose (Psalm 36:1-2). It was not until I began to know and understand the LORD our God that I came to realize just how undeserving I was for God’s mercy and grace and forgiveness. My lifetime of rebellion and total disregard for God was more than enough reason for His wrath to be poured out on me. But what an incredibly loving and forgiving God we have, my friends, One who gives us chance after chance to admit our rebellion and ask for His forgiveness, so that He can put our sinful life to rest and remember it no more!
When we are able to live our lives freed from the guilt and shame that had once held us captive and in the dark, it will bring an incredible amount of everlasting joy knowing that the LORD has cleared your sin debt forever and given you a new start and a new life in His Son, Christ Jesus (Romans 6:22). And once your old life is dead and buried you will be able to move forward with renewed hope and strength knowing that the Lord of the universe is for you and directing your path. When Satan, the ruler of this fallen world, no longer controls the way you think, God will not only give you the wisdom to except this life as it is, but He will also give you the power to overcome it and change (Romans 12:2).
A Whisper of Hope
Come humbly before Me…with a sorrowful heart, dear child, and I will forgive all your rebellion and wipe your stained record clean. I will breath new life into you; a life that will bring glory to My Name. When you put your trust in Me, your Creator, you can be sure that I will give you all that you need to redirect your life-journey into one that will bring you hope for tomorrow, peace about today, and a joy unlike any that you have ever experienced before.
Psalm 36:1-2
Sin whispers to the wicked,
deep within their hearts.
They have no fear of God to restrain them.
In their blind conceit, they cannot see how
wicked they really are. (NLT)
Romans 6:22
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God,
you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (NKJV)
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record
the LORD has cleared of guilt. (NLT)
As imperfect, sinful human beings, there is never a day that we do not disobey our perfect and holy God, and for many people (as it had been for me) I was totally unaware that my lifestyle was one of total disobedience; going against the very grain of God’s will and purpose (Psalm 36:1-2). It was not until I began to know and understand the LORD our God that I came to realize just how undeserving I was for God’s mercy and grace and forgiveness. My lifetime of rebellion and total disregard for God was more than enough reason for His wrath to be poured out on me. But what an incredibly loving and forgiving God we have, my friends, One who gives us chance after chance to admit our rebellion and ask for His forgiveness, so that He can put our sinful life to rest and remember it no more!
When we are able to live our lives freed from the guilt and shame that had once held us captive and in the dark, it will bring an incredible amount of everlasting joy knowing that the LORD has cleared your sin debt forever and given you a new start and a new life in His Son, Christ Jesus (Romans 6:22). And once your old life is dead and buried you will be able to move forward with renewed hope and strength knowing that the Lord of the universe is for you and directing your path. When Satan, the ruler of this fallen world, no longer controls the way you think, God will not only give you the wisdom to except this life as it is, but He will also give you the power to overcome it and change (Romans 12:2).
A Whisper of Hope
Come humbly before Me…with a sorrowful heart, dear child, and I will forgive all your rebellion and wipe your stained record clean. I will breath new life into you; a life that will bring glory to My Name. When you put your trust in Me, your Creator, you can be sure that I will give you all that you need to redirect your life-journey into one that will bring you hope for tomorrow, peace about today, and a joy unlike any that you have ever experienced before.
Psalm 36:1-2
Sin whispers to the wicked,
deep within their hearts.
They have no fear of God to restrain them.
In their blind conceit, they cannot see how
wicked they really are. (NLT)
Romans 6:22
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God,
you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (NKJV)
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)
"The Race of Grace"
Acts 20:24
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself,
so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received
from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (NKJV)
I spent most of my life on this earth consumed in self-worthlessness; living a life that gave me little peace about my existence. I walked and sometimes ran through this life-journey void of joy and any hope of finding it. I was so wrapped up in self-pity and hopelessness that the thing I desired most was death. Without the Lord our God, my life became meaningless and the race I was running was headed towards a cliff that would initially end and I would plummet to my death (Isaiah 10:4). It was only by the grace of God that He stepped in and stopped me from destroying the precious life He had given me (Ephesians 2:8). Once I refocused my sights on the finish line and set my eyes on the One who had given me my start—the One who took my old life and gave me a new one—all things changed for me. My eyes were not only opened to the real truth about this life, but it also gave me a much clearer picture of the life I would find when I crossed the finish line.
The race I am now running has given me more joy than I ever thought possible; not a worldly kind of joy but an eternal joy that nothing can steal from me. When you know the Savior, the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, you will know where your life-journey is headed and His peace will settle over you. The direction of your race will change course and you will not only be excited about reaching the finish line, but you will want to bring as many misdirected souls with you as you can. This race is not about us, dear friends, but about our gracious and merciful God and His marvelous plan of redemption for everyone! (Titus 2: 11-14).
A Whisper of Hope
Rely on Me, dear child…for when you do you will be able to accomplish all that I call on you to do. But you must rely solely on My Power and Wisdom, because on your own you can do nothing to help expand my Kingdom. Without My direction, the race that has been set before you will end in death and destruction. But with Me as your Trainer your race will be won and you will celebrate with all those who have finished before you!
Isaiah 10:4
“Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners,
And they shall fall among the slain.” (NKJV)
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NASB)
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (NKJV)
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself,
so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received
from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (NKJV)
I spent most of my life on this earth consumed in self-worthlessness; living a life that gave me little peace about my existence. I walked and sometimes ran through this life-journey void of joy and any hope of finding it. I was so wrapped up in self-pity and hopelessness that the thing I desired most was death. Without the Lord our God, my life became meaningless and the race I was running was headed towards a cliff that would initially end and I would plummet to my death (Isaiah 10:4). It was only by the grace of God that He stepped in and stopped me from destroying the precious life He had given me (Ephesians 2:8). Once I refocused my sights on the finish line and set my eyes on the One who had given me my start—the One who took my old life and gave me a new one—all things changed for me. My eyes were not only opened to the real truth about this life, but it also gave me a much clearer picture of the life I would find when I crossed the finish line.
The race I am now running has given me more joy than I ever thought possible; not a worldly kind of joy but an eternal joy that nothing can steal from me. When you know the Savior, the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, you will know where your life-journey is headed and His peace will settle over you. The direction of your race will change course and you will not only be excited about reaching the finish line, but you will want to bring as many misdirected souls with you as you can. This race is not about us, dear friends, but about our gracious and merciful God and His marvelous plan of redemption for everyone! (Titus 2: 11-14).
A Whisper of Hope
Rely on Me, dear child…for when you do you will be able to accomplish all that I call on you to do. But you must rely solely on My Power and Wisdom, because on your own you can do nothing to help expand my Kingdom. Without My direction, the race that has been set before you will end in death and destruction. But with Me as your Trainer your race will be won and you will celebrate with all those who have finished before you!
Isaiah 10:4
“Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners,
And they shall fall among the slain.” (NKJV)
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NASB)
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (NKJV)
"The Path of Truth"
Psalm 25:5
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation. (NKJV)
This petition of King David’s, which was written thousands of years ago, is one we should whisper each and every morning before we begin our day and before we pick up God’s Word in search of the Truth.
Our gracious and loving God left the glory of heaven and traveled across the cosmos to become flesh and blood, as we are flesh and blood (John 1:14), in order to save us from our enemies and personally teach us how to live a righteous life of hope in a world that is against us (1 Corinthians 15:57). Once a person understands this truth, their God given common sense will begin to tell them that maybe; just maybe, this is a path worth looking into. And once the decision is made to walk in the truth of God’s redemptive plan, the Spirit of God will lead us, step by step, down the only path that will lead to an amazing life-journey unlike anything this world has to offer. As I began to learn who our God is and all that He has provided, it became quite apparent that I should trust in Him, for the world I trusted had always let me down; it had chewed me up and spit me out, and the only promise it could keep was my eventual destruction and death. My dear friends, there is no one better to trust than the God who came and suffered the penalty for our sins and rebellion in order to save us from death (Romans 5:6). Is it better to trust in a world that can only promise you temporary rewards and eternal death, or the only God who can promise you everlasting rewards and eternal life? We cannot win the battles of life by trusting the world and our own power. The powerful forces that rule this dark and dying world cannot be defeated without the Lord our God to defend us and provide the strength we need to persevere with peace and joy. Which path makes better sense to you? One that leads to darkness and death, or one that leads into the glorious Light of eternal life?
A Whisper of Hope
Follow Me, My child…the path that leads to life. You no longer need to fear “the sting of death” nor its futile path of hopelessness, for I will lead you in truth and My truth will set you free. This temporary life on earth will never be without struggle and pain or void of uncertainty and disappointment, but if you put on the armor I give you, you will be able to ward off the attacks of your enemies and find peace in the victory.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,
and we saw His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NASB)
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NASB)
Romans 5:6
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (NASB)
"Trusting the Lord"
Jeremiah 17:7
“Blessed is the man who
trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.”
The truth of these words will not hit home until you have experienced the many blessings we receive when we live for the Lord our God, Christ Jesus, and do it according to His will. But what hits home for most people is the truth found in verses 5 and 6, for when we put our trust in this fallen world and in our own strength the consequences for most people will be devastating; not only in this life, but in our eternal destination as well.
God’s blessings are many and come in many shapes and sizes and are not only based on our own individual needs, but on many occasions, according to the needs of an entire nation. But for whoever the blessing are given, we can rest assure that they are all given according to God’s eternal plan. Therefore, the same can be said about the curses of God for those who turn their backs on Him and live only in the flesh as their own provider and savior. My dear friends, I know from experience, that when our lives are far from God and we rely solely on our own abilities and strength it is never enough to save us from the wrath that living in this world can bring, nor will it keep us from the final wrath of God.
Whenever we walk through our life-journey in the Light of God’s Truth our blessings will always be more than enough (Proverbs 28:20) to help us persevere in this life with the peace and joy of Lord living in our hearts (Psalm 29:11). For in all peoples, God has put eternity in their hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), even though there are many who live in denial of this truth. The question is: are we willing to suffer a short while, trusting in our Creator to give us all that we need until that day when He will bless with eternal life, or do we chose to struggle through this short life grabbing all that we can to satisfy our fleshly hungers only to suffer unfathomable misery in the eternal darkness of hell? You have a choice, my friends, will you trust in the Lord and all He has promised, or will you trust only in yourself and loose all that God has for you?
A Whisper of Hope
I Am true to My Word…dear child. All that I promise you holds true, no matter what your flesh tells you, or what the world says of Me. I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and I have written this on your heart. You know it is true! Trust not in yourself, for you are fallen and imperfect. Trust not in the world for it is also fallen and imperfect. Only I, your Creator, can be trusted, for I have defeated this fallen world and risen in all My Glory. I Am perfect and pure and your only Hope.
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound in blessings. (NKJV)
Psalm 29:11
The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts,
except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
“Blessed is the man who
trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.”
The truth of these words will not hit home until you have experienced the many blessings we receive when we live for the Lord our God, Christ Jesus, and do it according to His will. But what hits home for most people is the truth found in verses 5 and 6, for when we put our trust in this fallen world and in our own strength the consequences for most people will be devastating; not only in this life, but in our eternal destination as well.
God’s blessings are many and come in many shapes and sizes and are not only based on our own individual needs, but on many occasions, according to the needs of an entire nation. But for whoever the blessing are given, we can rest assure that they are all given according to God’s eternal plan. Therefore, the same can be said about the curses of God for those who turn their backs on Him and live only in the flesh as their own provider and savior. My dear friends, I know from experience, that when our lives are far from God and we rely solely on our own abilities and strength it is never enough to save us from the wrath that living in this world can bring, nor will it keep us from the final wrath of God.
Whenever we walk through our life-journey in the Light of God’s Truth our blessings will always be more than enough (Proverbs 28:20) to help us persevere in this life with the peace and joy of Lord living in our hearts (Psalm 29:11). For in all peoples, God has put eternity in their hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), even though there are many who live in denial of this truth. The question is: are we willing to suffer a short while, trusting in our Creator to give us all that we need until that day when He will bless with eternal life, or do we chose to struggle through this short life grabbing all that we can to satisfy our fleshly hungers only to suffer unfathomable misery in the eternal darkness of hell? You have a choice, my friends, will you trust in the Lord and all He has promised, or will you trust only in yourself and loose all that God has for you?
A Whisper of Hope
I Am true to My Word…dear child. All that I promise you holds true, no matter what your flesh tells you, or what the world says of Me. I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and I have written this on your heart. You know it is true! Trust not in yourself, for you are fallen and imperfect. Trust not in the world for it is also fallen and imperfect. Only I, your Creator, can be trusted, for I have defeated this fallen world and risen in all My Glory. I Am perfect and pure and your only Hope.
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound in blessings. (NKJV)
Psalm 29:11
The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts,
except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
"Knowing God"
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (NASB)
We can gaze in awe at the heavens above and marvel at the beauty of earth, and this testimony by itself tells us there is a Creator and that He is far greater than ourselves (Acts 17: 24-25). But this alone is not enough to sustain us in this life, nor is it sufficient in saving us from the pain and consequences of our sin and rebellion. Therefore, we must not only look to God as our Creator and Provider, but we also need to depend on Him as our Teacher and our Redeemer if we are to find any peace at all in a world that has no mercy, nor does it care whether we live or die.
I have discovered (through years of experience) that living is this world believing there is a God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them and knowing little else about Him is not only irresponsible and unwise (Ephesians 5:15-17), but it also leads to condemnation and death at the end of this earthly life. I traveled much of my life-journey cursing God, rather than loving Him; fighting Him, rather than obeying Him, and living the lies of the world instead of living in His Truth. Therefore, it is not surprising that I spent a good portion of my life burdened with overwhelming guilt, shame, and regret, which led to depression and the hopelessness of ever finding anything that would give me some peace about my existence (Matthew 12:28-30).
My dear, dear, friends, until you look to the One who created you and understand how far He went to save you from the grips of hell and the abyss it brings, and until you feel the extent of His love and all He has done, you will never experience His peace, nor will you discover the everlasting joy of knowing what lies ahead. The better you know this amazing God of ours, the deeper your love and understanding of Him will be. And the more knowledge you gain about God’s redeeming plan for you and His creation, the better equipped you become in dealing with the onslaught of deception that is killing the very souls of so many people in this fallen world which is struggling to survive.
A Whisper of Hope
Come to Me, dear child…and I will teach you all that you need to know. And that which I teach will bring you peace and understanding that is far greater than anything the world has to offer. The closer you draw to Me, your Creator, the more you will understand this difficult and sometimes unbearable life. When you know the Truth and trust in Me, your eyes will see the glory of My plan and your life will be renewed.
Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. (NASB)
Ephesians 5:15-17
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish; but understand what the will of the Lord is. (NASB)
Matthew 12:28-30
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give your rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in Heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NASB)
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (NASB)
We can gaze in awe at the heavens above and marvel at the beauty of earth, and this testimony by itself tells us there is a Creator and that He is far greater than ourselves (Acts 17: 24-25). But this alone is not enough to sustain us in this life, nor is it sufficient in saving us from the pain and consequences of our sin and rebellion. Therefore, we must not only look to God as our Creator and Provider, but we also need to depend on Him as our Teacher and our Redeemer if we are to find any peace at all in a world that has no mercy, nor does it care whether we live or die.
I have discovered (through years of experience) that living is this world believing there is a God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them and knowing little else about Him is not only irresponsible and unwise (Ephesians 5:15-17), but it also leads to condemnation and death at the end of this earthly life. I traveled much of my life-journey cursing God, rather than loving Him; fighting Him, rather than obeying Him, and living the lies of the world instead of living in His Truth. Therefore, it is not surprising that I spent a good portion of my life burdened with overwhelming guilt, shame, and regret, which led to depression and the hopelessness of ever finding anything that would give me some peace about my existence (Matthew 12:28-30).
My dear, dear, friends, until you look to the One who created you and understand how far He went to save you from the grips of hell and the abyss it brings, and until you feel the extent of His love and all He has done, you will never experience His peace, nor will you discover the everlasting joy of knowing what lies ahead. The better you know this amazing God of ours, the deeper your love and understanding of Him will be. And the more knowledge you gain about God’s redeeming plan for you and His creation, the better equipped you become in dealing with the onslaught of deception that is killing the very souls of so many people in this fallen world which is struggling to survive.
A Whisper of Hope
Come to Me, dear child…and I will teach you all that you need to know. And that which I teach will bring you peace and understanding that is far greater than anything the world has to offer. The closer you draw to Me, your Creator, the more you will understand this difficult and sometimes unbearable life. When you know the Truth and trust in Me, your eyes will see the glory of My plan and your life will be renewed.
Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. (NASB)
Ephesians 5:15-17
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish; but understand what the will of the Lord is. (NASB)
Matthew 12:28-30
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give your rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in Heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NASB)
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