Today is Tuesday, October 23, 2012. Another beautiful day in Conway, SC. This weather is just perfect - need a light jacket in the mornings and short sleeves the rest of the day. Plenty of sunshine for walks on the beach, for golfers on the links, or for Mom and kids to enjoy a great day at the park. God is so very good to us! We live in the greatest place on Planet Earth, Horry County, SC specifically Conway, SC - the South, the bible belt on the east coast of the USA.
Now, enough of all that bragging on my home state and county. Good Morning. God is good and He is everywhere. That is one of the wonderful attributes I love most about Him. He is not limited to space like we are! He is omnipresent. He's on time all the time.
Last week we spoke of the Lord my Rock, Yahweh, Tsur. In the Old Testament, God's proper name is Yahweh (Jehovah). This is His covenant name to His people, Israel. His most sacred name must not be taken in vain.
Let's speak today of the redemptive names of God, Yahweh - Yireh and His promises. Jehovah-Jireh, the God Who provides. Let's look at the fulfillment of His promise in Genesis 22:1-14 concerning Abraham and Isaac. This is the first act of worship mentioned in the bible. It is also the first use of the word "love" in scripture (Gen. 22:2).
Genesis 22:1-14 KJV
Verse 1: "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2: And He said, take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went onto the place of which God had told him.
4: Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5: And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10: And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11: And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12: And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast notwithheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13: And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14: And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh; as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it sall be seen."
Our heavenly Father desires for us to love and worship Him and Him only as God! Today, world people may have many gods. I tell you there is but one true living God and His name is Jehovah God, know in the very beginning of the Old Testament as The Great I Am. He is still the Great I Am and He is still the God, Jehovah-Jireh, who provides for His children.
This passage today, Gen. 22:1-14, tells of a father and son, a father whose great love for his son that God tested. Often tests comes in our lives. I wonder if we pass as faithfully as Abraham. He did not waver. He did just as God instructed. He knew somewhere, somehow God would provide a substitute for his son. What great faith he had in God. He was willing to raise the knife but somewhere there had to be some doubt, some fear, some confusion like 'where God, when God, or why God. What have I done to deserve this test that You would take my beloved son Isaac from me'. This is a truest form of love and worship - putting God first and obeying our Heavenly Father. How today if we could get back to the concept of obedience to God and love and worship Him. How much better off we would be as a person, family, city, and nation. Jesus is getting ready to come back for His church. Are you ready to meet Him, see Him and hear Him say 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter in to the joy's of the Lord'?
There is so much joy in serving and knowing our Lord. We as Christians should be the happiest people in the world and I believe true Christians are! Those who try and pretend to be are the most miserable. You cannot serve two masters. You love one and hate the other (Matt. 6:24). It is a flat impossibility to love God and this world! God offers eternal live while the world offers eternal suffering and death. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve--------." (Josh. 24:15). God and His Son Jesus 'The light of the world' OR Satan and his emissaries 'The darkness of this world, the thief, killer and destroyer'. Please choose LIFE, LIGHT, and live!!
John 10:10 (KJV) : The thief comes not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (Jesus) I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Commentary from Jimmy Swaggert ESB: "The source of this is (life in Christ). All true believers have such; however, all true believers enjoy such only by constant faith in Christ and the Cross."
Looking through the eyes of Jesus,
Ms June
Let us Pray:
Father, we repent of all sin in our lives, of things we know we've done and things we are unaware of. Forgive our shortcomings and our sharp tongues. Help us to be obedient to You, Father. Give us a worshipping spirit to know You. May our will be surrendered completely over to You. Make us and mold us to be what You, Lord, would have us to be.
Now Lord, thank You for providing Your Son to take our place, bearing the burdens of our sins. Open our eyes to all the ways You still want to provide for us. Help us to recognize your provisions and to grow in understanding that You are the Father who is always good. We trust You to care for us no matter what we need. Thank You Lord. In the name of Jesus amen.
Looking through the eyes of Jesus,
Ms June
PRAYER REQUESTS
II Chronicles 7:14 Let's take it to the Lord in prayer
Debra Anderson - Complete healing from cancer
Our Grandsons - Mickey and Jesse
Roger and Sherryllynn Bell - Health and wholeness
Fountain of Life Ministries
Conway Manor - Residents, staff and volunteers
Agape Senior Center - Residents, staff and volunteers
Candidates intentions and motives to be revealed
Our President
Our Senate, House of Rep., and Supreme Court
Our Governor and State leadership
Our Armed Forces
Our local first responders - police, emt's firefighters and chaplains
Peace for Israel
Remember to vote - Nov. 6th. Your vote DOES matter and count. Make it your business to get out to the polls. In fact, vote early and beat the rush!! As Nike's slogan says "Just do it"! You'll feel better about it when you gripe!!!
Have a great week and be blessed - not stressed.
No comments:
Post a Comment