The Impartiality of God

Acts 10:34-35 - “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him."

God cares not who we are but what we become through our obedience to Him. Some folks make following and worshiping God a complicated matter by a myriad of rules and regulations. Others choose no rules and say their god accepts them in their spiritual journey as long as they continue to "search." However, the truth is different than what we might perceive as reality.

Simply, as Peter states, we must "fear Him" and do "what is right." Some try to reverse the order and think because they are moral and doing the next right thing, that they are fearing God. However, the fear of the Lord means more than just being afraid of the consequences of bad behavior. It means to be afraid of not loving the Lord with all one's heart. If we are truly in love with God, then our right living will supernaturally follow. Then, as this scripture states, he will welcome any one without partiality. May we all love Him supremely with a reverence to do otherwise. Then, God's perfect love will cast out any fear not of Him (I John 4:18).

Somethingness Out Of Nothingness

Isaiah 38:17 - “Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back."

King Hezekiah was overjoyed when Isaiah told him God was extending his life another 15 years. The king was to die in the prime of his life but God had mercy.

How many of us have been granted a grand reprieve? Our lives were full of bitterness, not understanding that God was there all the time. Our existences were filled with nothingness, yet we did not know it. The anxiety and the pain of living filled us with overwhelming despair, masking how truly empty we were in reality. Then, the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ came when He "cast all our sin behind His back." The epiphany of this great act and the realization of the emptiness of our lives as he backfilled them with His love, joy, and peace became our moment of transformation.

If you have not done so, or have lost your way and are “stuck,” please consider the following: Embrace God this day. He desires to turn our nothingness into great somethingness.

Zeal for the God Within

Psalm 69:9 - "For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me."

What often appears as religious fanaticism to the world, can be the zeal of and passion of a believer for the God who lives within. It is a wonderful ambition to keep our bodies pure, both in what we consume and what we allow it to do. However, this verse speaks to us about the temple of the Lord and how He lives -- not only in our bodies but also in our souls and spirits.

Are we consumed with what God thinks about His living quarters within us? Or, are we ashamed when we participate in some conversation, or watch some movie, or when we go somewhere He would not approve? He is our guest yet so many of us treat Him like a hobo in a flophouse! When we have a zeal for the God who dwells within, then we will become partakers of the reproach of the world. Is no one reproaching us for our zeal? Then possibly we have none. May we all live passionately and fervently for the One who dwells within.

Strength in the Skies

Psalm 68:34 - "Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel and His strength is in the skies."

If we could see into the supernatural this day with the ability to comprehend what was going on in the heavenlies, we would see a glorious covering of glory over the nation of Israel. Even in their spiritual blindness to Yeshua, God still broods over this land like a mother hen over her chicks.

Even so, God's strength and power is in the skies throughout the earth. Certainly there are principalities of wickedness over certain areas. Yet, God still reigns and rules supreme in the heavens. Some versions suggest His strength is in the "clouds." While we may not see Him today in the heavenlies, beloved, there is a day coming we will all see Him coming in great power on the clouds. Come Lord Jesus, come!

Our Burden Bearer

Psalm 68:19 - "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah."

We often marvel at someone who has done a particular feat daily for years and years. I am reminded of a fellow who has run every day since the early 1970s. Truly remarkable when you think how life often attempts and succeeds to derail our daily plans. There is something to be said for faithfulness and perseverance of this sort.

Is there ever a day that you know you should do something, yet you blow it off? We have all done this. However, God never tires of daily bearing our burden. If all 6 billion souls on this planet would turn to Jesus this very day, He would still be strong enough to carry every care and woe of the human race. All we must do is trust, surrender, and rely upon Him as the "God who is our salvation."

In Jesus' Name

Acts 3:16 -" And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all."

What is in a name? No sane person would name their child "Stupid." Most people know that when you call something by its name, the meaning of the name is reinforced. When the angel Gabriel announced the name of Jesus (Yeshua) to Mary before His birth, heaven had an agenda. Jesus literally means "God saves." The etymology of Yeshua means every kind of salvation mankind needs or desires. He is first and foremost our Savior from sin. Additionally he is our Healer, our Deliverer, our Sustainer, our Protector, and our Overcomer. Jesus Christ is the salvation solution for every circumstance.

Are we Christians who call on the name of Jesus Christ in faith of its great strength? If not we have denied the power He came to give every believer. May we look to the Savior and the power of his name. Our God is mighty to save!

Godly Stability

Isaiah 33:6 - "And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure."

What are we banking on for retirement? I'm not speaking of earthly retirement, but what have we banked for our eternal repose? Everyone receives dividends for however they are preparing. Some are readying themselves for this inevitable day by avoiding Jesus and giving themselves to the things of this world. Their lack of the fear of the Lord is evident by their lack of treasure as suggested in our lead verse.

However, those who have opened their bank account in heaven through their surrender to Jesus, and then have faithfully added to their ledger day by day, can be assured of dividends both in this life and the one to come. Their treasure is reflected in earthly "stability," as this verse suggests, and also the assurance of eternal peace with Him who faithfully guards their riches. Beloved, our greatest treasure is the fear of the Lord. May we surrender to His fear and reverence and we will never be dismayed what man might throw our way.