"Whatever It Takes"

 "If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar." (S.O.S. 8:9)

"Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: and I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction in thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." (Isaiah 60:16-18)

  Okay, so here we have something we might need to examine with our hearts wide open, because it is a manifestation of the New Covenant Jesus spoke about, as He took the sins of the world upon Himself, thereby fulfilling the law, with was basically that which showed us how sinful we really were. In the actual Old Covenant, which was established with Abraham, the requirement then was that of circumcision, to be set apart; this New Covenant is that of love, which is the circumcision of the heart! 

  As I mentioned before, these, "The Young Woman's Brothers," would be revealing who the, "Young Women of Jerusalem," were or are; they are the law or the spirit of the law; that which shows us our complete and utter failure to fulfill that which God requires. Showing us our standing; lighting a path, if you will, to the need of a Savior and Redeemer! That does not mean that the law of God is bad, because His laws are very good; but they were bad for us, because we could not honestly keep them.

  These "Brothers" represent those two commandments that are spoken of in Luke 10:27, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said of these two commandments, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40) The law never goes away, but it is fulfilled by those that walk in the Spirit; the Holy Spirit that now dwells within us! 

  Rather interesting, don't you think? Yet, we are loved beyond measure! Two things that represent God, His Word and His Love; both of which are boundless and unstoppable! Both of which, we must embrace with all of our might and never let go! But, just in case we might, whether intentional or by mistake, let go or walk away, you are not going to be out of His reach, EVER! I hope you know and understand that...

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4) 

"As the World Turns" -2.0

 "We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she be spoken for?" (S.O.S. 8:8)

  "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:11-12)

  Just in case we might have overlooked anything, as it might be customary to do when it comes to sin, there is a completely different side to what might be going on here; because, as I said before, you must have a time when you come to terms with what you are, what you are capable of, and who it is that you belong to. If you belong to the Lord, you are His forever; you are now a citizen of Heaven, which is a real and present place; and you can do all things through Christ! 

  Yesterday I was reminded of a story in a book, I believe it was a book by a famous Korean pastor who was sharing something about the power of prayer. Not everything in the book is worth following, as there are some things that I do not believe we should practice, like giving birth to prayers. But there was a little story about the missionary trip to a pagan island, where a new believer in the group challenged the natives on the power of the god they worshipped, saying, "God is going to rain on your parade!" 

  If you are familiar with the story, you might recall how that rest of the group reacted, saying that these natives will kill them all for being false prophets, if the rain declared did not happen on the day of their ceremonial parade. As the story goes, they woke up the morning of, and there was not a cloud in the sky; thinking they were doomed, they starting to pray, "Where is the God of Elijah!" And after some time, praying earnestly for God's help, they began to hear rain drops upon the tin roof. The rest of what happened was something similar to what happen with the Philistines and the Ark; it surely did rain on their parade! 

  In that regard, I am reminded of John Chau, who was at our church getting prayed over before he went to a remote island to minister to that Sentinelese Tribe. Then he was apparently killed and never heard from again, almost instantly upon his arrival. We never really know what God is going to do in anything that He might put upon our hearts, because His ways are not always on the same level as our ways. To be perfectly clear, we just don't see things the same way that He does; mostly because He sees all of the whole picture, we can only see, partially see, the spot we are currently standing on; and then that, is for only a brief moment in time. 

  What is it that we must do to get some sort of consistency in how God works? Is there even a clue that we can know what He is really trying to do? 'If this ride is meant to be fun, I want to get off! But if this is for Your glory to be displayed, then show me a sign!' These are the question and the terms we all seem to struggle with from time to time; nothing is very different from one trial to the next, it is just another issue or problem; all of which are attached to this earth, none of which are going with us when we depart. 

  Obviously there is more to what is happening then what we can see; so there is what breasts look like, or don't look like, because we have none! There is no pattern to what God does, except that He works all things towards the good! What the good might be, is still unseen to all situations; and some of us will never know what and how much good that there was, until we get to heaven. In case you might be wondering, that will be the day in which you are spoken for...

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)  

"As the World Turns" -To

"We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?" (S.O.S. 8:8)

  "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:11-13) 

  Oddly enough, things really do turn; sometimes they turn for the worst, sometimes for the best; some things will seriously turn upside-down or totally around; but no matter which way is up, or which way is down, God is never far away, and He is still in control! The interesting things about God's love, is that His love counts; all other loves, no matter how much power or passion they might bring to the table, there is never ever a single chance they might come as close to the promises that come with the love of God! 

  As you might have figured out by now, this is more about being restricted and conforming to some sort of order, than it is about youth or important standing. Within the structure of religion, it is a lot like Unions; your given standing by how long you have been serving, not by the way you might believe or by the gifts you have been given. Take that up a notch, and imagine what it might have looked like for the Gentiles that first came to Christ; all the restrictions put upon them, as they might have felt substandard compared to those that were Jewish followers of Christ.

  Yes, it is more about what God does, not what man might do! It is a lot like King Saul trying to get David to wear his armor, as David was about to face Goliath; it was not a very good fit, it had not been tested, and it restricted the plan that God had intended for him to do. Imagine what it would have been like for David to sling that rock wearing all of the bulky armor; it would have just gotten in the way and slowed him down. God's ways may not always look impressive or meet the standard of being dignified, but they get the job done! 

  As Matthew Henry puts this, the Jewish church would have said this of the believing Gentiles, saying, "Their condition (say the pious Jews) is very deplorable and forlorn; they are sisters, children of the same fathers, God and Adam, but they are little, because not dignified with the knowledge of God: they have no breasts, no divine revelation, no scriptures, no ministries, no breasts of consolation drawn out for them, when they might suck, being strangers to the covenants of promise, no breasts of instruction themselves to draw out to their children, to nourish them, 1 Peter 2:2. What shall we do for them? We can but pity them, and pray for them. Lord, what wilt thou do for them?"

  Yes, it is rather odd, but this is the condition we are currently living in: as there are now standards which many churches are leaning towards, not based upon that which is governed by the Word of God, but more about what is acceptable and approved of mankind, womankind, or whatever the kind of creature it might be; as long as it does not try and judge the world, the world will allow it to be! But guess what: Judgment starts in the house of God...

"I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy -just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too." (Romans 11:13-16) NLT

"As the World Turns"

 "We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?" (S.O.S. 8:8)

  "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:11-16)

  Just because it might be something that feels good, does not make it right! I can recall the time when I first got saved, I asked the Chaplin of the Facility what I needed to do in order to become a disciple of Jesus. Well, let's just say that he put me in my place! 'You're an inmate and are guilty of breaking the law; you need to work your way into the ministry; you must earn your way into discipleship.' Or words to that order! But that did not stop me or cause me to feel offended; it caused me to start trying to earn my way into being accepted by him. 

  Not that it made much of a difference, because I was still locked up and he wasn't; at least he didn't think that he was! We are all sinners, saved by the same grace, by the same Jesus; but we might not all see or understand the same salvation! Listening to Pastor Todd yesterday, I heard him say how very few people that say they are Christians, can actually tell him, in ten seconds or less, what salvation means. What does it mean to be saved? and how does it happen? Is the word, Repent, part of the act? and does it actually work? 

  I can still remember the first outward sin that committed after I got saved. Not anything I am proud of, that is for sure; but it was absolutely something that I became familiar with, and that's putting it kindly. You must crush that sin, under foot! It is a lot like the illustration given when Elisha told the king of Israel to strike the arrows upon the ground, and the king smote the ground three times; when he should have smote the ground at least five or six times, as if he meant to do some damage. (2 Kings 13:14-19)

  It has been said, the sins we often keep are the ones we like; obviously, hiding something away as if it is out of site, does not count for destroying the thing that causes you to sin! Besides that, something else will always turn up again, so it must be something that is changed from within, from without! If God does not get allowed to make it happen, then it is most likely not going to count. If you know the story of the arrows, it was not really the fact of the way he smote the ground, but more about the passion within the way that he smote; he needed to want them to be consumed! 

  The real story behind the weak thrashing, is that Syria wanted to overthrow Judah; he wanted to be left alone, but did not want Judah to be left alone. Does that seem as though it might sound a little familiar when it comes to sin? We must hate sin because God hates sin! Hate the sin! But I kind of like the sin because it makes me feel good to know that it is still out there; even though I really don't have any intention to be used by it, I still like knowing that it is still around. Weirdo!!

  What the heck does any of that have to do with a little sister, no breasts, and her brothers! Come On, Man! Are you on crack or somthin! Seriously, we have got to get into Word, and let the Word get into us! Our lives and the lives of our friends and families are depending on us...

"Then what's the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? Of course not! Even if everyone is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, "You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in Court."" (Romans 3:1-4) NLT 

"The Young Women's Brothers"

"We have a little sister too young to have breasts. What will we do for our sister if someone asks to marry her? If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar." (S.O.S. 8:8-9 NLT)

  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

  There are certain things in life that should cause us to pay attention, and then, there are those that might tend to distract us and cause us to take our eyes off of the Lord; envy and pride are two of the most useful tools of the enemy to cause that kind of distraction. I seriously doubt that Solomon had much of an issue with envy; he basically had almost anything and everything that he wanted, so the only thing that he might have lacked was a simple life. Pride on the other hand, it was way too hard to resist being proud of all of that stuff and so many wives; but even then, God has a way of making good on His promises. 

  To be totally truthful, I tend to get carried away sometimes; maybe not by that which God has blessed me with, but the accomplishments that I have been able to achieve with God's blessings. Is it bragging to tell people how awesome God is and encourage them to try something I know and believe that God loves us to try? Maybe, to some it might be a little braggadocious to tell others how much God loves a cheerful giver, and to explain how it is that God challenges us to test Him on our giving, to see whether or not He will do what He says. (Malachi 3:10-11)

  Believe it or not, but there are a certain type of people that do not like cheerful givers; call it envy or jealousy, or whatever you like; but there is just something that makes them feel offended by anyone that gives freely and cheerfully, what could have been theirs. We know that that is called, right? Do you know what commandment Paul was most aware he broke? It is pretty much that which causes us to envy what others might have; whether it be freedom or power, riches or fame; maybe even a little bit of happiness, even though they should be miserable. 

  Matthew Henry attributes these two verses to both the Young Man and the Young Woman addressing the furtherance of there commitment to love one another; almost as if they are consulting one another about their affairs that might need to be straightened out, before staring this journey together. Others have this being that of the Young Woman's Brothers, who catch word of their little sister, and are challenging her commitment and qualifications in marriage.

  This is not quite the same feeling I am getting; but it is very close, because it involves our ability to move forward, based upon our lack of ability to see ourselves going anywhere. On the one hand, we have nothing all that great to offer; but on the other hand, we have unlimited riches! We cannot see the possibilities; but the possibilities are endless! This is not something that can we teach others to do, because it involves putting trust in God where there is nothing to hold onto, but God. Then it becomes something that they can only learn on their own, it is just between them and the Lord.

  Not everyone has the same journey, but we all have the same way to get where we are going...

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scriptures saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:10-13)      

"Conquered By Love" -2

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." (S.O.S. 8:7) 

  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

  Having to get a hold on something tangible, when it comes to love, is really not something that can be purchased with tangible things; it never really works, no matter how often you try or how much you might spend to try and make it happen. The word for, "Contemned," is not just about to despise, it goes a little bit further, as it means that you do not let it go unpunished. If you were to just despise something or someone, then you would stay clear of them or it, not paying it any mind; this speaks of something different, like, to trample with the feet. 

  For most of my life as a believer, it has been my honor and passion to share about the commitment to love in marriage. For anyone that might have followed this crazy blog from the beginning, you know my stance on what I believe that love is, in that it is not based upon feelings or emotions, but rather it is based upon commitment and unity. You become one: what hurts you, hurts me; what might get between us, is something that must not go unpunished! Love is more than just something you wear on your sleeve or place as a trophy once won; it must live and have life all of its own; you don't own it all by yourself, it is shared between you and the one that you love. 

  I know that might be hard to grasp, as it should be; because the tangible part about love, is that it is way stronger than anything else that you might own! As you might have imagined, this is a turning point in the Young Women's life; not because she has become more dedicated to her lover, but that her commitment to all that the relationship stands for is being defined and made sure. Such a commitment must be put in the place where it cannot be moved or taken back; it is fortified and beyond the reach of emotions or feelings; it is stronger and given more importance than life and living. 

  As you think about that, I will share a little bit from what Matthew Henry says on this: "Some give this sense of it: If a man would give all the substance of his house to Christ, as an equivalent instead of love, to excuse it, it would be contemned. He seeks not ours, but us, the heart, not the wealth. "If I give all my goods to feed the poor, and have not love, it is nothing, (1 Corinthians 13:1). Thus believers stand affected to Christ: the gifts of his providence cannot satisfy them without the assurances of his love." 

  With that, I am quick to acknowledge how important it is for us to understand the difference between His love for us and our love for Him: His love is never-ending, never-changing, and never gives up! We, on the other hand, are merely mortal and cannot contain the holiness that is found in God; we can only strive to compete, not that there is any way that is possible; but to win the race that is before us, in a way that shows we care to win at all, with our all, or with the little we got...

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that givieth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." (Romans 12:6-9)  

"Conquered By Love"

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." (S.O.S. 8:7)

  "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee be thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:1-2)

  Something to think about, if you are seriously going through some sort of trail or affliction: If God be for you, then who or what can come against you! Another way to feel better in anything that might be making you feel sad, is just to make it about God; pretty much the same thing that Jesus did, as He was always quick to make the point, 'If they love him, then they would love me also,' or 'because they hate me, they will hate you also.' Simply put, it feels better when you have God on your side! 

  I know that you don't want to hear this again, but I am convinced that Mark is the Rich Young Ruler, the one that Jesus spoke to and said, "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Mark 10:21) A little something to note: Jesus did not say, pick up thy cross, but he said, "pick up the cross," signifying who it belonged to. Not that it might matter or not towards salvation, but it is significant towards redemption and the power of God to make things happen; or as Jesus put it: "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27) 

  As such is the case, so we see the possibilities in those things that are shown above. In the sake of time, it is most interesting to note that word use for "Contemned," as it describes the result of what would it be like, "if a man would give all the substance of his house for love." This is very much as the example Jesus gave in the case I mentioned before: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26) 

  The point is how much it matters; if it matters any bit more than heaven, then it is being given too much value in our life. When we must count the cost, everything that is not of Christ is off the table; if that is not the case, then you are not prepared for the worst! When the floods might come, your flood insurance is not in place; when the fires come, you are going to get scorched. Life is filled with all sorts of things that can destroy and cause us pain, but love is the one things that will always remain...

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) 

"Marked for Life" -2.0

"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." (S.O.S. 8:6)

  "If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you." (Proverbs 25:21-22 NLT)

  As to these coals, I have somewhat been amazed by the concept of them since I was a very small child, as this is the thing my mother would say to me when I complained about a bully at school or someone that might have taken advantage of my kindness towards them. And then she would say, "Pray for you enemies," and I would, while imagining coals being dump upon their heads. Not quite sure that is the intention she had for me to pray over them for; because Jesus said, "Love your enemies," as He was telling us how we show that we are the children of our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-48)

  Is this something that is easy to do? NO!!! This is the thing we struggle with more than most anything else; especially when we are those that are in a leadership position. It is hard to hold your tongue, to make yourself humble, or to turn the other cheek; sometimes, it might even be borderline to not being able to show any forgiveness; and we all know where that will lead us! As much as it is hard to do, it is not a thing that can be impossible to overcome, but it must be yours to give away! As Pastor Bryan always says, "You have to own it, in order to give up to God!" 

  I know, you might not be all that excited about what this verse has turned into; but to be abundantly clear, Solomon was a king with a heart. He might have had some obsessions with women, horses and riches; but he loved people and hated war. Believe it or not, but he also loved God, and more importantly, he knew without a doubt that God loved him. If you don't think that is the most important part of the equation, think again! God will always beat us in the, "Love you more," debate; we don't even stand a chance! 

  If we need a way to connect with what God wants to do in us, then we need to connect the dots of what we are, how importantly we need to be fixed, and how hard it is to be pure; because it is more important to God for us to live out His love in our lives, as that is reasonable service...

"When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You were ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do the things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:20-23) NLT 

"Marked for Life" -To

 "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." (S.O.S. 8:6)

  "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree." (Zechariah 3:8-10)

  So yesterday I heard something encouraging, just in case I might feel like giving up: that Martin Luther started a commentary on the Book of Zechariah and did not finish it; apparently it was too convicting and was not what he expected it to be. Don't be concerned, I have not given much thought to giving up; some, but not much! Call me a glutton for punishment, as it is and always has been my nature to take on things others might otherwise run from. 

  What's that saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Well, therein is the summary of what I see is a deeper meaning within this particular verse: we cannot die, therefore we are destined to become stronger and stronger, even in death we have the victory! Say what you will, I don't mind being called names. As a child I was always short, made fun of because of my shortness; so I took on the name, Shorty, and became something of a legend among my peers. 

  Strange thing is, that is how I met my wife. She was told to watch out for me, because I was trouble; then six years latter, when she heard I was back in town, she came and found me; taking my heart and turning me into another person. That is the secret to the message, the mark is not just a mark that is set upon us; the mark is a sign of what we are all about. When Christ changes us, we become His vessel for life! Not that we are His vessel for our lifetime, because we are automatically; but that we are representing the eternal life associated with knowing Him. 

  Seeing the content of this from a more simple illustration, the request to be a seal, is not for the benefit of being the mark, but to be the reason that the mark is exploited or used up. It is like saying, Let all that I am be about serving you, even though it may not be accepted among my peers, that it is settled within me! Oddly enough, this is the main reason that there are so many that give up; if they are even thinking about giving up, it is not based upon what the Lord thinks of them, but what they perceive that others around them think.

  Thus the extreme passionate metaphors about death and the grave: we enter into a love that is like death, in that it has finality; the jealousy is the zeal that causes us to forsake all others, as does the grave, in that it is the place of no return. If anyone is gong to be united with us again, it will be there that we shall see them, the grave! I know that might sound harsh and over the top; but in reality, that is why Jesus said what He did, when He said; "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)

  Basically, it is all about commitment to following the LORD, at all cost, and without expecting any reward for doing so, but the life that He has to offer; that is the mark for life: eternal life in Christ. It changes your whole outlook on life...

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give peace unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Roman 12:19-21) 

"Marked for Life"

 "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." (S.O.S. 8:6)

  "Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Isaiah 49:15-16) 

  As to the whole, "Counting It All Joy," element of the last few days, it is important that we have at least a basic understanding of what is real, otherwise we are just chasing happiness. Joy is not found in the things that flee and cannot be held onto; at least not the joy that cannot be taken away by disappointment and despair. The whole point of "Counting" is to weight the value of what we have been given; as Matthew Henry sums it up: "After the bitter pangs of repentance many a one has had the blessed birth of comfort: why then may not I?" 

  Another way to see this understanding, it is a little bit like what God did to Abraham when He made him fall in love, sick love at that, for his descendants which would be slaves in a foreign land. We find this in Genesis 15, as God shows Abraham what will take place in the lives of those who are of His promise to him, as children from his seed. Basically God took the seed from something promised, and He planted that seed within Abrahams heart where it was given life. Not just life that lives and breaths; but life that causes pain and joy and hope and love. These are the things we get to experience in real life with those that love.

  It pretty much erases the doubt when it leaves a scar on your heart! Anywho, this is a little bit like that, but more like a little kidney stone; it is so small, but it can cause a whole lot or pain, especially when you try and rest. If I could illustrate what I think this means to me, it would be that part of me that might think I really don't matter that much to God. It's really not that I don't believe He loves me, but that I don't sometimes think He is jealous for me, enough to passionately love me, as I should know that He does! 

  You would think by now I would have learned a lesson and came to the understanding, I usually feel that way when there is unconfessed sin in my heart. But this is not always the case, because there are times it might be felt even after the most deep and powerful fellowship, whether in prayer or in reading His word, or even in a powerful retreat or conference or church service. There is another little bit that I would like to relate it to, a bite! A big huge bite that is taken out of my heart; let's just call it, Longing, as we long to be complete, never again to be taken apart.

  I forewarned you in the beginning, there would be many times the same Scriptures would be used...

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) NLT

"Counting It All Joy" -Too

"I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth; there she brought thee forth that bare thee." (S.O.S. 8:5b)

  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

  You wouldn't believe the number of times I have debated with those that do not believe Jesus is God using this verse from Isaiah 9:6; it clearly states that His name shall be called, The Mighty God! Yet, it is extremely difficult to argue with a cult; if their mind is made up, and they have another spirit controlling them, it is not by anything that I can say that will change what they believe. This is somewhat the spirit of what I believe is being said; not that her mind has been made up within herself, but that it is made up based upon evidence and proof that is undeniable. 

  If you are looking for some sort of proof, then it is not that difficult to find it; even though it has been over two thousand years, the proof is still very obvious. This is not about searching for truth as to the account of Jesus being alive, that He was born of a virgin, or even that He was crucified; but it is about believing that He was risen from the grave and lives! That He is who He said that He is! Do you get the message that is coming forth? It is about power over death, that which is otherwise the final chapter in mortal life; yet, in Christ Jesus we are given something that goes beyond the grave. 

  So, what's the big deal? we all know this is what we have been taught, we all have an understanding that this is what happened; so why make it into something that is too hard to swallow? Yea, maybe you're right, it is what it is; let's just see it as another feather in our cap and try to wear it well. Just in case that is your opinion and feelings on this matter, the matter between your ears might need to be brought to life! 

  As a child I was instructed how it was that Sir Isaac Newton discovered the theory of gravity: he was napping under an apple tree and an apple fell from the tree and hit him on the head. At least that is what I recall from the lessons. It is not the act of the apple, but what the apple represents: more apples! Like the story of Johnny Appleseed; who by the way, I grew up thinking was native to the San Bernardino Mountains. It is about spreading the news, that news being spread is real, and that the news being spread is alive and has real life giving power! 

  If you really want to get right down to it, there are things we can do that can cover a multitude of sins! Not that the sins are covered by what we do, but that the goodness that is done will outweigh the consequences of what might be from the bad things, or to those who know better, the not so smart things that we do. In either case, it is more than just us, but that which draws others to Him! This is what is the most important aspect of the Christian life; is there life within us that creates new life! 

  Think of me as you will, but that is my take on the matter, no matter what you might think...

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)  

"Counting It All Joy"

 "I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth; there she brought thee forth that bare thee." (S.O.S. 8:5b)

  "Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, "Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy."" (John 16:19-22 NLT)

  So, yesterday I heard a brief message from Pastor Mike F., as he shared about his wife's obsession with the final round of a Golf Tournament. At first I thought, 'Oh, he just doesn't get it,' as I heard him say how boring it was to watch and how he couldn't understand what she saw in the silly game of Golf. And then he let the cat out of the bag, as he told how he reviews all of the sports outcomes on Sunday night, but because of their busy Sunday's, his wife watched a prerecorded final round on Monday.

  You can image what that might be like, as he illustrated his attitude knowing the outcome, yet seeing his wife her wringing her hands as she watches the drama unfold. He shrugs his shoulders, glances over from time to time while reading his paper, and tries as hard as he can not to say who it is that is going to win. Long story short: this is to be the attitude of the Church! We know the final outcome, because He has already told us before hand what it will be; so why do we worry about what might happen between now and then?  

  Oddly enough, we all have felt the need to be pressed; at least I know I have. We see the trials and tribulations spoken of, yet sit comfortably in our seats, without hardly a care, saying, 'It is not going to happen here, so why should I worry?' Wrong attitude! You don't worry because it does not matter, not because it does not happen; because when it does, then you will not be prepared for it, even though Jesus has already said it would happen. 

  If there is one thing that the enemy is good at, it is have the power to deceive, even the very elect! To be ready and able to withstand the deception, we must know the truth: the truth is only found in one place: The Word of God! Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) He did not say that the truth will set us free, but that it shall make us free! We are not set free, waiting to be free, or still hoping that it will some day happen: He makes us free, Free Indeed! 

  Okay, so you don't quite understand; I can understand your situation. I myself have the same issue from time to time, where I simply don't understand why God allows certain things to happen. Due to the nature of my mortality, I have been given this limited ability to see what the future brings and why it shocks me when I see things going so far out of the bounds of rationality; but that is why I am not God. But, that does not mean I don't know what ends up happening in the end! KAPISH... 

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30) 

"Young Woman"

"I aroused you under the apple tree, where your mother gave you birth, where in great pain she delivered you. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be totally scorned." (S.O.S. 8:5b - 7 NLT)

  "Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and the bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:16-17)

  In life there are special moments when you feel as though you might have been here before; whether you were or not, it is really hard to know. In my opinion, these are simply visions or dreams that get brought to life; you somehow saw something in your past, that was manifested later in your life. Whether it was a day or several decades, for a brief moment, maybe even a split second of time, you realize in your mind, wow, this seems like something that has happened before. 

  Strangely enough, this is the way I see this starting out, as she reflects upon a flicker of time, when love first bites! I know that I might be a little off sometimes; as it is hard not to be if you are writing and sharing every single day. Not many of us can be equipped with sound minds and thoughts each and every day of our lives; at least I don't think that may people can. 

  I recall a certain disciple that Jesus meet, and it went like this: "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith to him, Behold and Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." (John 1:47-49) 

  To be or not to be, is more than just a question; it is a statement of something that is brought to life within us. When and where it takes place, is totally and completely undeniable; you cannot forget it, because it is scorched upon your heart! Do you remember the place and the time of day where you first met Jesus? Most likely this was not Nathanael's first encounter with Jesus, at least not spiritually! 

  Regardless of what happens in this life, we have the same outcome, we will be with Christ Jesus in heaven! Here, there, or in the air! That is our cry and our belief! My prayer for all of us, is that we keep out eyes on Christ and remain diligently in the Word. The ground around is sifting sand, but upon the Rock we must stand; and nothing can knock us off...

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8:24-25) 

"Who You Know"

"Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?" (S.O.S. 8:5a)

  "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." (Ephesians 1:12-13)

  There are only a few things in this life that really matter to me: my love for the Lord, my love for my wife, and finishing well. I know that there are mistakes I have made along the way; but I also know that God can use any or all of my mistakes for His glory. I know this, because I see the witness of Him doing that in the life of all those that had put their trust in Him. He is faithful to complete the work that He has started in us, whether we want Him to or not, He gets it done!  

  As you might have noticed, the verse above is only part of verse five, as the characters change after the question. That said, there are some that believe it is the Young Woman herself that is contending or challenging her love and devotion; in any case, it is really no difference whether it is in our own heart or it is brought before us, it happens either way. Truth be told, I think it might be worse if it becomes our own voice inside us, opposed to someone else giving us the challenge. 

  As to the question, it is the opinion of many that it is a complement and a blessing, as if to say she is well admired by what is seen in her; others believe it the bridegroom, as Matthew Henry notes: "expressing himself well pleased with her reliance on him and resignation of herself to his guidance." Despite the good thought it brings, it is premature to think of ourselves to be there yet, as if to say, 'I am going to stay right here, because this is where I belong.' Not that we should not make our election sure, but it is always best to know your limitations: you are like a reed blowing in the wind, only He is the one that is stationary and never changes! 

  So what is it to finish well? For me, I pray my dying breath will be calling out to Jesus, seeing His face as I prepare to depart this earth. Basically, there is no other reason then to have that hope, because having that as my hope is what causes me to keep my eyes upon Him. When your eyes are fixed upon that goal, your testimony will reflect it! Your life will make a statement of where your heart belongs; no matter where you came from or how hard road might be, the destination never changes...

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:15-17) 

"Young Women of Jerusalem"

"Who is this sweeping in from the desert, leaning on her lover?" (S.O.S. 8:5 NLT)

  "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better." (Philippians 1:20-21 NLT)

  Within the context of the verse, as simple as it might look, there are elements of three very important parts of our life in Christ: our transformation in Christ, that from which we came, and Him that keeps us, as we know that He will. If you really want to be used as a testimony of God's love and grace, then there is plenty of ways that God will accomplish that which is within your heart. Will all that see your life think it was such a good testimony? Most likely not. Many will only think it wasted and spent foolishly, doing the things that please ourselves.

  There are many that believe Paul was once married; and that his wife either passed away, or that she left him, most likely as soon as He started following Christ. I was not there, so I don't really know the answer. But what I do know, is that without his wife, he was free to serve the Lord in any capacity or place that God should have him. And then, we have Solomon! You would be surprised to know that there are many Christians who do not know that Solomon was born of Bathsheba. They know he was the son of King David, but that other part of the story, they seem to have missed out on. 

  If you want to hear my opinion on testimonies, it is really not what you make of it that counts; it is what God makes of you, the likes of which is sometimes not even seen or known. God looks at the heart; He looks for the measure of trust in Him, as to His love, His abilities, and His commitment to fulfill His promises, come hell or high-water! Does that make the man or woman perfect? Not in the eyes of the world, that much is pretty obvious; but in the eyes of God, that is really all that matters...

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded, that what he promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 4:20 - 5:2)

"The Sixth Song"

"THE SONG OF SONGS, which is Solomon's." (S.O.S. 1:1)

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die." (Ezekiel 18:20-21)

  This, being the last of six songs, should hopefully climax into something that will be easy to explain or understand; as it is with all of God's word, what He tells us, He tells us to understand what He wants us hear. Nevertheless, the hearing is in the ear of the beholder! It never ceases to amaze me how hard it is for some people to listen to what is being said; it is almost as if they hear a different language or words being spoken to them draw strange pictures in their heads; they end up with totally the opposite meaning of what was said. But who am I to talk! 

  Back to something that Job said, before talking about taking God to court: "Yes, I know this is true, in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God's sight?" (Job 9:2 NLT) The principle way of becoming right in God's sight, is to be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ! This is not magic or some sort of concoction that is made into some sort of supernatural washing; it is from beginning to end manifested by faith! God has said it, I believe it, and that settles it! When we start putting into the things that are visible or try to make it tangible, we take ourselves into all sorts of crazy and meaningless practices or rituals that will not work.

  I look forward to seeing what God might say, and I hope to be paying attention! Maybe that might be the biggest problem in the communication between us, we just cannot pay attention. We have our thoughts all over the place and working on other things, when we need to listen intently on what is being said, not on what we are thinking about or the ways we want it to turn out. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts; so why do we keep getting in the way of His thoughts! 

  Be mindful of one thing, if you are looking for answers from God's word: He loves you...

"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." (Romans 3:21-22) NLT

"THE CAUSE"

"I Charge you, O daughters of  Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please." (S.O.S. 8:4)

  ""Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God's sight? If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times? For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?" (Job 9:2-4 NLT)

  I know by now, this is probably something I should have went into a little differently. Maybe I should have explored Numbers or Obadiah first, just to get gain some deeper understanding of God's unmovable and unstoppable love. One thing is sure, we should never question God's motives and reasons; it is not a very pleasant experience to go through! 

  Maybe this is a pretty good time for a pause; which, as of about 10:30 last night, was going to be the title of todays post: "The Pause." This is not the first time that this request has been given; but it is the first time it is used without expressing force or certainty. It is my humble opinion, (you can take it or leave it,) that at this particular part of the Song, all the cards are being placed upon the table. In other words, she is starting to understand that she cannot win! The reasons for the lack of force and certainty, is that she is not wanting to be forceful, nor is she certain of whatever needs to be next. 

  There are certain things that we must understand, without trying to know His reasons; and there are certain things we need to know, with out trying to search out His motives. God does not make mistakes! He did not make a mistake when He called David, "A man after My own heart," and He did not make a mistake when He answered Solomon's prayer, the way that He answered it! Sometimes we just need to shrug our shoulders and say, 'I give up trying to figure God out!' 

  Whether you can except it or not, God knows exactly what He wants, and He knows how it make it happen, without even giving it that much effort! Interesting enough, God came pretty close to the thousand questions; and sure enough, Job could not answer, even once! Matthew Henry has little extra something to add to the, saying, "We should thus reason with ourselves when we are tempted to do that which will grieve the Spirit. 'What! Am I weary of Christ's presence, that I affront him or provoke him to depart from me? Why should I do that which he will take so unkindly and which I shall certainly repent of?'" 

  Anywho, let's move forward and experience the end of the matter; it can only hurt for a very short while...

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) 

 

"HIS LOVING ARMS!" -2.0

 "His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me." (S.O.S. 8:3)

  "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." (Deuteronomy 33:27)

  There are only a few opportunities in life when we get to witness something extraordinary and see a glimpse of God's mighty working power; some never will, as it is seldom even understood what it was that just happened, and the real work is not realized by many. As I was saying, before getting caught up in the image of the cross, this is a perfect example of what it might look like to overlook, as if as a spectator, the mighty protection and security we have in God; because He is not just God, but He is Thee GOD, and He is madly in love with us! 

  If you could have been inside the minds of those three young Jewish boys, it would have been totally clear that they were not in the least bit worried about what might happen to them, whether saved by the fire, or burnt up in the fire, either way they believed that they were held firmly in God's mighty hands. I have discussions with people quite frequently about this sort of topic, as it is my firm belief that God could totally and completely heal my wife, if He so chose to do so; but either way, healed or not, she is still here for some reason, and until He takes her home, I do my part in caring for her. 

  I know that might not seem as though it is on the same level of being thrown in a fire, but it is just a little peek of the mindset that says, 'Even though He does not, I will still believe in Him!' Whether you can see that or not, it is totally up to you; not everyone can believe without seeing some sort of sign or wonder; but truth be told, until you actually believe, the real signs and wonders will never be apparent or understood. It is not the physical world around us that we must be focused upon, but that which is gong on in the world we cannot see: (2 Corinthians 4:18).

  Anywho; this is a perfect picture of what is really happening; because God is not worried about a thing! As a matter of fact, His arms are folded and He is simply at ease: when He makes a move, He simply opens His mouth and speaks! "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," is the very first verse in the Bible for a reason: it is to make us aware of God's power and might. There is nothing impossible or too difficult for God! He is able to bring dry bones back to life, He can surely do whatever He wants; make way for whatever He needs; and created any reason to make us look up! 

  The real sign to look for, is nothing more than the cross of Christ! On that cross, all the powers of hell were defeated! Yes, the resurrection was vital for defeating death; but to be able to satisfy the penalty of sin, once and for all; that is pure power displayed in weakness! You cannot see a clearer sign than that! Yes, it is that opportunity once again...

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes -the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (Romans 1:16-17) NLT

"HIS LOVING ARMS!"

"His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me." (S.O.S. 8:3)

  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) 

  As I was thinking on this verse, the example of the spirit it displays is found in Daniel 3:10-18, which is the character of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they give an answer to King Nebuchadnezzar for the reason they would not worship his image. To be clear, it really doesn't matter how much I know or don't know about how all of this works, because I know the One that makes all things work! It is my duty and my honor to trust Him, whether it can be understood or not. More importantly, it is my lack of the plan that gives my trust greater strength; which makes my faith sharper and more apparent to others. 

  Will that gain me popularity and favor among those that see me? Probably not! But that is really not the point of why we do what we do; we trust God because He is God, not to show off our faith! That said, we must understand the basic principle of why God allows bad and terrible things to happen; because there is something in every wrong that will point to the strength of His Loving Arms! 

  Not to change the subject of where we are to be focused, but it should be duly noted that there is a little something off within the description of his hands: they don't quite appear to be where they ought to be! Just a little observation of mine, so pay no attention, because I seldom get anything right. But don't you think it is odd that we go from "would lead," to "should be held," as if this is all a dream, not a loving declaration? Unless the hands are placed somewhere else, somewhere more important; not where they actually should be, but where they needed to be. 

  Well, it might make better sense if we imagined it just a dream. But if you really want to know how God works, one image is that or strength, while the other is that of weakness; but which one is the one that actually gets the job done? Jesus made a somewhat similar statement, as He laments over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under wings, but ye would not!" (Luke 13:34) 

  In all sincerity and without hesitation, we must understand that which we are given understanding in; not get stumbled by the fact we don't understand that which we do not know: while trusting all the while in Him that has declared what all things shall be; period...

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:1-4) 

  

"STAY WITH ME!" -2.0

"I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate." (S.O.S. 8:2)

  "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true saying of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelations 19:9-10)

  And then there is this thing called deception. I know we all have our moments, as it is very clear that God does not lie, saying, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) It is really not something that we can control, because we cannot know or interpret the moment when the heart has taken a turn for the worst; as far as our heart is concerned, we are right and totally fine doing or thinking whatever we want. 

  Another way we should look at this, is that this Young Woman is being cautious and illustrating to her Beloved the things which she might do, or what she might be led to do; as if to say, 'If I had my way, I would probably do this or that.' The deceitfulness of our hearts will be automatically drawn to even the playing field, as if to start to planning and making up things, based upon whatever it is we have made our way into. In her case, she has imagined him as her brother, so why not just treat him as though they are on the same scale; instead of him leading me, I will lead him. 

  That said, I seriously doubt that is the case; however, the key to wisdom is to not only build the house, but to have the proper foundation, and to have everything else prepared for, so that nothing else is out there that you need! You might bring in something else, but it will not be suited for what you have already established and settled as truth. Sometimes we just need to be reminded; because if this is truth, then truth will make itself known. 

  Case in point: I can recall a time when I was worried about my finances and took my eyes off of the mighty hand of God's provisions. It was about the early to mid 90's and I had this odd motivation to purchase Lottery Tickets, saying, "If  I win this big prize, I can help the church, as well as get myself out of this hole. God will honor that, I'm sure of it." It seemed so real and I had no doubt that God was going to make it happen, that I bought more than one, and bought more than two; and then bought more than five. Finally, after a season or two of playing the game, I realized that is what it really was, a game! It was not real, and it was not the truth! 

  This is the kind of stuff our hearts are capable of and why we must know the Truth! If you want to be able to determine what is false, don't study the things that are false: focus upon and study the Truth! If you establish what is true, when something false comes your way, you will be more prepared to push it away and avoid letting it into your heart. At least that is how it is made to work; but just in case there is something that gets by me, I can always trust on the Lord to pull me out. 

  Anywho, that is my observation, so don't let it change your point of view, by any means. However, if you are planning anything in your heart or mind, please make sure that you ask the Lord to lead you, not the other way around. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord! If you might be doing something wrong, as long as the Lord is always with you, your heart will come around...

  "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with my mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 7:23-8:1)      

"STAY WITH ME!"

"I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate." (S.O.S. 8:2)

  "Wisdom hath built her house ; she has carved its seven columns. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. "Come in with me, " she urges the simple. To those that lack good judgment, she says, "Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment." (Proverbs 9:1-6 NLT)

  To anyone that may not know, you are responsible for knowing and assuring that your faith is real; if you doubt that it is, and you are serious about knowing for sure, then you will do whatever it takes to make sure that it is certain. Not that I am any sort of expert in these matters, because my mind is already made up! If you want to know how I know, you only need to watch what happens in my heart when I get slammed against the wall or when the rug gets ripped out from under my feet: I grab hold of Jesus with all my might! 

  I was listing to Pastor Jeff sharing on the parable of the sower, the other day. It is a pretty good parable to use if you want to check you heart, as to where those seeds might have landed. This parable is found in Matthew 13:3-23, as Jesus describes what happens when people receive the word about salvation. To some, it is received with no understanding, and has no effect; to some it is received with joy, but has not roots; to some it is received with wrong motives, which cause it to be overtaken; but to those that have received it rightly, the roots go deep into the soil, and it is able to produce fruit! 

  Whether you know this or not, the fruit that is produced within your heart is for you also! Yes, I didn't speak something we don't already know; because the real fruit that is produced is the Fruit of the Spirit! If you don't have the Fruit of the Spirit springing up inside you, then it is a pretty good indication that you need to see about what might be wrong with your heart. This is your responsibility to check and see; because no one else can do that for you, except God: but you must ask Him to do so, and with you must have a contrite heart! 

  A contrite heart is a heart that shows remorse and is willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. If you want to understand what that might look like, the Scripture above is quite inviting; as well as Solomon's complex version on Wisdom building her house. You must invite Him in and let Him have control. Does it always work? I could only wish! But here is the thing that does: to always make sure you are grounded in His Word! Whether you are sidetracked or fallen overboard, sunken or high on the hog; whatever your situation or location, if you are rooted in the Word of God, then you are never ever alone! 

  To make such a claim, I must clarify my observation: The Seed that gets planted is the WORD! You cannot dig it out, it cannot be uprooted, and nobody or nothing can snatch it away...

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) NLT

"HOLD ME LORD!" -2.0

"O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised." (S.O.S. 8:1)

  "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to not things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

  I have so many things to say, I just don't know where to begin; except to assure anyone that might have any doubts, God has everything under control! With that, let me say that God has shown me something I believe is incredible and relevant to what Solomon is speaking about. There are basically three parts to this: One is that of association, the other is that of presentation, the final is that of justification; all of which are proof, without a doubt, that Solomon was saved, is a child of God, and is, with all the other saints, in Heaven! 

  First and foremost, grace has so much more power over sin than mercy! When we are given mercy, we are forgiven of our sins, which humbles us, as it should, to love mercy. But grace, grace gives us the ability to have standing; to stand when we otherwise should not, because we are not worthy to stand and represent the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! In this case, we shine as light, because we radiate that the Light lives within us; we are light, as He is Light! Matthew Henry illustrates this as the Old Testaments saints longing for and the hastening of Christ's incarnation, that they might be more acquainted with Him.

  As I thought about this, I envisioned James, the half-brother of Jesus, having thought of this, and thinking about himself as he nursed the same breasts that the Son of God nursed upon; having grown up with him and longing to be able to do it over again, now that he knew who He really was. As Matthew Henry sums this potion up, he says: "It becomes brethren and sisters, the children of the same parents, that have nursed at the same breast, to be very loving to and tender of one another; such a love the spouse desires might be between her are her beloved, that she might call him brother." 

  Secondly, is that of presentation; to which is the purpose of each and every single saint: to present Christ Jesus to the world! Yes, that is what we see, as she says, "When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee," she is making clear that there would be nothing holding her back from showing off her affection for him, because they are One! As she is already betrothed to him, yet not married, she would be more embolden to kiss him in public; to this, Matthew Henry associated this to when David danced before the ark, unashamed. 

  Thirdly, and most critical to the grace that has been bestowed upon us, "yea, I should not be despised." I would think it is very critical to note, this is not based upon the thought of being despised by the ones which might witness the kiss, although they have really no say in the matter; but it is that which is the reaction of her beloved to her forwardness out in public; they her boldness to show her affection will not be anyway rejected or withdrawn from. Yet, he would accept it with appreciation and reward! 

  In other words, she is completely justified to acknowledge her love; despite what or who she might be in that particular moment. Which brings me to presentation; just in case you might think that was already mentioned. As it is my belief that Solomon will be expected in heaven when I arrive; I also expect to see a thousand wives will be standing with him; as well as a huge multitude of others; kings and queens and servants, the list goes on and on! You see, there is something that is critical to our justification in Christ: We are presented just as if we had never sinned! That is GRACE!

  We must present Him and represent Him: but most importantly, we must love Him, knowing that He first loved us...

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) 

"HOLD ME LORD!"

 "O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised." (S.O.S. 8:1)

 "For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband." (Galatians 4:27)

  Nothing is more important to God than the growth and healthiness of His children; this is something we must understand and keep at the forefront of our minds! Whatever might be happening in this life, if it causes us to look more for His protection, then it causes us to look more to Him! This is pretty simple to understand, because this is the way that God would have us to live our lives.

  If you know me, you might know that I am not one that cares too much for money. If I loan someone any money, it is usually not written down; and if it is, it is usually not something I really care about. There is good reason for that, because that money is not mine to begin with: everything I have, everything I get to hold onto, it all belongs to the Lord! Nothing we have belongs to us; we must realize this is so, and we must make sure that it is always the way we understand it to be. 

  Understanding, is something that requires thought; it requires that we not only know it to be so, but that we know how it works, and, what it looks like when it doesn't work; or more importantly, we know when it is not working. If we are going to be drawn closer and closer to the Lord, then it will usually require that we draw further away from something else. This something else can be a whole list of things, material, physical, or anything else that might have some sort of grip upon our lives; which means, it could also be something very personal or something we deeply care about. 

  Believe it or not, but your salvation is not your own; even that belongs to the Lord! We really need to understand that, because it is 100% His: He provides it, He keeps it, and He owns every bit of it! There is nothing that we have or get to hold onto that is ours: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether the be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." (Colossians 1:16) 

  This is my understanding of what we are in Christ: We belong to Him! He made me and He loves me; He loves me more than I could ever really know, more than I usually appreciate, and more than I could ever match! What else is there left for me to do...

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envy: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." (Romans 13:11-14)

"YOUNG WOMAN"

"Oh, I wish you were my brother, who nursed at my mother's breasts. Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching, and no one would criticize me. I would bring you to my childhood home, and there you would teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, my sweet pomegranate wine. Your left arm would be under my head, and your right arm would embrace me. Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right." (S.O.S. 8:1-4 NLT)

  "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:18-19) 

  Not to be overly cautious, but I am pretty certain that the peace that the world is looking for is not the kind of peace we have grown accustom to think about. No, it most likely looks to be a peace that is found in independence and freedom from judgment, the judgment of God; to be free from the law based upon His rules and standards, and free from the condemnation that is associated with living under the cloud of a Holy God. Therefore, anyone associated with God, specifically the God of the Bible, should start paying attention and leaning to pray, specifically! 

  Anywho; I am trying to be civil and hold my tongue; as I wish that many others might do the same. As it were, there seems to be so much chatter, that the matter is getting highly distorted and is way out of control. On a positive note, the true feathers are starting to be shown! With that, I will leave it there and start focusing upon the Lord! "If you were of the world, the world would love you his own," is not just Jesus warning us of why the world hates His followers; this is Jesus telling us that it is perfectly fine to be hated by the world! It is to be expected, if, that is we are clearing trying to follow Jesus and we are trying to abide in Him. 

  As we look into this portion of Scripture, it is abundantly obvious that the Young Woman is feeling clearly out of place; so much so, that she wishes that the one she loves could be more like her, more like her childhood mate; more comfortable and easily free to be around, especially out in public where others might judge the relationship that they have together. Maybe it is just me, but I feel as though this is something that is meant to be. 

  I truly believe that everything happens for a reason; but the question is not really why anything might happen, but, what for, is more the question to be asked. To be clear: all things are basically doors; doors to open and doors that get shut; why a specific door might open or close is not all that relevant to this particular moment; but, what it was opened or closed for, that is what is ultimately going to matter the most! Sometimes we have no clue as to what we should be praying for; but we do have a Helper to show us the way; and if we cannot see clearly, it is perfectly fine, because He always knows what to say, even when we don't.

  "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (Hebrews 2:10-12) 

  You know, I said this before, as I say this again: It is pretty obvious to me who wrote this Book...

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living sacrifice -the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2) NLT 

"CHAPTER EIGHT"

THE SONG OF SONGS (Chapter Eight)

  "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalms 103:1-5)

  Whatever you were expecting to happen, what happen was meant for good; somehow and someway, it is for the good of the church, and it will somehow also be good for Israel. I was reminded about that will listening to Pastor Jeff yesterday, as he explained the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 was given in a time of great despair and calamity for Israel; yet God says: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end." As some may interpret the events, that God is giving the people what they want, as if to say, 'You won't acknowledge Me and give Me the praise and worship I deserve, then have it your way!' 

  There are some serious issues we are needing to be held accountable for; nothing gets done and is not going to be dealt with without consequences and some sort of outcome that hurts a little. No matter if you are saved or not, you still need to deal with the consequences of sin; we that are saved, get to come out of the fire unscathed and smelling free from smoke! Just a little bit of relief, incase you were feeling some heat or worried about anything that might happen to you in this life; this life will have no affect upon your eternal life in Christ! 

  As you might know, Solomon was not a man of war; he may have had horses and chariots, and even held them up as something of power; but it was never ever in his heart to go to war. But he sure did like to show off the greatness and splendor of his kingdom. Material things can have that affect on the human heart; no matter who you are or how much you might have, once you start collecting, you can't get enough. Call it materialism if you want, because in the case of Solomon, it became his tendency to want more; because more was something that brought pride and power.

  To be perfectly clear, God is not the least bit against blessing us with more, as long as we keep wanting more of Him! Some people learn that the hard way, after all that they have is taken away; and some people learn it at the top of the heap, once they realize that all that stuff did nothing to bring peace and joy. As Solomon put it, in perfect clarity: "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, "Here is something new!" But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don't remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now." (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 NLT)

  I know, you think this was old news, and that we have somehow entered into a whole new era of power and inventions that surpass any other time in history; that Solomon had now idea what he was saying or what might take place in the future. Well, as far a material things go, this might be the case; but if you are speaking about the life of the person, it's the same old basic instinct, just another way to display new toys and fantasies. It is all going to be dissolved! The same final result: a pile of ashes and a puff of smoke. 

  The soul, on the other hand, it has a different set of standards; a little more long lasting and harder to kill. As a matter of fact, it might not be able to die at all! It will live on and on, into eternity! Crazy thing to think about, but it is very clearly the case! Jesus said with complete clarity: ""Then they will reply: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' "And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."" (Matthew 25:44-46 NLT) 

  Matthew Henry finishes off the commentary for the last chapter, as such: "Those that truly love Christ will think all they have, even their most pleasant fruits, and what they have treasured up most carefully, too little to be bestowed upon him, and he is welcomed to it all; if it were more and better, it should be at his service. It is all from him, and therefore it is fit it should be all for him." Thus we move into the new day with a new expectancy: If it is going to be new, it is going to old news to God! Everything is His; everything is in His control; and nothing, absolutely nothing, happens outside of His will! No matter how evil it might appear, or how destructive it might become, there is nothing new to the reason that God allows everything to happen...

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1:22-25)   

"Fruit of The Spirit" -To

"The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." (S.O.S. 7:13)

  "For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light; (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8-10)

  Strange little fruits, these "mandrakes" are; they have a term, "love-apples," a term given them for the white and reddish blossoms, which produce a sweet smell. However, there is another term that is used for these, so called fruits: a cooking pot, much as you would experience when you first walk into the house as your mother was boiling apples with spices, to make you an apple pie. Blossoms and boiling, two terms that are not usually closely associated with one another; unless you are looking to produce a smell! 

  Taking into account that these are the words of the, "Young Woman," there is a consideration to be made that it might involve the church; it most likely also would involve Israel, as this is the mirror that the church will usually look into; the two are very closely associated with one another! I hope you realize that and understand how that works; as there is really no difference when it comes to salvation. We all are saved by the same blood: the blood of Jesus Christ! 

  Now is the issue of works, which are not the working of what we can do; but rather, what we can allow God to work in us! Blossoms and boiling, both occur or happen; both will make a change in the smell of whatever it is that we might be talking about, a radish or a beat, or even a turnip or a mandrake; or any man or woman; or the church and Israel. Whatever it is, it gives a smell, an odor; but most likely, a fragrance that really smells good. Goodness, righteousness, and truth; the fruit of the Spirit will produce these things to prove what is acceptable unto the Lord! 

  The "gates" we are speaking about are doors, if you will, that are opportunities we are given to give off these smells; whether they are produced by blossoms or boiling, which you might associate with blessings and trials, either way, fruit is produced. In season or out of season, whether you feel like it or not, you are a child of the Light: you cannot live in darkness! One way or another, the Lord will bring you out; which makes blossoms and boiling so much more relevant! Your choice: wisdom is usually not given, it is learned; and usually, the hard way! 

  The good news, if you are interested, is that all the fruit is pleasant! Old sins or new sins; each and every issue you have dealt with or still need dealing with; it is all laid at the foot of the cross, whether it is past or present, the matter is dealt with by what Christ Jesus has already done! There is nothing left that He must do, because it was all already done! He laid His life down, once and only once: now it is our turn to lay down ours: new or old, your choice! Please say it is finished already: reckon it's already done...

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:8-11)   

"Fruit of The Spirit"

 "The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." (S.O.S. 7:13)

  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

  There are certain things that we do that require us to be focused and determined; and then there are things which are just naturally manifested in us, as we yield ourselves to the power of God's Spirit! You actually cannot make this happen, although people continually try; desperately try, over and over, using the same failed procedures and rituals, hoping for new and different results. Yes, God wants us to move that giant rock; but to move it, it will require that it is moved by His Spirit, not by our might and strength! He is more than capable of making a rock big enough that we can never move; but not one that He cannot move, no way, no how! 

  Peter says, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." (2 Peter 3:17) This he says to the reason that so many fall away from sound doctrine, because those that twist the Scriptures, do so as to pull in others to the side of their destruction. This is not only the way of the world, but this is the god of this world's intention also: to pull as many of us as he can into the destruction that soon awaits him, and all those that rebelled against God, with him. As my mother would say, "Misery loves company." 

  I can recall a time when my wife and I were buying a used car; which is something we had not done in probably at least ten years; prior to that, we had always traded in our two year old car or trucks for new ones, at least every two years. We drove about 60 miles away from home to buy a two year old Jeep that had 75,000 miles on it; expecting it to have been driven by someone that was diligent to have changed the oil and maintained it, in order to perform under such a heavy load. We prayed before we needed to deal with the salesman, agreeing on a purchase price we wanted, saying that, "If this is your will, Lord, then the selling price will be $8,500." 

  Well, the selling price was $8,900, but we bought it anyways! Afterwards, I felt rather convicted; not because I had not kept the fleece I put before the Lord, but because I had let down my witness to my wife about trusting God. Little did I know, but she confessed to thinking $8,900 was the figure we had laid before the Lord, not $8,500; who would have guessed! Sometimes the things we want God to do, are not the things that God wants to do. Basically, what the point in that is, is that we go with the flow, by making sure that the flow is His, not our own! 

  Do not get caught trying the old ways of failing in a new way; it is always only God's ways, of which we are totally unaware! With each and every single issue or circumstance, we must pretend we are like little children crossing the street; looking both ways, and waiting for Daddy to take our hand! He knows what we need before we even ask: and the things we ask for, are not always the things we request, at least not openly and honestly! How can this be, and why can't we see? Steadfastness basically means that you are fastened to something that is steady and unchanging! 

  With that, there is a very good reason for "New and Old," as mentioned above: because God is always ready to show mercy! He has a very old way of doing things, because His mercies are new every morning...

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:31-34)

"To Die To Self"

 "Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves." (S.O.S. 7:12)

  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

  Think of this as way to examine your priorities and your commitment to the Lord; as it should be part of every believer's life, in due season. If you are familiar with Paul's letter to the church in Galatia, then you must know how much that letter deals with the issue of faith verses works. Works are not that which we do for Christ; rather, the things we do in an effort to feel better about ourselves, as if they prove our own righteousness. We must understand that any effort to take credit for our salvation is robbing from God's grace; or as Paul puts it: "I do not frustrate the grace of God," which pretty much means to violate His grace, which is gets pretty close to despising; if you can try and realize how that might look. 

  Regardless of the amount of time that you have been serving the Lord, it is important that we all come to the understanding that our flesh is not really our friend. We might think that we can control it, or that we have it under control; but doing so, is a sure way to wreck yourself. That well known term, "Check yourself before you wreck yourself," is realized without warning, because we become blindsided by our own deception of what kind of person we think we are.

  Solomon writes of this in Proverbs 24:30-31, saying, "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down." We might not realize this is happening, because we cannot see our busyness as a sign of being slothful, or our knowledge as being void of understanding. 

  Good news is here for anyone that might need some! He is more than able to fix you and make you well! You actually don't really even need to ask Him; you must merely listen to what He says, and then obey! Crazy as it seems, but we truly do not know what we need. So what makes us think we can ask Him to fix us, by telling Him what we need, or how to fix us? Notice that everything is about observation and examining; nothing here is about doing and making do with what can be gained! 

  To be perfectly clear, there is only one issue that deals with doing anything: "there will I give thee my loves." As clearly as that might appear, we are still not capable of knowing what that requires, how it is that we make that happen, or what it is that we need to do! Wow, this is really tuff; there must be some other way! O, wretched man that I am...

"For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet preadventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)