If we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.
He will purify us from all unrighteousness!
1 John 1:9
God pours out His blessings on the earth, for He is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works, the entirety of things created (Psalm 145:9 AMP). However, His love must be recognized, discerned, received and treasured in vessels made fragile by the emotions and judgments of a prideful nature.
If we claim to be without sin, if we believe good deeds will suffice, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). For God’s Word tells us all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
Hopefully, before our time on earth comes to end, like Nebuchadnezzar we too could come to recognize the Truth: Pride, lust and evil actions are all sin (Proverbs 21:4 TLB) that separate us from God! (Isaiah 59:2). Yes, arrogance and pride – distinguishing marks of a hardened wicked heart – are just plain sin (Proverbs 21:4 Message).
Who can understand the heart, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. It is God Who searches the heart, Who examines and tests the mind, to reward a person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve (Jeremiah 17:9). The work God requires of us is – Believe in the One He has sent (John 6:29).
However, like wine that tricks a person, so too does pride fool a hardened heart that will not find peace. For like death, more and more is wanted, and like death never to be satisfied. People laugh and tell stories at a person’s defeat (Habakkuk 2:5-6 ERV).
Though we too experience times that are painfully difficult; but God, He clothes us with salvation so we can rejoice in His goodness (2 Chronicles 6:41) no matter the circumstance. We have been given God’s Word, more powerful than Death – the last enemy of God’s to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26).
God has given us His Word, the testimonies of Jesus to be our heritage forever, every reason for the rejoicing of our heart (Psalm 119:11) no matter what! So I share God’s Word, the testimonies of Jesus, so faith and trust and hope and love would ever increase. That the fear (awe, wonder, amazement, reverence, honor, glory) of God would reign in our life.
God has given us His Word, the testimonies of Jesus so we can recognize how awesome His deeds! So we can truly comprehend how great His power is! Psalm 66:3a). I pray hearts are not just opened but completely saturated with the testimonies of Jesus. Through the Word, God’s promises are revealed. His great promises are ours!
Beloved, I pray the fear (awe, delight, wonder) of God would abound! That God’s children would cleanse themselves of everything that contaminates and defiles body and soul and spirit for God’s glory. For then, our consecration (dedication, worship, sanctification) could be brought to completeness because of our reverential fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Through God’s Word of Truth, Holy Spirit works to soften prideful hearts, to prevent us from accompanying the one who was brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit (Isaiah 14:15). Yes, the fear of God causes His enemies to cringe before Him (Psalm 663:3b). Even demons shudder! (James 2:19).
We don’t have to shudder fearfully! The Lord enables His servants to speak God’s Word with great boldness (Acts 4:29). Through the truth Christ bestows, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, and receive what God is so ready to give. Take His mercy! Take His grace! Accept His help in times of need (Hebrews 4:16). For it is through the name of His holy Servant Jesus that God stretches out His hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders (Acts 4:30).
Experience God’s loving-kindness! Why remain bound by that giant of fear, when God’s Word enables us to become giants of faith. For God has built a solid foundation so we can stand firm with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). God’s Word makes it possible for us to stand our ground, and after we’ve done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then! (Ephesians 6:13-14). Whatever comes against us, stand firm and proclaim “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel!” (1 Samuel 17:45).
We have been given this precious gift of time to recognize and receive God’s saving grace so we can be found in the company of those who see Satan and stare at him pondering his fate.
“Is this the one who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble. The one who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home,” Isaiah 14:16-17?
Most importantly, we have been given this precious gift of time to seek Truth, to keep God’s Word on our mind and in our heart, for surely you will know with all certainty God has placed His seal, His Holy Spirit, over your heart, like a seal on your arm (Song of Solomon 8:6a). For God has given us His Word, “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands,” Isaiah 49:16.
You won’t just know, you will experience love as strong as death (Song of Solomon 8:6b). Love that does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. Love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres!
1 Corinthians 13:6-7.
Why? We believe with all our heart we are among God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved! (Colossians 3:12a). When we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, we will become saturated for Holy Spirit is working with us to clothe us with Jesus! (Romans 13b).
When we’re not thinking about how to gratify the desires of our sinful nature (Romas 13:14a), Holy Spirit will always be helping us to be an expression of God’s goodness, His compassion and kindness and humility, His gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12).
Right now, right here on earth no matter the circumstance we don’t have to allow discouragement or fear or envy…prevent us from forever proclaiming:
In God, whose Word I praise!
In the Lord, the Word I praise!
In God I trust! I will not be afraid!
What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:10-11
God’s Grace Revealed: Standing Firm in His Word
