Foundations

And [further], You, Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. Hebrews 1:10 AMP

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create the earth? Where would you start? What would it be made of?What would you put at it's centre? How big would you make it? What would you put on the final layer? What would be it's purpose? How would it live day after day?

When I start to think about all the thought that went into laying the foundation of the earth, I find the whole process of creation mind boggling! What power and creativity does our God have! Here is another description of His creation process and on-going control over His creation.

But God made the earth by His power;

He established the world by His wisdom

and by His understanding and skill stretched out the heavens.

When He utters His voice, 

there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind out from His treasuries and from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 10-12,13 AMP

Sometimes in our daily life it can be easy to lose sight of the magnificence of creation. Just as it can be easy in the busy-ness of our lives to lose sight of another foundation that God laid especially for us, you and me, Jesus.

Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation, a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]. Isaiah 28:16

Jesus, is our sure foundation. Unlike this earth, He will not perish, but He will remain and continue permanently (Hebrews 1:11). 

Question for today, are you going to choose to remain and continue with Jesus, the permanent foundation our Heavenly Father gifted to us? Ask God to show you how, amongst the busy-ness of your life, to remain in Him.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to my disciple. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commends, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers commands and remain in his love. John 15:7-10 NIV

Jesus, God with us

She will bear you a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Saviour], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].

All this took place that it might be fullfilled which the Lord has spoken through the prophet. Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel - which translated means, God with us. Matthew 1:21-23 AMP

I find it ironic that on this planet that is so populated, we can feel so alone, physically and/or emotionally. We may be physically isolated and in deep need of connection with another person, but there is no one available. We may be emotionally so closed that we cannot connect with those who are around us. Our heart is unable to feel anything. 

The truth is that whilst we may feel alone, we are not. Matthew chapter 1, as stated above, reminds us of Isaiah's prophecy that God is sending some one to be with us, his name, Immanuel. The last chapter in Matthew, chapter 28, ends with these words from Jesus ....

And behold I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be) Matthew 28:20b AMP

Here are some definitions from the Oxford dictionary to help give more understanding of the way that Jesus is with us.

Jesus is with us perpetually - eternal, lasting forever or indefinitely, continuous, uninterrupted.

Jesus is with us uniformly - not changing in form or character; the same, unvarying; constant in the course of time; not varying with time or place.

Jesus is with us on every occasion - each single special or noteworthy event or happening; each single time or occurrence. 

In summary, Jesus is with us now and forever (Matthew 28:20) He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He goes everywhere we go, because He lives in us (Galatians 2:20).

Question for today, are you feeling alone in some way, physically or emotionally? Why not take time now to remind yourself that God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with you always wherever you go. Ask God to help you to know His presence and to feel His presence. Speak out loud and thank Jesus for being  with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. You are not alone. The Saviour of the world is with you always.

Let's not receive the grace of God in vain

Labouring together [as God's fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them - do not receive it to no purpose]. 2 Corinthians 6:1 AMP

What are you doing today? What purpose does it serve? These can be very confronting questions. Especially if we are directing our own activities, directing our own steps without checking in daily with our Heavenly Father, to see what He wants us to do with our day. This morning I was very tempted to get straight into my household chores instead of writing this blog. So how apt is it that the Holy Spirit should draw me to these scriptures about his plans for the day. Reminding me that He knows best, not me!

O Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps. O Lord, correct, instruct and chastise me, but with judgement and in just measure - not in Your anger, lest You diminish me and bring me to nothing. Jeremiah 10:23,34 AMP

I am not sure about you, but I don't want this day, or in fact any day of my life to amount to nothing. I want to be God's vessel, used for His purposes. I don't want to receive His grace in vain. Jesus gave everything for us.

He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips. When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer to insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly. He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.  1 Peter 3:22-24 AMP

Jesus did all this for you and me. Let's not receive His sacrifice and grace in vain.

Questions for today, have you asked God what He wants you to do today? Have you then taken the time to wait for His answer? Are you willing let God order your steps? Consider this...

The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. Psalm 37:23,24 AMP

The ransom of a life is too costly

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side, even those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of their abundance of their riches?

None of them can by any means redeem  [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him - For the ransom of a life is too costly and [the price one can pay] can never suffice - Psalm 49:5-8 AMP

We 'gather and collect' things throughout our lives. Things that we think we can't live without. Things that make us feel good about ourselves. Things we think consciously or sub-consciously will make us feel better because we have them. Things we believe will make us better than other people.

What happens to these things when we die? Are they gathered up by God, their value added up, and according to their sum are we given a place in heaven? Those with a certain amount get into heaven and those with the most get to sit closest to God? 

No, as the scripture say, the ransom of a life is too costly and the price we could pay would never be enough. There was only one who could pay the ransom for us, and provide us with the opportunity to go to heaven and sit with our Heavenly Father. And His name is Jesus.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV

Jesus is our ransom. He made a way for us to live forever by His sacrifice on the cross. Eternal life does not come to us any other way. It does not come by having the latest clothes or technology gadget, or by doing the most good deeds. Eternal life only comes by repenting and surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:4-5 NIV

Questions for today, is there something in your life, other than Jesus, that you have consciously or sub-consciously placed your hope for your future in? Are you trying to pay your own ransom to get into heaven? If the answer is yes, ask God to help you come to a place of repentance, then repent and surrender to Jesus. Acknowledge that Jesus alone is your ransom. And He alone is worthy.

And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open it's seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Revelations 5:9-10 NIV

Triumph over opposition

But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgement you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 AMP

A few years ago, it was looking as though three members of our immediate family, including myself, were heading down the path of a cancer diagnosis, within the same year. Initially our daughter was diagnosed in the January. Then May came around and suddenly another child was requiring full body bone scans regarding some abnormalities, which eventually proved to be non abnormalities. Then September came around and I was told, based on initial scans that it was most likely I had a tumor in my colon! After more investigation, no tumour was found. We praise God that two out of these three diagnosis did not come to pass. We praise God that He has the victory over the first diagnosis.

The reason I am sharing this with you, is that after my initial diagnosis, I remember sitting at our kitchen table with a good friend of mine laughing, saying, "what more is the devil going to try and throw at us? This is ridiculous." It was scriptures like the one above that sustained me through that very testing month of scans and investigations. 

It was as though the devil was saying to us, "How much can you take? Will you give up on God now or do you need more calamity in your life?" The fight was on. But it was God's fight, not mine. I continually claimed God's peace, righteousness, security and triumph over opposition over my life. Another scripture that I read morning, noon and night at this time was from 2 Chronicles 15 and 17, NIV, 

He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.

There was a phrase from a worship song that was continually on my lips, 'How precious is the blood, nothing but the blood of Jesus'. Over and over I would sing that phrase to myself, getting the truth of those words into my soul. 

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from  your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:19-21 NIV

Question for today, are you facing something that seems insurmountable? Ask God to give you some encouragement from His word. Maybe that encouragement will come from the scriptures I have shared with you today. Whatever scriptures they are, meditate on them day and night. Speak them out aloud so the devil knows exactly where you stand, and who is fighting your battle for you. Remind the devil that Jesus' precious blood covers it all.

No spiritual flabbiness please!

You have been raised on the Message of faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God - no spiritual flabbiness please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Saviour of all men and women, especially believers. 1 Timothy 4:6-10 MSG

How many times have you set yourself a goal, started working towards it full of fire, and then waned as time went on? There are at least a couple of areas in my life that I have been particularly challenged when it comes to being disciplined. One was taking the time to read the bible each day. I would start off well, managing to read it daily for a couple of weeks. But then other 'things' would take over, maybe it was household chores that I thought just couldn't wait. Or some book-work that needed to be done urgently for our business. Slowly, but surely the daily bible reading disappeared off my daily schedule! I felt despondent and a failure as I really wanted to daily spend time with God in His word, but I didn't have the discipline required.

I believe God knew my heart's desire to spend more time with Him, and learn more about His character. So he helped me to develop the discipline I needed by allowing an extremely difficult, on-going circumstance to come into my life. Our daughter's fight against cancer, which has now been a three and a half year fight and continues. This is not an easy circumstance to live with. Yes, we believe she has the victory in Jesus, however we are yet to see the physical manifestation of that victory. Every day she has to face this battle, and we as parents have to encourage and stay strong in our faith and trust in God. How do we do that?

For me, the answer has been discipline, discipline, discipline! Discipline to read God's word daily, drawing from it strength, hope and courage. Discipline to push aside the other things that need to be attended to, and choose to put God first. It has been out of complete desperation that I have developed discipline in this area. It has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. As it says in Hebrews 12

For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness. For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness - in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. Hebrews 12:10,11 AMP

I thank God that I now make a consistent choice to read His word daily. Thank you God that you have bought me to a place that I have learnt how to be disciplined in reading the bible. Thank you have you have put a desire in my heart to know more and more about all Jesus has done for me and all that is available to me as His follower. Thank you for blessing me through disciplining me.

Question for today, is there an area in your life that you need more discipline? Ask God to help you develop the discipline required. Be aware that circumstances may come that will help you develop the discipline required. Always remember that despite the circumstances, God is there and He will make a way through.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 1:13 NIV

Because Jesus loves us

The One who died for us - who was raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks, they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. Romans 8:34-37 MSG

We are all faced with circumstances. 'trouble', at some time in our lives that can cause us to take a long hard look at God and ask, 'What is this all about?' Sometimes we get an immediate answer. Sometimes the answer is revealed over time. Sometimes we have to wait until we get to heaven (and maybe it won't matter then!).  

We have a choice when going through the circumstances. A choice to either get caught up in the circumstances and all it throws at us. Or we can choose to remember that Jesus, is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. What an advocate to have! 

From personal experience, I know it can be very difficult to stay with the 'trusting Jesus is on our side' choice. I have had my own mental battles with thoughts flooding my mind, telling me the complete opposite to God's truth. At these times I have had to make a choice to search out God's word for the truth of the situation. And then choose to spend time in prayer and worship, rather than stressing out, thanking God for all He is doing within me during the circumstance. 

In these times of trial, we need to make a choice to remember who God is, as it says in Romans 8:31-33.

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? 

And God did all this because He loves us, not because of anything we have done. Simply, because Jesus loves us. It is no more complicated than that. Jesus loves us. How special to you feel when someone says 'I love you'? Maybe no-one has ever said the words 'I love you' to you. Well, right now, there is someone out there saying 'I love you' to you. He is the creator of the universe, your Heavenly Father and your personal saviour, Jesus.  His love is the best love to have! It is unconditional.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized <your name> that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16 AMP

Questions for today, are you facing circumstances that are making it difficult for you to trust Jesus love for you? Ask God to lead you to a place in His word that will show you the truth about the circumstance. Meditate on that word day and night, hourly, if that's what it takes to get it into your heart.

If you haven't heard the words 'I love you' from Jesus, again, ask God to lead you to a place in His word that tells that truth. Put your name in the scripture, and I have done above with John 3:16. And again, mediate on that word continually until you know that you know that you know, Jesus loves you.