Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.

Exodus 2:9

The head verse for this morning in Daily Light takes my mind back many, many years, when Anna Ruth and I were serving our first years in Tanzania.  A veteran missionary, Phoebe Yoder, was staying with us for the night, or maybe with the Shenks next door, and, as usual, was in a bit of a hurry and maybe in a bit of a frenzy as we sat down to breakfast before she got on her way to do what she felt she had to do.  I forget what that was.   But she was doing God’s business so was eager to get out and do it.  That was Phebe Yoder.  I thought nothing can slow her down!

As usual, before we prayed for our breakfast, we read Daily Light – this verse stopped everything.  Phebe sighed, bowed her head and spoke with her Lord, for sure.  The prayer then, for the meal, praised God for His goodness and grace.

That view into the life and heart of Phebe sticks with me until today.  She was so sensitive to the voice of the Spirit of God.  When she heard that word of grace that morning, she melted before her Lord, there at our small table at Bumangi. Her haste turned into worship!  Dear sister, mentor, friend!  Will I ever love Jesus like she did?

“Take this Jesus and raise Him!  Focus all of life on Him!”

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Good morning, friend.  This morning’s Daily Light focuses on holiness.  Either this is a “ho hum” statement, never really used by normal people like us, or has great meaning for us today, as it had for the believers when Paul was writing.

The communities of believers had the concept of “holiness” in their hearts.  As I think of it, we have pretty much pushed the concept of human or divine holiness right out of the picture.  When did I last concentrate on that?  If so, and I believe it is so, then the reality of “holiness” must return to the conversation.

The writer to the Hebrew believers assumed that his readers will connect with his appeal to holiness.  These days, here in Western culture, this is not an easy concept to embrace. The word has a certain nice ring about it.  But what does it mean, if anything?

For the writer of this letter, it was central and all-important.  Listen, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Lord Jesus, help me to understand what it means to be “holy.”  I am in kindergarten on this, I must admit, as are many of my fellow believers in our culture.

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:50, 51

Horrible.  They had managed to kill Jesus.  That is not only possible but true.  This looks like a terrible moment.  Jesus, the giver of life is killed!  Is there a more shocking moment in the history of our planet?  I think not.  This is what dying for sinners meant, a thought too deep and profound for my little mind.  That may be so, but it is also the door to another place.

I admit, I love the phrase, “He gave up his spirit.”  Already we see the compelling truth of the resurrection, even in the darkest hour.  Satan has no power over Jesus.  This is Jesus at work, not Satan!  The cosmic event that just occurred is God at work, bringing salvation to all who believe, now and forever, including me here at my computer.  Oh, praise God with all my being.

Sin, which kept people from walking with God is now conquered for all who will believe.  The curtain that kept people out is now torn, top to bottom.  Through the finished work of Jesus, we have access to the Holiest of All!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Anxiety seems to be built into me!  A worry at times.  I think I know what I am doing, and realize that I should not be doing it, but it seems it comes natural to me – to be anxious.

Paul advised, or directs the believers in the great Greek city of Philippi not to be anxious about anything!  Anything?  That is what Paul means, he means it!  He does not mean maybe or when you wish, but it is a statement of fact.  We who love Jesus and are led by the Spirit of our Lord need not be anxious about anything.  This seems so contrary to what I consider normal! I have a natural tendency to doubt whether it will be fine.

Paul knows that we need help not to be anxious.  He encourages us worriers to pray and giving thanks and present our requests to God.  There is a way, the way of God’s Holy Spirit.  He cares for you and he cares for me.  That is basic to it all. That is the answer to anxiety!

These clusters of blossoms are so small that I paid no attention to them.  I looked carefully at them and photographed them up close.  Wow!  The monarch butterflies will enjoy this banquet.

Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Revelation 3:11

There is a time in our walk with the Lord to press forward in faith.  There is a time, as asserted in this passage, when we need to simply hold fast, we would say “Hold on” to what we already have!  Grip tighter the fact that God loves us and our lives now and in the future are in his loving, redeeming hands.

This is the secret that all believers carry, the secret that keeps us going.  I am almost 91 years old and I am learning the lesson of allowing God to grip me even more when I am passing through demanding times. Want to know?  This is the way!  There is no other.  I depend only on Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

No none can take that away.  God hovers over that commitment with all his saving power.  I live and rest on that knowledge as I “hold fast” to what I gripped for over 70 years!  Praise God that I have today, the Lord’s Day, to praise Him with loud acclamations.

We are the third owners of this property.  One of the first two planted several rows of peonies.  We have inherited those beauties.  When they bloom in May and June they brighten the place.  Here is an early look at one of the blossoms.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

John 14:15 – 17

These words of our Lord Jesus are precious beyond thought.  They are as true today as ever.  After Jesus offers his life for the forgiveness of sins, He will send the Holy Spirit as a gift divine.  The major purpose of the Holy Spirit is to reveal truth to us, ordinary human beings, the very truth of God Almighty.

Jesus and all that he brings are now for all men and women, no matter what culture or tribe or religion.  And, glory be, we are included in this huge promise of grace.

The great gift is that the Holy Spirit lives with us and will be in us.  Is this not the greatest good news our ears have heard?  The Holy Spirit of God wants to be with us.  If we are willing to be with Him, then life becomes life indeed, now and forever.