Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9 – 11

What a picture!  What consummation? Is this true?  Is it possible – Jesus Christ of Nazareth is all this and much more?  Absolutely.  Our faith is built on that.

Jesus is Lord of all, even on the Cross!  In fact, God was there with Jesus on the cross and walked with him, heart to heart.  After the tomb and the resurrection Jesus is who he always was and always will be now and forever.  The pain and suffering are not an aberration but at the heart of walking with God, the Father of our Jesus.

How great is Jesus?  Gather yourself, as I try to do.  Jesus Christ is the name above all names, in heaven on the earth, even under the earth, everywhere. 

The day is coming when every tongue (will) acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.  THE WORD OF GOD! 

The Philippian church was a strong group of both Jews and Gentiles who loved Jesus and joined hands in praising Him for ever and ever.  That is our heritage and our present reality!  Let’s love one another with the love of God.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3: 1 – 3

Me – raised with Christ.  Raised from the pull of the things of this earth to something much, much more valuable.  To be with Christ in heart, mind and body.

Me – my heart set on heavenly things, not on the things of earth.  This earth with its cultures and allures tends to divert my attention away from the way of life, the “things above.”  In other words, beyond the pull of this world.

Me – seeing Jesus seated at the right hand of God, an amazing thing.  I gaze on him and my attention is pulled to run parallel with his attention – to Jesus Christ.

Me – pulled from the allure of things that this world offers, I want my mind to be set only on Him.

Me – not attracted by the promises of sin.  It is like being dead to sin and alive to righteousness.

Me – like Christ Jesus, my life is now hidden with him in God.  This language is so strange to the natural person that is conceived only in faith and by faith.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

John 15:9, 10

How much did the Father love Jesus?  That stretches us beyond our limits.  It is huge, beyond telling.  Jesus says that the love that binds Him to God is a gift that is ours as a result of the New Birth.

I stand again before God’s description of love, his love!  Here he emphasizes the importance of keeping God’s commandments.  That shows that we love Him.  If we truly believe in God, we are eager to obey his commandments.

We believe in God’s love, not our own!

Believers abide, not in their own love, but in the love of God. That love bond is so strong that believers desire, deeply, the unchanging desire to obey God in all ways.  It is not our way of getting what we want from God but of our desire to be at one with God himself.  That relationship trumps everything else, far more compelling than a desire for divine blessings.  It is our very connection with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Our example is, of course, Jesus Christ.  Think of what obedience to the Father meant to him.  Can we expect a different road?

Dear Kelden arrived a bit early but is healthy.   Zel and Dani had off from work a bit to welcome Kelden.  Jane, his grandmother, hopes to leave here on Wednesday this week to help out for a month!  So, welcome, Kelden.  We look forward to seeing you!

“All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:25 – 27

These early January passages in the Daily Light are precious beyond thought.  They remind us that Jesus speaks, and Holy Spirit speaks, the same thoughts!  As that word fills us we have peace.  Without that revelation we know only fear and dread.  Having embraced the revelation of Jesus we are changed fundamentally.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of the goodness of God.  Surrounded with these blessings we can guard our hearts so we will not be troubled nor afraid.

It is all the work of Jesus Christ. He does not want to lose one sheep in his fold, that includes me and hopefully, you. 

I am blessed by his promises this morning.  At this age I am more vulnerable, it seems, than when younger.  I need his keeping care which means I can and do rest on his love and goodness.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

James 3:17

I never thought of myself as all that bright and these days that is confirmed!  Dear me!  I am looking for the title of our wrecked Avalon, no luck so far.  That is just an indicator, I suppose you would say, of that.

I love these descriptives – pure, peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, sincere.  Wow.  I need to go over this check list for the day!  As I try to describe my day so far, none of these adjectives fit – none at all.  My trust is mixed with fears.  My peace seems to be so shallow.  Gentle?  Me?  My personality is that I am a pusher!  Accommodating to what?  Certainly not to what other people think of me.  Now, this must stop – full of mercy!  Me.  I have enough trouble loving myself – let alone others.  Full of good fruit?  Today it is mostly chiding myself for loosing some important papers, and other burrs in the saddle.  I do not like that part of me.  Impartial?  That is what I do, sort people out, like those I like and just ignoring all thought of the others.  And sincere.  I feel conflicted and not at all sure that all I do, and think are of God.

So, there.  That is why I need God’s abundant mercy.  I didn’t realize I was struggling so until I placed my feelings alongside the mercies of my loving, saving God.  I kneel in humility.  Lord, teach me, once again, to trust you!

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Revelation 7:11 – 12

Does this take your breath away?  It does me.  I find this word of God absolutely appropriate to my present age and setting, 90 years old and trying to get used to that.  Does my heart resonate to the grace of God with a shout of praise, or a frown of bewilderment?  The angels and elders who surround the throne of God have not one bit of doubt.

They fill the heavens with their song.  “Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”  Whew!

I awake this morning thinking, “Poor me,” as I think of my medical appointment this morning.  God gives me no encouragement to turn my attention away from his goodness and to concentrate on my hurts.  I rely only on the Lover of my Soul, Jesus Christ.  I know this.  Lord, give me your wisdom to rest myself completely on your mercy.

And forget not small mercies, like our Toyota Corolla, now repaired and back in our garage!  Should we not praise God for all his mercies?

And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body.  And be thankful

Colossians 3:14 – 15

Love is at the center of our relationship with God and with one another in the faith.  Divine love does not arise in us, it is a gift of God.  Our responsibility is to “put on love.”  It is not native to us.  But when God imparts love in our hearts, it is native to our new life!  We can love with His love, not our own native love.

Paul contends that if we love God we will also love those whom He loves.  That is one of the most demanding words of the Lord.  Our faith in Christ is personal but communal, both.  If one or the other dominates, we must examine that.  We can not say we love God with his love and at the same time withhold love from all others. God never tantalizes us with that kind of love.

I am a learner in this school, that is for sure.  Lord, give me a heart to love as you love me!  Always and no matter who!

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,  neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37 – 39

“More than conquerors?”  Yes, more!  How can that be?  “Through him who loved us.”  That is through the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Paul is not writing about our sufficiency but God’s.  He declares that we believers are blessed beyond measure by the love of God.  Our part is to place our lives daily, hourly in the hands of Jesus Christ our Lord who loves us, including me, of course, in a spiritual embrace.  That is such a strong connection than nothing can break it, assuming that we live like that.

Death.  Life.  Angels.  Demons.  Present.  Future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My soul, is there better news?  Embrace it all again, resting alone in the hand of God.

Yesterday Robert Gerhart, Executive Director of Alliance of Mennonite Evangelical Denominations, presented this precious certificate to Anna Ruth and me.  We receive it as an honor, and attribute it to God’s grace, alone.  That is for sure.  However we praise God for the honor and praise God for Robert for his kindness, a personal touch because I was much aware of his service in Lusoto and after.  The Lord is good, especially appreciated as we grow older.