Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

This is the moment for the yellow and white roses!  I think they are at their peak of beauty as far as I am concerned.  Ponder this beauty!  Absorb it in!  And praise God, the maker of all!

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

1 Peter 1:8

This word of truth is just what I need to hear this morning!  It is Peter writing to the churches in Asia that are facing great odds as they live in the Roman Empire that enforced compliance to central decrees.

As the sacred writers always did, they did not address the issue head-on, but Peter raised the conversation to a higher level.  He reminds us that we believe in him, the Savior and Lord of all.  We can not solve the perplexities of life, because they are in fact not solvable in any case.  When we turn our eyes of faith to Jesus things begin to make sense – through the lens of salvation.

The result?  We are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.  There is no place for unbelief with believers!  The rewards are way beyond expectation – we who believe are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy.

What about today?  Will my life exhibit this joy that is sure and certain today?  If not, I better let the joy that is my inheritance shine through above all else!

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Romans 12:11, 12

Paul summarizes here in this last part of his letter that opens our way to see into the heart of God and of how that relates to our lives right now.

Let me pore over this.  Never lack zeal!  I seldom ever think of zeal.  It does not seem to be like any other command and in our culture is hardly ever used.  Zeal implies putting into practice and making priority our zeal to follow Jesus.  Paul realized how difficult it is to keep that central.

Then Paul reminds us that we serve, not self or any cause, but Jesus.

Then our spirits will be carried along by a power stronger than our own power to be joyful in hope.  I am amazed by how Paul and other writers emphasize joy.  This is not some feeling, but a hope.  It keeps us loving God who gives us patience to trust Him always, no matter what the challenges.

Then to be patient in affliction.  That amazes me but it is true.  We are afflicted.  God reminds us of this again and again, we will be afflicted!  His word to us is to be patient!  That is often hard to do as we are suffering.

To assure all of this, we must be faithful in prayer. When we meet a challenge – the door to prayer is open wide and welcoming – let us simply go in as we know we should if we are to find rest.

For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Isaiah 57:15

This contrast amazes the heart and stretches the mind!  God is in his high and holy place.  That we all know or should know.  Then what?  He is “also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”  That explains so much.

In my own mind, I have no trouble knowing that God is high and exalted.  The astounding thing is what I read here, He is with “the contrite and lowly in spirit.”  Is that possible?  If you are God, it is possible, and true!  He is in glory while at the same time gets under the burden of the poor and oppressed.  This is fully revealed in the Scriptures and in Jesus’ life.  Is it true with us?

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 

Philippians 2:12, 13

What a promise!  God works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.  We must cast ourselves into his loving hands, without reservation, completely, and then watch how God works!  In some divine way God does our work for us and with us.  Can it be any better than that?

I see that we are asked to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is not an easy thing to do because it means putting self where it belongs, in the open hands of God himself!  So, we live to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.  That is the point – to allow God to reign in our lives! We cannot even imagine a better purpose for living!

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.  Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken.

Psalm 62;1, 5

This is the first day after celebrating walking with the Lord Jesus for 70 amazing years.  This Psalm expresses my feeling.

Indeed, Jesus and all the blessings of heaven have been more than I could have possibly imagined.  I am dealing with a few health issues just now, but nothing distracts from the marvelous truth that God is my sure refuge and my hope comes from him.   

He is my rock, my salvation, my fortress!  I am under the protection of God Almighty.

But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.

Nehemiah 9:17

That day, October 10, in 1994 is certainly one of the pivotal days in my life, for on that day I felt the call to come to God, as a sinner!  I probably felt this tug often, but on that day, October 10, that call was for me!  A sinner, messed up and flailing.

It was in the EMC chapel where if I am not mistaken John Mumaw and others invited us all to follow Jesus.  In that evening service I felt an overwhelming power enter my life and I became ready to stop fighting God and fall before Him as a sinner.  Sitting there I was desperate.  But I did nothing but weep inside.

However, after that evening meeting Lester Eshleman, later my friend, Dr. Lester, took me by the hand and led me to the small room at the back of the chapel and there, we were in the presence of God!  I do not remember the words but I gave my life – my all – to Jesus Christ.

As I look back, that was my spiritual birthday, if I may say so.  God probably saw it from another perspective but for me, what happened there was eternal!

Today, it is with a grateful heart and a humble spirit that I, once again, give glory to God for the years that followed.  How many years was that?  75!

My dear wife’s spiritual journey had other beginnings, but the same Lord cleansed, saved and owned us as his own.  That linkage between me and Anna Ruth was stronger than any other bonding here on earth.  We have been through much  together, as some of you well know, but always with our eyes on Jesus, our common Savior and Lord.

Praise Him.  Always and sincerely!

This is a quick picture of Jane and Sara, wonderful women, that is for sure.  They have blessed many and continue to do so.  Love them!!

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:16

This is Paul, the great Apostle, teacher, mentor and much more!  How, then, could he write that he is the “worst of sinners?”  He answered that question without doubt or hesitation, “So that in me…Christ Jesus might display his immense patience.”

I stand in awe!  Paul sees his life as an offering to God so that all those who would believe in him might “receive eternal life.”  This gives Paul a clear calling, narrow but profound and helpful beyond telling.

I rest on this eternal promise and know that it is true!  Help me, Lord, to put my entire trust in you.