Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

I have been thinking about this these days. When I was active in ministry I mulled over the application of the Word of God to today’s challenges.  This morning, as I read the above verse I found myself asking how I am doing!  To be sure, the culture in which I live has no idea about concentrating on the word of God.   Yet that is the culture in which I live, a cocoon of solutions that do not work.   Even though I am getting older, I find it is not easy to live in a troubled world yet clinging to Jesus who is my only hope.

My mind goes to Jesus.  He was not isolated from what was going on in Palestine at the time he lived there.  The Jews were struggling to survive the Roman occupation.   Jesus offered no suggestions as to how that could be changed.  He offered those who follow Him a new hope, a new reality that links with God and his purposes.

Jesus pointed his followers to a new way, the way of truth, that which is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.  These virtues will fill the mind and heart of those who follow in the steps of Jesus and in his Spirit.  The world knows little of this calling that the disciples of Jesus receive as a gift of God. 

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 8:34, 35

God is eager to bless us, that is for certain.  Who does He bless?  “Those who listen to me,” he says.  I live in an age when I am bombarded with voices that want to be heard.  An hour of TV news drives that point home for me.  Then I hear a voice, “Listen to me!”  It is the Lord, our Savior.  He asks us to block out all voices but his own.  For that we need to remain in readiness to hear him.

This requires extraordinary discipline. To help us, the Lord then calls us to watch daily at his door, God’s doorway, our place where we hear and determine to follow the voice of the Lord.  That is where we find Him and in him we find life and intimacy with Jesus Christ.

This is my spiritual heritage. I live in this world but I also, and primarily, live in the Spirit with Jesus and all the heavenly hosts.

Today we walk into November, a new month.  It is one of my favorite months.  As the month opened in years past, so does the season to hunt small game, like rabbits, pheasants, squirrels and grouse.  How I looked forward to those days when we were with Dad for a full week as I recall in Fulton County, in the home of the Mellott’s.  Those days still calm my soul.  It was a spiritual experience for me.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Zechariah 4:6

Might, power, wealth, education, etc.  As I sit here reflection, these describe the culture I live in.  I suppose there is nothing all that bad about these things except that they blind me to the needs of all mankind all over the world today.  There is a mad scramble for power to maintain power in the world, for our good and hopefully to help others.

It fell on Zerubbabel to assist over 40,000 Jews to return to Judah following their exile in Babylon.  At this time Babylon was a mighty power in the land.  As is usually the case power and might rule the day.  Weaker nations come up short.

We do not read that the Jews longed for a strong imperial government like Babylon.  In fact the returning exiles were so powerless that they could do little except survive in extremely difficult circumstances.

Having nothing, what could they rely on?  The Prophet Zechariah had a word from the Lord, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.’ 

Is this not a fitting word of God for us today when our nation is by far the strongest in the whole world?  We want power to keep our position and we have it.  The Prophet of God reminds us that earthly might and power are in the end, futile.  What matters is whether we have the Spirit of God as our refuge, our stronghold, our eternal home.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 34:4 – 7

David, bless him, shares his life with us.  He was passing through difficult days, with plenty of reasons to doubt that God cares for him at all.  He was dashing about the land – ever aware that King Saul wanted him dead!  This was not a happy moment for David, but trying beyond measure.

It is in this precarious situation that David clings to his Deliverer.  His testimony rings in our ears for our encouragement.  He writes about his own troubles, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him.”  He is indeed “poor.”  He has no official office.  He is hated by the present king.  He is hiding in caves, etc., as King Saul pursues him.  He is in the hands of God.

As I ponder the life of David in the years that followed in which he was crowned King, time and again he was brought low, like in the past when he was running from the wrath of Saul.  I think especially of how he was brought to his knees by the realization that his very own son, Absalom, was prepared to kill his father, the King, to inherit the throne for himself.   Those hot, melancholy tears that he shed as his son wanted to take the throne by force melts my heart.  All his life, David was learning to depend entirely on God, always.  Is this not the story of all who follow God?

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.  I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:1 – 3

I hear the expression quite often, “Praise the Lord.”  In fact, I use this expression myself just to confess my faith.  It rolls off the tongue, even maybe without one thought in mind, just a habit, perhaps, but not a bad one.  This phrase marks all God’s redeemed people, “Praise the Lord.”

We praise Him for what he has done.  That is good, but the essential praise is saved for exalting the Lord, praising Him, not for what He can do, but for who He is, King of King and Lord of Lords.

David knows the power of united witness.  He asks all those who love the Lord to join him in exalting the Lord together.

Yesterday we met with our congregation for worship and sharing.  Everyone is blessed by praising the Lord, together.

This is a good antidote to finding fault with everything!  I need to praise, not criticize!

I am humbled and renewed as I read the last words of this amazing, insightful, encouraging short letter of Jude.

This world is troubled!  Of that we need no further proof, it is around us all the time.  This age wants immediate gratification, much with little input, as though we deserve our situation.  In fact, all that leads to destruction.

Would that I and every believer on this amazing planet would declare again and again, and live accordingly, that we love, worship and obey the Lord Jesus Christ who is before all ages, now and forevermore.  Amen.

Anna Ruth, bless her, keeps inventing interesting dishes.  Here the steak is surrounded by tasty, colorful vegies!  Welcome to our table!

He is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 25

Let us ponder again this most marvelous and challenging doxology, the precious “wished blessing” for all who believe.

As a follower of Jesus I try my very best to follow Him closely so that I do not stumble on the way.  I discover something, I am not able to order my life, Jesus is!   When Jesus saves and keeps me I am in the presence of the Lord, without fault!  The only way that is possible is through blood of Jesus.  Jesus offers me to God with great joy because of that.

My only response is to proclaim that I worship God, our Savior, offering Him glory, majesty, power and authority who is before all time, now and forevermore.  Amen.

As November approaches we light the candle now and again – warms the heart!  Elizabeth lends her fascinated face to the scene.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 24, 25

Jude is speaking directly to me.  In my own power I am not able to direct my steps. Let alone my thoughts.  I stumble and fall, that is for sure.  God knows that so as a follower of Jesus Christ I cling to Jesus with all my being, knowing that he is able!  I am unable.  He is able!!  I am full of fault.  Jesus is without fault.

What is God able to do?  He can keep you from stumbling.  Can that be?  Yes!

He presents us to God.  There we are overcome with praise, because we are his and he is ours.  Who is this, dear reader, who loves us so?  Jesus Christ our Lord who was before all ages and who reigns now and forevermore!  Let us love him and follow Him forever.