The Established Throne

On April 17, 2023   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 16: 5

When oppression and destruction have ceased and enemy raiders have disappeared, then David’s throne will be established by love. From that throne, a faithful king will reign, one who always does what is just and right.

This is an interesting verse because it shows an important link between two biblical principles, love and righteousness. We have talked about righteousness lately, learning that it means that things are as they should be. Really a good way to think of righteousness is that things are “right.” That is what this verse says about the faithful king, the one who reigns forever. He does things right therefore his throne is established in righteousness.

Of course, this righteous, faithful king is Jesus. He sits on the throne. What I find interesting, especially in that this is an old testament verse, is that the throne is established “by love.” Of all the ideals that Yahweh could have chosen for the founding of the everlasting throne, He chose love. Why not righteousness or justice; why not faith?

I have noticed a change in me. I remember a time when I thought the pastors who preached on love sounded like sissies. Now, I would only follow the teachings of someone who is rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3: 17). I have come to understand that our Father is love (1 John 4: 8).

We spend a lot of energy on a lot of emotions, but much of it is wasted. When we eventually circle back around to love we find peace. I have decided, for myself, that I am only interested in the messages that acknowledge that our Lord is seated on a throne established by love. God isn’t beating people up. He isn’t angry. Some of the preachers who yell judgment and condemnation are the very ones who quote John 3: 16 to us day and night, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” How is it that we miss the key word, the reason God sent his only son? Love.

I don’t, and I don’t think you should, follow teachers who don’t spiritually, practically and theologically set up their abode in the doctrine of love. God established His throne, anchored it and founded it on love. That should be good news for us all. Don’t let anyone lead you down the path to an angry God because that is not Yahweh. We can never establish our destined relationship or find our destiny if we do not first understand that Father is always motivated by and moving by love. It is one thing you need to know about our Father. It is our one pursuit. To know Him is to know love.

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Rooted

On January 19, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Ephesians 3: 17

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.

This verse is the very thrust of this ministry. Our slogan is “Intertwined with Jesus.” I pray for you to be so interwoven in the fabric of Jesus and of God’s love that you can no longer discern a separation between you. Your thoughts are His thoughts, His are yours. I pray for His heartbeat to throb in all of our chests.

Truly, today’s Word of the Day is a thematic continuation of yesterday’s. Seek God so that He may be found and when you continue to seek Him, daily, you become more and more intertwined with Him. Finding Yahweh is not a one-time thing. It is daily pressing in and demanding more and more of Him. Never be satisfied. Always ask for more of Him. That is what He wants of you. He wants you to live in Him and to allow Him to live in you.

All the little things of the day are part and parcel of the life lived in Christ. I know some people think it is funny that I pray when I grocery shop, pump gas or ride my bike, but that is where life happens. So, if God is to be intimately intertwined in all of life, then He will be at the board meetings and the dinner table. He helps with the laundry and the cleansing of our souls.

I pray that the tendrils of your heart will become inextricably intertwined with Jesus and will, indeed, root themselves in the rich soil of God’s love.

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The New Covenant

On January 28, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Jeremiah 31: 33

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days”, declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Have you ever wondered what the “New Covenant” with God is? First of all, let’s understand what a covenant is. The American Heritage Dictionary defines covenant as: a binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties; a compact; contract. 2. A solemn agreement or vow made by members of a church to defend and support its faith and doctrine. 3. Theology. God’s promises to man, as recorded in the Old and New Testaments. 4. A formal sealed agreement or contract. Our covenant with God is a sacred contract, if you will, a binding agreement between humanity and God. It is a reciprocal agreement wherein each party has its obligations and benefits. Our part is to be His people. Wow, that is an obligation which actually is a benefit in itself. If there were no terms other than that, we would win. We get to be His people. However, there are other obligations upon God which confer benefit unto us. He is obligated to be our God. If I will be His, then He has no option but to be mine. He is bound. That is powerful. You have the power to bind God to you such that He has no choice but to be your God. Do you see that? But wait, there is more. He has the affirmative duty to write all of His Word, knowledge and wisdom on your heart. Again, He has no choice. He has bound Himself by His Word and He has not the power to lie or to break His Word. Therefore, when you accept Yahweh as your God He moves into your heart and inscribes all that He is there.

Everything that Jesus is or did; everything he accomplished is alive inside of you right now. In John 14: 23 Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and my Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.” And where do they live? Ephesians 3: 17 says that Christ dwells in our hearts. That is where the Word is written and Jesus is the Word. It really does all make sense. When Jesus said that He and the Father would come live in us He was echoing what the Father said in Jeremiah. Jesus knew what the New Covenant was. He heard God speak about the New Covenant and His plans for His people. Our only obligation is that we love Jesus. If we love Him, if we have a heart condition of affection for Jesus, an emotional response to who he is, then the entire trinity with all wisdom, power and grace will come live inside us and be our constant friend and helper. We give God our hearts and He gives us everything. That is the New Covenant. What a deal. No lawyer on earth has ever brokered a deal this good yet God gave it freely. What a Great and benevolent Father we have.

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