"At The Right Time"

"And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables."  John 2:14,15

Jesus grew up going to the temple.  His parents presented Him at the temple when He was an infant.  When He was twelve years old, His parents found Him in the temple with the doctors asking questions.  Later, after His ministry started, He went into the temple and was given the Book of Isaiah to read.  The Bible tells us it was His custom to go to the temple at the appointed time. 

At a time before His crucifixion, He went into the temple and drove out with a whip those who were turning His house into a den of thieves by their selling of the sacrifices.  We have already established that He went to the temple often, so why didn't He "drive" them out sooner?  Why did He wait until now at the end of His ministry?  Why not take care of them at the beginning of His ministry?  Evidently, they were there before.  Maybe they only showed up at Passover-- but this wasn't His first Passover to go to the temple.  He had seen them there before.  He watched them on more than one occasion.  He walked past them more than once.  The only answer is that God has a planned and perfect time for doing everything He does.

This brings me to my point this morning.  Why doesn't He deal with the "moneychangers"-- those things that are wrong, out of place and out of order-- in our lives sooner?  Why does He allow trials, pain, illness, problems, etc. to continue?  He sees they are there in our lives.  If His eyes are on me, then He knows what I am going through.  So why doesn't He do something about it up front instead of allowing it to continue?  Again, the only answer I have is-- His ways are not our ways; they are perfect; He has a plan and that plan has a perfect timing to it.  We just have to trust that He sees it, knows about it, He is not ignoring it but at the appointed time He will "drive it out". 

Have a great day.  Just because the Lord doesn't do something about the issue/problem doesn't mean that He isn't aware of it.  He has a perfect time for everything. 

Scripture reference:  Luke 2:21-49; Luke 4:16-21

"False Healing"

"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."   Psalm 107:20

Healing can be in many areas-- not just physical.  Sometimes we need our emotions healed.  Sometimes we need healing from past memories.  Sometimes we need healing in our minds because of things we did that we regret now-- or things done to us.  Sometimes our hearts need to be healed because of sorrow, grief, heaviness, cares we carry, burdens we bear, hurts, loss we have suffered, rejections we have faced or trials we have been through.  Sometimes we are just "broken" and need to be fixed-- healed.

Where does this healing come from?  Many look for it in relationships.  They are looking to another person to make them feel whole and healthy.  Others turn to some sort of substance to make them "forget" their pain and problems.  Different people look to different sources.  Some look for affirmation and acceptance to "heal" them.  There is a wide variety to choose from-- entertainment, hobbies, work, money, a career, people pleasing, etc.  

When you have a physical wound, it has to be healed from the inside out.  There is a problem if we are looking for healing to come through people and earthly pursuits. That healing is from the outside in.  Like a physical wound, it looks healed but under the skin it is still a wound-- full of bacteria and germs.  It is still there "festering" out of sight.  It is not healed.  It just isn't as evident--- until later.  

True healing comes through "cleansing" the wound and "dressing" it with the Word of God.  His Word is health and life to our minds, spirits, souls and bodies.  It doesn't just cover up a wound; it starts deep on the inside and heals it from the inside out.  Once it is healed, it is healed-- unlike the wound that has just been covered over.  One day something will happen and cause it to break through to the surface of the "skin", and it will be a worse wound then it was at the beginning. 

If you are suffering a wounded heart, mind or spirit, the remedy for it is God's Word.  It will bring a complete and total healing instead of just "masking" over it.  Let Him heal you.

Have a great day.  The Word of God brings complete and total healing.... anything else will only cover it up.

For further reading:  Proverbs 4:20-22

"Repent To God"

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".  Matthew 4:17

Repentance is not something that you hear preached often any more.  We think we can just decide to believe or be better people or start going to church and that makes us right with God.  It doesn't.  Jesus' first message was "Repent".  He also said that unless we repent we will perish. 

So, what exactly is repentance if it is necessary for our salvation?  The word repent means:  to change one's mind; heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; repentance involves a turning with contrition from sin to God.  It means to not only change our minds and go in a different direction but it means we are truly and deeply sorry for and detest our sins to the point where we forsake them. 

Repentance is an act between the individual and God.  It is when God sees that contrite heart that He forgives our sins, washes them away, cleanses us and makes us a brand new person.  People can't do that for us.  Most people think that because they confess something to man, even in sorrow for what they have done, that it is enough.  It isn't-- only God can forgive sins.

King Saul confessed his sin to Samuel and asked him not to expose it before the people.  Judas after his betrayal of Jesus confessed to the priest and tried to give back the money he had received for his betrayal.  Neither one, though very sorry for what they had done, received forgiveness. There was no repentance and they didn't go to God for it. 

Confessing to men is for conscience sake, but it does not take away the stain of the sin.  Confessing to men will not bring reconciliation with God.  Confessing to men will help bring a certain amount of healing but not forgiveness or deliverance. 

Have you turned to God in repentance?  Have you only changed your mind about God and started going to church?  Have you gone to God with a sincere heart confessing that you have sinned against Him?  Do you hate the sin you are in and are willing to turn completely away from it?  Do you see that what you are doing is a sin in God's sight and you are ready to forsake it?  There must be repentance if you are going to get right with God.  Other wise, you are just going through some religious motions and are still the same sinner you were. 

Have a great day.  There must be repentance of sin to God in order for you to have your sins forgiven.     

For further reading:  Luke 13:3,5; Matthew 27:3,4; 1 Samuel 15

"Quench Your Thirst"

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High".  Psalm 46:4

Water is the most essential element to life.  We can live without much, but we can't live without water.  Water provides life and refreshment.  It refreshes and rehydrates the body.  It revives what is wilting.  It provides a place for habitation to aquatic life forms.  It is a cleansing agent.  It plays so many roles in our existence and without it we would not survive very long.

There is a spiritual water that many are lacking.  This is why their lives are so dry.  It is why they are weak.  It is why they have no life.  They are neglecting its life-giving power.  The water that I am referring to is Jesus.  He is living water.  The difference in water for the body and water for the spirit is that one you will have to continue to drink because it only satisfies your thirst temporarily.  The other- living water- will take away your thirst once and for all.  This is what He told the woman at the well.  (John 4) 

Today He gives you the same invitation as He did to the woman at the well.  He offered to quench her thirst so that she would never thirst again.  He will do the same for you.  You can receive it freely without cost.  It is already paid for.  "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price". (Isaiah 55:1) Will you come and drink and be satisfied?  There is plenty for everyone.  It is an abundant supply-- a never-ending river.

Have a great day.  Is your soul thirsty?  Jesus is the living water that if you drink of Him, you will never thirst again. 

"Only True Foundation"

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ".  1 Corinthians 3:11

A lot of people are trying to lay a spiritual and eternal foundation under their lives which is no foundation at all-- it is only sand.  You cannot build anything- in the natural or in the spirit- on sand.  It will shift.  It will move.  It will fail. 

What foundation are you trying to lay in order to have eternal life?  The rich young ruler tried to make his foundation riches.  He laid a foundation of money, but it fail.  The Pharisees tried to lay a foundation on the Law.  They thought if they kept every "jot and tittle" they would have a solid foundation spiritually.  But it failed as well.  

Many today are trying to lay a spiritual/eternal foundation based on the keeping of religious deeds and practices.  Some are trying to lay a foundation on goodness-- if they are good enough the foundation will be strong and support them.  Some are trying to build a foundation based on knowledge. They think that the more they know about the Bible and spiritual matters they will have a good foundation upon which to stand.

None of these things will work.  You can't build your life, your hope or your eternal security on but one foundation-- the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the only true and sure foundation.  He is the only Rock-- firm and solid-- that can support our lives and our eternity. 

Have a great day.  If you are trying to lay your own foundation you will surely fail and fall.  You have to build on the foundation that is already laid-- Jesus Christ.