1 Peter 1:3-9 – 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 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, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
In His mercy He has given us a spiritual birth. John 3:3 records Jesus telling Nicodemus “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” The word that Jesus used may more aptly be translated as “from above.” It is not worth quibbling over, but it does give us insight. If we are “born again” it is because we have been born “from above.” But as we consider both translations, what Jesus was explaining was that while all are creatures of God, since He created all things (Colossians 1:16), yet not all people are His children. That is the reason He said that “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Obviously we have all been born into human bodies, but those who seek after and love Jesus have a birth that gives them new life as a member of the family of God. It is at this point that the Holy Spirit comes to reside within a person. The person who does not know Jesus as Savior, and does not follow Him as Lord, does not love Him and therefore does not belong to Him. The Bible is clear that the only way to heaven is through Jesus (Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5). The only way to have the Holy Spirit within is through Jesus (John 20:22).
Born again. Genesis 2:7 “ Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” When God first made man He breathed life into Adam. The NIV here translates man as becoming a living being. The KJV, perhaps more accurately, translates this as man becoming a living soul. So what happened here is that God made the material man and then He breathed into man and man came alive. God breathed life, His life into man. It was only then that the man that God designed came alive. The essence of a man is spiritual and not physical. The physical body was inanimate until the Spirit of God was breathed into Him. It was at that time, when the Spirit of God was placed within the man that the spirit of the man came alive and he became a living soul. We see another example of this in Ezekiel 37. Therefore the man is only alive once the Spirit of God has been breathed within.
After the man rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, they were driven away from the communion they once had with God. Fellowship, or friendship with God had been severed. Man had become an enemy of God (Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:21). God had told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate the forbidden fruit. God does not lie, immediately they spiritually died and their bodies began to die. So it is that we, all of mankind, have inherited the sin nature, from our common parents, Adam and Eve. The Bible relates spiritual separation from God as spiritual death. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve we all come into this world with inherited spiritual separation from God. We come in, with living bodies, but dead in the spirit. This was a dilemma for God. It was a dilemma because of His great love for us. That is why He sent Jesus to, by His suffering and dying as a man, pay the full price for our sins. He offers this a free gift to all who come to the Father through Jesus His Son (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we receive this gift of Jesus Christ into our life, the Lord once again breathes His Spirit into us, and once again life is imparted to mankind. Eternal life. Spiritual life. Now, we still have bodies that have the curse of sin upon them, so these bodies shall perish. But our born again, or born from above, spirits live forever. After our earthly lives are over, we will be given new bodies, eternal bodies that will never get sick or old, but shall live forever, our spirits being united with God for eternity. Adam may have rebelled against God, but God’s love and faithfulness for Adam and Eve have never waned.
So, we have received a living hope through Jesus, who was the first to permanently rise from the dead. He leads the way for all of us who would desire to belong to God. We come to a “living hope.” Meaning that it is not something, like the manna the Hebrews ate, that brings sustenance and life but must be replenished lest the man perish. God, through Jesus, puts eternal life within us. He puts Himself within us. Just as He did breathed into Adam and Eve to give them life. The Spirit of God lives eternally and that is who is within the child of God. This is the inheritance that belongs to all of God’s children who come to Him through Jesus. This is what we receive, “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” Who is the keeper of this inheritance, none other than God Himself! He gave it to us and He stands guard lest someone, or something, should try to snatch us from Him (John 10:28-30). He gives us this free gift and then protects and grows the gift as He lives within us. He never leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). Praise God!
God surely must have been the first one who said “I love it when a plan comes together.” Of course, His plans always do. So we are safe in Jesus. Don’t hope that you are going to heaven, know the reality of your destiny (1 John 5:13) and live a life of gratitude for love and grace of God that He has given us. Is God good, or is He good! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.
by Bob with
1 Peter 1:3-9 – 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 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, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
They mysteries of God are never ending. Here we see that we have received new spiritual birth only by the great mercy of God. To that we heartily and thankfully echo the opening doxology of verse 3. As in Ephesians 2:8-10a we are saved entirely by the grace of God. Yet, we have our part in it, we must have faith. These verses in Ephesians clearly state that we are saved by the grace God has extended to us. John 3:16 clearly states that this grace was extended to the whole world, but John 3:18-21 clearly show that not all will receive this grace because of unbelief. Because of a lack of faith. So this grace from God is freely given to all who will come. All are invited, but not all come (Matthew 22:1-14). How could all not come if we are all invited. Obviously man has a free will that God has chosen to not overrule. The fact that believers have a free will is manifest. If man does not have a free will, if believers do not have a free will, then why do we sin? We have a choice to sin or not. We are not automatons that merely act and speak as programmed. There is no true love and no true beauty in that. In fact, thinking that we have no free will, but are preprogrammed robots makes God to be a being who is either not confident that He will be loved by a free-willed people, or it means that He is an egotist who merely desires the words of praise regardless of their sincerity. But we know that God lacks no confidence (not arrogance but sure knowledge) because He is omniscient and being omniscient means that is also fully self-aware and that would mean that He knows He is omnipotent and that with Him, all things are possible (Mark 10:27). God is not proud but is humble. He has revealed to us that He hates pride, it was the first sin in the devil, and we are called to eschew it at any cost (Proverbs 6:16-17, Isaiah 14:13-15, 1 John 2:15-16). Our God has no unrighteous pride, but rather a sure self-awareness. God knows who He is and is confident that Believers will step forward and love Him purely because of who He is. In Job, the devil challenges that knowledge of God (Oh liars think everyone else lies! How detestable and disrespectful the enemy is to our God. His time is coming!). The devil says that Job will not love God purely for who He is. The devil claims that Job only serves God because He loves the blessings that He receives from God. But God knows better (as always!) After the devil strips Job of all earthly blessings, except life itself, the love of Job for God, and His trust in Him, remains strong. In fact, Job was stronger afterward than he was before. The devil, unbeknown to himself, was tool of God to prove Job’s love for Him and thereby strengthen and deepen Job’s love of, and faith in, God. Oh, the Lord is so beyond anything and anyone else! Praise God!
God is confident that He can give man free will and that men (not all) will love Him rather than all that the world (and the devil) has to offer. And here is the mystery, if we have a choice, does that mean that we have a part in our salvation, because we have chosen to respond in faith. No! Not at all! Remembering that Ephesians 8:8 states that we have been saved by grace, through a faith, that is not of ourselves, but is a gift of God. A parent calls his child into the living room of their home and gives his child a bicycle with training wheels. The parent teaches the child how to ride the bike. Though the bike has training wheels, the parent runs beside the child to make sure the child is not hurt and does not give up. The parent knows that he can teach the child and that the child will learn to ride, and that by learning to ride the child will be blessed by it. Soon, with the training wheels on, the child can ride the bike with confidence. After a period of time, the training wheels come off and the parent runs beside the child again. Soon, the parent lets go and the child is riding on his own. The parent called the child. The child responded to parents call. The parent gave the bike as a gift. The child accepted the gift but didn’t know how to use it. “No worries” said the parent, “I will be with you and teach you.” The parent was always at the side of the child, with a hand steadying the child, and trained the child. The child learned to ride the gift the parent had given. Similar to this, God has worked in our life to prepare us to respond to His call. He called us and we responded to His call. He offered us a free gift of love, Himself. He taught us to get on this gift, trust Him and enjoy the gift. The child takes no credit, he was called to receive the gift, shown how to ride and enjoy the gift, and protected and encouraged all along. This is an example of an infinitely more profound truth. God knows who He is, He knows how He made us, He knows that His creation needs Him, and those who respond He calls His own. He knows that free-willed people (not all) will love Him.
We want to completely understand everything. We expect to understand everything. Yet we are not capable of completely understanding the ways of God, and even of our salvation. We look deeply into the endless that our eyes and understanding are incapable of fully viewing or knowing. Yes, we have a free will. The will is a gift from God. Yes, we have faith, it also is gift from God. The mercy and grace we received from God are a gift that come from His love, grace and mercy that are part of His love, are a part of Him. We have done nothing for our faith, we have been called, welcomed, and had everything provided. In appreciation for who God is, we gradually learn to love God solely for who He is. In appreciating the wonder, the beauty, the love, and the eternal superiority of God we praise and glorify Him as we bow our heads to God while looking up and adoring who He is. Job did this. Oh how the devil must have been furious and angry that Job did what he could not do. Job loved God for being God and trusted Him without fully understanding. So are we called! Praise the Lord! How awesome is our God! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.
by Bob with
Psalm 84- How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. 9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
VV1-2 – I wake up thirsty for you Lord. It is not a drink of water that I need most. It is You Lord, only You! It is easy to think, in the drowsiness of morning, how great it would be to physically see you. Yet I know I have been blessed higher than those who merely saw You with physical eyes. I have been blessed to see You spiritually. Oh Lord, how beautiful and wonderful to wake and know (yes know) that You are with me! You never leave me. When I close my eyes to the world and go to sleep, it is gone. But you are not gone. You remain with me. As a nurse tends her patient, whether the patient is awake or asleep, more dutiful are You in Your love for me. In the night You don’t stop ministering to me. A guard may stand guard at a door, but You never leave my soul or my spirit unguarded. Always you are with me. I sleep deeply because You are with me and never leave me. You are with me and I am at peace. Deep peace because You love me and have made Yourself known to me. As a newlywed couple fall asleep in each others arms, receiving comfort from the embrace they share, more so is the comfort and knowledge of falling asleep knowing You are with me I wake up and my thoughts are of seeking You. Oh Lord, Your Love is so wonderful, I wake up thirsty to drink it in. Oh Lord, Good Morning my Lord, One whom I adore! Good Morning! It is You I am desperate for! It is You I love! Your love moves me and draws me. Thank you Lord!”
VV3-4 – Lord You love all of Your creation. You think even of the little sparrow and welcome it. It greets you in the morning with chirps that glorify You. In its simple chirps it is thankful and sings Your praises. Lord, You never forget me. I am always welcome in Your home. You have always provided for me. Oh Lord, please accept my simple chirps of adoration. For my chirps are as humble as the sparrow’s. My understanding so simple. I respond to Your great love!
VV5-7 – I have no eternal strength Lord. Eternal strength is provided by You! Eternal strength is knowing You and faithfully serving You. I have no ability to do so, unless You have given it to me. So, I offer up all that I am to do as You desire, all the while knowing that it is You who provide the strength. I have nothing but You Lord. In You I have all things of wonder and beauty. My eyes look for You and my understanding sees You. Yes Lord, I see You! I know You are with me. Oh glory to You Lord! Praise You Lord!
VV8-9 – Because You Lord have willed to incline Your ear to me, You hear and respond to all of my prayers. I am assured by Your blessed Holy Spirit, and by Your Word, that I may rest that every prayer is heard and none are forgotten. Praise you Lord! Of course You hear my prayers, it is within who You are. You are omniscient, thereby You know not only when I utter my prayers, but You have known of them from eternity past. Yet, You still desire for me to call to You. Because of Your love for me, my voice to you is mellifluous to Your ears, indeed to Your heart. Oh how deeply, beyond understanding, am I loved by You! Glory to You Lord!
VV10-11 – My eyes look for you in the morning because the only place I want to be in the morning, and throughout the day, is with You. You are the wonder of creation, the calm and beauty of the songbird in the morning, the soft sound of a brook and the mighty crashing waves of the ocean. Oh Lord, you are everything, the sweetness of a taste of fruit and the loveliness of the touch of love. Oh Lord, there is no place for me to be than with You. You are home, where peace, comfort and joy are. You are my Lord, You are my home.
V12 – I am blessed because of Your love. I am blessed because I belong to You. Oh Lord, good morning Lord! I am so thankful I wake up to You and that You stay with me throughout the day. You stay with me throughout every day. Blessed am I because of Your love, because of You. Glory and praise to you Lord! Glory to you my Lord, my blessed Savior and Lord, glory and love to you for they are rightly Yours!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.
by Bob with
Psalm 143:8 – Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Saturday morning. I slept a little longer than usual. I woke relaxed, feeling well. He is here. He is with me. Miraculously, He loves me. The awareness of Him, and His love for me soothes my soul and makes my spirit sing. Glory to God! Glory to the one who loves me so! Glory to God! He is good and His love endures. Glory to God.
What a wondrous blessing to fall asleep praising God and to wake to the soft “Good morning. I AM here.” from His Spirit. It is such a peace to wake and not be thinking about the endless worries of my life and this world, but just to feel okay because I am okay, because He is with me. He is with me. He is with me and evermore shall be! Glory to God! Glory to the one who loves me so! Glory to God! He is good and His love endures. Glory to God.
I like it here. I love it here. I wish I could stay here always. I don’t want to leave. Someday I never will…because He loves me. Glory to God! Glory to the one who loves me so! Glory to God! He is good and His love endures. Glory to God.
In the spirit, moved by Your Spirit, I sing to You! Oh my Jesus, my Savior and Lord, I sing to you. Knowing You are here, I don’t reach for You, there is no need to, You are here! Oh my soul sings, You are here! Glory to God! Glory to the one who loves me so! Glory to God! He is good and His love endures. Glory to God.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.
by Bob with