Exodus 23, John 2, Job 41, 2 Corinthians 11

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you to do.” John 2:5 (NCV)

God gave me freedom and He gave me free will. Because His desire is for love and relationship, He opened His hands, wrote my name on His palm, and relinquished control over my life. I can choose to live according to my own plan, following self, aligning myself with sin; or I can choose to be showered by His love, enveloped in His grace.

Because of the New Covenant made real by the sacrifice of Christ, I no longer have to follow the long lists of “you musts…” recorded in Exodus. I am no longer bound by Mosaic Law.

There were so many things that were supposed to be done or not supposed to be done; I can’t even keep them all straight. I acknowledge that it is completely impossible to live by the letter of the law. Even the priests, who were the only ones who knew the whole of the law, were hard pressed to be obedient to every dotted ‘i’ and every crossed ‘t’.

However, His sacrifice of death to life means I no longer need to fear the enemy, a leviathan of evil. My past sin is forever forgiven at the cross and buried in the tomb never to rise again. Though I may be tempted, His Spirit which dwells within me gives me the strength to stand separated from sin. Though I may fall into sin, rather than condemnation, I receive mercy and absolution; and I receive liberation once more.

I am given liberty to make my own choices. And, as a believer in Christ, I choose to honor God’s will and obey His Word. I make a choice to do my best to “do whatever He tells me to.”

My hope is in Him, the Only True Living God who is above all. There is no one greater in all of the universe and no one who sees the big picture, the whole picture of His Kingdom Come more than the Creator.

He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is to be praised forever. 2 Corinthians 11:31b (NCV)

Blessings – Julie, Vadipatti, India (written in the U.S.A.)

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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1 Samuel 15, 1 Samuel 16, Luke 20:1-26

Read at – www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Sam15,16;%20Luke%2020:1-26&version=NKJV

It’s all about Authority. God has Sovereignty. Man pretends he has it.

Jesus, the chief cornerstone, says: Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. Luke 20:18

1 Sam 15:10-11        The Word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.

                  What is the cause of grief? SIN. Turning away from following God. Not obeying God fully in action and heart. Saul disobeyed God’s sovereign ruling because Saul thought he had sovereignty.

                 Samuel grieved. Seeing a lack of God’s glory grieves God and His children. Watching rebellion against God and its terrible, painful effects is heartbreaking. Only the LORD can fix the root of the matter, which is why we cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ. ~1

               I relate in both ways: 1) Being like Saul and grieving the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 51:9-10, ~2)   and 2) Grieving Greatly as God’s daughter, crying out to the Lord for months.

The Lord Delights when I obey His Voice.  ~3

1Sam 15:22-23         “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, …For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Rejecting God = Not doing the Word of God = Witchcraft, Iniquity and Idolatry.

God rejects people who reject Him, Who is the Word of God. ~4

1 Samuel 16             The Lord said …”I have provided Myself a king… Do not look at his appearance… I have refused him…the Lord looks at the heart.”

               What does God see when He sees me? Spots on my face, spots in my heart or Jesus’ Righteousness? ~5                A dirty mind or one washed and renewed by God’s Word? ~6  Under Whose Sovereignty do I live?  ~7 , ~8      

                 1 Samuel 16            The Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him…and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.

Hate for God incurs wrath from God – yet there is mercy from God, temporarily.

1 Samuel 16             the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. … “Look, I have seen a son … and the Lord is with him.” … So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer…. David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

               2000 years ago the religious leaders challenged God, they asked Jesus “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?”  Not being satisfactorily answered, Jesus told them a parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son.’”  This angered the religious ones who “that very hour sought to lay hands on Him” Luke 20

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” Psalm 24:1

              Saul was to follow the Owner’s commands, but he acted like he was The authority. David had a heart after God, so David knew he was not the Authority and he lived to please the Lord. The religious leaders believed they were The authority, so they challenged Jesus’ Authority, then sought to kill Jesus. ~9

                Lord Jesus, it is so obvious that I have no rights or authority. But I do have position. It is a Very High position. I am Your daughter and part of the royal priesthood. I have not earned it. You have bestowed it because of the Blood of Jesus, His Atonement on the cross.   ~10

               In that position, through the veil of Jesus’ Body, I come before You, Lord God of the Universe, please have my family cherish their precious relationship with You. Have them learn of Your Grace, Mercy and immense Forgiveness so that they do not compromise or violate their relationship with You Lord God. Amen.   ~10

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

~1 Psalm 84:2, Psalm 18:6, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 56:9, Psalm 57:2, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

~2 Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:8-10

~3 John 10:1-7, 27-30

~4  John 1:1-4; John 1:11-14; John 1:29; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3; Ephesians 4:30; John 14:24; John 15:5-11; 1 John 5:3; James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:14; Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 28

~5 2 Corinthians 5:21, Psalm 132:9, John 15:3, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Romans 3:23-26, Revelation 7:14             

~6 Ephesians 5:26, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:20-24

~7  Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 99:5; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 30:4

~8 2Cor 5:17, John 1:29, Galatians 5:19-26, Ephesians 5:8-11

~9 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22, Hebrews 10:10, Matthew 27:50-54, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 10:19-25

~10 John 3:3-21; John 1:12-14; 1 John 3:1; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 4:14-16; Ephesians 1; Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:12; 1 John 1:9; Matthew 11:28-30

Crystal (PsalmThirty4) 

Deuteronomy 30, Psalm 119:73-96, Isaiah 57, Matthew 5

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, … to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, … that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you.” Deut  30:15, 20

 “Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:44-45

 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.%2030;%20Ps.119:73-96;%20Isa.%2057;%20Matt.%205&version=NKJV

 Deuteronomy 30

                My God and Master, You make my choices clear. I can whole heartedly follow and obey You, or not. “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.” V. 11 (Ha ha ha! You are not calling me stupid! Thank You!!)

                 IF I “obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” V. 2,10    THEN “The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, … “ v. 9  —  I see this in my life Lord God! And I give You all the Glory, as is Your due!

                 I regret I was here before You changed me: “your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish;” v.17-18  Please continue to seek after the multitudes that are here right now. Soften and change them to draw near to You and You will draw near to them. Please use me and send many more workers into the ripe harvest souls field!!   Luke 15:1-7; Luke 15:10; James 4:7-10; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 9:38

                 Vs. 6; I yearn to continually hear and obey Your Voice, that I may cling to You Jesus, for You are my life! You lay out my freewill and freedom in Christ options. Only in Christ am I free to live the blessings You lay out.

2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23; John 1:12-14; John 3:5; Romans 8:1-2; 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 5:1; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 36:25-29

 Psalm 119:73-96     The Word of God –

                 I cherish and delight in Your Word, Lord God! And I am comforted and cheered by Your people, those who fear You. V. 74,79 Your Spirit testifies between us that You are our God! You are in the midst of us when we are together! We sense Your Presence joyously! Romans 8:16, Matthew 18:20,

                 Thank You for faithfully afflicting me, to change me to be more Your desired vessel.  Truly, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.” I praise You Jesus for Your tender mercies which come to me, so that I live In You. I trust that You will  continue working on, in and through me so “my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes” v.80 Hebrews 4:12-13, Philippians 1:6

                 I praise You, Lord Jesus Christ, because “Forever, Your word is settled in heaven.” And “I am Yours”! v. 94 Thank You for saving me from hell!! Romans 8

 Isaiah 57

                 I finally understand, my Teacher, the difference between the wicked and the backslider. The first You cast to hell. The second is Your wayward child whom You correct to bring back to Yourself. You correct your own. Hebrews 12:5-11, Revelation 21:5-8

                 I know a “backslider” very well. Your Word comforts me, “For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, … I have seen his ways, and will heal him… lead him, …restore comforts to him And to his mourners. … I create the fruit of the lips …”  v.17-19 I am a backsliders’ mourner, and I rejoice in Your Promise! Thank You Father!

                 “But the wicked are like the troubled sea,  When it cannot rest, … There is no peace,”  Says my God, “for the wicked.”  V. 20-21 The only hope for the wicked is to choose You through Jesus Christ and be transformed into Your Child. John 14:6, John 14:27, Ezekiel 18:32, Acts 3:19, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:6-11, Psalm 51, Colossians 3:9-10

 Matthew 5

                 Such a rich chapter! ~Only studying one section: my enemies.

Deuteronomy 30:7; Psalm 119:84-86; Psalm 119:95; Matthew 5:44-45, Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19 

                 Oh My Sovereign God!! I understand. You curse, judge and have revenge. That is NOT for me to do. And I, too, was Your enemy before You saved me by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore You command me to minister and pray for my enemies’ salvation. I am to do good for them to the point of them surrendering their sins to Your Son Jesus Christ. I am to love them as You direct for the Holy Spirit to reveal the saving knowledge of You, so they will be delivered from the evil one. When they are transformed into Your child, then I, too, will be blessed!!  And You, my Father, will be glorified!! Matthew 6:10

 Lord God Almighty, enable and empower me to do as You command in all of these passages. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I would hear Your voice and do Your will for Your glory alone. I praise You Lord Jesus Christ!! Amen.

 Crystal (PsalmThirty4)