2 Chronicles 24; Revelation 11; Zechariah 7; John 10

As I enjoy the Christmas season, I am hearing more than ever before, that our celebration is not only of the babe that came to die but of the King who is coming again.  I am being challenged even in my devotions to do what is right in my walk with God.

Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of the priest Jehoiada. – 2 Chronicles 24:2  NRSV

I love the fact that even though I have been a follower of Christ for almost 45 years, the Holy Spirit continues to work on my walk, continues to challenge me to be holy.  I am surprised, but I shouldn’t be, that even in the book of Revelation God has witnesses still bringing people into a relationship with God.

 And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth. – Revelation 11:3  NRSV

I completed a spiritual assessment and then had my daughter complete one for me as well.  She is 27, so I felt she would assess me honestly.  Interesting how she noted that I tend to be a closet Christian.  She felt I needed to express my walk with Christ more openly with others.  Being invited to express some of my walk here in this blog has helped me do that better. I am looking forward to sharing more next year too.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another;  do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. – Zechariah 7:9-10 NRSV

Is a closet Christian a bad thing? Not really.  When I use the term I mean one who spends a lot of quiet time with God – listening to His voice, engaging Him every day in conversation.  I like getting to know Him and having Him work in my life. But I do realize that I need to take Him with me into the real world.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. – John 10:3  NRSV

Father, I love you. Already knee-deep in Christmas celebrations and You are still talking to me and challenging me to be more like Jesus every day.  Thank you.  As I take You out in the world with me, I pray that the gospel – the good news – of Christmas will be an easy message to share and that there will be open doors for those conversations to happen. Amen

evanlaar

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Exodus 27, Exodus 28, Mark 1:23-45

Please read at – www.BibleGateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2027,28;%20Mk%201:23-45&version=NKJV

Exodus 27     “You shall make an altar, the court of the tabernacle, a screen, the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually, outside the veil which is before the Testimony.”

             The Old Testament sacrifice system is the foreshadow of the new, living and everlasting covenant which Jesus Christ fulfilled. Jesus is our sacrifice Atonement for our sins, past, present and future. Jesus is “the light of the world, the light of life.” Which can never be extinguished.  Thank You Jesus for taking the wrath of God for me!!

             You Lord, tell me that if I follow You, I shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. AND that I am “the light of the world.” Lord Jesus Christ, I rejoice in You, the Light of my soul, path and heart!! I praise you for being God and over powering me by Your Love to empower me by Who You are!! May I desire You more and more greatly that You shine through every pore of me and pour out!! Please let it be so! 

Exodus 28    “You shall make holy garments, a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a tunic, a turban, and a sash, the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD, and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord, that he may minister to Me as priest.”

               Thank You Lord Jesus Christ for asking me to come to You, that You would make me a new creature, Your child!! Thank You for being THE Royal High Priest so You forever intercede for me! Because of this, my God, make me honorable to You, fulfilling Your will to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”!!

               Thank you for continually using Your Hand to mold me, shape me and change me to be how You desire, for only in Your blood stained Palm am I eternally safe, grateful and having Your joy as my strength.

             Please dress me up in Your garb: Your honorable Armor, wearing Your righteousness! I can never forget that You won the war, but the battles rage on. Please save the rebellious people from hell and protect the persecuted church! Please! Thank You!  

Mark 1:23-45  An unclean spirit, cried out, You are—the Holy One of God!”  “He commands and they obey Him.” He took her by the hand, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Jesus, moved with compassion, touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And he was cleansed.

            Jesus, You are the King of kings Lord of lords.  You cast out demons, heal us by Your compassionate will, and for the purpose that we will serve You as You desire! Thank You for freeing us to have such an incredible position! I am humbled because I know no good thing is in me – but Only Good is You!! 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12  

Pondering – A repeated Old Testament theme, “You shall make”. But I cannot make Righteousness. Only the Lord Jesus can make me righteous. How I need to lean on Jesus to learn from Him for all I do, say, think, feel, etc – Holding every thought captive to God’s Word, so Jesus’ righteousness is visible!! What a quest! No wonder Jesus is our exceedingly great Reward! Genesis 15:1

Further reading for –

Exodus 27     Leviticus 17:11, Matthew 26:28,  Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 10:19-23, John 19:30, Matthew 27:51, Matthew 28, Luke 24:44-53, John 3:36, John 8:12, John 1:4-5, Matthew 5:14, Psalm 119:105, 160  

Exodus 28 and Mark 1: 23-45       Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:1; John 3:5-7; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 2:9; Nehemiah 8:10; Ephesians 1:13-14; Isaiah 64:8; Isaiah 49:16, Ephesians 6:10-18; Mark 10:18, John 15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2 

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

2 Chronicles 29, Revelation 15, Zechariah 11, John 14

Please read at –www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Chron.29;%20Rev.%2015;%20Zech.%2011;%20John%2014&version=NKJV

King Hezekiah was a foreshadow of Jesus the Christ Who obeyed His Father’s Will.  Hebrews 5:8, John 14:24, John 15:10, Mark 14:36, John 8:28 

I am encouraged that if King Hezekiah could live well for God without the fullness of God’s Word and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, then surely I, with these eternal tools, can actively live under closer obedience to the living God in every area of my life! Luke 12:48

Disobeying the One Who “lives forever and ever” brings God’s wrath down from heaven. Yet nothing ever diminishes the glory of God and His power. (Rev 15:7-8)   (Luke 12:5, Matthew 23:33, Revelation 21:6-8, Galatians 5:16-26, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

“Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock!” Zech 11:17, Matthew 23:1-29, Luke 11:37-52, Jeremiah 32:6-9   I am challenged to not be worthless. By God’s account, I am a shepherd, part of the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9, Joel 2:28-29) because I was transformed by Jesus Christ’s Atonement. Jesus Christ, the only Good Shepherd (John 10:1-30), was priced at “thirty pieces of silver” (Zech 11:11-13, Matthew 26:14-16; Matthew 27:3-10) for my redemption. Thereby I am given the ministry of reconciliation to be Christ’s ambassador.  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

                  I am accountable to the Lord God Almighty to not disobey Him: to take care of other Christians, to lead others to Christ Jesus, to give Light to the blind, Bread of Life to the hungry, and so much more!!

             Tomorrow my family and I will celebrate the birth of the man-God Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2, Matthew 2). God put on flesh and dwelt among us to show me the One True God (John 1:1-3, 14, 29, Hebrews 1:3). Jesus Christ died by taking the wrath of God that I deserve for every disobedience to the living God I have committed.  Psalm 51, John 3:5-21.  

              Because I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life, I am in pain for all those I know who do not yet choose to come to the Father through Jesus. I earnestly pray for Jesus’ Words and Holy Spirit to transform their souls so His Work will be evident to and through them, for His Glory alone. I yearn for them to experience Jesus’ Peace, Hope and immeasurable Joy within their souls. << This is what I want for Christmas as a celebration of Your Birth, my Savior!!

               Thank You for coming into my world, Lord Jesus, that You would bring me up to Your world eternally and forever! I love You! ~Your beloved child, Crystal 

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

1 Kings 18; 1 Thessalonians 1; Ezekiel 48; Psalm 104

 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, …  and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” 1 Kings 18

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God… Jesus Who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1

 Bless the LORD, O my soul!… O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions— Psalm 104

Read at – www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Kings%2018;%201Thess.1;%20Ezek.48;%20Ps.104&version=NKJV

1 Kings 18                Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” v. 38-39

                   Elijah’s identity was marked by God’s Mount Carmel Victory! Elijah stood for the Lord God Almighty and against the false god and idol of Baal. God’s majesty and sovereignty were magnificently displayed because Elijah took a bold stand. The God of the Bible was honored!

                   We as new-creation believers (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:20) can have occurrences like these daily because we are indwelled by the Holy God (Acts 2:4; Acts 4:31; Acts 13:52; Romans 15:13; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 1:14; Isaiah 57:15; John 20:22; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38). (See the book of Acts)

What did it take for Elijah?

• Elijah spent time with God on God’s terms (Psalm 1).
• Elijah listened to and obeyed the living God.
• Elijah had stalwart allegiance to the Lord God Almighty with great trust in God’s Word and Character.
• Elijah stood firmly apart from the gods of his day. NO compromise, excuse, rationalization or people pleasing, even at the risk of losing his life by the king.
• Elijah trusted what was not humanly possible. It would take God to accomplish this task! (1 Kings 18:30-37)

 What did it take for God? Being in relationship with Elijah, meeting his needs, and joyously winning unbelievers over by displaying His Power and Glory!  (Philippians 4:19) (1 Kings 18:38)

What was the result? Rain. God reigned! The people were rejoiced and were pleased. The land was refreshed and restored. The idol worshippers and those opposed to God were vanquished. (1 Kings 18:39-46)

What does it take for me? The very same things – Purity and faithfulness to God. Keeping Jesus Christ in my sights within my heart and outward in my life. Continually bowing my heart and will before the Lord Jesus Christ, with confession and repentance of sin, learning and growing under His power and tutelage. Living joyously with praise and grateful indebtedness to the only One Who truly sees me. Doing what is not natural to my nature, but super-natural by God’s nature within me. Romans 8:1; Romans 8:5-10; Romans 8:26-27; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:6; Romans 12:1-2

Taking a stand Every Where I go and what I do! – To live speaking Truth, thinking Truth and loving Truth (John 14:6). And in that way God will reveal His magnificence to unbelievers through me and my life. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

1 Thessalonians 1             You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God… Jesus Who delivers us from the wrath to come.

                      Oh the joy of being with new-creation believers (John 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23)! Those who “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” v.9, and whose “joy of the Holy Spirit” and ”faith toward God has gone out” v.7-8.  May I do likewise: “give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” v.2.

                      Thank You Lord Jesus Christ for sending workers who give the gospel “in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance” v.5. Use me, too, my Deliverer Lord Jesus (v.10)!

Ezekiel 48                 “and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”  

                    Lord God Almighty, You are specific in Your directions, according to Your Good pleasure! You divided the holy land. You set apart a district just for Yourself (v.10). You order our steps and lives. May we not kick against You, but yield with contrite and glad hearts! Higher are Your ways than ours. Only by walking under and in You will I fulfill Your desires for my life and for Your glory! Please Lord Jesus Christ, make me Your delight! (1 Peter 3:15; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 9:5; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 55:9; Micah 6:8; Psalm 37:4; Hebrews 11:6)

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23  NKJV

Psalm 104                 Bless the LORD, O my soul!… The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works…. In wisdom You have made them all. … I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

O LORD my God, You are very great:are clothed with honor and majesty, cover Yourself with light, stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

My God – lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, makes the clouds His chariot, walks on the wings of the wind, makes His angels spirits, ministers a flame of fire.

Laid the foundations of the earth, covered it with the deep, set a boundary that they may not pass over, sends the springs into the valleys; (giving) drink to every beast of the field;  Waters the hills from His upper chambers; to …bring forth food from the earth, appointed the moon for seasons;

You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works.

He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke.  

                And who am I to not trust You to purify and sanctify my wayward child? How arrogant am I to not trust Your Holy Spirit to make new that which is not Yours. John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 5:17 – I come to You in prayer, boldly to the throne of Christ Jesus. Lord Jesus save from hell “___” and have them make You their First Love For Ever! Amen  (Revelation 2:4)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:11-15

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)