December 29, 2011

“Never Forget…”

Blessings Folk!

In the annual transition from one yearly calendar-of-man to another we do well to reflect and anticipate.

Remember this.

Never forget who you are.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
God knows/sees all in your life...before He made you.
God has precious, marvelous, great thoughts of you.

Psalm 139
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

You are not alone.
You are not abandoned.

Hear this Word.
So often we breeze past portions of the Word...things such as genealogies, introductions...missing some profound truths.
Here is an example…

1 Peter
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:
   To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.
   May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

We see so much about the Believer here…

We are but temporary residents.
Our true residence is somewhere/someone else.
We are dispersed...upon the land in the foreign lands of Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado, New Zealand, Mongolia, Alaska, California...and beyond.

We are chosen.
This is a great truth and great mystery which we continue to explore in the Word.
This “chosen” is “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”, therefore it is perfect, good.

We are set apart.
By Whom? The Holy Spirit.
To what purpose? Obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:
You are a temporary resident. Set your mind upon the things above. Stumble not at the cares and concerns of this world.
You are chosen. God’s ways are perfect.
You are set apart.
You are sprinkled...cleansed, covered...with the blood of Jesus.
You are a vessel of obedience.

For all this we give thanks for the past year and the year to come.

Grace.
Peace.
Through the Most High God alone.

Blessings!