Taste the Lord for He is Good

Good morning to all on the Glorious Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Thomaston this morning and he has just gone to play golf. This is my last day on call after 8 days so I will be near the hospital all morning. I wanted to sit with God this morning before I got busy doing other things. The calm of the morning is always GOOD!

 

I am continuing my journey with Peter in 1 Peter 2, verses 1 - 25 " Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.  As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this Stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The Stone the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone,"  and, “A stone that causes people to stumble  and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

 

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.  Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,  or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.  Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.  Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.  Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.  "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”  When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,”but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

I have been going through a Spiritual growth phase lately. I prayed a while ago that God would help me discard all those qualities in me that prevented me from enjoying the abundant life He planned for me, even before I was conceived in my mother's womb and even before I was named. God has been working with me to rid myself of false pride and instead embrace the truth that resides in a committed walk with Him. All of the easy issues have come and gone and now He is working on the "hard core" stuff that I have been holding onto and the process is painful. I know that I should submit and release so that I can be at PEACE but yet I struggle. Who was to know that He would speak to me through these verses this morning. I actually laughed out loud. The burden is not totally lifted but score 1 for God as the Devil has been rebuked this morning. You see the Devil will have you believe that during tough times God has abandoned us. The truth is  He is ALWAYS THERE WITH US! We can't see Him because we are blinded by Sin. When you rebuke the Devil the cloud is removed from your eyes and as you step out on FAITH, your life is that much sweeter. Those that mean to harm you cannot touch you. Those that mean things for your destruction will not win. Instead God uses every event in your life to give you ultimate victory if you just keep your eyes on the Cross. When we suffer in this life because of our own stupidity, we will at times bear the consequences but even then, even then God only allows so much to happen to you. Praise God! Hallelujah! Nothing stops His plan for your life not even you! O' taste the Lord for He is Good. Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord.

 

To know Him is to Love Him! To Love Him is to Serve Him. To Serve Him is to Love His People. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.