Christ Daily

Your house is on the verge of foreclosure. Your employer told you today the company will start doing some layoffs starting next month, and unfortunately you’re one of them. Your car is still in the shop, and you have a strong feeling that the mechanic is doing more harm than good. You just now remembered you forgot to feed the dog before you left the house. And on top of all that, it’s raining outside.

Yeah.

I know we all go through times like this in life, and they can be really hard. How are you going to deal with all this stress?! What’s all out there? Who are you going to listen to? Some people might recommend eating more food – lots more. Others may suggest to try smoking. The guy down the street may tell you to throw your hands up and file bankruptcy. There are so many influences out there – who should we really be listening to?

None other than God, of course!

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

- Exodus 33:14

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

- Psalm 9:9-10

Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him.

- Psalm 37:3-5, 7a

It’s important to tune into God’s Word. In times of high stress and trouble, listen to Him, and only Him – be careful of negative influences out there, because there are many. Keep your eyes on God, and He won’t steer you wrong!

written by Josh \\ tags: control, Exodus, God, Jesus, life, Psalm, stress, trust

Josh, in his last post, brought up the topic of grace.  Grace is one of the most unbelievable aspects of who God is, and why he loves us so much.  A lot of people, though, wonder exactly what grace is.

Grace (n.) – Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.

That’s a simple definition of grace.  Divine love, beauty, charm.  How does that apply to God, though?  I think it’s important to know a bit about who God really is, first.  One of the most amazing descriptions of God comes from the Book of Isaiah; the sixth chapter.  Here’s a bit of it:

¹ … I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

² Attending him were mighty [angels], each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

³ They were calling out to each other,“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

⁴ Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

⁵ Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

Okay.  Imagine, if you will, finding yourself in a huge, immaculate temple – the most amazing you’ve ever imagined.  Sitting in the throne on the opposite side is the God of the Universe, in ‘light so brilliant that no human can approach him,’ as 1 Timothy 6:16 puts it.  Exodus 33:20 says we can’t even ‘ look directly at [God's] face, for no one may see [Him] and live.’  So, there he is, in the throne, and you can barely even stand.

Surrounding the throne are these amazing, bizarre Angels whose voices are so loud and booming they shake the foundations of the Temple.  And what are the doing?  They can’t even show their faces before God!  And here’s poor Isaiah in the midst of all this, probably shaking in his sandals, saying, “I am ruined!  It’s over!” because he, like you and I, is a sinner, and he is standing before God.  I think that paints a better picture of who God is then any artist rendering or painting in the world.

Now, here’s something for you to do and consider.  When you pray, do you pray to THAT God?  If you were to knowingly pray to THAT God, would you pray the same way?  I know I challenge that a lot; sometimes I just go through the motions when I pray.  Some people just stand there and recite the Lord’s prayer, or Catholics recite a ‘Hail Mary,’ but do you think those rituals mean anything to THAT God?  That amazing, Holy being wants to have a PERSONAL relationship with you!?  Does it not blow your mind to pieces?  I know it does mine.

What does that have to do with Grace, though?  You’ll have to read my next post to see, and I guarantee you,  it’ll blow your mind.

Thanks for reading!
Lots of Love,
-Matt

written by Matt \\ tags: Angels, Exodus, God, grace, Holiness, Isaiah, Jesus, Timothy, Who God Is