Monday, April 18, 2011

Favoritism, It's Not Right, It's Not Fair!"

Isaiah 56:1  "Be just and fair to all," says the LORD."   "Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you."

Being treated unfairly hurts...because we are faced with the reality that the person, who isn't being just and fair, thinks less of us than they ought to and in essence is saying you are inferior, you aren't important to me...you don't matter.    

But did you know that there are two sides of "favoritism"?   And it might seem strange, but both sides of "favoritism hurts."  On one side you are treated as if you don't matter and on the other side, you receive special treatment, not because someone thinks you are worth more as a person, but because of what they may gain from your wealth or your position...they don't care about you...they just want something you have.  

Either way..."It's not right, it's NOT Fair!"   But the LORD says, "do what is right and good...and blessed are those who are careful to do this...Blessed are those who keep themselves from doing wrong."  

Everything changes at the foot of the CROSS and God wants His children to do be like Jesus.


The ground is level, at the foot of the CROSS,
no man stands higher than I,  
I can call on JESUS' name, and a king can do the same,
the ground is level at the foot of the CROSS!  (Old hymn)

Doing what is right and good, just and fair isn't going to be easy.  It's not going to come natural, because we are going to be on the receiving end of this injustice and our flesh is going to want to retaliate.   And we are going to have to see to it that we are careful and keep ourselves from doing wrong. 

I can't help but think of Matthew 5:44-47  “But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even pagans do that."

Back in chapter 55 verse 10 & 11 we see how we will be able to be just, be fair, do right and be good...even in the face of injustice.  "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.   It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."  

We often apply this verse when we are speaking God's Word to others...but when we are listening to the Word...doing our daily devotions, hearing others teach/share His Word...and applying it in our lives...God's Word will produce fruit in our lives and we will be able to "Be just and fair to all".  God Word will accomplish in us what He intends for it to do...change us to be like Him.

In verse one the LORD gives us hope to keep on, keeping on...doing what is right and good, "for I am coming soon to rescue you."   This battle won't last forever, this injustice won't last forever...our LORD is coming soon!"  

Blessings on your day,

Sharon

Sunday, April 17, 2011

"Do Your Hear Something?"

Proverbs 22:17 "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge."  

As I re-read and prayed for which verse to share on this morning, I remembered something from yesterday. I was in the midst of deep cleaning my desk....15 guests for Christmas Dinner is a great motivator to clean every nook and cranny...and came across a word study that I had gathered together earlier this year on the "EAR" and how important it is... So here are three examples from Scripture that I had found.

In 1 Samuel 3 we see that Samuel had his "EAR" trained. The LORD is speaking to Samuel, but he didn't recognize His voice...verse 7 tells us why: Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. But the LORD continues to speak to Samuel:


1 Samuel 3:8-10 "the LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."



And then there's Moses ~ often times our ears are full with the things of Egypt and we need to get away from the noise of the world just like Moses ....he had his training in quietness in the Toyr's desert...getting the noise of Egypt out of his ears so he could hear the fire tones of God's voice.

Exodus 3:3-4 "So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight-why the bush does not burn up." When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses" And Moses said, "Here I am."

And my favorite verse to share is found in Isaiah:  Isaiah 50:4b,5a He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my earsHe awakens Me morning by morning: 


Here in Isaiah, Our Messiah prophetically speaks of His daily, wonderful, deep fellowship with God the Father. It is in these times that Jesus heard from His Father, that He could say He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.

We see in all these passages of how our Father pursues Samuel, Moses and even Jesus.  Seeking to spend time with them. Doing all that is necessary to get their attention, faithfully...persisting with Samuel, dramatic with Moses and with Jesus...He simply wakens the ear of Jesus.

The response is the same with all three....they gave ear, their full attention to what the LORD was saying. "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Blessings on your day,
Sharon



















Self-Surrender

"Yes, come, buy priceless, spiritual wine and milk without money and without price    simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing.  Isaiah 55:1b AMP                                                                 What comes to mind when you think of surrender?  Do you think of war, battles or a white flag being waved. Our nature is self-seeking, not self-surrendering...a battle is being fought...we don't want to surrender our will to the Father...that's why it takes us so long to"accept the blessing" of salvation...and even after we surrender...there's still the battle of the flesh and the spirit going on inside our soul (Galatians 5:17).

As I read this chapter and look back, I now recognize the LORD's work in my life as He was inviting me to receive Him, the Living Water.   In verse one, I can hear Him saying, "WAIT and listen"...as I'm running quickly to get away.

In verse two, the LORD has caught my attention, probable because I heard the words in verse one..."come, without money and receive something priceless."  Jesus isn't giving up on me and speaks to me about the things I'm chasing, thinking they will be bring me happiness..."Why do you spend your money ...for what doesn't safisfy?"   "Your right, I think to myself"...as I slow down and  begin to consider...and the LORD continues to speak to me..."give ear to Me that your soul may live."

The LORD's invitation becomes more direct as He pleads for me to come and listen to His Words.  In verse 3 the LORD says:  "Come to Me; Hear, and your soul will be revived; I will make an everlasting covenant with you, promised to David”

The promise to David was to love him, never forsake him and to be faithful and merciful to him.  This is where the LORD catches my heart and my soul...and I completely surrendered.

My only regret in coming to the LORD, is that I didn't surrender sooner. 

Standing in His Love,
Sharon