Beneath My Soul

Matthew 19:16-22 NLT … 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This story always intrigued me. This morning; when I read this portion of scripture again, something else stirred within me. How easy it is to do works and then sooth our conscience with "we've done this" or "we've done that" for Jesus, so we'll be ok.

As I was pondering this scripture today, I realised it is not about works at all ... but about putting Jesus first in all we do. First in our marriage, first in our life, first in our homes, first in our work, fist in our finances. Once Jesus is FIRST in all we say, think and do, good works [fruits] will flow from a grateful heart ... from a surrendered heart!

Jesus is happy for us to have possessions, I am sure of that, but what takes preference in your life? Your possessions or Jesus?  

It truly is by the mercy and grace of God, the Holy Spirit, that we can do this. As we allow the Holy Spirit to quicken our soul and point us to Jesus in our homes, marriage, workplace ... putting Him first always. All I can do now is know that Jesus’ yoke truly is easy to bear, and His burden is light [Matthew 11:28-30].

Jesus is speaking of a permanent respite in the grace of God which is apart from works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not the law, neither your possessions or anything else - only Jesus [the way, the truth and the life - John 14:6]. "Leaving" all behind and putting Jesus first is the way to salvation. 

God is gracious, compassionate and merciful ... so put Him first at all times and in all your circumstances and see His blessings overflow in your life.

Blessings to you!

Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV …

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

This passage in Hebrews uses this beautiful image of an anchor to describe the sure and stable HOPE and FAITH we have in God through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I remembered a time when Corrie and I went boating. What started out as a fun loving day, could have ended in disaster when the boat's battery suddenly died in the cut [near Bunbury WA] upon our return. We faced strong winds and quickly started drifting into the open ocean. Needless to say I was very concerned and grabbed the oars and started rowing against the wind and current. Corrie quickly lowered the boat’s anchor to prevent it from drifting further into the ocean.

Boy-oh-boy, how grateful I was for the boat’s anchor that day, as it slammed into the sea floor, the boat stop when the rope jolted the boat to a halt. All I could say was THANK YOU GOD!

I learnt that day that when the boat is in the open water, nothing can keep it in place except the anchor, even if the weather is good. I myself was too weak to row against a strong wind and current, for my efforts were in vain. The anchor saved us that day from disaster! 

God never designed us to do things independently of Him, but rather to know Him and out of that relationship, accomplish great things in His strength that works in and through us. Doing everything in God's strength is assured to be successful, but when we take the oars and start rowing agains the wind and current - doing things by human might and power - will never work. We need the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit poured into our lives like the oil that fueled Zechariah’s lampstand to be successful [Zechariah 4:6].

The writer of Hebrews must have been familiar with this concept and knew what the value of a boat’s anchor is, as his words painted a picture of this scenario in a spiritual sense. No matter what happens, no matter what comes our way, we must not be moved - and remain sure and steadfast, as our hope in Jesus, is the "anchor for our soul” — keeping us safe in His hands!

If our anchor is attached to the Living Hope, we should never worry about the storms around us, neither give up. What the anchor is for a boat, so is our HOPE and FAITH for our soul, because this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Grace to you!

THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL : ONE TRUE LOVE

Matthew 5:43-48 ...

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

As I read scripture this morning, v48 stood out and I wondered how we can be perfect as God? We are feeble beings and change our minds from one minute to the next - how can it be that this scripture say if we do this, we shall be perfect, just as our Father in heaven is perfect?

So where does our perfection comes from then? Here is the TRUTH ... the heart of the gospel ... true and pure love!

In this lifetime, we will never be able to meet God's standards ... but Jesus has met God's standard as it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:21 ... For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The righteousness of every Believer comes from the righteousness of Jesus Christ ... this is our gracious and merciful and awesome God. How can we not give our all to God out of a grateful heart for this huge blessing of love and life?

If you have not already given your life to God, I want to invite you today to do that.

Taste and see that the LORD is good and blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him [Psalm 34:8]. So run to Him while it is still called today and do not delay!

We will never be perfect in this lifetime, but Jesus has made a way for us to come into our Father 's throne-room with His perfection, His humbleness - clothed in His righteousness to sit at our Father's feet.

Jesus truly is the way - the only way, the truth and the life in every way possible. For that I will serve Him all the days of my life because He looked upon me [a sinner] with love and He died for my sins - washing me clean as I repented of my sins - and made me a new creation - for that, I am grateful!

Being Valentines Day today ... the world's love can never compare to the true love of Jesus Christ ... is immeasurable and without limits!

Blessings to all