Death and Resurrection
Before we eat a meal, we read Scripture. Before we ate breakfast this morning we read Job 31:1-3, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. For what is man's lot from God above, his heritage from the Almighty on High? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong?"
Thank God for a Savior who changes our hearts and sets us free from the wicked way of life we are all born in to. Satan perverted that through religion saying, "We could never measure up to God's standards so thank God He sent His Son." Grace becomes a license for sin. It's the Devil's lie from the beginning: "You shall be like God. You will also continue to rebel against Him."
Then at Bible study after breakfast, we were in 2 Samuel 2 which reiterated one of the stark distinctions between Saul and David. David, as a "Kingdom man", lived according to what Jeremiah said, "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it's not for a man to direct his steps." Saul, on the other hand, followed his soul. They are representative of 2 types of people among God's people: vessels of gold and silver vs. vessels of wood and clay. (2 Tim.2:19-21)
David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked. The Lord said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the Lord answered (v.1).
That's one of the reasons I'm so grateful for the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Jn.1:33). A priest consults the "Thummim and Urim", and we are a kingdom of priests. For Jesus to be my Shepherd today, I have to be able to hear His voice. My life is not my own. I am bought at a price.
Formerly, my religion ended this statement by Isaiah at the word "wool":
"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 1:18-20
My religion had also separated Psalm 103:11 from verse 12:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
But now through faith in Jesus Christ, who has accomplished redemption (freedom from captivity by payment of ransom) for His people, his grace transforms us so that we can confess Psalm 101:
"I will sing of Your love and justice; to You, O Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will You come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me (Titus 1:7). No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Morning by morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord(1 Cor.5:13; 1 Peter 4:17,18.)"
We have been brought from sin to righteousness; from the soul to the Spirit. We were in Egypt but now we are under God with Christ Jesus as our Head. We live by faith in the understanding that whatever is not from faith is sin. We live on the Word of God desiring it more than our daily bread, abiding in it as disciples of Christ Jesus. We are new creatures and understand that in every nation whoever fears Him and does what is right is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35. The fruit of righteousness is peace; the effect of righteousness is quietness and confidence forever.
May you press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you in 2020!