New Mercies

“Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

This verse is one of the reasons why I enjoy doing Bible study in the morning, preferably as the sun comes up to escort in another day.  Every morning, God’s infinite mercies are new.  With the dawn of each day, I get another opportunity to put the Christian walk into practice.  Each day I get a fresh supply of mercies from God’s endless stock.

Additionally, today’s mercies are for today’s troubles.  They are not for yesterday’s woes, nor for tomorrow’s trials.  God asks us to abide with Him daily.  If He supplied us with tomorrow’s mercies, we wouldn’t come to Him.  We would try to be self-sufficient, tell God we had this under control now and He could focus on bigger problems that needed His attention.  God doesn’t want that.  He desires a relationship with us because He loves us, not us growing up to be independent of Him.  He is big enough to tend to the bigger problems in the world and smallest of details with us.  So He only supplies us with enough mercy for one day.  We have to trust Him and believe His promise that He will be faithful.

Why is mercy important?  What does it mean?  Mercy in the Hebrew is racham which means “mercy, to have compassion, womb, bowels, pity, tender love.”  Mercy is an act of compassion.  Compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”  We have been stricken by sin and live in a fallen world.  Suffering is unavoidable.  No matter how strong your Christian walk you will experience suffering along the way.

However, as children of the Most High God we can know that the One who is in control has such tender love for us that He is moved deeply to the inner essence of His being and has a strong desire to alleviate our suffering.  So He extends to us mercy.  We may deserve to reap the consequences of our sin, but He extends to us His mercy.  What a relief that God forgives us when we fail Him and doesn’t hold it against us!

In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asked Jesus how many times shall he forgive his brother when he sins against him.  Jesus answered by telling him the parable of the merciless servant.  A king wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  One servant owed a king ten thousand talents, but could not pay.  The master ordered that he, his wife, his children, and all he had be sold to repay the debt.  The servant fell on his knees saying, “Be patient with me and I will pay back everything.”  The master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.

However the servant went out and prosecuted another servant who owed him a smaller debt.  He didn’t extend the same mercy that he had received.  He only extended judgment.  He had begged the king to be patient with him, and the king was patient so he could extend mercy and forgive the servant’s debt.

Mercy, patience, and forgiveness all go together.  Mercy fuels patience.  When we remember that we have received so much mercy and had a debt we can never repay, we are filled with gratefulness and the knowledge that we need to be patient with others. This is how we are able to not let others behavior and attitudes ruin our day.  We release frustration and can be patient with them.  We pray for them as they continue on their journey to conform to the image of Christ or simply be more like Jesus.

One question I ask myself is “In light of eternity and standing in God’s throne room, how much does this matter into the balance holding people accountable so they can grow more like Christ and their need for mercy and compassion extended to them?”  We may have a right to be mad and right to avenge how we have been wronged.  But if bitterness grows in our hearts by us holding their wrongs against them, then we lose and the evil one wins.  Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking the poison ourselves and hoping to punish the other person.  Remember God want to reveal Himself through us, not through us standing up for our rights and playing judge.

So my friend, is there anyone that you need to extend mercy?  Or have you forgotten much you need the mercy of God?  Let’s spend some time praising Him and reflecting on the great mercy and compassion of God.

Pray with me:  Lord, we praise You!  Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning.  You use our hard lessons of yesterday so we will learn how to be more like Your Son while giving us fresh mercy and compassion.  Thank You for being the perfect parent who is not preparing us to grow up and be independent of You, but prepares us to come home to live with you forever.

Don’t let us give the enemy a doorway for him to take advantage of us.  Prick our hearts about who we need to extend mercy and forgive.  Imprint in our minds that our forgiveness doesn’t have the same power as Yours to absolve people from sins.  In Jesus’ mighty and wonderful Name, we pray.  Amen.

Holy, Holy, Holy

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.  Above him were seraphs, each with six wings:  With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another:
       ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
       the whole earth is full of his glory.’

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

 ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.’ "

 Isaiah 6:1-5

Have you stopped to think lately as you hustle to and fro through this life that you and I as believers in Christ will spend eternity in heaven?  The sights and sounds of this world will disappear and be replaced with a perfect place of no pollution, no defilement, no aging, no decay, no wilted flowers, and no imperfection.  Nothing will need to ever be repaired or replaced.  We will enter into a world of unparalled beauty.  Most importantly, we will behold the Lord God Almighty.  There are only a few places in the Bible where a man actually has a vision of this eternal glory.

Isaiah was a prophet when the Kingdom of David was divided into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).  Isaiah served God during the reign of the Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Mannasseh.  Isaiah 6:1 says that Isaiah’s vision occurred during the year that King Uzziah died.  For the most part, King Uzziah was a faithful king although he offered incense in the temple and was struck down with leprosy.  He ruled for 52 years until 739 B.C.  His death was a turning point for the Kingdom of Judah which plummeted into idol worship and immorality until the exile to Babylon in 586 B.C.  His death was also a turning point for Isaiah who saw the Lord like no else ever has seen Him.

After the king whom he had served died, Isaiah was somehow transported to the throne room of Almighty God.  We don’t know whether he dreamed it in his sleep or saw it in a vision while he was awake.  We only know that Isaiah saw the Lord.  He beheld the majestic sight of the throne room of God.  Since John 1:18 says that “no one has ever seen God” and John 12:41 says that Isaiah, “saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him,” the person on the throne is interpreted to be the pre-incarnate Jesus.  He is seated high and exalted on the throne.

The train of His robe fills the temple.  On earth, a king’s or queen’s garments symbolized his or her power and majesty.  So to say that the entire temple was filled by the garments trailing behind Him showed that His majesty surpassed every king or emperor in the history of the world.

These seraphs in this vision are only mentioned in Isaiah 6.  They are attendants to God who continuously give Him praise.  I did not expect when I looked up the Hebrew word that it also meant “fiery serpent.”  What a picture this paints of a burning creature in the presence of God!  Two of the six wings covered the seraphs’ faces signifying that they could not look at God’s immeasurable holiness and brilliance.  They are sinless, but they do not want the holy eyes of God looking at them.  They serve God and do as He says.  Although they have always been in His presence, they are in so much awe that they proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!”  By the sound of their voices of praise, the doorposts and thresholds shook.

The Hebrew term for “holy” is qodesh.  It means, “sacred, to be set apart.”  God is set apart that there is no one like Him.  We cannot compare Him to anyone else.  There is nothing common about our God.

The Hebrew language may lack punctuation used in our English language, but it had many other literary techniques.  One technique was repetition which was used to show emphasis.  For example, when Jacob's sons bring Joseph's bloody coat to him to prove to him that Joseph is dead, Jacob says in Genesis 37:33 (KJV), “It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces."  In the Hebrew, he is saying “Joseph taraph taraph” or “Joseph cutting to pieces cut to pieces."  Jacob was saying that his son was ferociously and violently torn apart.  When the seraphs declared, “Holy, holy, holy,” they were saying God is not just holy.  He is not only holy, holy.  He is holy, holy, holy.  It is the only attribute of God that is tripled.  Isaiah’s entire vision supported this three-fold reiteration of God’s holiness.  It has an intensifying effect like the crescendo in a grand symphony.

Some of us need to be humbled and reminded that our God is transcendent.  He is not merely our buddy, but His holiness brings us to our knees.  Some of us are so ashamed of the things that we have done that we have no problem admitting that we are unclean.  Maybe you look around at the people at church and think they have pretty lives with a clean past.  We have to remember there is not one person reading this who can stand before God without the grace of Jesus.  It is grace that allows us to approach this Holy God in this majestic and brilliant throne room.  Let’s praise this Holy God who is so far above us but still is the One who comforts us and holds us in His arms.  Let’s ask God to help us grasp this vision of Him.

Pray with me:  Oh, Lord, You are illustrious, radiant, and will forevermore be dazzling in majesty.  You are high and exalted.  Your train fills the temple demonstrating Your majesty.  The seraphs cover their faces and their feet in humbleness and declare Your holiness.  The whole earth reflects the glory of its Creator.  Help us to grasp this vision of You and use it to transform our daily lives as we live to serve You.  It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Copyright ©2012 Christ Compels Ministry

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A New Body

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:1-6

Although it has been years, I can’t forget it.  I hold onto this moment and hang my hope on God’s truth that He showed me.

For my husband’s birthday, the five Mitchells went to go see the movie Avatar in 3D.  Just before the movie, my Bible teacher Susan and I ran into each other as we were buying popcorn.  When she found out that we were seeing the same movie, she said to me, “I can’t wait to see what you write about this movie and what God shows you.”  I thought, “Well, gosh, I can see a movie and not see a spiritual application.  God doesn’t always show me something.”  Well, it took maybe five minutes into the movie for my eyes to be opened and my heart to be grabbed.  So, she had me pegged.

The film is set in the 22^nd century, when the people of earth are sent to a moon called Pandora in another galaxy to mine it for a precious mineral.  The main character is Jake Sully, a paraplegic former marine who replaces his twin brother scientist who has died.  Since they were identical, Jake is able to use his brother’s avatar, a body that looks like the indigenous people of the planet who are the Na’vi, 10 feet tall and blue skinned. 

The moment that I keep thinking about was not the beauty of the world that James Cameron created.  I keep thinking about the moment that this man Jake Sully, who was bound to a wheelchair and moved his legs around with his arms, first entered his new Avatar body.  He ripped off the monitors from his body against the will of the scientists.  He ran out of the lab and to the outdoors.  He ran and ran.  He was free!  He was stronger than ever.  He could leap like he never leapt before.  He was alive again!  He was more alive than ever.  He had a new body, and he was going to experience all of its capabilities.

Tears filled my eyes as I realized this is the hope that awaits you and me as believers in Christ.  I live with a husband who has neuropathy and now a father-in-law who is more limited in mobility every day.  I see what age does to us.  I see the limited mobility on the horizon.  I already can’t run like I could when I was younger.  I get out of breath faster and my stride isn’t as long.  Other parts of my body aren’t the same either.  My eyesight and arthritis limit me, too.

Paul tells us a great promise in 2 Corinthians 5.  He tells us this body that we live in now is just a tent.  Our spirits are groaning to take off this tent and to put on a heavenly dwelling.  It will be a much more durable body, a body that is not limited in mobility nor by aches and pains.  This new body will be full of life and energy.  A body that not only lets us do what we used to be able to do but also lets us do more than we ever imagined.

If you have ever had a health problem or walked through a health problem with someone you love, I think you can understand this.  For every one who has ever suffered here in their physical body, we know what awaits us as believers in Jesus.  When we die and leave this body behind, we will indwell our heavenly bodies.  We will be more alive!

I don’t blame Jake for running wild while the scientists chased after him.  He knew the misery of his bondage.  When I get to heaven, I will run wild, too.  I’ll throw in some back handsprings, flips, and swing from tree to tree.  I have asked God to take me on a big air tour because I know flying has to be in our future.  If we are able to take a tour of the solar system, I’ll be beyond myself, and you’ll never get me to stop giggling with delight.  I plan on using every part of my new body and living what I can only dream about now.  Some sweet day, I’ll be free.  Some sweet day, you will be free, too.  Don’t let this day scare you!   Believe Him!  Believe our new bodies alone will make us rejoice in heaven, but oh, there is so much more!

Pray with me:  Almighty God, You are amazing! You have everything so well planned.  You prepared a perfect place for us to go so we can live with You forever.  May we never forget that we are just tent dwellers.  One day we will lay down these tents and put on a glorious heavenly body.  We will no longer be bound by disease and decay.  We will be free and be strong!  Oh, how I long for that day!  It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Copyright ©2012 Christ Compels Ministry

A New Year

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33

Happy New Year!  I love it when the clock strikes 12:00 midnight on New Year’s Eve and the next year begins.  Some people think it is just a change of the calendar.  For me, the New Year symbolizes the beginning of something and with God a better something.  For me, the New Year symbolizes another year to fulfill God’s wonderful plan and purpose for my life.

Many years ago, my husband came down the stairs on New Year’s Day and announced that Matthew 6:33 would be our family’s verse for the year.  I don’t think it has ever changed.  I strongly believe that if we seek God’s kingdom and His agenda, if we walk in His ways and try to live a life pleasing to Him, then we will know God’s voice, be close to Him and available for His use, and we will fulfill His purposes for our lives.

Even though our family’s verse and priority may not have changed, there are some things that need to be changed in our lives.  I don’t want this New Year to be business as usual in my spiritual life.  I want to go to a new level with God.  I want to hear fresh words from God, go deeper with Him, see the mysteries of God revealed, and experience the Holy Spirit unleashed.  This means I need to make a commitment to these things:

1. Prayer life:  Since my journey of writing Elijah began, God has challenged my prayer life.  Elijah was a man who prayed fervently and weather patterns changed, fire came down from heaven, a boy was raised from the dead, and an entire nation fell down worshiping God.  Well, my prayer life is nothing like that, but it can be.  Do you think you can join me in developing a fervent prayer life this year?
2. Study of the Word:  God’s Word breathes new life every time we open it.  It is nourishment for our souls and transformation for our minds.  I am committed to writing the Elijah Bible study this year which takes me on a deep journey into the Scriptures.  I will also be doing Beth Moore’s new study on James, Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s Living a Praying Life, and Mary Kassian’s Conversation Peace.  What in-depth Bible study will you do?
3. Time:  If I want to be Spirit-led, then I need to give God one of my most valuable assets, my time.  My schedule needs to be cleared to go where He wants me to go and to do what He wants me to do.  My ears need to be listening for His voice prompting me and my heart needs not resist when He tells me to do something uncomfortable for me.  When you and I ask God to move mightily in our lives, we need to be moveable!  I need to give God my morning time when my home is quiet so I can hear Him speak to me.  How can you give God your time this year?
4. Pass the baton:  In some of Jesus’ last words, He commanded us to make disciples of other people.  Our faith in Jesus Messiah is met to be passed onto others.  It is best passed on when it is contagious and caught, not taught.  This will come when you and I have been filled with a holy passion.  We need to ask God to open eyes to who we can influence.  This needs to be woven into every moment of our day with whomever we encounter as well as in our churches and life groups.  Are you willing to make it a priority this year to influence others to know God in a richer way?

This list is short enough for me to remember, but long enough that I doing my part and ushering God in for Him to do His part.  Maybe there are other things on your list that God has brought to your mind.  Share them with me if you feel led.  Regardless of how our lists may differ, let’s seek Him with all that we have in 2012!

Pray with me:  Lord, we praise You!  Thank You for giving us another year of life.  May we seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness and leave it up to You how You bless us with earthly and eternal blessings!  We commit ourselves to prayer, Bible study, wise decisions with our time, and being intentional to pass on our faith. In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.