Hungering for the Word

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

Colossians 3:16

If I could wish one thing for you, it would be that you would have a love for the Word.  At the beginning of this third chapter in Colossians, Paul instructs us to set our minds on things above, not on the things of the earth.  The way to do that, is to have our minds filled with the Word.

In the body of Christ, our desire for each other should be for what Jesus laid hold of us - the molding and  transforming us into His image.  That was Paul's passion and for what he worked.  He wrote the Galatians, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you."  That happens when we are in the Word, walking in obedience, surrendering our will more and more to the Father's will. 

If you don't have an appetite for the Word, how do you develop one?  The same way you do with any food.  You take a bite, and then another bite, and then another bite.  The psalmist wrote, "Oh taste and see, that the Lord is good."  If it's been awhile since you've picked up your Bible, don't go to bed tonight without doing so.  I'd like to suggest that you read John 14-17.  It won't take long.  These are Jesus words of comfort to His disciples just prior to His death.  There is much instruction there for us.  We also clearly see the heart of Jesus for us.  This passage is rich in learning about the character of the Father and the Son.  In chapter 17, Jesus actually prays for you and me.  Do you know what Jesus prays for you?  I'm not going to tell you, I want you to look for yourself.  

What we long for is an indication of the condition of our hearts.  We need His Word in us, to do battle with our sinful flesh.  We need His Word in us, so we know what pleases Him.  We need His Word in us, so we can encourage others.  We need His Word in us, especially as we draw closer to His return.  Perilous times are coming.  We need His Word in us, so we become more and more like Him.  When His Word is in us, dwelling richly, and we walk in obedience, Jesus is glorified, and that is what life is all about.

   

Jesus -

While we are in this flesh, this is a truth of which we need to be constantly reminded - 

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  

To Him be the glory forever.

Amen."

Romans 11:36


Jesus is the answer to our -

insecurity
fear
pride
anxiety
deceitful hearts
chaotic world...

Jesus is the path to -

peace and joy

Just for Fun!

It's Christmasy at the Hall house...  :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving...

Her Seed

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, 

and between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head, 

and you shall bruise him on the heel."

Genesis 3:15

JESUS' ENTRANCE INTO HUMANITY was planned from before the beginning of time.  God softened the punishment of the curse that resulted from the sin of Adam and Eve by offering a promise that someday a Seed would rise up and crush the serpent.  Even though death came through Adam, Christ's coming brought life to humankind (Romans 5:12-21).

The Hebrew word for seed can literally mean a plant's seed, or can figuratively mean one's descendants. In Genesis, it refers specifically to the coming Messiah, in God's promise that the woman's Seed would crush the serpent.  As such, the term takes on great importance in the Bible:  Through Abraham's seed, both collectively in Israel and singularly in Christ, God would reach out to save His people.

John MacArthur

Magnify with Thanksgiving

"I will praise the name of God 

with song 

and magnify Him 

with thanksgiving."

Our God is infinite and infinitely good, giving us infinite opportunities for thanksgiving.  David wrote in Psalm 69:30 - "I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving."  The Lord is enlarged and intensified in significance as we pile on the thanksgiving!  Dear Blogging Friends, may your day be filled with ever enlarging and intensifying thanks, as your thoughts rest on the person, works, and character of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father who gave Him, so we could belong to Him. 

Benefit and Blessing

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed...His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth...
Isaiah 53:5, 9

When we choose to sin, or not walk in God's ways, we choose to suffer - and our sin always causes others to suffer as well.

Our hearts should be broken by this truth.

Here is what I am awestruck with this morning.  Jesus never sinned.  His actions never, ever brought suffering to anyone.  His actions only brought benefit and blessing.  Oh, He called the Pharisees out on their sin, but as God His actions were always holy, righteous, and just.  How many people did He touch and heal from sickness and demonic oppression - benefit and blessing flowing out to them?  A woman only had to reach out and touch Jesus in faith, and she was healed - benefit and blessing flowing out to her.  He fed thousands upon thousands - benefit and blessing.  He kept His disciples from the evil one.  He prayed for them.  Benefit.  Blessing.  Jesus actions only brought benefit and blessing, His actions never brought suffering to anyone, yet He is the One who has undergone the most suffering of anyone, ever. 

Sin causes suffering and it was not because of His sin that Jesus suffered, it was because of our sin.

Jesus, the Innocent, was crushed for me, the guilty, for all the sins I have ever committed, and will commit - He took the piercing that I deserved for the suffering that my disobedience has caused others. Jesus, being obedient to the Father, stood in my place, and bore the wrath of God for all my sin and gave me His righteousness.  If you have trusted in Him as your Savior, He stood in your place too, and bore the wrath of God for all your sin and you also are clothed in His righteousness.

Is there something you are struggling with as far as obedience to our Heavenly Father?  As God's children we are called to walk by faith.  Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how we feel, because God promises a good result.  We don't always feel like doing what we are called to do.  This is when we need to remember the cross.  Remember the love of our Savior.   Remember His willingness to undergo the greatest suffering anyone has ever undergone, and He didn't deserve it.  You and I did.

Sin brings suffering.  Obedience always brings benefit and blessing.  Let's be Jesus to those around us today.

Isaiah 55:6,7

Seek the LORD while He may be found; 

Call upon Him while He is near. 

Let the wicked forsake his way 

And the unrighteous man his thoughts; 

And let him return to the LORD, 

And He will have compassion on him, 

And to our God, 

For He will abundantly pardon.

True seeking in faith is accompanied by repentance, which is described as forsaking ways and thoughts and turning from sinful living to the Lord.  A sinner must come believing in God, recognizing his sin and desiring forgiveness and deliverance from that sin.  At the same time he must recognize his own inability to be righteous or to satisfy God and cast himself on God's mercy. It is then that he receives complete pardon.  His sin has been covered by the substitution of the Messiah in his place.  

John MacArthur