Revelation 13
What stands out today Father is the intensity of hatred the devil has against you and your children.
: 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the saints-those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
13:1… He had ten horns, and on each head a blasphemous name
:5 the beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies..
: 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven.
The devil was speaking evil even against heaven, where God dwells. And since the Word also says “those who live in heaven”, perhaps he is still enraged because he had lost the battle for the souls of many that he had fought so hard for. Perhaps he is furious that You extend grace to some even in the last moments of their life.
Truly he hates the fact that there are “myriads and myriads” in heaven that worship You, our Mighty God:
Rev 5:11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
Seeing this only makes me to know even more how powerful and victorious my Savior, our Lord Jesus is!
Rev 5:12 “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.
: 13 And EVERY (I’m sure this really makes the enemy mad!) created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Yes, Jesus has already won the war, it is finished, and “I am “raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.” Eph 2:6 What a glorious Savior we have!
Eph 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.
We need never to fear the devil; we need only (Hebrews 12:2) to keep “our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith”….Jesus is Lord!
I am so grateful to You Father for having the privilege of being Your child!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Wonder of His Blood
This is beautiful in Spanish:
Rev 1:9 Estaban de pie delante del trono y Cordero, vestidos de tunicas blancas (vestidos con vestiduras blancas) y con ramas de palma en la mano.
:13 Y uno de los ancianos habló diciéndome: Estos que están vestidos con vestiduras blancas, ¿quiénes son y de dónde han venido? 14 Y yo le respondí: Señor mío, tú lo sabes. Y él me dijo: Estos son los que vienen de la gran tribulación, y han lavado sus vestiduras y las han emblanquecido en la sangre del Cordero. 15 Por eso están delante del trono de Dios, y le sirven día y noche en su templo; y el que está sentado en el trono extenderá su tabernáculo sobre ellos.
...dressed in white
....they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
I love this Father. …they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb….
Thank you Father for the blood of Your Son! We have been made clean, pure, spotless, blameless, shameless, and holy before You, the Eternal God.
This is truly an amazing truth that transforms our heart daily as we think about it and allow that blood that was shed to be real to us as we go through our day. To remember that You have already washed us clean….we need not forget that even for a moment. How else can we walk in the joy that You alone can give us?
1 John 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood -
How are we released?...by His blood....sin does not have to have a hold on us and enslave us. It is finished.
Is 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow ; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
John 13:8-14 Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet !" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean ; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord ; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
1 Cor 6:11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Eph 5:26 having cleansed her (the church) by the washing of water with the word
:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that she would be holy and blameless
Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through at he eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ?
1 John 1:7 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Rev 5:9
9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals ; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 12:11
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
1 Peter 1:18
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers
:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
This is a wonderful marvelous, truth; that this cleansing and freedom is available to all that receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Thank You Father for the blood of Your Holy Son, Jesus.
Rev 1:9 Estaban de pie delante del trono y Cordero, vestidos de tunicas blancas (vestidos con vestiduras blancas) y con ramas de palma en la mano.
:13 Y uno de los ancianos habló diciéndome: Estos que están vestidos con vestiduras blancas, ¿quiénes son y de dónde han venido? 14 Y yo le respondí: Señor mío, tú lo sabes. Y él me dijo: Estos son los que vienen de la gran tribulación, y han lavado sus vestiduras y las han emblanquecido en la sangre del Cordero. 15 Por eso están delante del trono de Dios, y le sirven día y noche en su templo; y el que está sentado en el trono extenderá su tabernáculo sobre ellos.
...dressed in white
....they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
I love this Father. …they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb….
Thank you Father for the blood of Your Son! We have been made clean, pure, spotless, blameless, shameless, and holy before You, the Eternal God.
This is truly an amazing truth that transforms our heart daily as we think about it and allow that blood that was shed to be real to us as we go through our day. To remember that You have already washed us clean….we need not forget that even for a moment. How else can we walk in the joy that You alone can give us?
1 John 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood -
How are we released?...by His blood....sin does not have to have a hold on us and enslave us. It is finished.
Is 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow ; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
John 13:8-14 Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet !" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean ; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord ; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
1 Cor 6:11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Eph 5:26 having cleansed her (the church) by the washing of water with the word
:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that she would be holy and blameless
Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through at he eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ?
1 John 1:7 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Rev 5:9
9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals ; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 12:11
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
1 Peter 1:18
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers
:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
This is a wonderful marvelous, truth; that this cleansing and freedom is available to all that receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Thank You Father for the blood of Your Holy Son, Jesus.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Revelation Chapter 7
In the below prophecy of Daniel, Your word tells of all the peoples that will serve You. Men from all nations and languages.
Dan 7:14
And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom (sovereignty)
That all peoples, nations, and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
Here in Revelation Chapter 7, John’s prophecy also speaks of the men from every nation, tribe, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, praising You and Jesus, Father.
Rev 7:9-10
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, and all tribes, and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
Rev 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 10:11
An angel told John “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
No one is excluded. There is no race on this earth that is excluded from the opportunity to be a child of God. You do not see the color of our skin, or anything else. There is nothing in us that prevents us from knowing Jesus, for He has loved mankind perfectly by “delivering Himself up for us”.
Father, You sees the heart, not the exterior. The heart of all mankind is fallen and Jesus was sent to redeem any heart that is willing to come to Him. This is Your desire. You are not a respecter of persons.
How amazing is that! Father, I want to be like that. To know deeply that the people in my world are eternal beings that You love very much. That You gave to me the gift of knowing Jesus, knowing You, and You want them, each one to know You also.
Thank You that You will work Your perfect will in this heart of mine.
Dan 7:14
And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom (sovereignty)
That all peoples, nations, and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
Here in Revelation Chapter 7, John’s prophecy also speaks of the men from every nation, tribe, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, praising You and Jesus, Father.
Rev 7:9-10
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, and all tribes, and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
Rev 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 10:11
An angel told John “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
No one is excluded. There is no race on this earth that is excluded from the opportunity to be a child of God. You do not see the color of our skin, or anything else. There is nothing in us that prevents us from knowing Jesus, for He has loved mankind perfectly by “delivering Himself up for us”.
Father, You sees the heart, not the exterior. The heart of all mankind is fallen and Jesus was sent to redeem any heart that is willing to come to Him. This is Your desire. You are not a respecter of persons.
How amazing is that! Father, I want to be like that. To know deeply that the people in my world are eternal beings that You love very much. That You gave to me the gift of knowing Jesus, knowing You, and You want them, each one to know You also.
Thank You that You will work Your perfect will in this heart of mine.
Rev Chapter 6
Chapter 6
: 9 and when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who have been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
: 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11: and there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
I thought about Stephen who was the very first martyr. Over 2000 years ago he gave his life for Jesus. Is he there at the altar waiting for his blood to be avenged? God tells them to “rest for a little while”….certainly our time is not reality in the heavenly realm.
What is centuries here is no time there since it is basked in the unhidden glory of God. I don’t think Stephen and the other martyrs are thinking of that all the time. How could they when they are in the presence of our Holy and True and Awesome and Marvelous King and God? They are experiencing the complete presence, beauty, and holiness of Our Lord.
It is mentioned in scripture that various people have fallen flat down on their face when encountering Our Lord and God. So Mighty and Powerful and Glorious is He, how could one stand before Him? It is only possible to lift our eyes to His because we are covered with His blood. Thank You Father for the blood spilt for my soul.
: 12 I noticed that the scripture said that the sun became black as sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon became like blood
I noticed that the words AS and LIKE were used meaning that the sun was black and the moon really a deep red. Previously I read it taking it literally.
If there is anyone that doubts that God is a just God and must punish those who have rejected the tremendous sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and also rejected the love that He has offered to them, then they need to read this:
:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals , the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
: 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand?
What amazes me here is that they call out to the mountains and rocks. They acknowledge that God is on the throne, they acknowledge Jesus the Lamb, yet they do not repent or cry out for forgiveness. Have their hearts grown so cold that they no longer are able to see the truth? Or to yield to the truth?
To me this is beyond sad. It is tragic that man will still be obstinate even in the moments of judgment.
Help me to remember to pray for people that do no know you.
: 9 and when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who have been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
: 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11: and there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
I thought about Stephen who was the very first martyr. Over 2000 years ago he gave his life for Jesus. Is he there at the altar waiting for his blood to be avenged? God tells them to “rest for a little while”….certainly our time is not reality in the heavenly realm.
What is centuries here is no time there since it is basked in the unhidden glory of God. I don’t think Stephen and the other martyrs are thinking of that all the time. How could they when they are in the presence of our Holy and True and Awesome and Marvelous King and God? They are experiencing the complete presence, beauty, and holiness of Our Lord.
It is mentioned in scripture that various people have fallen flat down on their face when encountering Our Lord and God. So Mighty and Powerful and Glorious is He, how could one stand before Him? It is only possible to lift our eyes to His because we are covered with His blood. Thank You Father for the blood spilt for my soul.
: 12 I noticed that the scripture said that the sun became black as sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon became like blood
I noticed that the words AS and LIKE were used meaning that the sun was black and the moon really a deep red. Previously I read it taking it literally.
If there is anyone that doubts that God is a just God and must punish those who have rejected the tremendous sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and also rejected the love that He has offered to them, then they need to read this:
:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals , the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
: 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand?
What amazes me here is that they call out to the mountains and rocks. They acknowledge that God is on the throne, they acknowledge Jesus the Lamb, yet they do not repent or cry out for forgiveness. Have their hearts grown so cold that they no longer are able to see the truth? Or to yield to the truth?
To me this is beyond sad. It is tragic that man will still be obstinate even in the moments of judgment.
Help me to remember to pray for people that do no know you.
Thoughts on Rev
In reading through Rev you are helping me to think of who will be with me when I am home with You? Who will my life have impacted through sharing the gospel or pointing people to Jesus?
What really is more important than that? In this brief journey on this earth, how has Your love in me spoken obediently in the moment of need?
You are the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth. Yet you are my Father.
You are able to complete the work You began in me by Your grace, mercy, and divine love. You are able to open these earthly eyes through Your Spirit within me.
These simply are some of the thoughts that came to me in reading this wonderful book. And thank you Father also for the scholars that help us to understand this book!
Rev 4
Before the throne , 7 lamps were blazing .
These are the seven spirits of God. Commentary says represents fullness of the Spirit.
4 living creatures
Lion- royalty
Calf (NAS) some say Ox-servant (Greek says calf or bullock)
Face like a Man- mankind
Flying Eagle- victorious
I like this: verse 4:9 When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
the 24 elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne and will worship Him and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying
11 “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
For Thou did create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created.”
I love this also.5:2…”Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”
:5 …the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll (book) and its seven seals.
:7 And He came and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Jesus is the only one that could go up to the Father and take the scroll….He alone is worthy; He had the absolute Right; He had paid the price; He had offered salvation to mankind; those that rejected His sacrifice and the Father’s love must now be judged for God is a just God.
:8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
In verses 4:10, 24 elders will fall -future tense –said the elders -will fall-before the Father
In 5:8 the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders fell down –past tense-says before the Lamb
Also, my prayers are not something insignificant, but are heard, answered, and kept in heaven.
I love that. They are precious to you and you are teaching me how to pray with Your heart and will and not my own. For that is what is eternal. “The prayers of the saints” are incense, a sweet aroma to the You, Father.
I love this also.
Rev 4:11
You are worthy, our Lord and our God,
To receive glory and honor and power,
For you created all things,
And by your will they existed
And were created
To me Father, all glory and praise are yours. You are the one who created me, for purpose, and it was an act of Your will by which I was created. I was brought into existence by the One and Only True Living God! How special is that!! And this is true of all mankind and that is why it is so important that the world realize Who you are and the love you have demonstrated to the world through our Lord Jesus.! No man can be fulfilled by being his own master; he will only find fulfillment in and through Jesus Christ, who created each soul for a specific purpose. And only by knowing and seeking You, Father, can we walk in that purpose. How great and marvelous are Your ways, O Most High!
What really is more important than that? In this brief journey on this earth, how has Your love in me spoken obediently in the moment of need?
You are the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth. Yet you are my Father.
You are able to complete the work You began in me by Your grace, mercy, and divine love. You are able to open these earthly eyes through Your Spirit within me.
These simply are some of the thoughts that came to me in reading this wonderful book. And thank you Father also for the scholars that help us to understand this book!
Rev 4
Before the throne , 7 lamps were blazing .
These are the seven spirits of God. Commentary says represents fullness of the Spirit.
4 living creatures
Lion- royalty
Calf (NAS) some say Ox-servant (Greek says calf or bullock)
Face like a Man- mankind
Flying Eagle- victorious
I like this: verse 4:9 When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
the 24 elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne and will worship Him and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying
11 “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
For Thou did create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created.”
I love this also.5:2…”Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”
:5 …the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll (book) and its seven seals.
:7 And He came and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Jesus is the only one that could go up to the Father and take the scroll….He alone is worthy; He had the absolute Right; He had paid the price; He had offered salvation to mankind; those that rejected His sacrifice and the Father’s love must now be judged for God is a just God.
:8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
In verses 4:10, 24 elders will fall -future tense –said the elders -will fall-before the Father
In 5:8 the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders fell down –past tense-says before the Lamb
Also, my prayers are not something insignificant, but are heard, answered, and kept in heaven.
I love that. They are precious to you and you are teaching me how to pray with Your heart and will and not my own. For that is what is eternal. “The prayers of the saints” are incense, a sweet aroma to the You, Father.
I love this also.
Rev 4:11
You are worthy, our Lord and our God,
To receive glory and honor and power,
For you created all things,
And by your will they existed
And were created
To me Father, all glory and praise are yours. You are the one who created me, for purpose, and it was an act of Your will by which I was created. I was brought into existence by the One and Only True Living God! How special is that!! And this is true of all mankind and that is why it is so important that the world realize Who you are and the love you have demonstrated to the world through our Lord Jesus.! No man can be fulfilled by being his own master; he will only find fulfillment in and through Jesus Christ, who created each soul for a specific purpose. And only by knowing and seeking You, Father, can we walk in that purpose. How great and marvelous are Your ways, O Most High!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Temporary Experience
...."we are spriitual beings having a temporary human experience. "
A quote from Jame Robison living Free series.
A quote from Jame Robison living Free series.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Aliens
Father, You have kept this truth of keeping our hope on You alone before me. Of our life here on this earth being so transient.
1 Peter 1:3..caused us to be born again to a living hope….
1:13 Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
1:21..so that your faith and hope are in God
Peter addresses his first letter like this..."to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, etc…..who are chosen…" not only aliens in other countries, but also on this earth, as he later addresses them.
1 Peter 1:17 speaks of the brief time we live on this earth.
“…conduct yourselves in fear during this time of your stay upon earth;”
The word stay—paroikia--means
1. a dwelling near or with one
2. a sojourning, dwelling in a strange land
3. metaph. The life of a man here on earth is likened to a sojourn
In comparing various translations, the words sojourners, exiles, temporary, strangers, and foreigner is used in translating verse :17:
“Pass your time of sojourn here….” KJV
“Throughout the time of your exile….”ESV
“During this time of temporary residence….”CSB
“Live your life as strangers here…”NIV
“During your time as foreigners here…”NLT
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
An interesting thing, Father, is that before we became your children, we were aliens then also.
Eph 2:12 “ remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
Eph 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,…
So we were once aliens separate from God….but now we remain strangers and aliens, but of a different kind. We have been delivered out of the dark world that is separate from God and transferred into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. (Col 1:13)
However, in this Kingdom also, we are strangers and aliens while we remain briefly on this earth as it exists now. “For we have become fellow citizens with the Saints and belong to God’s household.”
This is the truth. Now we are aliens that are temporarily here and are to be looking and longing for our real home with our real Father, our Lord Jesus, and all the Saints that have gone before us. This truth will transform our lives if we allow it to.
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.
: 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
This is the reality as the Scriptures describe man…
"All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like
The flower of the field.
The grass withers
And the flower fades
But the Word of our God stands forever."
It seems to me Father, that if the reality of being here so briefly was seeded deep within my heart, it would change my relationships; for what now seems important to make my point or get my way, would lose its value in light of eternity. This opens the door to loving at all times.
The ability to fervently love one another from a clean heart impacts the world in a way that demonstrates we are born again and have a hope that the world does not have.
Thank You Father that by Your infinite grace, you will enable my hope to be fixed on You and You alone.
1 Peter 1:3..caused us to be born again to a living hope….
1:13 Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
1:21..so that your faith and hope are in God
Peter addresses his first letter like this..."to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, etc…..who are chosen…" not only aliens in other countries, but also on this earth, as he later addresses them.
1 Peter 1:17 speaks of the brief time we live on this earth.
“…conduct yourselves in fear during this time of your stay upon earth;”
The word stay—paroikia--means
1. a dwelling near or with one
2. a sojourning, dwelling in a strange land
3. metaph. The life of a man here on earth is likened to a sojourn
In comparing various translations, the words sojourners, exiles, temporary, strangers, and foreigner is used in translating verse :17:
“Pass your time of sojourn here….” KJV
“Throughout the time of your exile….”ESV
“During this time of temporary residence….”CSB
“Live your life as strangers here…”NIV
“During your time as foreigners here…”NLT
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
An interesting thing, Father, is that before we became your children, we were aliens then also.
Eph 2:12 “ remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
Eph 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,…
So we were once aliens separate from God….but now we remain strangers and aliens, but of a different kind. We have been delivered out of the dark world that is separate from God and transferred into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. (Col 1:13)
However, in this Kingdom also, we are strangers and aliens while we remain briefly on this earth as it exists now. “For we have become fellow citizens with the Saints and belong to God’s household.”
This is the truth. Now we are aliens that are temporarily here and are to be looking and longing for our real home with our real Father, our Lord Jesus, and all the Saints that have gone before us. This truth will transform our lives if we allow it to.
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.
: 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
This is the reality as the Scriptures describe man…
"All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like
The flower of the field.
The grass withers
And the flower fades
But the Word of our God stands forever."
It seems to me Father, that if the reality of being here so briefly was seeded deep within my heart, it would change my relationships; for what now seems important to make my point or get my way, would lose its value in light of eternity. This opens the door to loving at all times.
The ability to fervently love one another from a clean heart impacts the world in a way that demonstrates we are born again and have a hope that the world does not have.
Thank You Father that by Your infinite grace, you will enable my hope to be fixed on You and You alone.
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