Hands to the Plow

"But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy"- Ezra 3:12 (NIV).   

Their weeping was not tears of joys. Letting go of the past is hard, painful. Why do we cling to past memories, like these older Israelites did to the former magnificence of the destroyed temple Solomon had built? Each day, the Eternal clock clicks down 24 more hours until Christ's Kingdom comes. Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Your movement should be forward; not backward or standing still! Paul, formerly Saul, knew he hadn't yet reached that point, when he wrote the church of Philippi, but he was determined to press on, reaching forward, to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of him (Philippians 3:12). Roots of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and by it many become defiled...unfit (Hebrews 12:15). Don't look back. You may loose your equilibrium and fall, or make someone else fall, in the race set before you (Hebrews 12:1). Hands to the plow!  

Creation Sings

"All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing the praises of Your name"- Psalm 66:4 (NIV).

Creation sings to the Lord, "Blessings and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13). Day and night their songs of praise rise, yet you hear no words; no voice is heard, but it is there, going throughout the entire earth, the entire universe, declaring the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-4). These declarations of His eternal power and divine nature, may not be heard, but they are clearly perceived. Creation worshiping the Creator has been going on since the beginning of time, 24/7, for all to see; how can mankind disbelieve in the Creator...his Creator? There is no excuse! (Romans 1:20).  

Don't Give Up

"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up"- Luke 18:1 (NIV).

Sometimes we feel our prayers bounce off the ceiling. We grow weary and begin to lose hope that God will act upon our prayers. The parable referred to in today's Scripture is about the persistent widow who kept returning to the unjust judge asking for mercy. The cruel judge finally conceded, because she kept bothering him. Jesus points out that the uncaring judge finally relented; however, God loves us. Jesus said not to give up coming before our Heavenly Father. He will bring justice for His chosen ones; those who continue to cry out, He will not keep putting them off (v.7). That old deceiver, Satan, wants you to think your prayers are of little worth, because you are of little worth. Are you not God's righteousness? Christ's death made you so (2 Corinthians 5:21). And God's eyes are on the righteous, His ears hear their prayers (1 Peter 3:12). Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16). Prayer is heard. Prayer is answered. Jesus said we should pray and not give up. Let us lift our voices and praise the Lord for His faithfulness. 

Faithful

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich"- 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV).

This is the dichotomy of His grace: Jesus became poor that we might become rich; rejected that we might become acceptable; suffered that we might be healed; died that we might be born again. This is where the contrast ends. With Christ's victory over death we, too, shall live (John 11:25); we shall become the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:24); NOTHING in all creation can separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39); we've been washed, sanctified, justified in the name of Christ Jesus by the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11). The definition of Christ's grace is unmerited favor; meaning His grace is not deserved. It's free to those who confess and believe that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Let us hold unswervingly to our profession, for the One who promised is called Faithful (Hebrews 10:23). 

New Life

"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life"- Romans 6:4 (NIV).

Anyone who has accepted Christ Jesus is a new creation. The old has passed away into a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). From the lips of our Beloved Savior: "Whoever hears My words and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24). Our heart of stone has been removed, replaced with a new heart and a new Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19). And now we claim the right to be called children of Almighty God...our Father (John 1:12). What kind of Divine love is this, that Christ Jesus would look upon us, sinful and dirty, and die for us (Romans 5:8)? We have died and been buried through baptism to become a new creation...to receive new life; and being born again we will see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Praise the Lord!