Thursday, July 8, 2010

Opposition will come with Opportunity!

I have learned that whenever I have the opportunity to be directed by the Lord's call and I strive to do the thing He has spoken to me to do, then I will have opposition. 

The Lord has made a provision for all of us to become wise in Him.  He grants us understanding and allows us to know Him.  Who is it that my soul loves and longs for?  It is the Lord who watches and waits for me.

I trust in Him because he will guide me in the way of wisdom and lead me along straight paths. Provers 4:11

If I draw near to him, He will draw near to me.  James 4:8

Isaiah spoke of a surviving remnant of the house of Judah (Jews) taking root and bearing fruit.  The Lord of hosts will perform this and in the last days all the nations (Gentiles) will stream to the mountain of the Lord and they will proclaim Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.  He will teach us concerning His ways that we may walk in His paths.  His path will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  (from Isaiah 2:2-3 and 37:31-32)  Together we will praise His name and join together for His kingdom is near... it is here...

Jesus said to us that whoever relaxes the commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in his kingdom.  He says that whoever does His commands and teaches others will be called great. I do not have to be great, but I want to do His will and teach others.  I want to grow closer to Him.  My obedience is what He desires. It does not matter about the opposition, He desires me to obey no matter what.  Do I love Him enough to obey?

God's word is to be written on my heart.  The Holy Spirit will do this but I have to want His intervention in my life.  He will honor my study, devotions and prayers. He will bless!

 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.  He is to be revered above all... 1 Chronicles 16:25

I cannot be a follower of Christ if I don't go down the path with Him in His Word.  Fellowship is the key to a spirit filled life.  It is not  fellowship with men or women that I speak, but fellowship with God that allows us to be open to fellowship with others on His behalf.

Romans 3:2, Paul tells us that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God... we find out what these very oracles are when we study the scriptures.  As we study the scriptures, we know that they point to our Lord, the Messiah. Jesus was trained in the oracles of God as he grew to manhood.  All his training was ordained by scriptures as had been taught in the Torah.  When we are fully trained, we'll be like Him. (Matthew 10:25)  Oh to be like Him!  That is my heart's desire.

But to be like him means I will suffer opposition.  It means there will be times that I am not understood.  There will be times I feel betrayed.  There will be times I feel used.  There will be times I feel unloved.  Still, I must remember that God is my refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms.  Deuteronomy 33:27

He loves me in spite of  my circumstances.  It is not my doing that I am saved.  It is the gift of God.  Salvation is the gift and His grace is the package it comes in!   Jesus must continue to be my focus in all things.  He is not some distant being that doesn't care.  He didn't come to earth and do a job and just leave.  No, every time someone gains a realization of His power and love, every time He is remembered in the scriptures, every time we break bread and drink wine; His gift of salvation is renewed.  It is His endless gift of love that can never be fully explained.  It must be experienced to understand.  We can know nothing without Him... nothing...

Jesus became weary. How do I know this?  His flesh was just like ours.  He went about doing good and faced opposition.   His very disciples could not grasp the magnitude of His teachings.  They were unable to comprehend until He was no longer physically there with them.  Let's not be weary in doing good, but do good just as He did good, no matter the circumstance  We will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

He has promised to be there with us... as a mother comforts her child, so will He comfort us... Isaiah 66:13

Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and our shield.  Psalm 33:20 

Amen.

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