And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, LORD; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” John 11:25-27.
Be still, and know that I AM God! Psalm 46:10.
And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 190: He would know their thoughts. Isaiah 11:3: And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear. And, Luke 6:8; John 2:25: But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. And because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
This morning in our Friday Zoom retreat we watched the video by John Ortberg talking about freedom and mortification and self control. He talked about the “7 Deadly (Capital) Sins”, the headwater sins of desires that ensnare and grow more sins and that are universal to all. That to resist our own sins with a “white knuckle” grip doesn’t bring the help we long for. Then he talked about how to transform desire found in Colossians 3:1-17. To set our hearts on new desires; to put to death – mortify – our own need to justify ourselves when we are wrong; to clothe ourselves with who we want to be; and to let the peace of Christ rule in our own heart. And all of this is God’s amazing grace given to us that brings in His peace; and that it is with Him that our hearts and minds are transformed, bringing real freedom.
And as we discussed after the video, we don’t transform ourselves. We look back and see how much growth we have experienced in our walk with God, and it’s daily walking and experiencing Him with us that enables the change we so long for in ourselves and eventually in our whole world. One of our group pointed out that with God we are able to be open to new understanding He brings. That is such a blessing for there is so much to understand and it is so beautiful! That same sentiment was expressed yesterday as I watched the video of Open Table Conference discussing Romans in a review of all we have learned together in chapters 1-4. Paul was explaining to the church in Rome that if Abraham was justified by works, which he wasn’t, he has something to boast about – but not before God. And that is the whole beautiful crux of everything – our need for God and His help as we trust Him that brings transformation we scarcely understand to appreciate until we look back and see the path we have walked with Him helping us. Paul understood so well: For I am not ashamed of the gospel – for it is the power of God – for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it – the righteousness of God – is revealed – from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)”. Romans 1:16-17. Abraham showed us what it is to live by faith, but that was God working in him, Whom Abraham knew. Jesus, the Son, is the righteous Man who lived by faith in the Father. He came from the Father for us, so that as Paul wrote, For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. Romans 4:16-17. It is how Jesus was able to say, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” John 8:56. Everything needed comes from Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. Faith, understanding, transformation, Life eternal with our Holy God who loves us and will not abandon us to sin. Circumcision of the flesh is not what saves us and Paul was fighting for us with the understanding God gave him. Our doctrines will not save us. We may strive to do everything right with a white knuckle grip and think ourselves justified…but not before God. Maybe our understanding should begin with – but for God – all things are possible. Our faith, our hope, our reason for being, our joys and sufferings all, our destiny, our everything! And then more, so much more yet to be!
***IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD – Thank You, LORD God, that I have a comfortable place to live even while many in our world lack comfort or housing. Here You have placed me in the midst of many who do not know You, and I know it is Your will to work through me. Please nudge me any time when I am tempted to ignore my neighbors or to be unfriendly. Help me overcome inhibitions and strike up conversations. Show me whom to invite to my home so that by my hospitality, they may feel the love of Christ. Provide many opportunities for us to open Your Word. I deeply long to lead others to Christ, and for that, I need Your wisdom and direction. Amen. Douglas Jacoby, Amen and Amen, 2025.***
