One of my favorite events in the Old Testament is when God
told Moses to put the tree in the bitter waters of Marah. The Israelites were thirsty and needed water.
As soon as Moses did as the Lord told him, the waters became
sweet, clear - no more bitterness. And
they drank.
Oh what a glorious picture of the cross. When Christ came into us, the work of His
cross came with Him. He circumcised our
hearts from death to life. His Spirit is
Life (tree of Life and living waters) and when He came in, He made those bitter
waters of death in us alive and sweet.
All that always comes from (Him) is good and fruitful.
Gary and I were once again sharing with one another this
morning. It is a glass that holds
water. And so we, earthen vessels are who hold Christ Jesus and God's Spirit. "We
have this Treasure in earthen vessels."
The moment Christ came in our hearts, He was working. He is still working. This is the Grace of God. No longer under the law (get it right, get it
right, get it right or else) but under Grace Through Faith (the long-suffering
of our Lord as He teaches and conforms us to His image). The Lord also teaches us faith - faith in Him
are the wings of the Christian walk.
You'll hear me say this a lot. We have a great deal. The free gift of God in Jesus Christ is the
only REAL deal too. Any other way of living
other than trusting in Jesus Christ for
all things is simply man trying to produce something no one in and of
themselves can ever produce.
Does the glass produce the water? Never seen this. No, it was poured in by someone. Therefore, God POURED HIS SPIRIT into our
hearts (shed abroad in our hearts...).
He is there - He is there always - oh boy!
In this creation, a tree is only as strong as its root. Our root is Jesus Christ. We are only as strong as we are rooted and
grounded in HIM. In Colossians God says
to be rooted and grounded in Him. :)
What is it that we need today? What is it that is our greatest
struggle?
Paul said we are to walk by faith, not by sight. I have to come up with what this means in the
here and now. So here are a few
thoughts:
1) We wish
we had this or that. Or we think we're
not getting what we need from God.
Result: Not looking at Christ, but either this world
or myself.
2) We are
looking at our circumstances as an indicator of God's blessing or His goodness
in comparison with others; or, we look at circumstances as an indicator of
God's displeasure.
Result: Not looking at Christ, but either what I see
or looking at me.
3) We
compare ourselves with each other.
Result: Not looking at Jesus Christ, but others or
me.
4) We
commend ourselves or condemn ourselves.
Result: Not looking at Jesus Christ, but me.
The written Word of God is the measure by which we shall find ourselves, deliver
ourselves (from every false thought), and keep walking by faith.
So here are a few thoughts that are written where we place
our faith and hope:
1) Nothing
can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8)
2) Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer with thanksgiving let your
request be known to God, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4)
3) ALL
things work together for good to those called by His purpose and who love God.
(Rom. 8)
4) We are
GOD's workmanship (Ephesians 2)
5) Accepted
in the Beloved (Ephesians 1)
6) He will
NEVER leave us nor forsake us - not ashamed to call us brothers, children! (Hebrews)
"God, You poured your Spirit into these vessels in the
Person of Jesus Christ. Thank you we can
look at Him within, not ourselves - we can HOPE in Him within, trust in Him
within - believe YOU to continue YOUR work that you started in us and FINISH
until that day we SEE You. Thank you for
encouraging our faith, our walk and cause us to encourage one another! Amen."
Sue Gaither
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