Judges 07:1-18:31, John 3:1-21, Ps 104:1-23, Pr 14:20-21
(Today's reading of the old testament still has me a bit confused. Yet I praise God for this for it assures me that I still have so much more to learn and understand about the lover of my soul, my savior and my Lord. He is still a mysterious lover that makes me smile for I have yet to uncover all that he is. Like a giddy school girl trying to peak into a room that has yet to be opened for my eyes. Yet the Lord and I dance this dance of courtship around this still hidden part of Him. For I am but the bride. Still full of giddy anticipation of all I am yet to understand once the marriage is to take place.)
John
18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
(What does it really mean to believe and not be condemned? Do all that call on on the name of Christ believe? Is belief built on experience and sound understanding? Is belief something that God places in our hearts that we one day awake to understand? I can easily understand that the one that does not believe si already condemned. For the pains and struggles and bad choices of this life will all but swallow us up. Lord I definitely believe yet the words of my own heart often attempted to condemn me. Lord let my self talk be one that supports this claim. For Christ has already died to pay the price for my sin. Let me not hang myself again on the cross. For you have already declared it FINISHED.)
19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it,[k] so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[l] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”[m]
(Lord let me decrees that your almighty power and greatness my increase. Lord that in every amazing thing that others see in and through me that it be extremely evident that it is your work not mine. Lord help me to feel no fear of looking stupid. For I am your child.)
Psalm
2 He wraps Himself in light as if it were a robe,
spreading out the sky like a canopy,
3 laying the beams of His palace
on the waters above,
making the clouds His chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind,
4 and making the winds His messengers,[a]
flames of fire His servants.
(What amazing imagery. I long to paint this.)
15 wine that makes man’s heart glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains man’s heart.
(I am still troubled with wine being equated with happiness. Lord please speak to me on this for I have yet to see anyone be filled with joy while drinking that didn't then fall into sin, drunkenness and loss lips.)
Yes, and wine ( I believe) is the reason why the disciples fell asleep on Jesus when he asked them to pray with him.
ReplyDeleteThis Passover, I had an opportunity to experience the Seder meal and all its inclusions and meanings.. it indeed was filled with a lot of wine drinking. (of course ours was grape juice) but in those times and in some Jewish communities today it is used.
No wonder they knocked out.. they were all buzzed.lol. Then Jesus was all.. "Could you NOT keep awake?!" . However, why didnt he just tell them at the last super to not drink wine? hmm.. Then there goes the spirit telling me it is not Gods will that we drink to get drunk, or allow alcohol to rule over us, but to conquer our temptations... and perhaps ( just my thinking) we would understand that we can overcome the sinful effects of wine.. like Paul and the viper.. Like Pete and the Sea. .. well.. a smaller scale anyway. lol.. whelp I enjoyed this.. thank you.. and that's my rant! Agape!