newfound excitement

I may have mentioned before that I began doing the "read the Bible in a year" program that my church set up. There are four different passages that I read each day, each segment beginning with Genesis, Psalms, Matthew, and Acts. It makes sense. It is incredible to me how each of these passages ALWAYS correlate.

But that's not really the point of this entry. Today I read about the life of Isaac, Abraham's son whom God had commanded to sacrifice but then stopped Abe from sacrificing, and then I read Psalm 10, and then Matthew 5:1-12 (a very famous passage, the beatitudes Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount), and then Acts 6.

In reading about Isaac, he lied to Abimelech and his people because he was afraid for his life and for his wife Rebekkah's. Two chapters earlier, Abraham did the exact same thing, but with different people. When the lie was found out (Isaac had said Rebekkah was his sister), Abimelech rebuked him (a thing which God certainly had a hand in), because Isaac could have brought his people guilt if they had touched Rebekkah. And so here, the thing the Holy Spirit spoke to me about was, obviously, fear. When you feel opposition from man for doing or saying the right thing and living the right way, God's way, DO NOT BACK OFF FROM THE TRUTH. That is, a question of trusting in Him. We may suffer for Him in this life, but there is a life far more glorious, far more full of joy waiting for us that makes the suffering we must endure now worth it. Piper spoke of this being a mingling of God's righteous judgment and His mercy. On earth the suffering we endure is only a fraction of what we deserve because of our sinfulness, but it prepares those who follow Him for the joy that is set before them. Hebrews 12:2-3 comes to mind:

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful man, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Then, Psalm 10, where David cries out to God in verse 1:

"Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"

I have asked the Lord this very same thing so many times in my life. But God, proving Himself faithful in all situations before me, has shown me that He is here. David expresses this same thing, when he writes later in Psalm 10 that the wicked man says to himself, "'God has forgotten; He covers His face and never sees.' ... But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm (not literally...this is the Hebrew symbolism for strength) of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from His land. You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." (verses 11, 14-18)

Then, the Beatittudes, which must be written in full:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12)

How beautiful are these words of Jesus Christ! I am none of these things, yet through Christ God has promised these things to me and to all believers. I thank God so much for awakening my heart to the beauty of the Gospels...that is something I have prayed for, because for a long time I had a hard time really relating to them. I am blessed to be living in a country where the persecution I receive is miniscule in comparison to persecution other believers in the world endure. Like believers in Indonesia, who have had acid thrown on them or people in Eastern Europe whose lives are threatened by the government simply for talking to others about Christ. And yet they continue to do this, Christ gives them strength to keep preaching His Gospel. All I have ever suffered is a broken family and being thought narrow-minded for my beliefs. God has given me a heart for these people for a reason, if I cannot do anything but support them through sending money and praying I will take up that call.

I love the Word of God, it is precious to me. I love how, thousands of years after it was written, He speaks to me through it. I love the authority it holds. I love the sacrifice He made and that I can read about it and praise Him for it. Man I'm getting mushy. But I don't care. I love my Savior