Thirty days of Grace

53:181118

Thirty days of Grace

   Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the children of Israel?” And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.” Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Lord’s Passover. On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it. But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of the Lord at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin. ‘And if a stranger dwells among you, and would keep the Lord’s Passover, he must do so according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony; you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of the land..”  Numb 9: 6~14

   In the scriptures there is Grace heaped upon Grace, wow just imagine that if you will for moment. What I’m talking about is of cause is the ‘Passover’. From this there is a question raised?...

Q  “ If a man was in a condition to observe that feast on the appointed day, was he to be debarred for a whole year? Some men found in this position were heard saying..’wherefore are we kept back” (V7)

   So, let’s look at FEAR, from 5 different points.

1) Unfitness. . . . . 2) Confession . . . . . 3) Provision . . . . .

4) Warning . . . . . 5)Invitation

   This was now a totally new difficulty, and Moses deal with it, just as in today, how we should deal with it all when it springs up before us. So without any hesitation Moses went out, and called upon our Lord God for direction.

   If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all, literally. The answer was plainly given, there has to be a special ‘Passover feast’, to be held on the fourteenth (14^th) day of the second day of the month. Though this has to be a special case, even all the provisions have been met. What would have to be made known, is that His Grace won’t always mean that these Riches’ are not of money, per-say.

1 Unfitness

“..Certain men were defiled that they could not keep

the ‘Passover’ on that day..”  (V6)

   The cause of their Unfitness to profit by the provision made by God on the fourteenth day of the first month was their uncleanness. There’ll be a number of you who will cry out, and profess they are without blemish. Here’s why we all have al sinned and so fallen short.  It’s what we do next on realization of committing sin. Due to this sin, we’re no longer in a place to receive God’s riches.

 “..If a person touches any unclean thing, whether 

it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock … ‘Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters.." Leviticus 5: 2

   Being already sinners, not them, but only help to show their sinfulness. By the law knowledge of sin, unbelief unfits a man from receiving the benefits of Christ Jesus redeeming death. The defilement has been their own doing/making.  

2 Confession

“..And those men said to him, “We became defiled..” (V7)

   Passover was one of (if not the..) the most important dates on a Jewish Calendar, and today it is still as important. It was and is time they confessed Unfitness, and sought not to justify themselves. So, they presented themselves as ones disqualified because of their defilement, and begged for mercy & grace that these might reach and satisfy their souls.

   So many them can only try and imagine what it must be & feel like to be stoned by you community, even close friends as well as Family! Some would welcome being stoned because then they can try to heal at last the broken bones, with bruises fading over time.

#Confession will finally open the door#

   The grace of God, like a river that flows down into every crevice, or like the light of the Sun, will illuminate every corner, no matter how dark and dirty the corner may be, if only there was an opening toward it? 

#If only there was a man who open the door,

I will come into him#

(1 John 1:9)

“..if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us..” 
(1 John 1:9)

3 Provision

"..Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Lord’s Passover. On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.." (v9~11)

      I know what you’re thinking, boxes of chocolate, sexy clothes for your loved one. Cards professing our everlasting love, and so much more. Gentiles have taken this date ’14 February’, then told on this date told to spend a month’s wages. Just to tell and be told how much it is to be loved on this date.

#When truthfully it is Passover time and 

NOT valentines!# 

   Between the first and the second Passover there are thirty days, these are days of Grace. If you somehow were to manage to miss both, there was no possibility of receiving a Passover blessing for the coming year. That has to be unbearable? This little blessing was instituted for the benefit of those who were disabled, is a beautiful little picture of the grace of God devising a plan of salvation for the helpless sinful man.

   Moses was only able to say in V8 “..Stand still and hear what the Lord will command concerning you..”

#Salvation is of the Lord#

   The law was given unto Moses, but grace and truth come by Jesus Christ. It’s suggestive that this special grace for the defiled, or the man that was ‘a far off’ on an journey, and so could not keep the feast of Passover.

“..that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from

the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the

covenants of promise, having no hope and without God

in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were

far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ..”

Eph 2 : 13/13

  4 Warning

“..the man who is clean and is not on a journey,

and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person shall be

cut off from among his people..” V13

   The Passover speaks of redemption. To those who willingly neglect this there is nothing for them but a fearful attitude towards ‘the Judgement day’.  There is no escaping this time when, all will be stripped bear, and all their life’s actions will be read out. Back then there was another action that was thought to be such a slight, that it would hold back all men that ‘not’ circumcised.

“..And the uncircumcised male child, who is not

circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut

off from his people; he has broken My covenant..” Gen 17: 14

 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  Heb 10: 26/31

  Surely to despise or even to neglect Grace, is to choose death?  Hoe can it have been seen that they would have escaped if they neglected even salvation?

5 Invitation

“.. If a stranger will keep the Passover so..” (V14)

   By invitation a total stranger (Gentile), may come with them and may be a participant of the blessing of this memorable feast. This action denotes of redemption by the blood of the Lamb is offered to all who will come into the camp.

“..Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood,

which is shed for you..”  Luke 22: 20

   How wonderfully fitting this is a typical of the great salvation, through the blood of the lamb of God. Through the sacrifice of our Lord, being covered by the blood has such power it should be one or the greatest gifts given unto us. But yet even today it still remains one of the most undervalued.

       “..And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.."   Rev 22: 17

  ^“.. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and 
to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members 
of the household of God..”

Eph 2: 17/19

Prayer

  In your love let all who are laden with burdens and worries, come freely and find shelter and rest. Let us ofer up our praises to the one true God in Heaven. No matter you concerns for today God has the answer. In our Lord Jesus' Name, Amen.

55:151220

Christ Jesus is our Salvation (pt2) 

   Noah used the attacks and mocking, as motivation to work harder & faster. Here's a warning to us all that when the devil comes a knocking, don’t be a hiding. Tell him to be gone in Jesus name …
Math 4: 10 … “..Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve ..”

   Tell me, ‘do you run from your faith?’ OR, ‘do you press into your faith’? In other words, ‘is your faith that shallow, that’s all only for show’? We all have Gods ‘armour’, but you put is on? Your friend comes around, late and soaked through to the skin, do you put on a coat that is also soaked through, will you still go out? OR put on this brand new coat that you bought because you know you’ll be warn and dry?

   Next time the devil turns up, to beat you down and discourage you, don’t hide your faith, be strong and know you are not alone. Let God rise up in you and let His enemies scatter.

   Always remember that your children are forever watching you and from your behaviour learn how conduct themselves. Children are like giant sponges, they soak up everything you do ~ everything you say; your reactions to how your treated; as well as how you treat people. How can you expect them to grow up and with pride, this is my partner/wife/husband. When they see that you don’t treat their mum/dad with such pride. 

   The same goes for your faith, what do they see you do that shows everyone how much you value having Christ Jesus in your life…

• Mothers, what do you do, when your neighbour wants you to compromise you convictions? 
•  When they want your Sunday worship to be a one day thing, and your Worldly relations to for 6 (six) days with God. 

Mark 11: 22 “..So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God...”
… from an outsiders view, to see a bunch of people putting faith into something they have never seen ~ heard ~ touched, looks pointless. But we know better as we have faith in God/Jesus Christ presence.

Hebrews 11: 1 “..Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen..” 

   Noah could have just laughed at God, He told Noah about the flood to come, as there had never been told of before, nor nor had Noah seen one. When all was said and done Noah’s faith was such that he went ahead and built the ark anyway…
1 Thessalonians 5 5: 2&4 “..2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night… 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief..”
4: 16&17 “..16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord..”

   Why is that we don’t put any substance in this book in our hands, When ~ How ~ Why ~ What? ..

#by Reading, by Praising, by Praying# 

… how else. 

   Just as Noah built an Ark, so by doing these things daily without skipping a day, Or we will come to a day that we no longer have faith. This can happen in a blink of an eye, till we can’t be bothered to go to church, and no longer have any faith. If you want to become say a ‘carpenter’ you have to continually, persevere when trying to make joints, and so read how to do it. Here’s a saying I heard, and it summed up what I’m trying to say...

(("Perseverance is stubbornness with a purpose")) !! 

   You need to do all things daily to keep your faith strong. Like reading your bible daily, for instance every day I read ‘Proverbs’. Say it’s the 10th then I’ll read the 10th Chapter of Proverbs, and so on. You will find comfort in the Bible, it will illuminate the path for you to walk, in God’s direction for you. Don’t be ashamed of your faith when those around you start to pressure you, instead stand your ground, put the whole armour of God on. (Ephesians 6)

   Because Noah’s faith was strong, he put actions into his faith. His sons could see this, dad behaves as he believes. When Noah’s name is mentioned it is also known that he was able to save his family…
Genesis 7: 1 “..Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation..”
&V13 “..On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark..”

Hebrews 11: 7 “..Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household..”

2 Peter 2: 5 “..and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness..”

   It is that Noah was one of 8 (eight), so who were they? Well we all can work this out, have you guessed yet? OK OK I’ll put you out of your misery..
1~ is Noah 2~ Noah’s wife 3~ Shem     4~ Shem’s wife

5~ Ham     6~ Ham’s wife  7~ Japheth 8~ Japheth's wife
...but if they were all preachers, questions arise such as

• Where was the Church?
• Who Preached? 
• Surely what was the sermon on? 

    As old as Noah was when he died, it is believed that Noah ‘never’ stood behind a lectern during his life. He may have never had buildings with room to seat 500+. The adage says that ‘actions speak louder than words’. Just as then, it is the same, that ‘non-believers will hold us to a higher standard than themselves.

   Fathers what are you watching, saying; doing; treating family and friends. Your children are watching; listening; seeing how to behave around others, Then taking what have learnt from you, to take it in to school and their lives. Thinking if it’s OK for you then it’s OK for them to do like wise.

   What is it that you do daily that outwardly shows your faith to your family and others? .. without a word being spoken? Surely this has to be your best and most important sermon? The most important thing your children must have in you is .. trust. For without trust, your family will not follow you to Church. They won’t understand why you tithe. As a child, I’m sure either & both parents told you ‘I told you so’. The more you show your child, whilst they are young, and so seeing the benefits they will teach their children.

#Never underestimate the power of teaching through showing# 

   This is how Noah showed others his faith, and trust daily through showing. Parents, are you doing the same as Noah? This is not just for yesterday .. for today .. but for every day till your called up yonder. You need to be that lighthouse that helps them steer clear of danger. Or, are you someone that still looks out for number 1.

   Is your family saved, a Christian, because of your actions? Your family can't move forward when everyone else is against them unless you are someone who is for them. Noah's wife told him off or put him down the moment he and his sons got home. So long as you and your spouse are together in harmony then, the easier it will be for your children to follow your example. What example are you showing to others today? So even the rest of your family know where the 'Ark of Salvation' is?

• Do you old friends see you as before you were saved, or do they see you making a stand for what you openly believe in?
• Do you old friends see & hear you talk of Earthly things you were saved, hence why they don’t think of Heavenly things? 
• Do you old friends see you enter their homes with thanksgiving for Lord Jesus now you were saved? Do your Children see & recognise .. “..when 2 or more are gathered in His..”?  
• Do they recognise Gods sanctuary?  
• Do they recognise that in Gods sanctuary/house, burdens are lifted and yokes are made easy? And their chains of bondage are broken apart?
• Do they recognise in this place your sin is forgiven, and your body is healed of all that ails it?
• Lastly I ask they see you openly worship … praise and give thanks, that they see this is why life is so worth living! 

Do they? Do they? Do you? 

  It’s time to show them, not just for this or next Sunday but every Sunday ~ Monday ~ Tuesday ~ Wednesday ~ Thursday ~ Friday ~ Saturday, I think you can see where I’m going with this. What an awesome God we have indeed. Q: Children do you follow the example of you Parents have set before you?

   Noah’s sons ..Shem, .. Ham .. Japheth, did just as Noah and his wife, (of whom we were not told the name of). What an example they set for their boys. Are you doing the same? 500Yrs is a long time to be with someone. They never gave up after a few years. As each of the boys grew up they looked and were they same.
Proverbs 18: 22 “..He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favour from the Lord..”

   Today & tomorrow us husbands must need to tell our wives “I found a good thing or the Lord” Children you need to honestly follow and heed and obey your parents, for your own good. Don’t stand there and spout “your not the boss of me”. You need to agree and heed what your parents are trying two impart on you.
Ephesians 6; 1 “..Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right..”

   Surly this a good ~ cheap ~easy solution to having “..a long life..”, this out come from this simple and easy thing right? All this from obeying your parents, not bad hey?
James 2: 17 “..faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead..”

   Noah heeded gods warning about the flood coming, and because he listened to God, then obeyed Him. As is the attitude of today by many, they must have heard God but, just wanted Him to give them a boat for doing ‘Nothing’. God wanted to show us, but today instead we wanted to be told when and where the boat will be for us to get on. God wants to show us that faith needs effort put in if we want to get something back.

   God’s blessing is for everyone who is willing to put the effort in to your daily faith & Bible reading. Noah may well not have been perfect, but his faith was strong. When the flood comes you will not just need the ark, but also his blessed word of salvation. I often wonder in the planning of the Ark, he must have asked the Lord ‘Why so big, there is not even a 12 of us?’

   You see the flood I’m talking about is not one of water, as the flood that nearly covered ‘Yorkshire, here in England’. Instead I’m talking about the one of mankind, such of getting bad news from you Doctor it’s Cancer/Covid19. It’s being laid off after 20yrs of loyal service.

   Being laid off, for instance, you need to come home and call on the Lord and say that … “They, were not my provider, but you are my provider. You promised you will provide and meet my every need, according your riches and glory. You would open all the windows, and pour out so much blessings I’ll not be able to contain them”

   As Christian's, there is one thing for sure, ‘we should never .. never .. never panic or worry about what is before us, even ask why?’ Just give God an elbow in the ribs and remind Him of His promises for you. Everything is going to work out just fine, because God is on the throne yesterday, today, tomorrow and for ever and ever.

Why do you think we call God the ‘Omnipotent one?’ ...

• meaning: a deity as having unlimited power ~ all powerful ~ almighty ~supreme ~ pre-eminent 
• having great power and influence.

… So when it is said that He knows everything, trust me He does. When you can’t see a path through the troubles we’re in, He will shine a light to show us the way. He will provide provisions, where there are none, is this sinking in yet. All things are possible when you put 100% of our faith in Him who makes everything. 

#You can’t wait till the flood comes build your Ark today# 

   

   Jesus already told us 2000 years ago “..Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham ” Luke 19:9 .. So many put this off. Our loved ones need to be shown the light. I know this from a personal stand point. When are you going to stop those you love going to hell and damn nation. You families may thumb their noses at the idea of becoming a Christian, remind them that God forgives ‘ALL’ their sins, so please don’t give up on them now.

   It’s simple just have faith in god, yesterday is gone you can’t change it. With God by their side Tomorrow can be beyond theirs & your wildest dreams. Please to take to heart what I have been saying here, and grasp Gods Salvation with both hands and never let go. If you have read this and want God in your life, seek out someone who can pray with you, and or, I want you to pray this prayer with me ...

Lord God I come before you a sinner, 

I want to turn away from my old ways. 

I have come to be reborn. 

I have decided to accept my position in Christian, 

and sit with Him in Heavenly places. 

When people say ‘who do you think you are?’ 

I will say unto them .. 

I’m a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, 

a Holy nation and a peculiar person. 

I’m steadfast, immovable, and abounding 

in the work of the Lord, for I know that my 

labour is not in vain in God. I’m not weary 

for in due season I will reap, if I faint not. 

I prosper and I am in good health, 

even as my soul prospers. 

Greater is He who is in me that he 

who is in the world. No weapon that is 

formed against me can prosper. ”for if God is 

for me who can stand against me” 

   If you have prayed this prayer today, seek out a Church or someone who you know goes to one soon. May Gods word not return empty.

In Christ Jesus name Amen. 

He's not on his Knees yet

2 Corinthians 6:2   “ . . In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. . "

Q . . "What of the multitude who have heard, but not believed, to whom the word of this salvation has come, but rejected it?"

   There are some men who have some kind of faith, and these are perhaps in a more dangerous place than those who have none at all. Because they opt to deceive themselves, and fancy that are in a state of grace. Where as really they are in a state of nurture.  Sadly a man only believes that which affect's his own life.
   

Prayer  "God grant that we may each one of us possess this real 'God given' blessing"

   With out faith you are with out God, with out faith you are with out hope, for a true hope can only spring out of 'true faith'. When you are with out faith in Christ, consequently you are with out a Savior, and with out the means of removal of sin, with out a help with which to fight daily the battle of life against sin. So with out faith we are indeed spiritually naked, poor and miserable lost and condemned, with out hope of escape.

   He who has missed this faith has missed the vital point. Had he begun with that, his amiability: his mortality: his benevolence: had been acceptable because in them there would have been the flower of life. The faith that makes them live, but with out this, they are cold & soul less, indeed a mere carcass of virtue void of life.
   
Paul said of love . .
1 Cor 13 v3  ". . And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.. . ."

Q "If a man prays to God, in whom from his own stand point dose not exist, has he not then engaged in an senseless exercise?

• Do you not believe in flexible justice?
• Do you believe in infinite mercey?
• Do you believe in an Omniscience that can not fail to see?
• Do you believe in the Omni-presence that can never failto be where you are?
• . . . Do you believe all this???

   Because if not you do not believe in God. You may believe in your own idea of God, but you do not really believe in God. If you would come to God, you must believe in ALL that he say's He is. In His Word, He reveals as one God, that He is The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit. Will you accept his statements about Himself? Then will you pray, will you cease delivering an oration to the air. Instead speak into His ear, believing that every word you utter, also believe that He is reading the thoughts that lye at the back of your words??    We should believe that, that if you preach the gospel God must bless you; that it is not a may-be or a mere possiblity that He will, but that if you deliver His message in the full convictiuon that somebody or other is going to get a blessing, there will be a blessing for someone. Very often just in proportion to our faith, it is done unto us.

   Without faith it would be be impossible to please God by the way you talk. Lets put plenty of faith into all we do. . .

• If I have no troubles where is there room for faith?
• How can I trust when I have nothing to trust?

. . You cannot swim in water only up to your ankles, you may go paddling about, but no swimming. But plunge into deep water, strike out like a mad man until you have faith that you will not sink but swim.

   I have heard of this doctor who was severe in his method of treating his patients, but he healed a great many of them. Then cam a man who had a bad leg.  "Well", said the doctor, "I will adopt such-and -such a course with that leg, and I will restore the use to you, so that you shall go away from this place perfectly whole". He told the patient what he was going to do, but the man said "NO, I could not bear to have that done. I shall have to go to someone else". "Just so" said the doctor, "you are not bad enough for me treat you yet. When you get bad enough for me, you will come back". Then say "do what you like to me so long as you gaurentee my retoration". There is many a soul that is not, in the sence, bad enough for Jesus Christ yet. That is to say he thinks he is too good to need to be saved in Christs way. I heard a well known story of a swimmer who went to rescue a man who was drowning. The man was sinking and the spectaters wondered why he did not strike out at once and lay hold of the man drowning. He swam near him, but kept clear of him, letting him go down a second time, and third, after that he swam to him and brought him to shore. Someone then asked "why did you let him sink?". To that he replied "He was to strong for me at first, whilst he was to strong he would have pulled me down with himself, so I let him sink and loose all strength, then I could rescue him". In like manner, some of you will have to go down for a second & third time before you get weak enough to be saved. It is not your strength that qualifies you it's your weakness, it is not your righteousness, it is your sin that qualifies you for Christ. So stop sinking and start living for Christ.

    
   That is the way to seak Him, to come to Him. We must come to Him as the one Living God, to have a real exsistance a true personality. Other wise we can't come to Him. God bestows upon us His Favour, His Grace and blessings of His covenant, as a gracious reward, NOT because of our merit, but because of the merit of His Son, Jesus christ. This we must believe or we have not really come to God.

NKJ . . Heb 10 v23  " . . Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. . "The Message " . . Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. . "

   No matter how we dress it up the lesson is clear, you must keep your faith in Him, even nudge Him to remind Him. It's not that God forgets, we have to remember "everything works to Gods time, not ours. Reminding Him just shows we are living in His accordance and have kept faith by praising Him, in the good times and the bad

In the Everlasting Arms

Deuteronomy 33:26/7 “..“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you..”

   I know that those among you will question His ‘Everlasting arms’, because you’ll have neither seen let alone felt that peace or protection. If so answer me this easy problem then … 'If when watering your garden, suddenly the water stops flowing, what can cause this'? .. 'Could it be because there is a knot in the hose somewhere'?

   This is what happens to so many Christians today, because drop-by-drop we let our old lives, ways, sins come back into our ‘NEW’ lives in Christ. Thus over time Gods graces & love dry’s up and start to a wall of sin around again, stopping His ‘Everlasting arms’ to shield us and protect us.

There are two sides, to a Christian life …
1: The Active Side ...We are urged to a faithfulness in our daily lives, to activity, in all service, to victorious in all struggles, to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
2: We are to simply trust ...We are to have trust & quietness & confidence, to repose God. It is well that we sometimes think of the latter aspect of our Christian faith. This is well presented to us in the Bible’s word, which says .. “underneath are the everlasting arms”

   The illustration I’m trying to project here, is that of a little child resting in His, the strong arms of the Father, who is able to with stand all storms and dangers. I also am reminded of John (the Apostle) laying across Christ Jesus’ bosom. At the 2 extremes of life, from a young child to an old person up in years, the promise then comes with a special assurance. IS 40:11 “..He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom.” .. is a word for the children .. IS 46:4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you..” .. brings it blessed comfort to to the aged. Although we don’t recognise this, God first comes to us in our infancy in our Mothers womb, who bore us into her arms. Yet they only dim revealing of God for a time. They leave us after teaching us a little of God’s tenderness, but God Himself remains when they are gone, but His arms never release us.

After the death of a Dr Bushnell’s, a sheet with faded writing was found and it said …

My mothers loving instinct was from God,

and God was in her love to me first,

therefore, which love was deeper than hers,

and more protracted. She passed long

ago now, but God stays with me still,

and bracing me in my grey hairs as tenderly

and carefully as did in my infancy,

and giving me joy and the principal

glory of my life, that he lets me know

Him, and helps me, with real confidence

to call Him Father.

… this letter just out lines some what god does for His people. He tries to explain, by human acts, which are familiar to us. His wonderful care and kindness. One meaning is of protection, just as a Father put his arms about his child when ever there is danger.

Psalm 77:15 “..You have with Your arm redeemed Your people..”

   It is continually told in the scriptures that will always behave this way. When in fact the tell us of His eyes looking down to behold His people, that He never slumbers, nor takes his eye of the ball, (so’s to speak). Also hearing all of the suffering in the World. So many ask, “if this is so, why does God let it carry on”? I have a theory that might go to answer this question, just given to me from God …
… in that God asks us to have faith in Him, which we never fully do, because our society demands everything NOW. We don’t want to wait so we go about getting/sorting out our problems ourself, not letting God help us. Just like a car that we have faith in to deliver us from A to B. Even having reliable car, we would not push it everywhere, telling others that while it works fine, and is a reliable make, you don’t really have faith in it …
… the Bible tells us that God hears the groaning of the prisoner, wrongly jailed. God does comfort His people in their sorrows. God holds us in His arms just as a Father would a child, meaning that His guidance is personal and strong.

   For us to understand God’s will and actions from a human stand point, here are 5 actions that might, are called ‘Divine care’ …

1. Protection
2. Affection
3. Strength
4. Endurance
5. Underneath

A father will put His arms around his child when danger threatens them, so does God protect His children…
Psalm 77:15 “..You have with Your arm redeemed Your people..”
Isaiah 59:16  “..Therefore His own arm brought salvation..”
Isaiah 33:2  “..Be their arm every morning..”

# Life is full of peril #

   With the temptations of today they are at every turn. Enemies lurk in every shadow, ready to strike with strength and swiftness. When ever we think of death it is with sadness and fear and dread. Even with all the odds about -’life assurance funeral cover’. It has more perils than death.

It is easy and safe to die when one has lived well,

although it is hard to live with

We always forget, to be assured that life cannot

separate us from the love of God

Deuteronomy 33:27 “.. underneath are the everlasting arms..”

   As God embraces His children He does so with His arms, showing His love for them. His love is tender, close and intimate. He holds them in a place of affection. Just as our Earthly father does, where we feel safest all while we are hearing his heart beating.

   Our Mother would embrace her children, scooping them up to protect the, at any signs of danger, even covering them, putting her own body between them, so that she gets hurt and not them. Of cause a mother with holds back some for those times when her children need a special love for times of pain and suffering.

   As a side thought, the ‘ARM’ is seen as a symbol of strength. A mothers arm may look frail physically, but her love is what gives her arm it’s strength. Once her arms are folded about her weak and feeble child she is able to draw upon the power of the Universe, and nothing , and I mean NOTHING will be able to tear her child away from her.

Isaiah 40:29  “..He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength..”

# This is an Arm that can never be broken #

   A suggestion in the word ‘underneath’. Not only do the arms of God embrace the child, but they are ‘underneath ever underneath’. This means that we can’t sink, for these arms will ever be beneath us where ever we may be, we cannot sink below them or even fall out of His grasp.

   When death comes, and every Earthly thing has gone from beneath us, and we sink away into what seems darkness and the shadow of death, out of all human love, out of wrath and gladness, and sweet life into the gloom and strange mystery of death, still it will be only into “..the everlasting arms..” When Jesus said with His dying breath..
Luke 23:46  “..And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last..”
… He found the everlasting arms underneath Him when Jesus spirit left the torn body. When Stephen died he prayed “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”.

Dying for us Christians, is merely breathing the lifetime

into the embrace of God. We shall find the divinely arms

underneath us. Not even death can separate us from the

wonderfully everlasting love of God

   Divine care is full of inspiration and comfort. We are not saving ourselves, Jesus did that. A strong One, The Mighty God, who holds in His grasp. We are tossed like a leaf on life’s wild sea, driven at the mercy of the wind &waves. Our security does not depend upon our feeble wavering faith, but instead the omnipotence – the love – and the faithfulness of the unchanging, the eternal God. While we trust in Him we never can sink away in floods.

NO power in the Universe can snatch us out of His hands.

Nether death or life , or things present to come, can ever separate

us from His love, Praise to the Almighty God.