Knowing God

I need to stop imagining God, and start knowing Him.  How do I get to know Him? First I reject all preconceived ideas of Him.  The I abandon the negative emotions of our first and past encounters. When nothing is left that could possibly be a classic notion about God.  I simply seek Him daily in His words.  I can know Him by His love letters.

Endless genealogies

1 Chronicles 1:35 ESV

The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

I had some trouble when I ran into the part of the Bible. It's hard to learn much from these genealogists, but i think I have been revealed atleast one lesson. The people we choose for a spouse can affect how our families turn. Specifically chooses a mate that is Godly wise, and also approved by your parents. There are many examples of this in The Bible, but here we will focus on Esau father of the Edomites.

First off let's see how he chose his wives.

Genesis 28:6-9 ESV

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women," and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.

So he decided to rebel against his father's wishes (and by extension disobeyed God) and picked a spouse so he to spite his father. Later in chapter 36 of Genesis it says that Esau's descendents are called to Edomites. So then jump Malachi:

Malachi 1:2-5 ESV

"I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert." If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the Lord of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called 'the wicked country,' and 'the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.'" Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!"

Here we see the eventual outcome of his poor judgement. There are many description other places in The Bible that also confirm this. The lesson in this is that who we choose for a spouse is critical to your future. Not that any mistake in choosing a mate dooms you. Hopefully you know of our God's exceedingly abundant grace, but i can say from first hand experience you will continue to deal with the consequences the only difference is that God will be standing by your side. So if you are having intercourse with your girlfriend your should probably move on and accept that it's not God honoring, if you are daring someone who doesn't believe in God then that's probably not a good idea, and most assuredly if your parents don't approved please don't incur the wrath of God. Go ahead and let them go. God will definitely bless a sacrifice like that. He will reward with something greater.

Worship and it's reward.

Singing to our Lord is a long standing tradition for my faith. In 1 Chronicles men that long ago were in charge of worship were by having their names added to The Bible. Just think this tradition is passed down to modern members of the church. For it our names are added to the book of life. That is the greatest honor we could receive from this life.

1 Chronicles 6:31-32 ESV

These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order.

Rebelion, redemption, and the water.

the world knew peace once, but that was ages ago. Back when things were simple, one man, one woman, and one God. The one God that gave man everything, but one tree. That one tree was the one thing we couldn't have. This one law, this one restriction was the one thing that the one deceiver wanted us to violate. Through deception we did. In one moment by the cunning of one snake mankind enlisted in an army that would seek to challenge sovereignty of the one God. In the war between light and dark it seemed darkness had taken victory. Mankind was ashamed of their actions. Breaking their Father left them with great guilt. Our merciful Creator did not repay our rebelion with judgment. Instead He gave tge chance to come back to Him. All He asked was for us to abandon the contract we signed with the serpent, and embrace Him again.For some this was harder than others. So the war of light and dark solutions mankind in two. While some followed the mandates of God to the letter other's added to this list of crimes. Jealousy, hate, and murder were added to the charges against us. The first soldier had fallen in the name of His King our Father. The man who was able would certainly not be the last. To this adversary of light His rendered justice. Dooming His adversary to life long exile. For years afterwards man dwelled in darkness while some still held fast to the light. This tug of war continued until the darkness held to high an advantage. Then the Creator God stepped on to the battle field to eliminate those which warred against Him. This judgment on His own children grieved the Father so much His tears flowed 'till they flooded the earth. He only spared a small remnenant that still listened for His voice. Mankind took His first steps on dry ground for the second time. Peace was on the earth again, and only time would tell if they would cherish it or toss it away like trash.

Underneath the vail of a grin

Nehemiah 2:1-8 ESV

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it." And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

Okay so we have all been there. We might be at church, school or any place where we interact with other believers. We may be caring burdens from our day with us. Burdens that we may not even realize are weighing us down. Sometimes know about them and try to hide them underneath the vail of a grin. Whether we know why we are sad or not I face automatically changes based on our mood. some get nervous and turn red. Some have been crying and just can't hold back the water works. Either way we all can't fully hide our emotions. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are right through our pointless attempts to hide our moods. They might say " Are you doing okay?" . Inside we want to say no. We want to scream for help, but the deciever pulls on the puppet string of pride. We begin to legitimize a lie. "They can't know. I would be too embarrassed. I better lie.". It's just 3 words " I'm doing great " "I'm okay" " I'm good", but it's still a lie. But that's just where it's starts.

Your friends tries again, "Are you sure?"

You reply. "Positive ".

Just one word this time, but it's still a sin. Pretty soon it's spreads . Suddenly everyone is swarming you. All across the room you leave a trail of lies. You've made excuses for your own conscience, but that doesn't pardon you from the righteous God. While this sin of lying is wrong. It is not the issue we will address. God has, can, and will pardon you for it. The point we need to learn is that we should not let pride take control of us. In this passage we see what happens when we break free from the cage of pride. Nehemiah had the King take notice of the sadness he could not hide. When the king asked "What wrong?" Nehemiah did not hold back. It may have been because Nehemiah was just an honest guy. It may also have been because he knew better than to lie to the most powerful man in the land. Truly if anyone could help him it was the king. Considered this my friend, next time you are confronted with the question "Are you okay?" Why not respond was if that person can solve your problem. Because for sure the one up above can provide for you. Maybe He moved that person to talk to you. So that your problem could be mended and joy return.

Builders and Battlers

Nehemiah 4:15-20 ESV

When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."

We are so similar to Israel it's unquestionable that they are a metaphor for our walk with Christ. a good portion of the Old Testament centers around Israel's years of captivity. This time was a punishment from God for years of turning away from Him. like us they knew what was required of them, but still did what they wanted. So judgment was rendered. One part of this judgement was the devastation of the City of Jerusalem ,the holy city of Zion.(Nehemiah 11:2). It's parallel to how how God humbles us after We have sinned. But like us they were given another chance. They were allowed to return to the capital city. Upon their return they quickly went to work rebuilding the once great city. Something like how we return to the straight and narrow road after straying off the path. When they returned they found wholes in the walls and the gates missing doors. The scares on their city were a reminder of the consequences to their past sins. But like us the record of iniquities is cleaned. like the rubble of the fallen city. The wholes are fixed, and The gates are restored. While this work of tenderly is raking place. Israel's neighbors grew fearful that their power would rise with they walls. So they planned to ambusg them while they labored. This for us is like when Satan tries to assault us while we grow in Christ. So while these workers were about their Godly calling to build. they made sure they kept the tools of battle beside the tools of building. This is a lesson to us. That while We seek to build upon our faith(Jude 1:20) through studying the Scriptures, fellowshiping with others, and worshiping the Living God We should always be on guard against attacks from the Enemy. So as you take the time to build your spiritual city to the splendor We have through Christ never forget to stay armed for the fight. As much as you take in the Scriptures to build up be sure to stockpile weapons for the battle.

Little lambs lead to slaughter

I know this passage is a prediction of Jesus Christ, but just for a moment imagine these words refer to a helpless baby cut off from.life  before ever being born.

Isaiah 53:7-9 ESV

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

and as for his generation, who considered

that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people?

And they made his grave with the wicked

and with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:7-9 ESV

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

and as for his generation, who considered

that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people?

And they made his grave with the wicked

and with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Black, white, and a little red.

Long ago, when time first started ticking,  and there were no  human words to describe the world, He was shining with the  light. The light  instantly shown it's boundaries where darkness existed. Darkness and light are twins. They exist side by side. There are completely separate with no middle ground. They are two great kingdoms who have declared the original war on each other. Their battle field is the world. The earth and all that exists was created for this purpose. This saga of two great powers plays out like a drama on the stage of Earth. The Director using only the most stunning of sets. Mountains, valleys,  oceans, and skys that reveal His artistic tallent. Birds, fish, land animals and seed yielders that confirm His planning ability.  All this effort is put into what is just behind what matters. This Earth is just a basket caring the precious cargo of Man. We are responsible at promised to outlast the fire that will consume this temporary vessel. For all it's beauty it can not compare to Man.  We are the children born originaly of light We have many roles in this world. We are the actors chosen by Him the director.  We are the soldiers that stand on the front lines of this battlefield. We are also the rat used for testing by the Scientist. But as just like darkness existed after light. Darkness who had no children of it's own jealousy sought to steal His children. We  knew. We  were told. But still a shadow was cast on us. One that still last till this day. Darkness invaded the realm of light. Through disobedience and rebellion We traded our Father of Light for one Darkness. Our development minds thought We knew better. Now We all live with the consequences of leaving the light. We can not wash out the blackness and return to white light on our own. But even after our rebellion. Our Father still cares for us. He gave us red blood sacrified in His name for us. The only way We can come back to Him.

The final will and testament of Peter

2 Peter 1:1 ESV

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Something i was thinking about the beginning to II Peter was that it sounds so official. He wrote his name in almost a legally binding way. This combined with the context that he thinks he is dying makes me think of the first chapter as a will. If this is true what Peter is leaving to his Christian family is knowledge. In Ecclesiastes knowledge and wisdom are referred to as being treasure and riches. We know Peter was not a rich man in worldly wealth because of the life he chose in Christ, but we know he had abundant love and grace from what he sacrificed to be an apostle. It also says ,in proverbs I believe, that a wise man leaves an inheritance. The inheritance he was leaving instructions on how to wait for our end. We mention that what Peter was talking about was available to all the world. Isn't it cool to think that since our knowledge of Christ is a inexhaustible treasure that we can be a philanthropist that has no reason to hold back handing out the never fading Spiritual objects of grace, peace, and love?