“In their affliction they will seek me early.” Hosea 5:15

The eternal consequences of sin is resolved by the saving grace of God demonstrated and delivered by Jesus. Jesus and Jesus alone holds the power to deliver you from sin and death. It is the power of God that keeps you until the final hour you will live in this world created by God.

Speaking to this truth, the Apostle Paul said, “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Ti 1:12) The eternal power of sin has been removed from your life, Jesus said:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” (John 10:28-29)

The question is not will you sin after you are born-again, you will. The question is what will your consequences be walking in the ways of this world and not in the power and will of God. You will stumble and fall. No one is able to live a life free from the temptations of sin.

The outcome of living a life that is contrary to God’s will is a life void of peace, joy and victory. Living with God’s favor on your life is how a born-again follower of Jesus receives the power to avoid the effects of the world in their life. God has allowed Satan to become “the prince of the power of the air,” and that is  “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Eph 2:2)

This power that Satan has over the “children of disobedience” does not apply to the born-again followers of Jesus. This power has been removed and cast “As far as the east is from the west." (Psa 103:12)

If you are born-again and sin, the question God asks you is how long will you wander in the world’s ways before you repent. It is God’s desire for His people they will  “In their affliction they will seek me early.” How long will you wander in the land of the lost before you call out to God for forgiveness?

To the child of God that strayed away from God’s loving fellowship, He has made you this promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The Apostle Peter makes this observation, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Pe 2:25) Jesus has saved you, sin no longer holds the power of death over you.

Jesus is the “Shepherd and Bishop of your soul” and when you sin, Jesus desires that you will in your “affliction seek him early.” Restoration and renewal are just a prayer away for you that have strayed from the “Shepherd and Bishop of your soul.”

Forgiveness of sin for the follower of God does not reclaim your place in the “Father’s house.” When God forgives you of your sin He restores His favor on you. To live in the darkness of the world of the lost, or to live in the light of God’s blessing is your choice.

My friend, how long will you wander the world of the lost? How long will you live without the favor of God on your life? How long will you delay your peace and joy granted by living a life of victory? The choice is yours and yours alone. Today if you are willing, call on His name and be restored to a life of victory.

“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.” Hosea 11:4

The power of redemption is in the hands of God. No one is capable of seeking a relationship with God unless He first reveals Himself to them. Jesus makes this evident when He explains His place in the redemption of humanity:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

God reveals Himself and draws people to Him in many different ways. God does not hide Himself from you. God makes Himself known to everyone in His creation and seeks to draw them into the light of His love from the darkness of sin and death.

The revelation of God can be found in His creation that surrounds us:

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Rom 1:19-20)

God has created humanity with the knowledge of Him stamped into our DNA. God’s word states the knowledge of Him, “is manifested” to all His creation. Manifested is to be understood as shining or apparent. If this was not enough the scripture declares, “God hath shewed it unto them.” 

This revelation of God to you is not enough to bring redemption to you alone. The scripture reveals the need for you to recognize God’s power over His creation if you are to escape death and destruction that sin visits in the lives of all humanity.

Darkness comes over people who reject the authority of God. This darkness will block the understanding of God and will remove the revelation of God’s existence to you. This darkness is described in this verse:

“… when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom 1:21)

The darkness that falls on people who reject God’s authority is demonstrated in their posture towards God. The afore verse states when an ego-centric attitude towards God is demonstrated, “neither were thankful,” was the result of their unwillingness to glorify Him as God. This condition of the heart will cause you to become “vain” and you will become a follower of your “imaginations” about who and what God is.

What is the outcome of rejecting God’s authority? You become a “fool":

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Rom 1:22)

That alone would be a bad enough condition to find yourself in but there is one more horrifying and terrible experience for those who deny God’s authority. You will lose your mind.

When you reject God’s authority over your life there is no absolute authority to control the sin-driven behaviors that plague humanity The scripture states:

“…as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Rom 1:28)

A “reprobate mind” is one who has rejected the goodness and righteousness of God and has become worthless to their selves, others and God. Sin holds the power of death of the body but also the power of death of self-worth and the value of other people in your life.

It is to the ones who will “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isa 55:6) that God’s revelation to His creation can expel the darkness and death of sin and give light and hope.

Is God calling you, “with cords of a man, with bands of love”? If so, recognize His authority over your life and call out to Him and you will receive Jesus’ promise that He made to the ones that respond to God’s drawing, “and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The New Mentality

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:13

The often used saying, “Beggars cannot be choosers”, found its way into the colloquialisms of the European culture through a book of proverbs compiled by John Heywood in 1546.  This expression, when it first appeared in Heywood’s book, was recorded as “Beggars should be no choosers.”

This axiom made its way into the American culture as “Beggars can’t be choosers.” The intent of this proverb is clear. You do not have the privilege of demanding anything you cannot achieve yourself. This well-known proverb has an addendum that has been added to reflect the base human nature.

Many people have created a lifestyle of entitlement and often demand others provide, free of charge, what they choose to have. This new entitlement mentality held by many has made this update to Heywood’s proverb. “Beggars can’t be choosers but often are.”

Indeed Mephibosheth was a beggar. The culture of the time in history this event occurred was not focused on “human rights.” Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and grandson of Israel’s King Saul. He was made lame when his nurse fell on him as they fled upon hearing both his father Jonathan and his grandfather King Saul had been killed in battle.

In this culture, it was common that the ascending king would kill all of the deposed leader’s children to stop any challenge to the new administration. Jonathan’s nurse, fearing for the life of the child, did indeed save his life but left him physically disabled. Jonathan was the child of a prince and grandson of a king but lived a life of despair and poverty.

God’s grace is demonstrated in the words, “So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table.” How did a “beggar” spend the rest of his life in the favor of the King who he feared? One word— grace!

The scripture records that soon after, the new king of Israel established his power and was reflecting on the events that had changed not only his life but had ended the life of his dear friend Jonathan. Recalling his promise to Jonathan, “not cut off thy kindness from my house forever” (1Sa 20:15) David questioned:

“And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” (2 Sa 9:1)

It was brought to the Kings attention that the son of his dear friend was alive and crippled so David ordered that Mephibosheth be brought to him. When the son of his friend arrived he was in fear and bowed before the king. Upon learning how the King was going to bless him he said:

“And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” (2 Sa 9:8)

This beggar was not a chooser. He was chosen. This is a wonderful example of how God’s grace is directed to His creation. Mephibosheth was blessed, not for his own life, but because of the death of Jonathan. We are blessed not because of our value.  We like Mephibosheth are, “dead dogs” and are undeserving beggars. Like Mephibosheth, we were beggars who were chosen by God because of the death of Jesus. We now have a place at the King’s table for eternity.

Are you a beggar who wants to be a chooser? Do you demand to be in the favor of God because of how you are? Do you want the privileges of the King’s table without the commitment to God? The gospel of Jesus is the story of a loving God reaching out to sinful beggars with the offer of redemption and restoration.

Have you called on the name of Jesus in repentance? If not, today can be your day of salvation and granted a seat at the King’s table.

“What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:8

This statement was not an attempt of self-deprecation but a statement of fact. Life has dealt this man what would be considered a terrible past and a worse future. Mephibosheth was only 5 years old when he fell victim to the actions taken by a corrupt political leader. Saul, King of Israel had sinned against God and was soon to be deposed from his position.

King Saul’s arrogance was demonstrated in his capricious approach to the ways of God. Saul, in his impudence, had offered priestly sacrifices seeking to gain God’s favor in the ensuing battle. Saul grew weary waiting on the prophet and intervened. Saul made the sacrifice himself to advance the timeline for his attack on his enemies. God’s response to Saul's sin came through the prophet when he said:

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Sa 15:23)  

Saul’s disobedience not only would end his rule of Israel but would lead to the death of his son Jonathan and the exile and crippling of his grandson Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth would live a life as not only a cripple but in exile fearing for his life every day.

In the culture during the time Mephibosheth lived, compassion was a rare commodity and his life was lived out in desperation and poverty. In Mephibosheth’s own words he lived a life of a “dead dog.” There was no reason for the new king to grant any compassion to this “dead dog” but he did.

In fact, the new king had many reasons why he should end the life of Mephibosheth. History of kings and kingdoms are filled with many attempts at coups by descendants of the previous king and it was a common practice for the new reigning king to secure his position by tracking down and killing any potential challenger to his throne.

Why did Mephibosheth find favor and compassion from the new king? Compassion, not because he deserved it but because it was granted by David the new king. This compassion was directed to this self-proclaimed “dead dog” because of the sacrifice of Jonathan.

Jonathan, following the will of God, knew that David would depose his father Saul and become the new King of Israel. Jonathan, willing to follow God’s will, approached David with this understanding  and a covenant was made between David and Jonathan that would be executed when David would become king:

“Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul.” (1 Sa 18:3)

This covenant was a promise from David when he would become king and would redeem Jonathan’s family.

David, out of love for his friend Jonathan, reached out and sought out Mephibosheth. This act of compassion transformed a “dead dog” into a living soul that was full and completely restored.  This covenant between David and Jonathan was a blood covenant. It was the death of Jonathan that was the power behind the compassion and favor David directed towards Mephibosheth.

God loves you and has made a covenant with you. Jesus said:

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luk 22:20)

You, like Mephibosheth, are being sought out by God. His love for you is not based on your value but the value He places on Jesus.

Turning Your Own Way

The love of God is not dependent upon who we are but who He is. We are incapable of earning God’s affection. Isaiah, the prophet to the nation of Israel, said:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa 53:6)

Born as a sinner, we start on a path that will and has led us “astray” and do not seek after God. This is the outcome of the fallen nature of humanity. Apostle Paul makes this observation about our spiritual condition:

 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom 3:10-12)

God’s love is the power for us to change our lives.The Scriptures make this comment about how we are able to overcome our fallen condition:

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Tit 3:3-5)

The kindness of God is demonstrated by loving us. His love for us did not begin when we loved Him back but God’s love was directed at you before you even acknowledged God’s existence. The letter Apostle Paul sent to the Christians in Rome makes the observation about the nature of God’s love:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

The word ‘commendeth’ is understood to mean “stand with or to draw near.”

God’s love was not just directed towards you but He sought you out while you were deep in the darkness of sin. Jesus said:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

The love of God that was commended to you was how you came to know Jesus.

God did not just send His Son, He “commendeth” His love to seek you out and stand with you so you could know Jesus. God’s love is the motivation for Jesus’ coming to the world, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16)

God not only loves you, He seeks to have you love Him back. To love God back will make you aware that God is not just there now but has always been with you. To acknowledge God and receive His grace is a life-changing experience.

Not only are you granted a place in His Kingdom, you are endowed with His Spirit that moves you from the darkness of sin and into God’s will. Apostle Peter states what happens when you love God back:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Pe 2:9)

Do you know God is standing with you? Have you loved Him back? Acknowledge God today and repent of your sin and the “marvelous light” will change not just where you are going to spend eternity but God’s love will give you joy and peace while you live out your life on this side of Heaven. 

Jesus was a great teacher…

a prophet, healer and friend. These character qualities alone would qualify Jesus as a saint but would not allow Him to be received by God. Jesus was a man who was:

 “…despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isa 53:3)

Jesus was a man who, “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows,” and the ones whom He served saw Him as, “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isa 53:4) This great sacrifice alone did not win Him God’s favor.

Why was Jesus approved of God if it was not for these great works and sacrifice? The word of God gives us this understanding of just who and what Jesus was and why He was approved by God:

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Col 1:15-17)

Jesus is, was, and for all eternity, will be God. Jesus, living as a man in His creation, did not lay down His righteousness but His righteousness was enclosed in the flesh. Jesus was not tempted to engage in the sinfulness that Satan has used against humanity. The nature of sin is that you must lust to commit sin. The scripture makes this claim:

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (Jas 1:14-15)

These very same claims of righteousness the scripture ascribe to Jesus; teaching, healing, serving and prophesying was claimed by the ones who were demanding to be “received up into glory.” Listen to their voices as recorded in scripture:

 “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Mat 7:22) 

Their claim to “glory” was rejected by Jesus with these words:

“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mat 7:23)

Why was Jesus “received up into glory” and the ones who laid claim to the same character qualities that scripture accredited to Jesus? Jesus was without sin and they were not. Unlike Jesus, who did not lust and therefore could not have sin, they did lust and did sin. Jesus was God who became man. Jesus was not just a man but He was a God-man. 

Do you desire to be received “up into glory” when you die? You must have the same righteousness that Jesus possesses. Your righteousness will disqualify you. You must have the righteousness of God bestowed on you by God’s grace and mercy.

Do not be another voice in the crowd trying to be “received up into glory” that is depending on accomplishments made in your own power. Repent of your sin and call on Jesus’ work on the cross and you will be saved and indeed be received into glory.

The Original Answer Book

Reading the Bible is the first step in understanding God and His work in your life. Many of life’s questions can be answered as we read the word of God. Apostle Paul told Timothy:

 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Ti 3:16-17)

The word of God reveals the teachings (doctrine) of God as well as correction for the follower of Jesus and gives us the understanding of the righteousness that God has availed to His people. It is the power of the word of God that allows a born-again believer to be capable of producing “good works” that will ultimately please God.

To search the scriptures requires more than just a casual approach to the reading of the Bible. To become proficient in any endeavor takes both time and diligence. Jesus said to “search” when you read the scripture.

Search for the Right Reason

How the Bible is read is important. To read with the wrong motivation or seeking God’s approval for a belief system, that will validate your lifestyle choices, will not reveal God’s truth to you. To have a profitable understanding of God and His word, you must be searching the scriptures for the right purpose. God has a purpose in leaving behind the scripture for you to study.

The word search is to be understood as ‘to examine or investigate’. When reading the Bible you should be examining or investigating as you read. As you read the Bible, what should be the underlying teaching you should be investigating? Jesus said to search for the Saviour and His work when you read the words of God found in the Bible.

Why Search

Many people search the scriptures to find regulations that assist grace and mercy from God, granted by the gospel of Jesus, to increase the value of their relationship with God. Some search the scripture looking for ways to free them of their accountability to God; seeking to be released from regulation of behavior because of God’s grace. Others search; looking for loopholes for their chosen violation of the righteousness of God.

What should we be investigating when we read the Bible? Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

If you memorized every word of the Bible and had full knowledge of the law and prophets, you still would not acquire eternal life. Jesus said it was finding the Saviour to whom the scripture testifies when you study the scriptures that will gift you with eternal life.

Are you reading the scripture? If not, start today and read your Bible daily. If you are reading your Bible, are you searching for truth as you read or are you just fulfilling some quota of scripture you need to read each day? If you are reading the Bible and searching for truth, make sure you have your “Jesus glasses” on as you read. Every word, sentence and paragraph should be filtered looking for Jesus.

The Remedy is God's Grace

Christian author and theologian C.S Lewis said:

“You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Everything has a beginning, middle and ending. We have no control how we begin. We do not choose where we are born, who we are born to and the condition we are born in. Often the “baggage” that we drag along in our life’s journey is unintentional and many times is placed in our lives by the actions of others. 

The question that needs to be asked and answered is now that you have left the beginning of your life’s journey, how can you change how it ends? If you are doing foolish or stupid things and find yourself in a vortex of stupid behavior, how do you change?

The Still Small Voice

Listen to the Spirit of God. You are never too old or too late for God’s grace to give you a new beginning that will change the end of your life’s journey. Many people experience their highest joy in life after suffering from the lowest point in their life.

It is true “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.”

We all sow the seeds we will harvest and sometimes our enemies sow seeds of “tares” that will be in our harvest.  Rest assured there will be a harvest but we can change what seeds we plant now that we will harvest in the future, “but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal 6:7-8)

Solomon observing the cyclical nature of people practicing stupid behavior said:

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” (Pro 26:11)

Are you in a cyclical behavioral vortex? Do you find yourself returning to what you have “vomited” out of your life? It has been said, the aphorism “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” is a proverbial description of people trying to manage the “middle” of their lives in ways that will change the “end” of their lives.

How do we change our life's journey?

The best we can hope for when we try to change our stupid behavior is tombstones of failure that remind us of Solomon’s words “as a dog returneth to his vomit.”  How do we change the end of our life’s journey?

Call on the name of Jesus and you will be saved! Why is this so important? The Bible describes the salvation experience as creating a new beginning:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Co 5:17)

When C.S Lewis said, “You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending,” his words “start where you are,” are empowered by the Spirit of God by salvation. When you follow the Gospel and are born-again, you have a new life that comes with a new Father, a new family, a new home and new beginning that allows you to change how your life’s journey ends.

Call on Jesus today! If you have called on Him and still find yourself doing "Stupid Things" that bring you grief, remember these words of promise:

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jn 1:9)

A new beginning that changes the end of our life’s journey is available as often as you turn your affection to Jesus and confess your stupid behavior. Start sowing good seed in the “middle” that will change the end of your life’s journey.