J.A. Matteson
Our confidence in what we purport to believe about God will be tested by God. "But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed" (Job 4:5). With great assurance we may strengthen others in the days of plenty and pleasure, espousing the greatness and tender mercies of God, and yet, that to which we speak is lacking the veracity of personal experience. To acknowledge is fundamentally different from knowing, it is a lower level. God intends for His children to know Him as we know the heart of a close friend. The test comes when that which we confidently acknowledge is placed in the fire of affliction. Days may turn to weeks, and weeks may turn to months, and months may turn to years, and your suffering continues, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" is our cry (Ps. 22:1). In reply to our cry is silence, deafening quiet. And then it happens, after a protracted period of time we become spiritually depleted, exhausted, virtually unable to continue another second acknowledging the truth of God's mercies. We consider ourselves as dead, without future. It is in that moment, in that place, that it comes, when self is dead and all that remains is Jesus Christ, then we hear it, "a gentle whisper" (1 Kgs. 19:12). The end of self in merely our mental assent is what God is after, replacing acknowledgement with knowing, and the way is narrow, difficult, but glorious in its treasures. Now our words of counsel and exhortation to others possess a fresh vitality, spiritually infused with the life giving presence of one who has walked with Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:3-5). God restored Job and his words of wisdom became sweeter and more tender as a result of what he personally knew to be true of God and His gracious dealings with His children.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Grace Transforms our Hearts
J.A. Matteson
The road is not always smooth nor the grass green. Bitter cold replaces the warmth of summers sun and a friend returns evil for good. "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10). The times and seasons of our existence are for the good pleasure of God. The earth is His, we are His creation to dispose of as He chooses. And unless we are vigilant we may delude ourselves into concluding our lot deserves nothing short of feather beds and roses. Underlying this mindset is a fundamental misunderstanding of who God is and what He after as He infuses the life of His Son in us. And until we recognize the pleasant and unpleasant as both being under the sovereign control of God to disperse as He pleases, we will trod along our way being tossed hither and yon by every circumstance. What God is after is that His children, as with His Son, will put on a heart of wisdom and obedience, emptying the last vestiges of self into the eternal ocean of God's perfect will. Whatsoever comes to pass, Job understood, is from the hand of God. And as such ultimately it is for our good, even though in the moment we may not understand. So we trust in Him who is faithful, defer to Him who is omniscient, and rest in Him who will never leave nor forsake us. Satan incites us to curse God in our affliction. Grace transforms our hearts completely, where affliction becomes the affirmation and witness of our lips to the everlasting love of Him who died that we might live.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
The road is not always smooth nor the grass green. Bitter cold replaces the warmth of summers sun and a friend returns evil for good. "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10). The times and seasons of our existence are for the good pleasure of God. The earth is His, we are His creation to dispose of as He chooses. And unless we are vigilant we may delude ourselves into concluding our lot deserves nothing short of feather beds and roses. Underlying this mindset is a fundamental misunderstanding of who God is and what He after as He infuses the life of His Son in us. And until we recognize the pleasant and unpleasant as both being under the sovereign control of God to disperse as He pleases, we will trod along our way being tossed hither and yon by every circumstance. What God is after is that His children, as with His Son, will put on a heart of wisdom and obedience, emptying the last vestiges of self into the eternal ocean of God's perfect will. Whatsoever comes to pass, Job understood, is from the hand of God. And as such ultimately it is for our good, even though in the moment we may not understand. So we trust in Him who is faithful, defer to Him who is omniscient, and rest in Him who will never leave nor forsake us. Satan incites us to curse God in our affliction. Grace transforms our hearts completely, where affliction becomes the affirmation and witness of our lips to the everlasting love of Him who died that we might live.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
God Knows Us
J.A. Matteson
In our pilgrims journey we at times loose sight of God, but God never looses sight of us. "How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!" (Ps. 139:17). We do not know ourselves, but God knows us. We fail to understand His leading so as to bring to pass what He has ordained this day. We misinterpret difficulty as His displeasure when more often it is His kindness redirecting our way to bring us back to the path He has ordained for us, for our good and His glory. And depending on how far we have wandered from His way the journey back may appear daunting. Had we known ourselves as He knows us we would have recognized early on we were off the path and self-corrected our way. This is the perseverance of the saints who continue on their journey toward glory, and that by the grace of God. Had it not been for grace they would have remained in a desert place to the destruction of the soul. The loving kindness of the LORD is a sure foundation, a river springing forth into life eternal. If the day is cloudy obscuring the mountain peaks of His majesty, and the path uneven and precarious, rest in the knowledge that God is making perfect sense of your circumstances. And if He brings you to your senses where looking down at where your feet are standing you discern you have strayed from His path, simply acknowledge that which you know to be true and ask Him to guide you back. His good thoughts towards you are never ceasing in guiding you to your heavenly dwelling, giving you the desire of your heart.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
In our pilgrims journey we at times loose sight of God, but God never looses sight of us. "How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!" (Ps. 139:17). We do not know ourselves, but God knows us. We fail to understand His leading so as to bring to pass what He has ordained this day. We misinterpret difficulty as His displeasure when more often it is His kindness redirecting our way to bring us back to the path He has ordained for us, for our good and His glory. And depending on how far we have wandered from His way the journey back may appear daunting. Had we known ourselves as He knows us we would have recognized early on we were off the path and self-corrected our way. This is the perseverance of the saints who continue on their journey toward glory, and that by the grace of God. Had it not been for grace they would have remained in a desert place to the destruction of the soul. The loving kindness of the LORD is a sure foundation, a river springing forth into life eternal. If the day is cloudy obscuring the mountain peaks of His majesty, and the path uneven and precarious, rest in the knowledge that God is making perfect sense of your circumstances. And if He brings you to your senses where looking down at where your feet are standing you discern you have strayed from His path, simply acknowledge that which you know to be true and ask Him to guide you back. His good thoughts towards you are never ceasing in guiding you to your heavenly dwelling, giving you the desire of your heart.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Thursday, June 12, 2014
By Grace We Stand
J.A. Matteson
Whatsoever comes to pass is by the sovereign hand of God. The fool is convinced it is by his cunning and might he has prevailed. "The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength" (Ps. 33:16). That is an affront to humanism, a slight to prognosticators of self-determination. Nevertheless its truth is to be confessed and embraced. And to believers God's sovereignty is a firm foundation, a comfort in the midst of evil. If we were to stand and prevail by our own hand we would surely be swept away. By grace we stand against evil, trust in Him to deliver us, love Him who died that we might live, move here and there to and fro, embrace and laugh, weep and mourn, smile and frown, pick up and toss away, proclaim and defend, love and hope. Consider that which is in your hand for good, but trust in the LORD, for by His providence you either stand or fall, and He is able to make you stand, all those who place their hope in Him.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Whatsoever comes to pass is by the sovereign hand of God. The fool is convinced it is by his cunning and might he has prevailed. "The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength" (Ps. 33:16). That is an affront to humanism, a slight to prognosticators of self-determination. Nevertheless its truth is to be confessed and embraced. And to believers God's sovereignty is a firm foundation, a comfort in the midst of evil. If we were to stand and prevail by our own hand we would surely be swept away. By grace we stand against evil, trust in Him to deliver us, love Him who died that we might live, move here and there to and fro, embrace and laugh, weep and mourn, smile and frown, pick up and toss away, proclaim and defend, love and hope. Consider that which is in your hand for good, but trust in the LORD, for by His providence you either stand or fall, and He is able to make you stand, all those who place their hope in Him.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Rest
J.A. Matteson
Be careful not to allow your love for Jesus Christ to hinder the divine imperative relating to His redemptive means. "Do not let your heart be troubled...." (Jn. 14:1). Are you annoyed when Jesus is mocked, ridiculed, slandered? Is it your inclination to insert yourself into providences hostile to Christ and His kingdom in order to alter perceived outcomes? Can you see that you have allowed your heart to be troubled? It is natural to desire to protect and defend those we love from harm. We forget that Jesus is the sovereign I Am, omnipotent, eternal God of creation. Does He need our protection? Loosing sight of His majesty our hearts become troubled. This day, regardless of the disdain by which His name may be maligned, Jesus reminds us, "Do not let your heart be troubled." Contrary to the false teachers' assertions, world opinion about Jesus will not become sweeter before His immanent return, but it will become increasingly bitter and hostile, all according to His perfect redemptive plan in calling out His sheep. Rest, therefore, in His everlasting arms of peace this day, assured that in spite of opposition He has the situation perfectly under control.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Be careful not to allow your love for Jesus Christ to hinder the divine imperative relating to His redemptive means. "Do not let your heart be troubled...." (Jn. 14:1). Are you annoyed when Jesus is mocked, ridiculed, slandered? Is it your inclination to insert yourself into providences hostile to Christ and His kingdom in order to alter perceived outcomes? Can you see that you have allowed your heart to be troubled? It is natural to desire to protect and defend those we love from harm. We forget that Jesus is the sovereign I Am, omnipotent, eternal God of creation. Does He need our protection? Loosing sight of His majesty our hearts become troubled. This day, regardless of the disdain by which His name may be maligned, Jesus reminds us, "Do not let your heart be troubled." Contrary to the false teachers' assertions, world opinion about Jesus will not become sweeter before His immanent return, but it will become increasingly bitter and hostile, all according to His perfect redemptive plan in calling out His sheep. Rest, therefore, in His everlasting arms of peace this day, assured that in spite of opposition He has the situation perfectly under control.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Monday, June 2, 2014
The Supreme Example
J.A. Matteson
To what or to whom are you looking to for guidance in your pilgrims journey toward heaven? Unless the example of discipleship by men is solidly forged in the furnace of affliction in pursuit of Jesus Christ you are on a fools errand emulating them. "For I gave you an example that you should do as I did to you" (Jn. 13:15). How am I to live, love, persevere, exhort, forgive, minister, depend, rest, teach or hope apart from the example of Jesus Christ? Follow the example of no man who is not himself following Jesus Christ. So close in heart to Jesus Christ was the apostle Paul that he dared to proclaim, "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us" (Phil. 3:17). When our life is hidden in Jesus Christ His life giving transformational Spirit produces in us that which is well pleasing in His sight (2 Pet. 1:6-9). As you journey set the supreme example of Jesus Christ before you, intently study Him, when you consider in what manner you are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Only by being closely acquainted with Him will you develop the discernment to know which examples among men are worthy of your consideration.
To what or to whom are you looking to for guidance in your pilgrims journey toward heaven? Unless the example of discipleship by men is solidly forged in the furnace of affliction in pursuit of Jesus Christ you are on a fools errand emulating them. "For I gave you an example that you should do as I did to you" (Jn. 13:15). How am I to live, love, persevere, exhort, forgive, minister, depend, rest, teach or hope apart from the example of Jesus Christ? Follow the example of no man who is not himself following Jesus Christ. So close in heart to Jesus Christ was the apostle Paul that he dared to proclaim, "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us" (Phil. 3:17). When our life is hidden in Jesus Christ His life giving transformational Spirit produces in us that which is well pleasing in His sight (2 Pet. 1:6-9). As you journey set the supreme example of Jesus Christ before you, intently study Him, when you consider in what manner you are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Only by being closely acquainted with Him will you develop the discernment to know which examples among men are worthy of your consideration.
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