J.A. Matteson
"For he will be like a tree planted by water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit" (Jer. 17:8). The children of God and the children of satan are obvious, being revealed by the winnowing fork of affliction. Pilgrims are an enigma to the sons of Adam, for they cannot understand their ways. In the midst of turmoil a resolute calmness characterizes the soul that abides in the transcendent power and presence of Christ. Rejoicing in the wisdom of Christ who works all things together for good, pilgrims rest in the everlasting arms of the Lamb of God who publicly declared His love for all who trust in Him. The tide may rise, the heat my be scorching, the waves may roar, the wind may blow. Amidst it all a sublime smile is found in the face of the child of the King of heaven whose trust remains in Him who died for them in order that they may live eternally with Him.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Friday, August 17, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
The Giver of Gifts
J.A. Matteson
The idolatry of humanism knows many faces. The grace of God is revealed through natural endowments and His providence. Take heed that your trust does not subtly shift to the gifts from the Giver of the gifts, transforming that which is a blessing into a snare. "Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of His might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me...." (Jer. 9:23-24). The person with a high intellectual capacity may convince himself that it is his wisdom that has resulted in success. The powerful through position or physical might may take pride in his lot. The wealthy may revel that his riches were the seed to still further abundance. Fools, all of them. What does any man have that he has not received from the LORD? The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. If the LORD grants a season of plenty, give thanks, for it is He who gives one the ability to prosper. If the LORD should lead you to the barren plains of want, give thanks, for you have not received that which all men deserve by the hand of a just and holy God. All that a man has, whether by natural endowment or providential blessing, is a gift of God. Let the pilgrim of the LORD make Him his trust with thanksgiving and praise.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
The idolatry of humanism knows many faces. The grace of God is revealed through natural endowments and His providence. Take heed that your trust does not subtly shift to the gifts from the Giver of the gifts, transforming that which is a blessing into a snare. "Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of His might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me...." (Jer. 9:23-24). The person with a high intellectual capacity may convince himself that it is his wisdom that has resulted in success. The powerful through position or physical might may take pride in his lot. The wealthy may revel that his riches were the seed to still further abundance. Fools, all of them. What does any man have that he has not received from the LORD? The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. If the LORD grants a season of plenty, give thanks, for it is He who gives one the ability to prosper. If the LORD should lead you to the barren plains of want, give thanks, for you have not received that which all men deserve by the hand of a just and holy God. All that a man has, whether by natural endowment or providential blessing, is a gift of God. Let the pilgrim of the LORD make Him his trust with thanksgiving and praise.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Joy Upon Joy
J.A. Matteson
Ignorance of the LORD's ways brings anxiety, and knowledge of the Holy One of Israel is calm. "The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy" (Zeph. 3:17). Whether upon the highest summit or the lowest valley, the LORD Almighty is there. Whatever the accomplishment this day, it is the LORD of Hosts Who secures the victory, apart from Him nothing is possible. Give honor and praise to the LORD, His loving kindness endures forever. Delightful and unending are the LORD's thoughts toward His people; His love for them stretches beyond Orion, exceeding the farthest reaches of the Pleiades, surpassing the grains of sand upon the shore. Heaven's courts ring out with the voice of the LORD Most High who with indescribable joy proclaims His love over the sheep of His pasture, securing their inheritance in the Beloved by His marvelous promises. O joy upon joy, for the LORD is with His people now and forever more. Let not the wicked contend with the children of the King of kings and LORD of Lords, for as surely as the sun rises, His fury will visit those who harm His children.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Ignorance of the LORD's ways brings anxiety, and knowledge of the Holy One of Israel is calm. "The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy" (Zeph. 3:17). Whether upon the highest summit or the lowest valley, the LORD Almighty is there. Whatever the accomplishment this day, it is the LORD of Hosts Who secures the victory, apart from Him nothing is possible. Give honor and praise to the LORD, His loving kindness endures forever. Delightful and unending are the LORD's thoughts toward His people; His love for them stretches beyond Orion, exceeding the farthest reaches of the Pleiades, surpassing the grains of sand upon the shore. Heaven's courts ring out with the voice of the LORD Most High who with indescribable joy proclaims His love over the sheep of His pasture, securing their inheritance in the Beloved by His marvelous promises. O joy upon joy, for the LORD is with His people now and forever more. Let not the wicked contend with the children of the King of kings and LORD of Lords, for as surely as the sun rises, His fury will visit those who harm His children.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Monday, August 6, 2012
Narrow is the Way
J.A. Matteson
Perspective is a gift of God; perseverance the fruit of His Spirit. "The LORD God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places" (Hab. 3:19). Narrow is the way and difficult the path that leads to vistas of magnificence. In the valley hoards of souls wag their heads contemptuously to those choosing the path less traveled, that way which promises difficulty and peril. Along the way a multitude of adversaries seek to persuade the traveller to turn back, the path is too difficult, and the One who promised delights unspeakable from the summit cannot be trusted. Those called by Him who resides in unapproachable light are not diswaded, but continue their assent undaunted. To their astonishment the higher they climb the stronger and nimbler their feet become to jump from stone to stone and the better they are able to see the sorrowful end of the masses who took the wide and easy path of the valley below.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Perspective is a gift of God; perseverance the fruit of His Spirit. "The LORD God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places" (Hab. 3:19). Narrow is the way and difficult the path that leads to vistas of magnificence. In the valley hoards of souls wag their heads contemptuously to those choosing the path less traveled, that way which promises difficulty and peril. Along the way a multitude of adversaries seek to persuade the traveller to turn back, the path is too difficult, and the One who promised delights unspeakable from the summit cannot be trusted. Those called by Him who resides in unapproachable light are not diswaded, but continue their assent undaunted. To their astonishment the higher they climb the stronger and nimbler their feet become to jump from stone to stone and the better they are able to see the sorrowful end of the masses who took the wide and easy path of the valley below.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Christ is All in All
J.A. Matteson
"In the beginning God...." (Gen. 1:1). Consider this Spirit inspired truth uttered by Moses and absorb its implications. God is eternal and before all things. God is then necessarily in the midst of all things progressively, and the end of all things conclusively. The joy of pilgrims is the omnipresent immediacy of Christ who was and is and is to come, "lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). At every beginning in your life Christ is there. We live and move and have our being in the linear dimension of time. At the beginning of this day, Christ is there. At the beginning of occasions of triumphant joy, Christ is there. At the beginning of tragedy and heartbreak, Christ is there. At the beginning of pondering alternative future plans, Christ is there. Christ is at the beginnig of all things, in the midst of all things, and at the collusion of all things. Christ is all in all. Contemplate the number of beginnings in time that define each day of your life and rest in the reality of the presence of Christ in all of them. Christ is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
"In the beginning God...." (Gen. 1:1). Consider this Spirit inspired truth uttered by Moses and absorb its implications. God is eternal and before all things. God is then necessarily in the midst of all things progressively, and the end of all things conclusively. The joy of pilgrims is the omnipresent immediacy of Christ who was and is and is to come, "lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). At every beginning in your life Christ is there. We live and move and have our being in the linear dimension of time. At the beginning of this day, Christ is there. At the beginning of occasions of triumphant joy, Christ is there. At the beginning of tragedy and heartbreak, Christ is there. At the beginning of pondering alternative future plans, Christ is there. Christ is at the beginnig of all things, in the midst of all things, and at the collusion of all things. Christ is all in all. Contemplate the number of beginnings in time that define each day of your life and rest in the reality of the presence of Christ in all of them. Christ is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Sentinels of Righteousness
J.A. Matteson
The charismatic personality of a government leader with evil intent may corrupt the sensibilities of otherwise rational people. "But they [Nation of Israel] did not listen [to the warnings of the prophets], and Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel" (2 Kings 21:9). In this regard history repeats itself from generation to generation, from nation to nation. When a people become numb in soul to performing evil, declaring good evil and evil good, God's judgement follows. Woe to the sentinels of righteousness who stand firm in declaring the moral standards of the LORD in the midst of a perverse people, for as rabid dogs men of depraved mind turn and tear them to shreds. Practitioners of wickedness work in dark places, detesting the Light and those who wield it, and with all their might they endeavor to conceal it. The mercy and compassion of the LORD will not forget Jacob nor His inheritance. It is the kindness of the LORD that leads His people to repentance to the praise and glory of His wonderful name.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
The charismatic personality of a government leader with evil intent may corrupt the sensibilities of otherwise rational people. "But they [Nation of Israel] did not listen [to the warnings of the prophets], and Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel" (2 Kings 21:9). In this regard history repeats itself from generation to generation, from nation to nation. When a people become numb in soul to performing evil, declaring good evil and evil good, God's judgement follows. Woe to the sentinels of righteousness who stand firm in declaring the moral standards of the LORD in the midst of a perverse people, for as rabid dogs men of depraved mind turn and tear them to shreds. Practitioners of wickedness work in dark places, detesting the Light and those who wield it, and with all their might they endeavor to conceal it. The mercy and compassion of the LORD will not forget Jacob nor His inheritance. It is the kindness of the LORD that leads His people to repentance to the praise and glory of His wonderful name.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Trust in the Lord
J.A. Matteson
Misguided alliances sadden the heart; and trust misplaced is bitter to the soul. "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him" (Ps. 62:5). As the sovereign, God has so ordered creation that glory, honor, power, and hope are expressions of His Person. God is both the expression and object of hope. All created things are temporal and imperfect. Hoping in the perishable ends in despair, for that which is perishable cannot supply hope eternal. The inclination of fallen man is to trust it creation rather than God. A jaded cynicism often characterizes the soul that has experienced repeated disappointment by hoping in creation rather than God. Those who trust in the LORD will never be disappointed and they will rise on the dawn with joy in the expectancy of His grace. In all situations, in every activity, in each relationship trust in the LORD of creation, for He is LORD of all, the eternal sovereign in whom your hope is rightly placed.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Misguided alliances sadden the heart; and trust misplaced is bitter to the soul. "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him" (Ps. 62:5). As the sovereign, God has so ordered creation that glory, honor, power, and hope are expressions of His Person. God is both the expression and object of hope. All created things are temporal and imperfect. Hoping in the perishable ends in despair, for that which is perishable cannot supply hope eternal. The inclination of fallen man is to trust it creation rather than God. A jaded cynicism often characterizes the soul that has experienced repeated disappointment by hoping in creation rather than God. Those who trust in the LORD will never be disappointed and they will rise on the dawn with joy in the expectancy of His grace. In all situations, in every activity, in each relationship trust in the LORD of creation, for He is LORD of all, the eternal sovereign in whom your hope is rightly placed.
Copyright (c) 2012 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)