Thankful for The Righteousness of God

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.  (Isaiah 61:10)

This verse focuses on the Millennial Kingdom of Christ when Israel will be saved by putting her faith in the Messiah.  The righteousness of Christ, not her own, will cloth her and make her clean.

The same is true for you and me when we place our faith in Jesus.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  (II Corinthians 5:21)

Apart from imparted righteousness, I have none.  If it weren't for the righteousness of God clothing me and making me fit for His Kingdom, I would be hopelessly damned.

The good works that show themselves in my life are a fruit of the righteousness of Christ working through me.

Do you have this imparted righteousness?  If you don't, you can have it today by turning to Jesus as your Savior.

If I were to boast of my own good works in any way, I would be no better than unbelieving Israel.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  (Romans 10:3)

The next time that we are tempted to think that we "have it all together," let's not forget that the righteousness of Jesus gives us all that we have.  Without it, we would be damned.

This Thanksgiving, I want to say, "Thank you, Lord, for your imparted righteousness."

Thankful for A Good Thing

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.  (Proverbs 18:22)

Sandra has been my faithful wife for over 20 years now, and I can say, without hesitation, that when God gave her to me, He gave me "a good thing."

She has helped to balance me, encourage me, and make me a better man for God than I would have been without her.

She is a patient, thoughtful, and kind woman who is my very best friend.

When I need encouragement, she's always there.  When I need to rant and growl sometimes in frustration, she listens patiently.  When I need some good biblical advice and encouragement, she's there with it.

Routinely, I thank the Lord for my dear wife.  She cares for me, our home, and others.  She is a nurturing soul who makes the lives of others better.

I love her dearly.

So, for Sandra, I say, "Thank you, Lord!"

Thankful for a Home

This Thanksgiving, the Lord has allowed us to host.  This is possible because He has provided us with a home.

When we prepared to make the move from Oregon to Kentucky, we didn't know what to expect as we began to look for a house.

We quickly realized that the Tennessee/Lower Kentucky area is quite a popular spot, and finding housing can be a real challenge.

However, within a couple of weeks of searching, God directed us toward a house on the south end of Bowling Green, KY.

It was a new construction (which meant that I didn't need to commence immediate repairs 😀).  It was within our budget (a big necessity), and it is just the right size.

In the midst of rising prices, a challenging housing market, and the challenges of a move, the Lord showed Himself strong on our behalf; and once again, He reminded me that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and nothing is too hard for the Lord.

So with grateful hearts, we say, "Thank you, Lord!"  

On top of this, any earthly home that we could have down here is nothing compared to the heavenly home that awaits every believer in Christ.

The "Exception Clause"

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."  (Matthew 19:3-9)

Some people believe, and teach, that divorce is acceptable if one of the spouses is unfaithful in the marriage relationship.  For justification, these same people would use this passage, because Jesus said "...Except it be for fornication."  However, is the Lord truly saying that we can get a divorce if our spouse is not faithful?  If He is saying that, then why is this important clause omitted from the parallel accounts found in Mark 10:2-12 and Luke 16:18?

Matthew's Gospel is written primarily for a Jewish audience; therefore, proper interpretation of the book requires a basic understanding of Jewish laws and customs during the time of Christ.  A Jewish man and woman were considered legally married when they became engaged.  From the time of the engagement to the time of consummation was known as the betrothal period.  If either party were unfaithful during this time, it was considered to be an act of betrayal to the other.  Notice that the Lord did not use the term adultery but rather He used the term fornication, which is broader in scope.  If the prospective bride committed fornication with another during this period, she could be put away or divorced, and according to Deuteronomy 22, the bridegroom could have her stoned.

Likely, this is the scenario with which Joseph was faced when he thought that Mary had turned aside to another man during their betrothal period (Matt. 1:18, 19).  He thought she had committed fornication, but he couldn't bring himself to have her executed or publicly disgraced.  In fact, many of the Jews believed that Mary had committed fornication and from this Christ was born (J. 8:41).  That stigma apparently stayed with her.

With these things in mind, the Lord seems to be saying that the marriage may be broken off if the prospective spouse is found unfaithful; however, once the marriage is official, the spouse who divorces the other and remarries has committed adultery.  

Mark's Gospel is directed more toward a Gentile Roman audience, so Mark includes the sin of a woman divorcing her husband, something allowed under Roman, not Jewish, law.  Mark says, "And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery."  

Without the "exception clause," we are left with the simple conclusion that marriage is for life.  If a man and woman get divorced and either one of them remarries, that person commits adultery in the eyes of the Lord.

With that said, if two people remarry after one or both have been divorced, the answer is not to get divorced again but rather to live for Christ with all their strength.  God can take broken pieces and put them together again.  Yet, this doesn't mean that people should condone divorce and remarriage simply because they have been touched by it.  Instead, they should acknowledge and bow their knees to what God has said.  

Thankful for What Truly Matters

"Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit."  (Ecclesiastes 4:6)

Today, I am grateful for the fact that I can possess little yet have peace in God.  Abundance doesn't guarantee peace.  How many wealthy families dread getting together because of inner turmoil?  No amount of personal possessions can make up for a right relationship with the Lord.

Do you have only a few possessions?  Have things been lean this year?  Are you walking with God?  If the answer to this last question is Yes, then you have all that truly matters.

According to this verse, I am better off with comparatively little but having the peace of Christ in my heart.  True peace does not have a price tag.

At Last!

A pull-up bar is something that I have always wanted to have, but we have never lived in the right location or home to have one.

At last!  I finally hung a pull-up bar.

A pull-up bar is an outstanding way to build back and arm strength.  If you're thinking, "I can't do a pull-up," then I have news for you.  Anyone can build up to them.  You can start by propelling yourself up and lowering yourself slowly.  After a while, you may be able to pull yourself up.  

Some people use a loop-style resistance band to provide a "rubber-band motion" for assisting in the upward portion of a pull-up.

You can get creative.  Propel yourself up and just hold yourself there for as long as you can.  This builds strength as well.

If you can do a full pull-up, concentrate on good form.  Keep your back and legs as straight as possible.  Don't swing your legs for momentum.  Protect your back and shoulders by focusing on keeping the body straight and the shoulders pulled back and down.

Thankful for Progress, Phone Calls and Promises

Some weeks back, my dear wife fell and broke herself.  She busted her wrist.  Poor thing.

However, now she is out of the cast and beginning rehabilitation exercises.  Rehabilitation isn't easy, because regaining strength and mobility is always harder than losing them.

Yet, I am grateful that the Lord has brought her to this point and that she is determined to take charge of her recovery and work hard at it.

Praise the Lord!

I am also grateful for a phone call from my sister.  She lives in Montana with her husband.  She just called up last evening for a chat.  I appreciate people who call or write just to call or write.

Most of all, I am thankful for God's promise of eternal life to those who believe in His Son.  I am preparing for Sunday School; and, in doing so, I have been studying the biblical doctrine of eternal security.  Here are some verses to encourage your heart ...

"For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."  (Hebrews 10:14)

"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called."  (Jude 1)

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."  (John 10:27, 28)

For You "Healthy-Eating-Haters"

 Here's a smoothie that really isn't "bad" for you, but has the taste of something that you may not expect from healthy food.

It's a chocolate-strawberry smoothie!

Give it a try, even if you hate the word "healthy."

1 cup of milk

1 cup of frozen strawberries

1 Tbsp of cocoa powder

2 Tbsp of cocoa nibs or plain old chocolate chips

1 Tbsp of maple syrup

I also added a Tbsp of protein powder, but I wouldn't recommend this unless you are consciously bulking up on protein.  The powder gives the whole thing a gritty texture.

If you really hate healthy, put some whipped cream on top (I didn't do this 😋).

Enjoy!

Cherry Almond Smoothie

 This smoothie is 255 calories and pairs well with a breakfast muffin or toast with peanut butter.  This is "healthy," but it has great flavor for those of you who are wary of healthy stuff 😉

1 cup of milk (can use almond or coconut milk)

1/2 cup frozen cauliflower (you'll never taste it, or leave out)

1/2 cup frozen sweet cherries

1/2 frozen banana

1 Tbsp almond butter (Sorry, peanut butter won't work.  It's a cherry ALMOND smoothie!)

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

If it's not sweet enough for you, use 1 Tbsp of maple syrup or a pitted date.

3 Aspects of My Redemption

When I trusted Christ to save my soul, I became one of His redeemed.  But what does it mean to be redeemed?  The definition of redemption is simple.  It means "the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil."  It means "the act by which something is gained or regained in exchange for payment."

Christ's blood purchases the redemption of all who will place faith in Him alone.

Think of biblical redemption as a triangle.  It has three sides to it of equal importance.

Firstly, I am set free from sin and the separation that it brings.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ... ."  I Peter 1:18, 19a

The word here used for redeemed is lu-tro-o.  It means simply to be set free.  Christ's valuable blood has set me free from the bondage and burden of my sin.  Christ has delivered me from eternal separation in the Lake of Fire, and He has delivered me from the power of sin in this life (Romans 6).  Someday, He will deliver me from the presence of sin as well (I John 3:2).

Secondly, I am completely delivered out from under the curse of the Law.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us... ."  Galatians 3:13

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."  Galatians 4:4, 5

Here, in both passages, the word behind redeem is ex-a-gor-ad-zo.  It means to buy up, purchase completely.  The Law says, "He must die," but Christ's blood says, "He lives because I died for him."  I can't be sold back again.  I belong to the Lord.  He is my righteousness; therefore, I am protected from the Law's condemnation.  I am bought completely.

Thirdly, I am purchased from the market of sin and set free to serve Christ.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  I Corinthians 6:20

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."  Revelation 5:9

Here, the word for redemption is a-gor-ad-zo.  It means to purchase something.  The texts make clear the fact that I am bought from the slave market of sin and set free to serve God.  Christian liberty is not a license to do as I like or to get as close to sin's border as possible.  Instead, Christian liberty frees me up to serve Christ.  I don't have to follow the strict religious rituals of the Old Testament because they have been fulfilled in Christ.  

I don't have to bind myself with self-righteous rules, trying to impress God, because Christ is my righteousness.  Instead, I can live in the Spirit of God and serve others freely.  I am still subject to the principles and commands of righteousness found in the Scripture, but I am not bound and burdened by the traditions and commandments of men.