Trees of Righteousness

Trees of Righteousness

When i have writers block…sitting at my computer just staring at the blinking curser, growing ever more frustrated as nothing comes to mind (i know that most of you can understand somewhat of what i am trying to express) anyway, at the point of absolute frustration i put on music. It is usually my favorite album of all time, David Crowders Neon Steeple Deluxe Edition, and grab my “magic” Bible and just flip it open and begin reading.
Today i opened to one of my favorite passages in Isaiah. In chapter 61:1-3 is says this: (NKJ)

61 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 

This passage really speaks for itself but it also speaks for me and my heart, where i am on my journey. So, i wanted to share it with you. Read this passage yourself a few times, asking Jesus to show you through His Holy Spirit insight into your own walk with Him. Where are you in it, are you being called? Are you brokenhearted, mourning, bound? Hear the passage…Hear the Spirit…Listen!  Leave a comment or share a prayer request.

You are loved,

cj

God’s Holiness and Love: Insights from the Lord’s Prayer

God’s Holiness and Love: Insights from the Lord’s Prayer

May Your Name be kept Holy

Continuing with, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may Your name be kept holy.
10 May Your Kingdom come soon.
May Your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who offended us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

Let me remind us of another passage we find in scripture 1 Peter 1:16   “For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” Now this passage in reality is impossible apart from Messiah. We can not on our own ever achieve holiness. So how can we be holy? Well, we know that Elohim is Holy, and if Elohim dwells in us and is changing us into His likeness then we are made holy through Yahoshua. It is His righteousness, His grace, His mercy…not our own works that we can boast.

There is another aspect of our part of holiness. It is a set-apart holiness. Although we live in the world we are to be separate from it. We are not to partake in its sins. We put on the new creation brought through repentance and baptism. This new way of life is sanctified in Yahoshua. Through the power of the Holy Spirit within us we are enabled to live holy set-apart lives for the Father.

Yahoshua, in teaching us to pray reveals the very nature of Elohim. Holy, yes, but also love. Yes, love. As we hear Yahoshua say, Elohim is Holy…we also see the Love of Yahoshua displayed in every action. Elohim’s love at work in and through the person of Yahoshua reveals His Holy Love. To make us Holy as He is Holy so that we might dwell in His presence. Messiah’s holiness in us…may we keep His name Holy and wholly before us.

you are loved,

cj