Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

The Lord is our portion

9/20/2012

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord (Lamentations 3:21-26).

God asks us to both hope and quietly wait. Basically, we are to be patient and content at all times. This can be very difficult though, especially if we are hurting or in need. But God desires our full trust and faithfulness and He asks that we do these continually. Our trust and faithfulness is built through relying on God and finding that in due time His provisions are the only solution to our troubles. This is the hope of the Gospel.

God is faithful

9/19/2012

28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished (Jeremiah 46:28).

God is faithful even when His people are not. There are however consequences for God’s people when they are disobedient. The purpose of consequences in many cases is to correct the original disobedience. The correction can be severe, but we should know that God really desires that we be in the right relationship to Him. And sometimes this means we need to be re-directed.

Trust in God

9/18/2012

17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 39:17-18).

When God’s people are faithful, God always come to their aid. It may appear at times that this is not so, but remember that God speaks, sees and acts from an eternal perspective. So all of God’s actions in response to Man have everlasting aims. Part of being faithful is trusting in God and in God’s sovereign choices. In many instances, we may question far too much God’s plan. While this is natural, we would be wise to remember that it is God alone that is in charge, and in the end, all of His actions are just.

The Lord, the Maker

9/17/2012

2 Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:2-3).

It is significant that God discuss His name and calling upon His name at the same time He discusses creation. The significance is in the idea of first-principles. First-principles are things on which everything else hinges upon and are based. The first-principle here is that God creates and God creates as part of who He is. So this is why creation is described in the context of the name of God. Also not lost here is that by calling upon the name of the mighty Creator, we are calling on the power behind the Creator. The power of the God that called the Universe into existence is beyond our ability to truly understand, but suffice to to say it an awesome power.

Nothing is too difficult for God

9/16/2012

27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me (Jeremiah 32:27)?

Jeremiah reminds us that God is able to do anything. This is a reminder to rely on God, and God’s word. Relying on God and His word is certainly a form of obedience but more importantly it is a sign of faith. When we rely on God we are trusting in His provisions and so we are carrying out our inner faith, outwardly. Faith apart from reliance is no faith at all. In fact, faith without reliance is just empty words. Our faith should be lived out in the presence of Men and God.

The gift of God

9/15/2012

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jeremiah 31:33).

God does not leave things to chance. God, in covenant with His people, causes an inward change in people. This is the gift of God. And once God causes a change in heart in His people, the change is permanent and immutable. This is the good news of the Gospel.

Thoughts of peace

9/14/2012

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

God desires a relationship with His people. This relationship leads to an abundant life. Apart from God’s provisions of care there is no peace or freedom. Peace and freedom are in fact gifts of God. These gifts are for all those that seek God. God is just and will save and restore all that call upon Him. The restoration that God promises is permanent and causes us to become God’s people.

A heart to know

9/13/2012

7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart (Jeremiah 24:7).

This verse is in the form of a covenant. God is in covenant with His people and this forms the basis of the relationship between the Creator and the Created. Notice that it is God that gives people the heart to know Him and as a result of God’s actions, people respond. The covenants of God are ratified by God Himself. The ratification is due to the testimony of God based on His own righteousness and it is through this righteousness that we are saved. To God be the glory.

Prophecy and sovereignty

9/12/2012

3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. 5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:3-6).

As is the case many times in prophetic scriptures there may be a short term and a long-term fulfillment of prophecy. Additionally there may be a physical and spiritual fulfillment as well. These verses have fulfillment in the re-gathering of national Israel (after Babylonian captivity and perhaps the more modern diaspora and subsequent return in the 20th century), and the coming of the Messiah. There is also spiritual fulfillment in the salvation of all those that God calls, both Jews and Gentiles (all people). Clearly, verses 4-6 are Messianic prophecies of the coming of Christ to restore God’s people to relationship with God. There also may be a yet unfulfilled component of prophecy that will occur as part of Christ’s return to earth to reign, physically. The spiritual fulfillment of Christ’s reign was accomplished through His work on the Cross and His substitutionary atonement on our behalf. Prophecy and the fulfillment of prophecy should remind us that God is in control and sovereign.

Delivery from trouble

9/11/2012

20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible (Jeremiah 15:2-21).

God asks His people to be faithful. In response to faithfulness, God delivers from times of trouble. God’s delivery from trouble is permanent and it is according to His plan, conditions and timing. It is important to remember that God sees with an eternal perspective and it is this perspective that He asks us to trust. So, delivery from trouble is eternal in nature.

Created Through Him