Benediction

2 John 1:3 (NLT)
     ^“Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.”

Father in this verse you give us the source, substance and standard of your benediction on our life. You are the source. Grace, mercy and peace are the substance. Love and truth are the standard. It is when we live in your love and live out your truth that your benediction rests on us.   

So Father, may we be mindful of what the Apostle John wrote:  “…let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. ¹⁹ Our actions will show that we belong to the truth…” 1 John 3:18-19 (NLT)

Then Father your blessings will overflow in our lives and bring benediction to others.

We thank you Father for all you give us through your Son, Jesus.

Amen

Really?

Planned Parenthood’s baby organ harvesting an ‘ACT of COMPASSION’ – MSNBC panel

Really? Well, the truth is that the dehumanization, devaluation, and destruction of a baby’s life are sins of astonishing evil.  Then the distribution of the baby’s body parts for whatever supposed gain is deplorable beyond imagination and expression. Of such abominable and demonic practice God says: “They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. ³⁸ They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder.” Psalm 106:37-38 (NLT)

Take note of the repulsion of the Lord on such wickedness in Jeremiah 7:31 (NLT)  ^”….they burn their sons and daughters in the fire. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!”

God’s position is very clear about this cruelty on the innocent and helpless. The correlation between child sacrifice and modern-day abortion is unmistakable and God’s forgiveness is almost unimaginable. The following Psalm is one of hundreds of verses in the Bible that speak of God’s grace in forgiving sin: “LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?  ⁴ But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Psalms 130:3-4 (NLT)

The horrible present day evil of which we speak must be repented of in true grief, humility and confession of the fact that we have rebelled against God. With the Lord there is mercy for those whose hearts turn back to him.

Isaiah 55:7 (NLT)
   Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Truth Wins

Genesis 2:23-24 (NLT)
   ²³ “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” ²⁴ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

The following verses express the attitude with which truth wins.

 A Pattern to Follow

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
   …. we will speak the truth in love….

 2 Timothy 2:25 (NLT)
   Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

 1 John 3:18 (NLT)
      Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

 2 Corinthians 6:11-12 (NLT)
      Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. ¹² There is no lack of love on our part…..

 A Precept to Obey

1 Corinthians 13:6 (NLT)
   It (Love) ………. rejoices whenever the truth wins…..

 A Promise to Share

2 John 1:3 (NLT)
   Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

A Prayer to Ask

Psalm 40:11 (NIV)
   ….O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

A Warning to Heed

Hebrews 13:4 (NIV)
   Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

A Plea Expressed

1 Timothy 2:1&3-4 (NLT)
     ¹ I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them…..³ This is good and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Marriage as God created it, between a man and a woman, is a relationship cherished, a joy shared, and a glory of God. When marriage is done God’s way marriage is honored, love triumphs and truth wins!!!

Truth Lost

 

 

 

Jesus said:
   let no one split apart what God has joined together. Mark 10:9 (NLT)

 

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same sex marriage truth lost and marriage was dishonored. Why? Because God’s true definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. By their decision the Supreme Court disjoined the essence of Biblical Marriage. Their decision perverted marriage’s divine principle, which God had initiated for the welfare and protection of the human race and as a result truth lost. The Bible says: “These people have exchanged God's truth for a lie.” Romans 1:25 (GW)

Could Isaiah have been prophetically speaking of our times?  “Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. ¹⁵ Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The LORD looked and was displeased to find there was no justice.”

Isaiah 59:14-15 (NLT)

 

How do we know what truth is?

Isaiah 45:19 (NLT)
   I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.

 

Isaiah 45:22-23 (NLT)
    ….. I am God; there is no other. ²³ I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word…..

 

Truth Defined - John MacArthur
   “Here’s a simple definition drawn from what the Bible teaches: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth.

Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological. God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth.”

 

The Supreme Court’s decision was not only an affront to God’s truth but also direct rebellion against Him and His purpose and plan for marriage. Thus, truth lost!

 

DON’T GIVE UP

2 Corinthians 1:8 (NLT)
     We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

Father, this is such a startling confession by the Apostle Paul. Yet, it speaks so painfully well of his human condition and frailty. Life with all of its wonders can seem like a wreck at times.

 

And the Apostle continues and says: ”In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”

2 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT)

Father that is our hope in times of debilitating despair, to not give up. Well do I remember Father, many years ago when in a season of brokenness, and barren dryness of soul the following song was like soft rain that brought such refreshing and renewal.

Don’t give up
Someone really loves you
Don’t give up
Someone really cares
Don’t give up
Someone really loves you
And that someone is the Lord

Keep the faith
Someone really loves you
Keep the faith
Someone really cares
Keep the faith
Someone really loves you
And that someone is the Lord

And Father I recall your word in a very personal way: “Long ago the LORD said to me: “I have loved you, Don, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. ⁴ I will rebuild you, my son. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines.” Jeremiah 31:3-4 (NLT)

Father thank you that I have lived to see that day and tell the story of that love which always encourages us to: Don’t Give Up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwKw6owdrFc 

Healing Grace - Alive @ Saddleback - Album Rick Muchow “Don’t Give Up”