What kind of habitation would the Lord be happy in?

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel…The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation, he is my salvation. He is my God and I will prepare him an habitation.” (Exodus 15: 1-2)

What kind of habitation would the Lord be happy in? Definitely the Temples, but what about our homes? Sometimes it is difficult to remember to pray and read the scriptures and meditate, bless the food and all those other routine things some take for granite. There may be some that have it all down pat and allow no discouraging words or evil past their front door but for most of us it is a daily struggle. I mean how can we close our door to the family member who has slipped and fallen and still believe what we believe?

 I am grateful for my blog. I post most of the time, and during times when I am discouraged I go back and read what I have written and it lifts me. It does take some effort to prepare a habitation for the Lord but the overall results are worth it in strength and confidence in the Lord.  

Earnestly contend for the faith

“(I) exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith.”  (Jude 1:3)

How true this is in all times and places. We have a good routine going, studying scriptures, meditation, prayer and etc. Invariably something will happen to interrupt our schedule. It never comes easy. If it did it would not be a test or trial.  In this scripture Jude is warning of certain men who have crept in unaware.

Of course they crept in unaware. I remember a certain Sunday School teacher who told us teens that if Satan came in a red suit carrying a pitchfork we would be less likely to follow him. Today I’m not sure about that. The things I see people get involved in with individuals wearing the uniforms of sin amaze me. Yet, who am I to judge when I have compassion for such individuals and pray for them to find the truth.

Jude goes on to remind his people that the Lord saved the people out of the land of Egypt and afterwards destroyed them that believed not. He mentions the angels which kept not their first estate.  He is speaking of the one-third host who followed Lucifer in the war in Heaven and he goes on to describe those who displease God. The point being that God loves us and will do all kinds of wonderful to save us as long as we are sincerely trying. He alone decides when we reach the point of no return.

“ But beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. How that they told you there would be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts… But ye, beloved, building up ourselves on you most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy  of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by flesh.” (Jude 1:20 -23)

Bottom line is that life is real and our decisions matter in where we will spend eternity. I love that last part where he says, “And of some have compassion making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.”

Do we even have enough faith to take that first step

You gotta love the apostle and servant of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter. His sins and errors are recorded in the scriptures and passed down through thousands of years for all to read. He is the example of all of us in his love of the Lord and yet in his weakness. He desired to come to Christ and walk with him on the sea of Galilee and yet he falter and begin to sink. Do we even have enough faith to take that first step upon the boisterous sea?

In his second general epistle he exhorts us to be diligent in following Christ and besides this he says we should “add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity.” (2 Peter 1: 5 – 7)

If we think of these things as rungs on a ladder then think, where am I on the ladder.  Some of us keep going up and sliding down. The important thing is that we keep climbing.

     

Trials are more precious than gold.

Though now for a season, if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6&7)  

There is much heaviness and many temptations in this life that try our faith. Peter says here that such trials are much more precious than gold. We desire gold and our currency is base on its worth. but it perishes and is in the end unable to save us. When we are tried by fire it is by trials and hardships and we like gold are thus refined and become pure. We are then found praising, honoring and in glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

My Irish grandfather (on my mother’s side) had a tendency to go off on tangents either about politics or religion. In case his ranting had something to do with religion it was often about when Christ returns and who would be taken and who would be left. My dad being the kind gentle even knelled person he was never got caught up in the fever of the tirade. “Well,” he would say, “I don’t think it makes any difference when Christ appears because the world ends everyday for someone. It will end someday for each of us. Most likely it will end for us before that day and hour when Christ returns. If we aren’t ready for him now we most likely won’t be ready then... unless we change.”  

Have I ever said how much I love and admired my daddy? He was such a wise man. We all slip from time to time, but instead of spending our days in fear of that day when Christ returns, repent and draw near to him. Call upon him daily, talk with him; tell him your concerns and troubles. Get to know him so that on that day when we are called home we won’t be a stranger, but will be welcomed into his arms as a friend.

The fervent prayer of a righteous man availed much.

“The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availed much.” (James 5:15:16)  

The previous verse talks about calling the elders of the church which is an act of faith. 

Sin does indeed cause illness. Sometimes it is because of harmful substance taken into the body as in addictions, or it can also be because of guilt, or feelings of worthlessness. That is why we need to confess our faults and with fervent prayer and the mercy of God we can overcome our faults, sins and problems. All of that takes faith, but in all things may the will of the Father be done.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world

“Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him.” (James 2:5)

Let’s put the same words it in a different perspective that might help clarify what James is saying here. He is speaking of the fact that if someone comes into our mist dressed well. we have respect for them and give them the best seat and food in the house. However, if someone comes poorly dressed we give them the scraps, and let them stand by the kitchen door to eat. He is speaking here of how we treat the poor, but he might have said in a different context:  Hath not God chosen the rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him, who happens to be poor?

Ahh, but doesn’t the scriptures say in several different places that God will prosper the faithful? Yes, it does, but you have to realize that when God speaks of prospering he is frequently speaking of a bountiful harvest of saved souls, of faith, experiences and spiritual knowledge. 

One of my children has had such a difficult financial struggle in their married life. At different times this child has asked me, “Mom, why doesn’t Heavenly Father allow us to be rich.” And I respond, “Because he loves you and is protecting you.” They always give me a puzzled look and say? “What?”  

I could have said, because he does not want to rob you of spiritual experiences. After all if you had everything you needed would you remember to pray? Would you have endured the hardships that have proven over and over again correct gospel principles?  Judging from the hardships of some the Lord must love them a lot.