God's Timing - Always Perfect!

 "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Galatians 4:4).

In some translations, the first words of this verse, are "In the fullness of time..."

Same meaning. It is a theological and historical phrase marking the precise, divine moment chosen by God for Jesus Christ's incarnation and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. All preparatory conditions for Christ's arrival had been met and were in perfect alignment with the arrival of Jesus. It was a exact time pre-determined by God.

You don't have to be a Bible student very long to realize that God's timing is always perfect!

Christ came during a time period called the "Pax Romana" - Latin for "Roman Peace" - the golden age of the Roman Empire - roughly a 200 year period of ancient Rome that is remembered for its  relative peace and order. The common Greek language was spoken and understood throughout the Kingdom. The ancient texts, including the Hebrew Scriptures, had been translated into Greek and available in libraries for all to read.

One government united the provinces of Europe and travel was easy. A vast system of roads enabled the Roman government to dispatch military troops throughout the Kingdom at a moment's notice (These roads also enabled the early church missionaries, like Peter and Paul, and their successors, to travel safely and freely  throughout the kingdom, planting new churches and spreading the gospel!)

Herod had enlarged and modernized the Temple in Jerusalem, where Jesus could preach His gospel message -- His New Covenant, proclaimed in the Old Testament, now being read by all in the common language, including the numerous prophecies related to His ministry, and these could now be verified!

"Is Jesus the One we are waiting for?" people could ask and study to be sure!

Yes, God's timing is always perfect! 

Our human timing is not so good. I remember reading that Napoleon Bonaparte, in the 1790's, discovered that food, when heated, could be preserved for long periods of time and still retain flavor and freshness, if kept in a secure container.

In 1810, a British inventor applied this to his own work, and came up with the world's first canned goods! But his 'cans' were wrought iron and so thick they had to be opened with a hammer and chisel!

About 50 years later an American inventor, with thinner tin cans, came up with an actual can opener that could puncture a can and saw the lid off! It wasn't until 1870 that a rotary can opened appeared on the market that could actually be used by consumers in their own kitchens. (Not electric, of course!).

We are so thankful for all the variety of foods we can now purchase, bring home, and open for use when we please!

We can even can our own food!

But think of it - after canned foods were available, it took over 70 years to get a can opener!

Nothing compares with God's perfect timing in all He does!

Focus on this verse: "For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"(Ephesians 2:10),

In eons past, God had a plan for our lives - work for us to do - and so He arranged for us to be in the exact place where He wants us to be, and equipped us to do exactly what He wants us to do!

Perfect timing...start to finish! Think about it today!

The Greatest Miracle of Easter

Two criminals were led out with Him to be crucified. One taunted and ridiculed Jesus. The other said, "Don't you fear God? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

   He said to Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

   Jesus told him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

   What does the criminal realize? What we realize when we come to Jesus.  We are guilty. He is innocent. We are filthy. He is pure. He is not on that cross for His sins, but for ours. Jesus is his -- and our -- last hope.

   And Jesus performs the greatest miracle of the cross. Greater than the earthquake, the darkness of the sun, the tearing of the temple curtain. He performs the miracle of forgiveness. A sin-covered criminal is received by a blood-covered Savior!

   A desperate plea for help and a promise of salvation by the only One who can help!

   This is what we call grace...

          It took a miracle to put the stars in place

          It took a miracle to hang the world in space

          But when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole --

          It took a miracle of love and grace!

Guilt is a gift - Embrace it!

 GUILT IS A GIFT - Embrace it!

From Mohler's book on "The Apostles' Creed"

"The world longs for us to run away from our guilt.

Guilt is seen as an enemy that must be killed.

For a Christian, however, guilt is a gift. That feeling of unquenchable guilt leads us to the only hope we have. It leads us to the infinite grace of God. As we embrace our guilt, only then can we come to the fountain of hope, the blood of Jesus that washes us clean forever.

1 John 1:9 tell us, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

He is faithful and just. God always keeps His promises."

Because of what Christ did at the cross --- when He cried out "It is finished" --- all our guilt can be removed forever!

His grace erases all our guilt -- that's why it is amazing grace!!!

When we confess our sins and make Him our Savior, we receive that priceless gift forever!

In face of radical evil we must be radically good!

 I'm still thinking about Jonathan Cahn's words about how we should live for Christ in these evil times:

  "An apostate civilization will depart from the Word. The righteous must do the opposite and hold to the Word all the more strongly.

  An apostate culture bends the Word or the truth to conform to its ways. The righteous must bend their ways to conform to the Word."

In modern America there is a war against God's Word being waged now by attempting to marginalize it, re- and mis- interpreting it, belittling and denigrating it, ignoring it, ridiculing its historical and authentic accuracy, and in general denying its importance. 

The farther a culture departs from God, the more it undermines and suppresses His Word. But also the more the culture ignores God's Word, the more it needs the unadulterated Word of God for its very survival!

So, as Cahn says, we must read it, treasure it, store it in our hearts, share it, proclaim it, act upon it, live by it and make our lives conform to it! We must never dilute it or soften it.

We must treat the Word of God as the  true bread of our lives, partake of it every day. We must remember that before the world was created, the Word was already here and will be when the world is gone. The Word is more powerful than the world. It is the voice of our Almighty God and we are accountable to Him for our obedience to it!

The world tries to bend the Word to conform to the way they want to live. We must change our lives to conform to the Word.

Yes, the more radically evil the world becomes, the more radically good we must become.

US: How to Welcome the French

In June of 1778 the British troops evacuated Philadelphia, and the colonial leaders came back to their capital city. The French had brought aid -- and there were 16 ships with 4,000 troops on the coast ready to come in and join the American forces in defeating the British.

As Congress re-convened they concentrated on how to welcome the French leader, Mons. Gerard.

Samuel Adams and Richard Henry Lee were appointed to "report to Congress on the time and manner of the public reception of Mons. Gerard, minister plenipotentiary Majesty of his most Christian majesty, the King of France." (plenipotentiary means that this ambassador represented the king and had been granted his full royal power and authority--the highest rank for an ambassador.)

There were several days of debate (remember the colonies were still at war but the importance of proper protocol for the "monarch" took their full attention!)

Finally the elaborate ritual was developed.

The French diplomat would bring his credentials to the President of Congress. Then he would wait for a formal audience with Congress. Two members of Congress would come, in a coach, belonging to the United States, to escort him to Congress. And then they...

shall return with the minister plenipotentiary, one Congressman giving the minister the right hand, and placing himself on his left, with the other Congressman on the front seat.

When the minister plenipotentiary is arrived at the door of the Congress hall, he shall be introduced to his chair by the two members who will stand at his left hand. Then the member first named shall present and announce him to the President and the house; whereupon he shall bow to the house and to the Congress, and they to him.

He and the President shall then again bow unto each other, and be seated, after which the house itself will sit down. Having spoken and being answered, the minister and the President shall bow to each other, at which time the house should bow, and then he shall be conducted home in the manner in which he was brought to the house.

(This congressional audience would make a good 'pop-up book').



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I'm just thinking about how we approach God, remembering John's reaction in Revelation 1 and Isaiah's in Isaiah 6.....we should be struck with awe and a fearful awareness of His power and glory. But there is another attitude also:

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so they we may receive receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.    Hebrews 4:16

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Christ Jesus; because through Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1

The Throne of Grace......This is how we approach our God...