Interesting application of Scripture in US History

Here's an Interesting Application of Scripture....from US History

I'm reading some British records of the months just preceding the beginning of the American revolution.

Late in 1775 Parliament was arguing various approaches to end the revolutionary fever sweeping their 13 colonies over the Atlantic in America.

King George III was determined to take harsh action. Most of Parliament agreed with him, but a few disagreed.

One of those was David Hartley. When a bill came up for discussion -- a bill that would prohibit all trade and communication among the colonies during the "course of the present rebellion" he realized that the colonies would be even more inflamed and more eager to declare their independence. If the bill passed Britain would lose that valuable part of their Empire. 

And the bill was passed.

His speech to Parliament included these words: "The Opposition was overpowered by numbers," he voiced. "An inflexible majority in Parliament have now declared all America to be an independent hostile State. But Parliament would rue this day," he went on, for the fate of America was clear for all of them to see. "You may bruise its heel, but you cannot crush its head. It will revive again. The New World is before them. Liberty is theirs. They have possession of a free government, their birthright and inheritance.....If you will cast them off, my last wish is to them. 'may they go and prosper!'"

Sally Lloyd-Jones - A happy/sad celebration/revival

One of my favorite books is a children's Bible story book by Sally Lloyd-Jones titled The Jesus Story Book Bible -- Every Story Whispers His Name.

I read it myself often and share it in Bible study classes.

This is how she paraphrases Nehemiah 8-10; Malachi 1, 3 and 4; and Ezra 7:

Have you ever been to a party that lasted a whole week? How about a sermon that went on all day?

Well, that's what happened to God's people after they came home from being slaves. They had forgotten how God wanted them to live, or who they were supposed to be. So Ezra and Nehemiah read them the rules God had given Moses.

But something odd happened: the more the sermon went on, the sadder they got. Why? Was the sermon that boring? No, not really. It was strange, you see. As Ezra read the book of rules, it worked like a mirror. It showed them what they were like, and they didn't like what they saw. They saw that they had not been living the way they should. They saw that they were cruel and selfish.

"We've blown it," they cried. "Now God will punish us!"


They thought they knew what God was going to do. But they didn't. Of course, they might have picked up a clue from Ezra's name, which means, "Help is here!" And an even stronger one from Nehemiah's name because his name means "God wipes away our tears."

And that, as you'll see, is just exactly what God was getting ready to do.

Ezra looked at God's children. Great, hot tears were welling up in their eyes, and streaming down their cheeks. He stopped his sermon--mid-sentence--and shut the book. "We're having a party!" he shouted.


And so that's just what they did! All week long.

"God wants us to be happy!" Ezra said.

All day they listened to stories about the wonderful things God had done for His people. How He made the world. How He gave a special promise to Abraham. How He rescued them from slavery. How He spoke to Moses and showed them how to live. How He brought them to a special land, how He rescued them -- no matter what -- time after time, over and over again -- because of His Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always Forever Love.

They remembered how God had always, all through the years, been loving His children -- keeping His promise to Abraham, taking care of them, forgiving them. Even when they disobeyed. Even when they ran away from Him. Even when they thought they didn't need Him.

Then God told His children something more...

I can't stop loving you.
You are My heart's treasure.
But I lost you. Now I am coming back for you.

I am like the sun that gently shines on you, chasing away darkness and fear and death.
You'll be so happy--
You'll be like little calves running free in an open field.

I am going to send My Messenger -- the Promised One.
The One you have been waiting for.
The Rescuer.

He is coming! So, get ready!

It had taken centuries for God's people to be ready, but now the time had almost come for the best part of God's Plan.

God Himself was going to come. Not to punish His people -- but to rescue them.

God was getting ready to wipe away every tear from every eye. And the true party was just about to begin....

How Christ Restored Peter

 

                                              How Christ Restored Peter

What Christ DIDN'T say to Peter...

After His resurrection, when Christ appeared to Peter, He asked him, "Peter, do you love Me?" And Peter answered, "Yes, You know I love You!"

Notice what Jesus didn't say - He didn't say, "Peter, are you going to fail Me again?" "Peter, will I be able to count on you ever again?"

These words of Jesus  -- what He didn't  say -- gives me great comfort....

How about you?

Read the whole conversation in John, chapter 21. 

What a wonderful, forgiving Savior we have!

As the Bible throughout teaches us  -- God forgives us and never holds our sins against us   -  He doesn't "keep a list",  and we are told to not keep a list either in 1 Corinthians 13.

As Christ has been to us, we should be to each other.

.

"If You, LORD, kept a record of sins, who could stand?" (Psalm 130:3)

It's All Mine Now! - David Platt

It's All Mine Now -- David Platt


...when you come to Jesus--when you unite your life with His--everything that belongs to Him becomes yours.

Yes, as we've already discussed, His righteousness replaces your unrighteousness.

But there's more.

• When you come to Jesus, His Spirit fills your spirit.
• His love becomes your love.
• His joy becomes your joy.
• His mind becomes your mind.
• His desires become your desires.
• His will becomes your will.
• His purpose becomes your purpose.
• His power becomes your power.

The Christian life thus becomes nothing less than the outliving of the indwelling Christ.

This reality marks the critical distinction between superficial religion and supernatural regeneration.

Superficial religion involve a counterfeit "Christian" life that consists of nothing more than truths to believe and things to do, and it misses the essence of what it means to follow Jesus.

Supernatural regeneration, on  the other hand, involves an authentic Christian life that has been awakened by the Spirit, truth and love, passion, power and purpose of Jesus.

  -- From Follow Me, Chapter 3, by David Platt

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

 Galatians 2:20

What is God Like? My Prayer Today

 What is God Like? 

That's easy!

He tells us!

   "For to You, Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive,

 and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You."

    -- Psalm 86:4-5

God, You are so abounding in mercy, so ready to forgive, the picture of such goodness -- qualities I can't even understand in this life. 

I worship You with my heart and soul. 

As I sit here now in regret over past sin, please remind me of Your forgiveness.

Please let me feel Your mercy. Fill me with it so I can extend it to others You put in my path today. 

May my family know Your grace. Lift their burdens and shine Your face upon them today.

I thank you for Your grace, which I do not deserve, and for your mercies which are new and  abundant each morning. This is my 'strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.'

 Amen.