Romans 2:29 KJV
(29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

There is something that sets the truly ‘right’ (or righteous) apart from those that just think they have ‘right’ figured out. The degree to which the heart has been marked by God through the cutting away of fleshly or worldly choices is the degree to which one can expect critical decisions to reflect His wisdom. When ‘right’ is a matter of the mind, perceptions and distortions of life can greatly influence the condition of the mind and its ability to correctly discern ‘right’ in any particular circumstance. Once the heart has been set apart, though, by identification with Christ that puts all the old to death and makes all things new in Him, there is no figuring of the mind that will dissuade the righteousness of God from being the standard that drives every decision, no matter the situation. In Him it will always be about who you are way more than what you know alone. As long as knowledge is a part of the cutting away process, where the entrance of His Word brings a transforming light and further death to flesh and enhanced exposure to God’s glory, it will be an essential instrument in the Great Physician’s hand. However, when facts or figuring is just piled up, categorized and analyzed without any real change to the heart, there may be a pretty image and an impressive act, but there will be no ability to truly make the ‘right’ choice when the tough gets going and mind perceptions change.

The heart choice will be the ‘right’ choice when that heart is in Christ, when it has been freely justified by Jesus’ righteousness. To know Him isn’t to just decide on a Christian religion. Really knowing Him is what happens when all that is wrong is cut away leaving a condition that is completely identified with and right in Christ. From this position and condition in Him, there is an ability to choose rightly from a heart that has been set free to be right, no matter how things used to be. When the heart has been submitted to His physician’s hands, the resulting condition will bring great confidence and assurance that, while certain things may still need improvement in us, the heart has been made right and can begin to follow a path that will bear great fruit in righteousness.

For those in leadership and for those that are trying somehow to find their way in life, there is a continual contention for rightness. Great debates will continue over differences in perceptions of the same facts and circumstances. There is a ‘right’ way, though, that is beyond just the interpretation of information. This is when ‘right’ is a condition of the heart. It may be that a decision made from a ‘right’ heart is all wrong according to existing information, but ‘right’ doesn’t always require all the facts when it’s coming from a heart that is one with the One who knows way more info and facts than ever could be obtained naturally. For those that are in positions of leadership, then, there needs to be prayer for their heart to be freed from the old wrong flesh so it may see clearly what is right and true in Christ. To contend alone in the realm of reason may be a lifelong endurance, where one moment under the Great Physician’s hands will bring rightness to their identity and condition that facts and knowledge alone will never attain.

Proverbs 14:12 KJV
(12)  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV
(21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

John 4:6 KJV(6) Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

So what are you looking to take care of when you’re tired, hungry and thirsty? I know that for me after a long day in the sun, I’m just looking to get a very tall drink, some of Kim’s awesome food and a chance to lie down for a few minutes. Weariness also usually has a bit of crankiness that likes to hang around with it, this feeling that being annoyed and easily put off is somehow deserved and expected given your condition. Esau was so taken with his hunger that he felt like it was time to give up anything for a little bowl of nourishment- even his birthright. Somehow priorities get completely realigned and perceptions get totally skewed in the time of physical or emotional need to the point of sacrificing relationships and making choices that harm things precious for those things that in reality could be passed up for a little while longer.

With Jesus there seemed to be this very different effect that hunger or hardship brought out in him. Whenever He was in a situation that would normally cause one to become desperate for relief, with a focus completely on Himself, He found great inspiration and motivation to heal, forgive, and minister to the needs of others. It was almost like an inverse effect went into action whenever He was weary, hungry, tortured or put into a condition of desperation. His focus became ever stronger on the needs of others and His purpose in bringing salvation and hope to those whose needs could only be met in Him. Every time He could have become oppressed by His predicament, He instead produced His greatest stuff, even to the point of bringing total redemption for all of us when He was going through the anguish of the cross. At any point along the path to the cross a glance into His own needs- hunger, thirst, rejection, and physical pain- would have disabled his ability to be effective for those whose ultimate need He alone could meet. He had developed, though, a response that was very different from the one that drives me to self gratification. In His need He always found His greatest opportunity to provide for the needs of another. It doesn’t even say that Jesus got the drink He asked for from the woman at the well, and yet from Him at this time came words of life that totally transformed not just the woman to whom He spoke, but everyone who has ever begun to live the life of worship His statements revealed. Later when the disciples encouraged Him to eat, His response again was an inspired revelation that came from an others-focus brought on by His own need.

Whenever found wearily sitting down, a bit exhausted and needy after a difficult life journey, there is a reason to be encouraged, motivated and inspired by Jesus’ example. Rather than just a chance to become self consumed, irritated and willing to damage treasured things for one’s own need, there is a very powerful opportunity to produce some pretty incredible stuff for the kingdom of God. There are certain people that require exactly what we have to give them in the time of our own need. If for a moment the gaze can be shifted towards God’s fulfilled purpose in another’s life, the response to our own hunger will bring an answer to a life that will otherwise perish. There is also a joy we can set before us that will turn any hunger into a kingdom opportunity.

Psalms 24:9 KJV (9)  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

The lifting, the drawing nigh, the opened eyes- if the force of God and His incredible greatness is going to make His way into our lives to bring deliverance and make an incredible difference, there is going to be an effort on our part in lifting whatever would stand between us. There is a barrier wall that must be opened for His glory to flood in.

For the last couple of days the news channels have given a continual image of the hurricane in the gulf and the force of the ocean with its surge threatening to break down the levees and flood the cities. There was a particular scene that was recurring on one particular channel. It showed an area beyond a certain barrier where flooding had risen half-way up a storefront and almost covered a little white pickup. What was interesting to me about the barrier was that it had a gate that could be opened to allow water to flow one way or the other. While the incredible force of the flood was rising on one side of the gate to dangerously destructive heights, this simple metal gate was all that kept the water from passing to the other side with the full strength of its powerful force. Though the power of the surging water was more than enough to completely wipe out all that lay beyond the barrier wall, until the gate were lifted there would be no passage of water and none of its effect.

There is a presence in our lives today that is incredibly powerful and able to completely transform our landscape. Though this force is continually there, never letting up in its readiness to pour into our hearts and lives with power that will render everything else insignificant, it will always be held back until a gate is lifted. I believe the King of glory is that force, and that the surging, pressing force of God’s goodness will never makes its way into our hearts and lives until a certain gate is lifted by means of worship and prayer. In worship, the heart is opened to all that God would speak into it, and in prayer that follows a magnified awareness of Him, nothing is impossible. All the old is removed and God’s glory makes significant and lasting changes with its unstoppable force.

It is possible to go all the way through life with the surging force of God’s glory never making its way into the landscape of our hearts and lives. God is ever pressing upon the barrier wall to our heart, just waiting for the gate to be lifted and the light of His glory to pour in and make those desired changes in our lives. The gate is in great working condition, never failing to move as soon as God is exalted and His Spirit inspires and motivates the communication of prayer. However, it will also be lowered to its retaining position as soon as worship and prayer end, and the heart’s focus returns once again to the cares of life and the fear they instill. Learning to keep the gate lifted with a life that is unceasing worship is the need, desire and ability of all that would be completely transformed by the power of the King’s glory.

There is a lifting for today and throughout all that comes our way in it. There is a floodgate with the unstoppable force of God’s glory and love just waiting on the other side. Our worship and prayer will lift this gate, giving access to the King of glory, and allowing Him to completely change perspectives and set us free to run, dance, and experience the abundant life that is ours in Christ. Let’s keep that gate lifted.

Philippians 1:11 KJV
(11)  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Matthew 5:6 KJV
(6)  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

If you watched these past Olympics for any period of time at all, you saw something about Michael Phelps, the great American swimmer. Even when other events were broadcast, there was usually a little news ticker either in the corner or on the bottom that kept you up to date on his next swimming event and his latest movements. Something else you might have heard about Michael from several different sources was how much food he consumes every day. Here is the list as it was reported:

-For breakfast: three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits (a maize-based porridge), washed down with two cups of coffee.

-For lunch: half a kilogram (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks.

-For dinner: Another half-kilogram of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks.

-That combination may not sound very healthy, and at a staggering 10,000 calories, would feed five average men for a day. (BBC)

After hearing this report and then looking his fat-free body standing next to the pool there are a few things that might be considered- the activity to which he is so faithful is requiring and getting a tremendous amount of fuel; to back off from the consumption would eliminate the possibility of success; that he better make some adjustments to his intake if he ever slows down on his swimming; he is enjoying food right now more than he ever will after his intense training agenda ends; he doesn’t ever skip a meal or forget to eat.

It’s interesting that the scriptures refer to the fruits of righteousness as something like food; that they will fill up and result in blessing for the one who consumes them. Like Michael meals, though, they have their greatest fulfillment and enjoyment as they are the requirement of a particularly intense regimen of pursuing God and His kingdom. It’s not possible to get very far with God skipping a meal here or there, and there is inversely a decrease of appetite for righteousness when the passionate pursuit of Him lessens. There is a purpose for being right in God that goes way beyond just enjoying a personal banquet. Partaking of the righteousness that is provided for us as a meal in Christ gives us the energy and power for the activity of righteousness, while living in love and vigorously seeking and acting out who we’ve been made to be in Christ causes those meals to be so much more greatly savored and enjoyed.

Getting in the pool today, making waves, splashing and keeping at it till the other end is reached will bring on this great appetite for a meal much larger than just a breakfast taco or bagel. What’s so great about sitting down at God’s table is that it’s one of those family style servings where you just keep piling on as much as you’re hungry for. May that hunger be a strong one brought on by intense activity that is faithful, obedient kingdom pursuit.

John 6:35 KJV
(35)  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

1 Samuel 17:45 MKJV And David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Jehovah will deliver you into my hand today, and I will strike you and take your head from you and give the bodies of the army of the Philistines to the birds of the air today, and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this multitude shall know that Jehovah does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is Jehovah’s, and He will give you into our hands.

I drove through the gate and up the driveway of a customer’s house the other day where I had an order to do a roofing estimate. I removed the ladder from the top of my car and started towards the house when I noticed a black Labrador retriever running from the back of the house, circling behind my vehicle and bounding towards me. I had happy thoughts of Buck, a Lab that had been my buddy from several years ago, and thought how nice this was to be greeted by this fella that looked a bit like him. As he approached, however, I soon discovered that greeting me was not his intention. He began to let me know with a very harsh tone that where I was and what I was attempting to do was not allowed. Barring his teeth and lunging towards me, he made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and adrenaline run through my body as it appeared that he would definitely like to remove a piece of my leg to emphasize his point. Luckily I still held the ladder which I could use to fend him off, but I was in a difficult position, needing to complete my work, but not wanting to let go of my ladder for fear of this ferocious creature. I fearfully let him know a bit loudly myself that he was out of line and needed to back off, but it seemed that he wasn’t too impressed. After this bantering had gone on for a little while with me poking my ladder at him and him lunging back, my fear began to be replaced by anger. I had a job to do and here was this dog ungratefully treating me like some kind of bandit. I determined that I would put an end to this silliness by taking the battle to him, charging at him and yelling for all I was worth. Just as I started towards him, though, and after my first loud commands were uttered, the dog’s owner finally came out of the house to silence him. Grateful that I had not been caught totally humiliating that proud animal, I was still quite embarrassed and tried to somehow explain my situation to this customer I was meeting for the first time. Though glad that the dog was subdued, there was a little part of me, and I must say a very little part, that was a bit disappointed he hadn’t been subdued by me.

So many times we have something before us that is ours to do, ours to accomplish, and just as we’re approaching it there is a ferocious resistance that just won’t back off. Tempted to just get in the car and drive off, this might actually be the most chosen option. Just leave it for another day or file it with the undoables. There is within us, though, a response that will most certainly send that ferocious creature running with its tail between its legs, or, as in David’s case, headless. It would have been so much easier for David to have just dropped off the lunches for his brothers, heard Goliath’s barking, and went back home. He saw, though, that there was an unfinished job that was more than doable. Sitting back and wishing or hoping would not be enough, though. If this aggravating resistance was going to be removed the battle would have to be taken to the giant, and not without determination and not without a shouting declaration of impending victory. Any potential fear was replaced by a Godly anger and vision of exactly was going to take place by the power of his God. It wasn’t his own ability or his own strength that emboldened him, but it was the power of the Spirit in him that had already been proven faithful against the lion and the bear. This unworthy being before him was no match for David’s God, and he confidently committed to a response that would demonstrate this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

For every creature that would stand in the way of our purpose in Christ for this day, there is a response of boldness that can replace any former responses or retreats. Much better than an unfinished job or unfulfilled dream, there is a defeated foe and completed task awaiting our faith-filled charge towards that powerless barking.

James 4: 7 MKJV Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Psalms 126:5-6 KJV
(5)  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
(6)  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

So what makes this seed so precious? You would think that any seed put in the ground would just produce. That’s what seeds do after all, right? Yet there is something passionately connected to this seed that causes it to bring much more than just another harvest. At the time when resources are diminishing, with the meal storage getting dangerously low, taking what is obviously needed for nourishment and putting it in a place that doesn’t have any guarantee of return would seem to be foolhardy and irresponsible. The greater the risk, the greater will be the difficulty and anguish of heart. When the storage is overflowing, taking a portion of it to sow again is hardly thought of and its harvest is taken in as a matter of course. For the seed, though, that might be the last hope for continued existence, it won’t just be thrown haphazardly into the air. It will be placed carefully into well turned soil, fertilized, watered and weeded, and when the great effort given to its growth is rewarded with harvest, it will produce more than just seed. There will be an overwhelming abundance of joy, relief and gratitude. The more treasured the seed, the more it will bring inspiration and motivation to the heart of the one that can affect its success. It has become incredibly valuable and precious because it appears to be the last of its kind that has promise of increase and hope for abundance. It is precious because it will commit every moment of its possessor to insuring its success.

For both financial and emotional storage there is increased value that comes with diminished supply and carrying the seed to a field of hope becomes a tearful experience. In Christ, though, there is great doubt removing possibility in applying the promises in His Word to every situation, sowing those few dollars into the right soil, and investing precious time and energy in what might not bring an obvious immediate result. Embracing the passion of the heart with each carefully placed seed will also mean caring for it through its maturity, watering and nourishing it with prayer and care for it and its soil. Those precious dollars will be given into a carefully considered ministry that is subsequently lifted up in prayer, positive confession of the Word, and personal commitment of precious time. That emotional life situation with a wayward loved one, career decision, relational and social challenges, personal strongholds or addictions, or physical ailments will require something other than just expended worry and fret. While it would seem that the situation requires any remaining strength to figure it out and do what is necessary to resolve it, there is an opportunity to take the precious seed to that field of hope, that place of redemption in Christ, where choosing to be strong means taking on His strength. As time and energy is given to casting cares on Him and trusting in His promises, there is an assurance that joy will replace sorrow as righteousness prevails.

There is precious seed in our possession and bearing it to the field of hope in Christ may produce tears of sorrow, but as this passion is given to the care of that seed, as faith’s efforts are applied according to what the Father has spoken, one can have secure knowledge that a celebration is inevitable with the seed’s increase and harvest. No matter how difficult or challenging, it is the right choice and the only one with a future in Him.

 

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2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

(17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

To be in a place where all things are new is to be in a place of discovery. Just to step through the door and come upon the first of these new things is to be given the opportunity to be occupied, impressed and fixated on it for some time. This place, though, is full of so many more things waiting to be admired, but to also be used and applied to life.

Christopher Columbus, the great discoverer who sailed the ocean blue in 1492, was looking for a new way to get to Asia, but instead came upon the islands of the Caribbean. His discovery was really just on the outskirts of a great land of opportunity that extended far beyond Columbus’s wildest imaginations. In fact, he died never realizing that his discoveries were something other than the Eastern parts of Asia. His discovery was real, but it was just a step through the door of a place where all things were new. The expanse of what was yet before him would require way more than his lifetime to discover. Also, utilizing what was discovered would in itself be a discovery of an even greater challenge. It would require management and care in order for it to be more than just a possession.

To be in Christ is to be in this place where all things are new, but to step through the door is just the beginning. Day by day there is a continual discovery of each new thing, how it is to be utilized and just how great is its potential in life. At each introduction to these new things, the activator that makes it relevant and powerful in life is worship, where the heart is opened not to just a concept, but to the Giver of that new thing. With awe and adoration each new way is not only observed, but embraced and applied to life in an act of obedience and reverential.

To stop on the outskirts or to mismanage or depreciate any of these new ‘things’ would be to miss out on the greatest opportunity of an eternity. Today there is an atmosphere of worship where the new things in Christ can touch every part of life with a rewarding and liberating discovery.

 

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Psalms 22:1-5 KJV

(1)  <To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

(2)  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

(3)  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

(4)  Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

(5)  They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

Our home has two levels, with the bedrooms on the upper level and the living, dining, and office areas below. There are many times when communication is necessary with one of the kids up in their room, but I’ve found that no level of shouting will produce a response. (of course there’s the temptation to think maybe you’re just being ignored) It can actually be quite frustrating when you’re occupied with something that’s really important- like maybe catching the end of Andy Griffith or a Broncos game- and you get no answer from yelling that threatens to damage your vocal folds. Somehow walls and floor levels are doing their job, creating separation and privacy and the ability for our precious ones to have their own ’space’. They’re usually occupied with their own focus, which often includes some kind of media with its own volume and visual distraction from the ‘important’ communication they should be heeding. I’ve found that the best way to avoid the frustration on both my part and theirs is to just take the time and effort to climb the stairs, open the door to where they are, ask them to turn down the volume level and speak to them face to face in a normal speaking voice. It’s not that they don’t want or care to hear me, it’s just that there’s so much separation between us that communication is impossible.

I find it interesting that David, the man after God’s own heart, spews forth these expressions of communication frustrations with God. The opening statements of this Psalm would seem to just bring further despair to the heart of one going through a similar time in their relationship with God. -”If David, the giant killer, couldn’t manage to get God’s ear, how in the world will I?” It would seem, though, that maybe David had a similar issue with God as I’ve had with my kids- there were just too many levels, walls and distractions that had risen to separate and disable communication. While further shouting and mental anguish would do nothing to resolve the problem, there was something David began to do that changed everything. Instead of just remaining in his anguished state of discouragement, David got up off the couch and began to mount the stairs to the holy place where God was waiting. His focus began to change from his predicament and pitiful situation to the One who is holy and inhabits the praises of Israel. He began to experience a door opening and distracting volume levels going down and visual distractions becoming dim as He drew close to God in praise and worship. It was true that there had been no apparent response from his Father, but this wasn’t because God wasn’t ready, willing and able to do far above what could be imagined or thought. It was just because too much had disabled communication by way of barriers and diverted focus. To rehearse the problem and the failure would be the same as just staying downstairs, while rehearsing the known goodness and mercy of God was just like walking right up to Him where a face to face talk could take place. David had come to know just how important it was to have God’s ear, and he also learned the power of praise and it’s transforming impact on communication. From a despairing, hopeless failure he could consistently rise to a place of victory and overcoming power as God became big once more and old things were left behind in the other room and His nearness eliminated all distractions.

He’ll hear, He’ll respond, He’ll bless and He’ll restore with the simple effort taken to move from that separation to His holy place of refuge and peace. The frustration doesn’t have to continue and prevail, if we’ll just go up and take our seat at His side in heavenly places by letting praise, adoration and worship occupy our hearts. Right there before Him the smallest whisper will be heard.

Psalms 22:23-24 KJV

(23)  Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

(24)  For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

Philippians 2:13 KJV
(13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.

Several years ago, upon the encouragement of a close friend, I went on a missions trip to Zaire, Africa. Although not all that experienced at construction and definitely ignorant of French or Swahili, I was put in charge of a construction crew when the missionary had to go away shortly after we arrived there. It was a brand new project, so hiring workers, which numbered close to 50, and keeping track of their duties and hours was a challenging and rewarding endeavor. I got to learn a language and many archaic ways of getting things accomplished with limited resources. I also discovered that progress would not be made with any of our fence, latrine, or well building just because people claimed to be good workers with adequate skills. Though some were quite self-motivated, for the most part everyone frequently needed monitoring and a motivational encouragement or guidance. If somehow each one of them would just do what they were told and what they said they would do, there would have been much less stress and concern as to whether or not the project would be completed. It has been said by a very learned and wise friend of mine that if you can just get someone to fulfill what is expected and to what they’ve committed, not only will their performance be extraordinary, but so also will be their promotion and glory.

There has been a commitment and claim made to us by Someone who has proven Himself to be extraordinarily capable at His duties and more than faithful at sticking to them. It will never be that He comes across a situation in us that causes Him to just throw His hands up and admit that it’s just too much. Also, there will never be a moment when you can sneak up on Him to find that He’s just chilling under a tree. It doesn’t say that He’s looking for work either, but rather, He’s working already, utilizing the very forces and resources of heaven to accomplish and complete those things that might mean something to us, but have completely motivated Him to apply His great ability to insure their progress. This is His position. This is His will and His heart. The only inhibitor of our personal Worker is whether or not we let Him in to do His work in us. All His preparation and work that’s going on even now will only require our reception and ‘amen’. Oh, the promotion and glory that will be His through us. “Amen”

Song-“Working In Me”

 

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Romans 2:3-4 MKJV

(3)  And, O man, the one judging those who do such things, and practice them, do you think this, that you shall escape the judgment of God?

(4)  Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Once there were three sons of a king, one of which was several years older than the other two who were twins. The first born upon completing his basic education determined that he would separate himself from the restricting life of a prince and instead live in freedom and independence. He took a large portion of his inheritance and went to a foreign land where he could not be recognized or followed. Completely disregarding and despising his heritage he lived as a degenerate, wasting his money on meaningless consumption until there was none left and he was among those asking for money on the corners and sleeping under the stars. After some time in this state of deprivation, his father by chance became aware of his whereabouts and presented this information to his remaining sons who had by this time completed graduate studies and were faithfully serving in his kingdom. He told them that he needed help with preparation of an appropriate reception for their wayward brother. Each was told to outline exactly how their brother’s treatment should be and present this plan on short notice.

Before receiving his sons’ directives for their brother, though, the king went ahead and gave specific instructions to his chief assistant that documents received from each of the twins should be carried out to the smallest detail. Instead of being executed on behalf of their older brother, though, each plan would be directed towards the one who wrote it. While the wayward son had obviously violated his wishes and despised his provision and riches, the king knew that his remaining sons, while not as overtly, had erred themselves in many ways for which they had already received his mercy and forgiveness. Prestige, honor and authority would be theirs as royalty, but the greatest lesson for them to learn would be mercy, that the measure to which they could apply mercy and forgiveness would be the measure to which they would receive it in their own times of failure. Though they had remained within their father’s favor, never having turned their back on him, to negatively judge their brother at this time would be the same as despising the forgiveness and mercy that had been extended towards them in their own shortcomings. Whether a welcome party or a rejection with punishment, whatever their plans for their brother would prove to be their own experience.

There is not one of us that by our own virtue and moral perfection are deserving of anything less than complete destruction. However, it is so wonderful to experience the incredible presence of the Lord and to know His favor and provision in countless areas of our lives. This close proximity to Him, though, is due alone to the mercy and grace of his goodness. If we’ve turned our back on any sinful activity it has only been that His incredible long-suffering has made this possible. He has been faithful to see us in Christ, though our behavior might have often stated otherwise. Now, to administer judgment on anyone that is in need of the same mercy we’ve received would be the same as despising the great treasure that’s been gifted to us at the cross. An embrace of our Father’s free gift of righteousness in Christ will have its greatest evidence in the display of mercy and forgiveness given rather than just received. The more this gift is treasured the more it will be extended towards so many others in need of it themselves. For that brother that may have turned his back on his inheritance in Christ there will ever be a place of reception, honor, love and mercy in the heart and life of the one who has truly valued their own undeserved place by the Father.