Psalm 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
Psalm 50:10,11 For every beast of the field is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Job 12:7-10 But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
“What a Dog Taught Me about God” Phyllis Schomaker Franciscan Spirit Blog May 11, 2021
It’s funny how God works things out for us sometimes. And I am using funny as odd and comical. I’m writing this as two separate friends commented on it and it was a discussion in the first contact class of my church, ‘do animals have souls?’ I’m unsure if they have souls, but they certainly have spirits.
Anyway, many of you know I foster dogs fairly often. I have gotten the ones who have been beaten and when called they cower as their expectation is to be hit, scolded, or somehow punished and abused. Those break my heart. The others have been found on the street, have been owner surrendered for a myriad of reasons, but they need a temporary place to go until the find their fur-ever home.
I also have three cats, one of which is an indoor outdoor and she loves the dogs. She doesn’t snuggle, but she races when she hears us start on a walk. The dog’s job is to pee on the walk; the cat feels her job is to interrupt them, distract them so they do not follow through. Being the cat, she only shrugs when I scold her and try to get her to go home. I know she is chuckling behind the face which is turned just slightly away. Anyway, the poor dog has the challenge of trying to comply and go on command, and ignore this “beast” who dashes quickly in front of it, and should be chased. . . except for the mighty hand holding the leash.
I had over-burdened myself on Thursdays for a few weeks—there was a specific start date, and an end date—I only had to go through 6 Thursdays and my schedule would return to normal. In the interim, I got this lovely black lab-hound mix. She had the long droopy ears of a hound, the webbed feet of the lab, and when she barked, there was NO question she had hound! Initially, it seemed she did not even understand simple commands—sit, stay, down; and I only got her to routinely sit by the end of my time with her.
She was a digger; I like to garden. And I do not like dogs digging in my garden. You have a fairly sandy backyard, full of weeds, dig to your heart is content. Thankfully, she seemed to get it. She left my garden alone, and dug her pleasure. Then she discovered outside potted plants. Those did not mean “garden” to her.
“Oh, look, I can take this out, shake it, shred it, dig in the soil. This is awesome fun!” I lost my favorite three geraniums. . .and before I could scold, God reminded me they were easily replaced—next spring, and not worth scolding since she was just being a puppy.
She must have been primarily an outside dog, and had spent time in the shelter, so it took a while for her to realize the house was not to be peed in; and I must say, she did the other in the yard—but also on my upper deck. . .” but it IS outside, right, Lady? I’m still a good girl since I went outside.”
But back to Thursday. Usually bible study is 10-12, with lunch frequently following. But with my additional Thursday evening bible study, I learned that was too long for a bored little puppy. I left bible study, went home, took the urchin for a walk, and house looked good, so praise, praise, praise. (It was the wrong kind of praise….I should have been doing my own prayers)
Anyway, I hurry home after evening bible study, full of trepidation, and walk into the downstairs of the house. No pee, no destruction. I call her, she comes a little hesitantly but comes, happy I am home, and again, praise, good girl, no mess, so proud of you. . .
I get about 2/3s of the way to my next level, and stop. I am so stunned, overwhelmed. I only had one potted plant on the coffee table, and she had never shown an interest in any of the inside plants. . .until now. Truly, I was speechless. I think I stood on that stair for 1-15 secs unable to do anything or say anything. Dirt was spread from my living room, through the dining room and into the kitchen. How much dirt is in one of those pots? This was a couple of inches thick through the house. There were dirty paw prints on the furniture, and very little of the plants remained, a few nubs. But then she had gotten the bird seed, somehow opened that container, and had birdseed confetti mixed in with the dirt. I truly had no idea where to start to clean this mess.
First, dog out. Then I got my shovel, and shoveled the dirt and bird seed into the trash can, then was finally able to use the dust pan.
The next morning I ran into one of my bible study buddies, and related this story, and she felt it should be part of the blog. Next at the connect meet on Sunday, another bible study buddy mentioned that I occasionally foster dogs, and lastly, one of the questions we dealt with during that meet was whether we believe dogs have a soul. I’m unsure about the soul, but I certainly believe they have spirit. And we all know dog spelled backwards is God. And if that is your pet, you know that critter is loyal, wants the best for you, will always protect you, and literally die for you if you are ever in a circumstance threatening you, and they often compassion and comfort when you need it, and they love totally and unconditionally. I know they are God created and designed, and I do believe God wanted them to be our best buddies, after our relationship with Him, and after our mate.
I could feel God’s urging for me to write this blog after the three pokes. . . and yes, I recognized His sense of humor.
Thank You for the dogs I’ve cared for and for all they have given me over the years, to me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Exodus 20:3-5 You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of ANYTHING that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . .
Exodus 34:14 for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God
Deuteronomy 4:35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.
Deuteronomy 32:39 Now see that I, even I, am He and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.
2 Samuel 7:22 Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besdies You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; and besides Me, there is no God.’
Isaiah 45:5-7 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever
James 2:19 You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble.
As the Israelites first were led out of Egypt, they were relieved, excited, apprehensive, and had to feel expectant. Yet, they soon realized the Egyptians had changed their minds and were now pursuing them. Of course, they became fearful, mistrustful, and wished for the certainty of what they had known even though the conditions they had lived under were not wonderful. They knew what those were, and out in the open desert were becoming frightened and uncertain for what they could not see, the travel and the fear of the unknown.
While in Egypt, the Israelites witnessed the miracles of the plagues God sent on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. They saw this. They saw how they were protected from the loss of their firstborn, animals as well as children. They were told to sprinkle blood over their doorpost with hyssop to protect them and their households, and then heard the crying, wailing, and utter bereavement of the Egyptians who had lost their firstborns. They had witnessed miracles.
God gave a bunch of commands and rules and laws—what they could and could not eat, when they were considered clean and unclean, what was considered good, and what was considered not worthwhile. He also gave them the Ten Commandments—and while writing them, the Israelites decided they wanted to have a “god” they could see, something visible to worship. It had only taken a few days for them to mistrust God, and obviously Moses, and they were quick to leave God behind, even after He had delivered water from a rock, parted the Red Sea and ensured their safety while crossing and then ensuring the Egyptians all died as the waters flowed over them. They had experienced all sorts of miracles; yet they chose to run to something THEY constructed, nothing that was a miracle, nothing that would help and feed or supply them with anything. Nothing that was alive, but an idol, a talisman that had no power because it was merely a decoration.
Although they saw how God ensured they were released from the Egyptians, brought forth water from rocks to feed their multitude as well as the huge herds of sheep, goats, and cattle, provided sweet manna flakes to feed them and let them bake the daily bread, led them with fire by night and a cloud by day, and were promised a land of milk and honey, yet they could so easily be swayed away from God.
(Hmmm as I wrote this I was aware of the nudging of the Holy Spirit, saying, “Ha, a bit judgmental perhaps?”) Yes, I guess it is being judgmental, but it does kind of amaze me that they had witnessed the many miracles and plagues and received “their daily bread” and yet could so easily grumble and complain, whine and turn away. Certainly, though, I will be spending a more lengthy time examining my judging them—obviously, I have messed up easily and rapidly at some point that He wants me to deal with and confess!
I do know that sometimes there are worldly allures which pull us, urge us, entice us away from God, and temptations which reach out to us. But I do find it hard to think these Israelites could so easily beg Aaron for a visible “god” and then they formed one, threw gold into a pot and formed a molten calf. Aaron had been beside Moses throughout all of this—ten plagues, parting of the Red Sea, seeing water delivered from a rock and so forth. How was it so easy for Aaron to turn aside from his brother and all he had seen and experienced? He was truly up close and personal;….yes, okay, the others were more distant, not part of the “inside club.” But, how could he be so easily led away from God and the miracles he had experienced? He was the priest, the religious leader of these people, and yet, he walked away from the true God, within days as his brother of his brother climbing the mountain. After all, Moses was gone for a total of forty days; at the pressure and complaints of the people, he was easily swayed.
And if the people made it, carved, formed it however, how can they then say it is a god? Human created or formed? Certainly not the God given water out of rock, the manna arriving each morning of their travels, not the birds that came every day….
How often do we give up waiting, losing patience with God’s promises, and reverting to something to assuage our feelings of loss, frustration, impatience, and try to take matters into our own hands? Certainly, I have railed against waiting, and waiting, and….
Yet, Abraham waited for forty years to have his own son with his wife. He believed and held onto God’s promises. And when God told him to sacrifice Isaac, he willingly packed up the supplies, and carried the youngster to the mountain where he’d been told to sacrifice the boy. He trusted God would provide the sacrifice. He waited, expectantly, all the while doing exactly as God commanded
Before the child was born, Sara became impatient and encouraged her husband to have a child with her slave. And again, serious issues developed because she had taken matters into her hands; what does it take for us to believe and wait on Him with trust?
There’s an entire book written that encourages us to wait on His promises, that tells us He alone is the ONLY GOD; He alone is with us always; He alone tells us to not fear, not grow weary of trusting in Him. Yet, often, we drift as though on an air mattress tossed into the ocean and without anchor, we doze off, then waking find ourselves much further away from shore than is safe and healthy.
Story after story tells of the need to wait. A savior would be provided; a star would shine in the town to announce the birth; He would be borne of a virgin…. The Israelites waited hundreds of years for a savior. There is always waiting throughout the bible; because that is life. We wait for His promises.
I pray I don’t give in to further impatience about anything I am waiting for in my life. In truth, it has become easier to wait. I believe His timing is perfect. It may still not be my timing preference, but still, I have seen time and again, that He comes and answers. So I’ve learned to hand over my impatience; sometimes, annoyingly it pops back into my head. So, while thinking of it, I pretend it is in my hands, then raise it to God to take away, so I can no longer actually think of it. It’s in His hands; no longer mine to keep. This “god” of worry is no God, and therefore, should not be worshiped.
He alone is God, and the One to be feared and revered. Thank You for helping me grow through Your Words, Your promises to me fulfilled. You have been wonderfully with me as I travel and learn through this blessing of life You have given me. Thank You for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Psalm 139:13-14 You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.
Psalm 119:73-74 You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.
Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
1 Peter 4:10-11 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen
I don’t know if men/boys do this as often as women/girls, but females are continuously comparing themselves with others. And yes, although I am writing that we have NO business doing that, I still commit this faux pas. . . often. I am very self critical regarding looks, thoughts, behavior, and whatever. Absolutely, I know I am not supposed to allow these thoughts to dance throughout my mind, and should stomp on them the instant I am aware of them….but unfortunately those seeds of incompetence, wrong behavior, most anything that is yuck to God that pertains to me, I fret over. (And yes, after I worry over them for a couple minutes…thankfully now it’s down to a couple minutes instead of hours!). Then I apologize, remembering He created me just the way He wants me and He loves what He created. Who am I to argue with Him? !
How insulting to my Creator! He fashioned, molded me—all of me, yes, even the areas which are bigger than I prefer, and filled me with all the personality traits which are mine, good and bad, things I may detest for a myriad of reasons. Yet, WHO am I? And SHAME on me! And how selfish and self-centered of me to spend that amount of time being critical of “crap” rather than being grateful I am healthy, busy, full of lovely family and friends, independent, and able to make decisions, come and go as I want, and have absolutely NO reason to criticize or envy anything! Now me writing this, and recognizing that I am wrong with my self judgment, does not necessarily mean that will change. I think that is one of my huge works in progress. As I mentioned above–I do spend less time with these poisonous thoughts floating in my head. I KNOW He values me and I am insulting Him by finding ALL my imagined faults, and focusing on them!! One of my goals is to write that in 12 months time, as a negative self thought jumps in my head, I mentally boot it right out in less than 5 seconds. I’ll keep you posted!!
But each time I remind myself He created me, He chose me, He knew me before I was born, then I feel grieved that I have so harshly judged this person—me. Who do I think I am negatively judging His creation? So, obviously, I recognized this is wrong, yet my negative self assessment still seems to rear its ugly head and invade my being at times. I pray it is less often, but I am so disappointed when I recognize I’ve done this AGAIN, that I say things like, “There I go again. I’m always saying how fat I am, how grumpy I must seem, how lazy I am. . .”
Then I get hung up on the word ‘always’. Have I really not decreased my self criticism? Unsure. When I catch myself in this critical cycle, I believe the “always” and that it is common behavior. Do I continually grumble about my failing each time I catch myself doing something silly–stuff that may often just be making me repeat steps, or groan because I forgot something at the store I need to go back for, and I’m sure you have your own lists. But maybe I am making progress, and yet NOT giving myself the praise for recognizing when negative thoughts pop into my brain, so then berate myself over that. And yet, perhaps I have made improvement.
But women are fierce in comparing themselves to other women over EVERYTHING—looks, personality, weight, different abilities and gifts, and on and on.
Why can we not appreciate that He created us uniquely? Why can we not treasure that He gave us each certain strengths, gifts, abilities, looks, personality strengths and passions? Why do our narrow minds think someone else’s life, looks, strengths are better than others? They are different, not better.
He has made us unique. Individual. Strong in our own gift. He wants us only to be the best each of us can be—the best He designed us to be. So recognize you are a positive influence in this world, in His world and be thankful He made you the best you can be. Work to be better for no one else but Him—He loves you just the way He created you, and cheers each of your achievements and what He designed you to accomplish. We are all made for a purpose. “God has given each of you a gift according to his great variety of spiritual gifts.” (1Peter 4:10). Therefore, we need to recognize how important and wondrously we are made.
It is lies from Satan and our own insecurities that make us self criticize. But God took special care to form us the way He wanted us to be. He gave us strengths, dreams, body, physical abilities, emotional attributes, and all sorts of things in JUST THE PATTERN HE wanted us to have, and to use our gifts for His purpose.
Lord, I apologize and confess I repeatedly catch myself criticizing me—Your creation—and comparing to something I see or think is better. Shame. You made me perfect for You and according “to the plans I have for you.” Jeremiah 29:11. I truly have no right to find fault or criticize Your creation. I am so sorry; I pray I interrupt the negative thoughts before they are fully formed so I can send that bum Satan scurrying out of my mind.
Thank You, Lord for the many blessings You have imparted to me—physical, strength, good health, good eyesight and hearing, many family and friends, my enjoyment of reading and writing…..wow! so much. I am sorry sincerely for finding faults with my imaginary ‘faults.’ There is nothing wrong since You created me as You wanted and needed. You are wonderful, my Creator to me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Isaiah 9:9-13 All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart, “The bricks have fallen down, but we will replace with dresed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” But the LORD has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. Arameans fromthe east nad Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand still upraised. But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.
Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD.
Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.
Ezekiel 18:32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
It’s September 11, 2021 as I write this. Of course, for any of us onlder than 30, that is a pretty clear memory. There have been several of those horrifying days which have left an impression on me over the years; Kennedy’s assination, the Challenger explosion, but certainly 9/11 ranks as the most horrific and appalling to me.
And today, as that morning was, it is beautiful—the sky clear blue, the air cooler and drier than it has been running, and even without the memorials and television coverage, our minds go back to that day and what we were doing when we first heard, and those first initial reactions, which then turned to horror as we watched these attacks unfold.
And our God was there.
That gives me comfort. I pray that all those who were innocently slaughtered knew their Savior. I’m sure many who were trapped within those buildings, or on that plane which was heroically smashed into the earth killing all those on board–yet saving many more lives in DC–came to know Him in those instances before their deaths.
But for all of us who know our Lord, we always know we are not alone, and that no matter what He is with us. We may not like the outcomes always, but we will, with full belief, know we are spending eternity with Him.
It saddens me there is an arrogance that claims there is no God, and people choose not to believe. I can not wrap my mind around that fact. It feels alien to me to think about it. ‘What does happen then?’
Very soon after The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn was published, I was reading it. I have to admit, hearing the various poiliticians say “We will rebuild” to me was a way of banding us together, strengthening our country, increasing our flagging national pride, and I liked idea we would band together and be stronger; and rebuild. However, this book and others showed me a different way God could look at our country’s response by quoting Isaiah 9:10. God’s view to the Israelites was to be angry with their arrogance. HE, GOD, would help them rebuild, it would not be them without HIM.
I had not found those remarks immediately following that tragic day as arrogant. But, later, reading this novel from a strong Messianic rabbi, I could see perhaps it was correct. Cetainly, there are many in our country who live lives of arrogance, plenty and have made money, jobs, positions, possessions and so forth their god. Cahn’s presentation opened my eyes to perhaps while I felt those speeches were rallying, there may have been some undelying superiority and arrogance. I was glad to see a resurgence in national pride, as it seemed it was flagging and dismal, and there was an air of entitlement which seemed to be increasing to me then. (And certainly not denying, I think we tend to be more critical of the younger generations…..”Well, in my day..”) But for a time, those vicious attacks pulled us together to want to face the enemy, protect others.
God wants us living WITH HIM, following His will for our lives, teaching others about His words, His truths, and His ways. And seeking Him consistently and persistently is how we do that; not always standing on a bandwagon and not seeking His will and direction. I think this for many was a call to repentance, and to others a wake up that the need for Jesus, God Creator, and God the Spirit should be something we seek diligently and daily. Matthew 7:7 ASK ..”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be open to you.” Of course, this is referring to finding Jesus and learning about Him, not finding your keys or a flashlight or your misplaced glasses.
We cannot do without Him leading and guiding. Or, we can, but many things may not come out right, may not come about smoothly, and may not stand for the long term.
I have no idea if Cahn’s presentation is correct. I just know it had me realizing we can be arrogant even when we think it is pride, it is national unity, and fighting ‘the bad guys’ the same we did as children watching black and white tv shows like The Lone Ranger, Rifleman and others. We like the idea of good guys beating the bad ones. And certainly it was bad ones who attacked that day.
I never want to experience anything so overwhelming again. I would love to see this country have a huge repentance and revival.
God, You have so blessed this country, and we have the freedom to read and learn and hear Your words, Your living words. We can study and delve deeper and learn more of who You are, and who You want us to become knowing You. I never want those blessings to be taken, and pray that soon, in the countries where You are banned, that that too will change, and all can experience You.
Thank You for always helping me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hebrews 8:8-10 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—“not according to the covenant thatr I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.
Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people
Isaiah 59: 21 “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them; My Spirit who is upon, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”
I have read through the bible several times, and each time find different verses, ideas, meanings that I missed. I will certainly confess that initially I did NOT like reading the Old Testament, especially Numbers and Leviticus. It was not important, nor clear to me to know and understand how many cubits something was, or how many shekels of gold or silver were donated from each tribe. Over the years, and with various teachings whether through church, listening to classes, or the opening of my understanding by the Holy Spirit, I have gotten a lot more out of it.
One of the concepts I missed for a long while was the word ‘covenant.’ And frankly, I have no idea how often my eye skimmed over the word with little comprehension to how important it is to God and His people. But a covenant is very important to God; and it is SUPPOSED to be to us also. It is not supposed to be a casual agreement. In the bible, a covenant is the conditional promises made to humanity by God and revealed in Scripture. God promises to protect His people, the ancient Israelites, IF they kept His laws and were faithful to Him.
However, they were hugely disobedient and did not follow His laws and commands, and were certainly not faithful to Him, so they were the ones to break the covenants, and He then had to follow through with punishments. Usually the punishment was banishment to another country where they were prisoners and forced to work for others in conditions harsher than they lived in Israel and Judah.
But in the Old Testament, God, realizing that no matter how He provided for them, how He was present with them, they were selfish, hard-headed and hard-hearted, and disobeyed again, and again, and…. They broke the covenants each and every time. It was not God who let down His side of the agreement.
So God then charged the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah and many others to tell the people that He would send them punishment–Assyrians coming and conquering, marauding through their lands and homes, and taking many back as slaves and prisoners to Assyria; the Babylonians later capturing and taking them from the country of “milk and honey” given them by God’s leadership. Yet, each time after God released them, they would soon sin again. Later, Isaiah and Jeremiah bluntly told of the coming of a Messiah…..yet still it was years they waited.
Then it was 450 years from Malachi until John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, began preaching of the Messiah. During that time, with no correction and prophesy from prophets, the Israelites were sinning more and more, and although occasionally mentioned the Savior, the Messiah, they really did not expect Him to ever come. And if He did, then Glory Be!—they all wanted to fight the Roman domination and the difficulties which was their life at the time.
But the Messiah was a strong, calm, quiet man with a mild manner. Not a warrior! How could He save them? Yet many followed, drawn to him and his quiet manner, his charisma, his -field they could not understand, but felt, and wanted to be near. He had a wonderful understanding of the scriptures, was a good, steady teacher with a knowledge base that far surpassed others, and there was a quiet force… and they were believing He somehow would raise an army and win and free them from oppression.
So yes, the new covenant God had told the prophets to speak of and to promise, came, and every prophecy was fulfilled, and yet no one noticed until He reached adulthood. And although He was charismatic, and pulled people to Him, and healed them, freed them from demons, fed them with little supplies which He could multiply, they wondered how He could free them? How could this mild gent lead the war?
But with His death, He took upon Himself all our sins, and days later sent the Holy Spirit and we then had an internal teacher, Counselor, and were able to understand more of the Old Testament, and the many indicators God had promised through the prophets by promising this new “covenant,” His Son, who would take all the sins of the world, allow us to be heirs with Him, if only we would believe Him to be fully man, fully God, that He died and took all our sins, and we confess to Him, asking forgiveness. What a wonderful covenant!
We are free from our due punishment and death if we believe Jesus lived on earth as man while being God, the Son, He willingly suffered and died on the cross taking ALL the sins of those who believe in God, rose from death, and ascended to heaven—and that defeated Satan and death.
Yes, Satan is still alive, but he knows he has to scramble to gather souls as Jesus has saved many, wants to save any who are willing to believe in Him and follow Him. Satan does not want to perish in hell with just a few….afterall, misery loves company.
But we are saved by the covenant of God sending His Son to free us from death and sin by believing in His life and Death, rising, and living now, seated at His Father’s right hand. That sounds and seems like a win-win to me. What could be the downside? Free from sin, eternal life in heaven (versus the fires and sulphur of hell—cough, cough), and reassurance that we have nothing to fear. “For He is with us and will never forsake us.”
I have two favorite covenants—my freedom knowing Christ is God and Man and died for me and freed me for eternity; and the rainbows. Such visible beauty, His covenant, promising to never send another flood to fill the earth again.
God, my Father, You as Creator, with Your Son, and with the Holy Spirit have freed me, given me rest, and the covenant of life eternal with you. Thank You. My life is so much easier and without anxious burdens. You have freed me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!