Fess Up! In His Word 5-5-14 Replay!

 Considering the times we are in I think that this would be a good one to revisit! Take a second look- In His Word  8-10-2020 

'Fess up-In His Word 5/5/14

…”Now therefore make confessions to the Lord God of you Fathers and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the pagan wives Ezra.”      Ezra 10:11

After having been through a time of devastation and demolition of the children of Israel a remnant was left and they totally wanted to get right with God. They had been living how they thought they should live, doing what was right in their own eyes. They had chosen wives from the nations they were specifically told not to choose them from; this went back to Jacob and Isau’s days even. Isau chose wives from the other nations and not the nations of Israel or Judah. God was not trying to be racial but He was trying to keep His people from unneeded pain, shame and hardship as well as a few illnesses or diseases they could have been away from.

Today as Christian men and women we can use this lesson from the book of Ezra to remind ourselves to keep focused on what God wants for us. It took prayer and fasting for Israel to be clean and forgiven; sometimes it merely takes a prayer of repentance before the Lord God. As I read Ezra’s prayer in Chapter 9 I see that he did not ask for forgiveness but admitted the guild of Israel and told God He knew what was right, as He was righteous. Ezra knew God would do the right thing because He is God.

He never forsook Israel, even when they chose false Gods to follow God was there to pull back the ones who did the right thing. Gideon, Esther, Ezra, and many others helped to show the people that God had not forsaken them and that if they would just do what He told them all would be well.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. “Honor your father and mother which is he first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

This is quoted in Ephesians but it came from the original commands that we call the ‘Ten Commandments” today. The people of Israel constantly broke this one. They may have given honor to their parents from time to time but the one Parent that they called Father God was dishonored again and again throughout history. Yet God forgave them, cleansed them of their sins, their misgivings, their disobedience again and again.

He truly has proven that He will not forsake us; He has proven that He forgives. In today’s world we test and try God constantly with our traditions of men. We cry out out to Him when our countries get bombed yet when He comes through on a daily basis we forget to thank Him, or even address Him as Father God. How is that honoring our Father? It isn't. I really believe that God would rather we not recite old prayers but speak to Him from the heart when we pray.

From the beginning we recite the ‘prayer of salvation’. We teach new believers how to believe, how to act, how to serve but do we teach them how to pray proper prayers from our hearts to His?

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.

And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Dan 10 11-13

God desires us to humble ourselves before Him. Yes we may go boldly before the throne but in all humility we must remember that God is not our lackey who we can demand obeys us, but rather that we are approaching that throne with God’s grace, and mercy our covering. If Christ had not died on the cross then we would not have that presence with the King of Kings without major sacrifice and separation from all things that could cause us to sin. Take a moment and look around you; sin is at the door pounding but God is keeping it out; He will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, because we trust in Him to do so.

Someone said that we do nothing for our salvation, and in a sense they are correct but I want to say that we do one thing; Trust in the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Him only do we serve, worship, honor above all others, but it all begins with trusting Him.

We trust that what He said; He will do.

We trust that where He sends us; He will go.

We trust that when He instructs us; He will lead.

We trust that however He chooses: He will correct us.

We trust that whomever He brings us; He will give to us to grow with, live with, love.

If we did not first trust God we would not be able to believe He exists. If we did not first trust Him we would not believe that He would never, will never forsake us. All through the Word of God we are shown stories of how the people forsook God, and yet He never forsook them. Even when they deserved to be utterly destroyed; God gave them grace, mercy and forgiveness. He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us to Him that we may put our complete trust in Him. Once we trust Him, and realize what He has done for us, the cross, we then need to give Him that Honor due His name! Worship Him in spirit and in truth today! Sing out, cry out, speak out to God how great He is, how grateful you are for all He has done today. If you have shoes on your feet you have reason to be grateful today.

Are you honoring the Lord? What about your parents? Are you honoring the spiritual parents God has given you also? I want to be found walking in right attitude, right behavior and right heart with God at the end of each day; that it may go well with me. I believe that is what God meant when He said not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. Then I can trust Him with a pure heart. When we know we have repented of wrongs we have done; and we all do wrong things. When we have confessed our sins to Him He is faithful and just to forgive them and make us clean again.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all you have done for us today. You are magnificent, beautiful, loving, glorious, merciful, grace-giving, forgiving, fantastic at all you do and your are ours today. Thank you, for the people, places, things, and direction You have given us today, and every day. We truly give You honor and praise today. Continue to guide our footsteps, in Jesus name, amen.  

Suggested Reading: Ephesians 6:1-22, Ezra 9:1-15, Daniel 10:1-22, Mark 7:1-37.