Does God Delight In You?

Does God Delight In You?

Psalms 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you are accepted in Him by the Father - and you therefore become a child that He delights in.

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

We may not like the application of this second verse to ourselves, but He corrects us because He cares for us.

Proverbs 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The first two verses above state our Heavenly Father takes delight in His children, and verses 3-4 state what He delights in (the way we live before Him, and our prayers to Him). Are you delighting yourself in the Lord - AND are you bringing Him delight day by day?

November 20, 2021
Jerry Bouey

Fervent Charity

Fervent Charity

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

The Greek word for “fervent” is used 3 times in the NT, twice translated as “without ceasing.” Strong's gives this definition: stretched out. Metaphorically, intent, earnestly, assiduously.

A dictionary I have (Funk & Wagnalls) says "assiduous" means devoted, attentive; unremitting, persistent.

"Assiduity" (a different form of the same word): close and continuous application or effort; diligence.

"Unremitting" means “not relaxing or stopping; incessant.”

“Fervent charity” (Matthew Henry defines charity as love towards both God and man) would then be love that does not cease, that we persist in, that we do not let relax or stop. With the idea of being "stretched out", it implies that it is something we must put continuous effort into to be of lasting spiritual benefit to others. And that's the love that will enable us to cover the multitude of sins in the lives of those around us, to hide or conceal those sins rather than continually rehash them or keep bringing them to our minds or the minds of others. Matter of fact, isn't that what Jesus did to our sins? Covered them by His blood, and then washed them away so when our Heavenly Father looks at us, He doesn't see our sins and transgressions, He sees the righteousness of His Son instead. Praise the Lord for His fervent love towards us. Let's learn to show that same love to others.

June 10, 2021
Jerry Bouey

Does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus Care?

Please read Exodus 14 for the context.

Exodus 14:23-25 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

I was reading this chapter a couple of days ago and was curious what the definition of “looked” in verse 24 was.

Strong’s defines it as: to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle).

The idea is the Lord leaned over and looked down to earth to see how the nation of Israel and the Egyptians were doing. The verse gives the picture of the Lord leaning through the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud to watch over His people and to deal with their enemies. Now we know the Lord is not physically leaning over in heaven and peering down at us (He is omnipresent, after all), but the word the Holy Spirit used here shows His care in a comforting, picturesque way. The word is used 22 times in the Old Testament, and multiple times it is used of God in relation to His chosen people.

Consider these passages:

Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Psalms 102:18-22 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

Lamentations 3:48-50 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ cares about whatever trials and troubles you are going through. He is not sitting afar off, disinterested in what is happening to you, but is leaning over in Heaven, watching over you, and reaching down with His almighty arm and helping His people and troubling or hindering their enemies.

The next time you peer out a window to look at the people passing by, consider that the Lord is doing the same to you - He always has you in His sight.

Does Jesus care? Yes, He cares!

September 6th, 2021

Jerry Bouey

Saved To The Uttermost!

Saved To The Uttermost!

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

The Greek word for uttermost is panteles. The root word pan means “all, every.” Teles and the word Jesus used in John 19:30 for “It is finished” come from the same root word meaning “(to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state).”

Just as everything needed to save us was done at Calvary (ie. by our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, shedding His blood, bearing our sins and suffering God’s wrath in our place) - It is finished! - even so, will all be done in and through us (the process of calling us, justifying us, sanctifying us, glorifying us - in fact, every single thing that our Lord promises to do for us in regards to our salvation) will be done by Jesus. Just as He finished the work of dying for our sins on Calvary, even so will He do all things needed to make us fit to dwell eternally with Him - from the guttermost to the uttermost, as they say.

July 31/2021
Jerry Bouey

Cities Of Refuge
Saved To The Uttermost! - Part Two