Brought Up From Rain

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Colossians 1:27-28

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Memory of the Month: John 10:27-28

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Today's reading: 2 SAMUEL 23-24 LUKE 19:1-27

Brought Up From Rain

King David was a poet and shows it in the Psalms. We have all read or heard at least some of it.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside still waters(Psalm 23)

But David was a poet in 2 Samuel, chapter 23 also:

The God of Israel has talked to me;

and the Rock of Israel said,

“One who rules people with justice

and who leads them in the fear of God

4 Is like the morning light,

the sun rising on a cloudless morning,

and the shining grasslands brought up from rain.”

Did you hear that? Really hear what David says here: "The God of Israel...the Rock of Israel said...".

David writes down what God says to him. He gives credit to God for his words. One of the greatest writers recorded in all the Bible gives the credit to God for his words.

What does it take to have a mind that gives God credit for all the good?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 1:23 Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

James, Paul, and Peter-they all give God credit. But what does it take for us to think like that all the time?

James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”...10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

2 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.

Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Proverbs 18:12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

The humble know that growth is brought up from rain by God's hand. They know that God provides all our desires when our desires come from the heart of God when we commit our ways to him, Psalm 37:4. Humility before God is the only way to be before God.

When God pulls someone by His love and power to the point of salvation, that person is laid bare before Him in their own hearts and minds. Nothing can be hidden. We know He knows...and still we know He does not condemn us but welcomes the humble heart-the heart that has left all pride behind.

Is there any other way to hear from God? Is there any other way to go into the presence of God except to leave everything and go before Him-the Master of all power and dominion and perfect love and peace?

This is the only way.

Matthew 19:14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

The little children trust. They reach and trust. It is apparent that the hand for which they reach has more power than they, but they reach in trust without reservation. Little children do not know they are hopeless without this hand-they just reach in hope.

We run from so much. We let fear run around in our minds freely. We must stop running from...and run to all hope and grace. Run always back to the heart that condemns not but loves completely.

My prayer for us all today is that we know God raises us from the rain and holds out His arms of complete acceptance when, with our empty ego and complete humility, we run completely trusting to Him.

Discover this humility...

"...the morning light,

the sun rising on a cloudless morning,

and the shining grasslands brought up from rain.”

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Show me how, oh God, to walk in humility before You always. Forgive me my pride.

Gentle and patient and awesomely powerful God,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen