ALL OF US ARE "ONE BLOOD" ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

We are inundated with the idea that there are different races surrounding the globe. And the different skin colors indicate them. The going misinformation is that these people are innately different from each other.

The Bible, as it does, informs us.  “And He has made all nations of men of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth…” Acts 17:26,27.

All people are “one blood” with no race identifiable.  “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” Give a dying person a blood transfusion of the same blood type and the person has hope.  Donated blood never “looks” at skin color: it gives the dying person life. Leviticus 17:11.

God gave us, His highest creation, mankind, “one blood”.  We are not “races” of people with greater or lesser value.  Every person ever born comes from Adam and Eve and is created in the image of God.  Every doctrine in the Bible that gives us hope and comfort and the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD, is for every person ever created:  all having the same intrinsic value: created in the image of God.

Even in the Law of Moses when the laws for servants were instituted, the differences in the lives and abilities of people were confronted.  A man who loses everything had hope. “And if your brother has become poor, and his hand has failed with you, then you shall help him; yes, even if he is a stranger or a tenant, so that he may live with you.” Leviticus 25:35.

The cure for America is the same as it has always been. “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14.

 

LET’S ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE

We accept the culture as is.  We are reluctant to challenge it.

Here is a thought I will throw out to you.  Unafraid of what you might discover, read the Bible every day.  In fact, a further thought:  read through the Bible over and over and over for the rest of your life.  We have only one Holy Bible, only one life.

You are living with the breath you are privileged to take in day by day, the heartbeat you hardly think about (unless it begins to cause trouble).  All of this brings life and thought and emotion and inspiration through the brain and the “spirit, soul and body”.  How does this work?  When scientists begin to try to understand and explain “inspiration” or “giftedness” or the “spirit” and “soul” as it is in combination with the body, they are at a loss.

Why?  We are created in the image of God, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christians are aware of the relationship of our inner being with Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth.  He is also Creator of the person you are, the complete person.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3.

The simple challenge is this:  read and meditate on the Word.  The Word of God that lives and abides forever.  See what happens within your spirit and soul and body.  I promise you this: if you read through the Bible, you will begin to be intimate with your Creator, Jesus.  You will never be the same.

A caution: get a translation of the Bible (rather than an interpretation, which may or may not be God’s Word).  Just for a while, stop reading anything else, anybody else.  When you are listening to a teacher or preacher in the Church, ask yourself, “Does this person challenge me to draw near to the LORD?  Is it what I know the Holy Spirit says directly from Scripture?”

And then, stay in this mode until you experience the Teacher, the Comforter, the Helper: your Creator.

Jesus quoted from the Old Testament, “It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:4)

ON MY MIND FOR A LONG TIME...

For a long time, Isaiah 58 has given me concern.  Are we (am I) guilty of just pretending to seek God and obey Him? Or am I passionate to love and give Him my honest obedience? We want the most successful life here and now, given our gifts and opportunities.

Here is Isaiah 58 from The Modern King James Version.

Cry aloud, do not spare, lift up your voice like a ram's horn, and show My people their rebellion, and the house of Jacob their sins. 

Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and one who did not forget the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in drawing near to God. 

They say, Why have we fasted, and You do not see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and You take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and crush all your laborers. 

Behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness; you shall not fast as you do today, to make your voice to be heard on high. 

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast and a day pleasing to Jehovah? 

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed ones go free, and that you break every yoke? 

Is it not to break your bread to the hungry, and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When will you see the naked and cover him; and you will not hide yourself from your own flesh? 

Then shall your light break out as the dawn, and your health shall spring out quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Jehovah shall gather you. 

Then you shall call, and Jehovah shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If you take the yoke away from among you, the pointing of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. 

And Jehovah shall always guide you and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make your bones fat; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. 

And those who come of you shall build the old ruins; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 

If you turn your foot because of the Sabbath, from doing what you please on My holy days, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Jehovah, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in Jehovah; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed yourself with the inheritance of .Jacob your father. For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken. Isaiah 58:1 thru 14. 

The New Testament affirms this Old Testament chapter. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, so that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4.

The promise to you and me when we seek Him sincerely: “Then shall your light break out as the dawn, and your health shall spring out quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Jehovah shall gather you…you shall call, and Jehovah shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, Here I am.” Verses 8 and 9.

THE GREAT DECEPTION DOES NOT HAVE TO BE

A big question for each of us, “How do I choose to live?”  We must face that amazing power.

Here is a history we do well to understand:  God called a certain family to be “His chosen people.” Their story fills the Old Testament.  As Eric and I read through the Bible together every day, this has become frightfully clear:  the chosen did not see the privileged place and blessings they were freely given.  Their downward spiral is sadder and sadder to my soul every time we read through their history.  Who rejected who? God’s chosen people rejected Him over and over … and over!

Why didn’t they see what they had?  Their hearts were not faithful.  Their minds were not true!

There is a “still, small Voice” speaking in my ear, in your ear: “This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.” You and I make decisions every day, sometimes every minute.  That Voice in your ear is the LORD, who affirms choices, or gives you pause, when you are purposefully following Him.  “This is the way…” Isaiah 30:21.

There is another powerful, driving, force in this world: the prince of the power of the air, “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.” Ephesians_2:2

One call is from the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Jesus.  He says his love is never ending, always there, always listening for your call to Him.  The other is a deceit unlike anything other.

So, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour… Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world.”   “But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”  1Peter 5:8-10.

Friends and neighbors are going through crises today.  Even in this world wide agony every one of us is privileged to call for Him.  God knows.  The Lord Jesus cares. “Call to me, and I will answer you, and shew you great and mighty things which you know not.” Jeremiah 33:3.

What a thought!

WHO, ME?

You never know what God has “up His sleeve” for you…Follow God through the pages of the Bible. Pray to him through Jesus Christ our Lord, then learn to listen to the “still, small voice” that you have within you. When you believe in the Redemption from your sins through Christ Jesus. You are a Believer. He promises that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you.

A few months back, I picked up a ukulele hanging in my husband’s office. I cannot remember where this instrument came from. I think it is Eric’s, but I confiscated it. There was a “still, small” desire to sing and play one afternoon so I took it down from the wall, sat on the couch and began playing, “Is Your All on The Altar?” Growing up, when our family of ten traveled the lower Forty-eight States, Canada and some in Mexico, my sister and I played and sang this together in the Churches we visited. Could I remember how? My ability was basic. You may have heard the Country Music, “Three Chords and a Rhyme” critique. I remembered two keys with three chords.

Skip a few months. On the way to our Publix Grocery Store, I watched as a beautiful Assisted Living Complex was built and became home to privileged residents. I walked into the Reception area one day and asked if they would like to have a hymn sing on Sundays. Later, the Activities Manager called and asked how much I would charge. I told her, “Nothing.” She told me that this was the right price. And we decided on a date.

A surprising thing happened: my husband, Eric, and our son Zach offered to go with me and play. Our daughter in law, Roxy and their daughter, Lilly would come and support us, hand out music and greet. I was excited and affirmed. But then something more surprising happened. My husband and son told me that I am the leader of the group. Who me? It is true that I “felt led” to walk into the beautiful new home. It is true that morning after morning new songs and hymns were on my mind as I woke. It is true that the uke was somehow familiar still. It is true that the idea was planted in my head.

Being appointed “leader” by Eric and Zach (who are both amazing musicians), stunned me. I had always followed growing up. With Choleric, gifted siblings, I, a middle child, had always considered myself nonessential. How literally unkind I had been to myself! How insulting to my Creator! Girls, you never know fully what He will ask of you until you are standing face to face with your Creator.

Currently, since the beginning of this year everything is at a standstill. The worldwide pandemic has “us all taking a breath,” but we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us. We are unique and special because we are the Creation in the image of God. Never, never say, “Never.”

YOU ARE NOT STUCK...GOD IS ALIVE

There is every earthly reason to feel it: that “black looking future” and powerlessness. It is only earthly deductions. Remember: You are Spirit, Soul and Body, created in the image of God. A favorite thought of mine.

The quarantine from a Pandemic only gives you another open door:  you have time to think, look inside, look around and develop this amazing creation that you are. Come out of this quarantine with a new vision of yourself, of your innate gifts (you have more than you know, more than you currently think you have).

“If” "Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth;" that is, if you are not sure of this, then here is a powerful opportunity: go make sure of your foundation.  He did say that “all power is His” and It is for your benefit. Believe Him then tell Him and speak to yourself, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” If you are a Believer in Jesus, then you have access to “all power”.

This means that you can look for vision “a picture in your mind” from your Creator, Jesus. He will lift you up from your quaking spirit and he will show you how to use this quarantine time to become strong in faith, discover your gifts, learn something new and especially see hope ahead: He will strengthen you.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined to me and heard my cry.”  “All power” is His! Look up!

He will enter your mind and heart and soul and give you vision and give you clearance to become that strengthened, new and amazing person: He will fulfil His purpose for you!

I will do this with you. We are together in this challenge. Neither you nor I must be downcast. Look up! He is waiting to hear your cry for help, for encouragement and for Comfort!

(Matthew 28:18; Philippians 4:13; Psalm 40:1)

LET'S NOT MISS IT!

There is something we could miss:  A division of our culture has become “smart ass” and are trying to enforce their opinions on our whole Country.  We are barraged by secular people and philosophies who “know more than God.” We are traditionally Christian. Those who are determined to be “right” are heading to a dark spiritual tunnel.  This is a powerful reaction to our Creator’s truth.  This current force for hating what Scripture has written to mankind has an obstinate determination to make their thinking the final word.  They think they know it all.

 

Our Creator, Jesus Christ, has written the Bible to give us a Guide to success … every time, in every way.  But seculars think God is a fantasy.  These loud voices in the world today will not listen for the “still, small voice” of our Creator God. If God is a fantasy, why worry about him and strive against him?

We are in danger of missing out.  There is a divide between good and evil in America today that is clear and sharp.  Let’s go back to The Ten Commandments for starters.

I promise on the authority of God’s Word, which is eternal, that we will find a healing in our land, a coming together, a peace and calm that will be a mysterious and beautiful “turn about.”  It’s called Light.  He is called, Jesus.  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Let us, my fellow Believer, bring healing and hope and: “be ready always to give an answer to every person that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

I Peter 3:15.