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Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

This is the Gospel–the good news that came to mankind. While we were yet sinners so deserving of the wrath of God against sin, Christ came and died that we might be justified before a righteous and just God.  Christ paid the price.  If I do not see God’s Righteousness, His Glory, His Sovereignty, and His Justice then I can never understand the cost.  God justly hates sin with a wrath that is described as a consuming fire. (Romans 12: 29)   The sin within our covetous hearts separates from God and the gifts He so desires to give to us which are His Joy, His Love, and to one day share in His Glory.  The only way we can approach Him is through righteousness of which I have none of my own.  All my works are but filthy rags before a perfectly Holy God.  Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."  There would be no hope were it not for Christ’s death and resurrection.  He took upon Himself all the furious wrath Isaiah 53: "⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."  Yet, Christ’s payment is the only hope that we might have peace with God.  We may stand before the throne of God (the Creator of all the Universe) covered by Grace which can only be ours through faith in Jesus Christ.  Yet, not only is our sin atoned for and we no longer are under the wrath of God, we are now freed to fulfill that which was our purpose.  We may now enjoy an intimate personal relationship with God which is the greatest Joy we could ever know.  We can sing and dance praises because we are showered with His Overflowing Love.  We will one day stand before Him transformed into His Image and Share the Glory which is God’s Glory.  2 Corinthians 3:

^18” But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. “ That Glory which we are changed into will only point back to Christ and we will stand to sing, "All Glory Be to Christ"

http://marshill.bandcamp.com/track/all-glory-be-to-christ

Isaiah 42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

² He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

³ A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

⁴ He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

⁵ Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

⁶ I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

⁷ To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

⁸ I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Behold, Christ; though co-eternal and part of the triune (body, soul, and spirit) of God, takes on the form of a servant.  God elected him to bare the wrath of God against sin and as an obedient servant He, the King of the Universe came to earth to pay the penalty of sin for mankind and bids all who would come to come and share in the love that is His, the Joy that is His and the Glory that is His.  The soul of God (the Father) delighteth in His son and the Spirit of God was within Him to assist Him in this journey on earth.  That same spirit dwells within each and every one of us who by faith are adopted into His family.  A bruised reed shall he not break.  Are you bruised today? Has the trials of your life left you broken in pain?  Does your heart ache because after giving all that you have to your marriage, your spouse leaves you and you are lost in your loneliness as you wonder if you just aren’t worthy enough to be loved?  Did you give everything you had to your job only to find that as the years go by, nobody really cared or noticed and you feel your heart rip apart while you struggle to regain that drive within you that died? Be of good cheer, "A bruised reed shall he not break"; instead, He will renew and restore you.  And how is you faith?  Is it a bursting flame of light or is more like the smoking flax that seems on the edge of extinction.  You have heard of this Christ; but you really can’t believe that He cares about you.  The worries and cares of this world have weighed you down and your own tears have quenched the flame until barely there is only smoking flax and so fragile.  Again, be of good cheer for the "smoking flax shall he not quench".  Remember this,   "⁵ Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

⁶ I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee,"

Do you know Him?  Did you suddenly realize that He alone was worthy of your praise, even if He never gave you anything in return and even if salvation was not an option? Have you ever come to a place where He appeared so Glorious and the light of His Righteousness revealed the darkness and depravity of your own heart?  Did you realize that the only way for you to have a relationship with perfect righteousness would be to be perfectly righteous?  Understanding that there was no way for you to do that yourself, did you fall before an Almighty God broken into pieces?  Good news, Christ came and paid the penalty for your sin and offers you His righteous in exchange for your sin, if only you believe?

We have a hope in Him,  Joy in Him, and need to return to our focus on Him so that He can heal us, restore us, and renew us.  All these other things that we desire are only counterfeit joy compared to the joy that we may have in Him.

Proverbs 30: ⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

⁶ Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

⁷ Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

There are those in the modern church who try to teach a prosperity gospel of "name it and claim it"  Within this teaching, were I to want a Lamborghini I need only declare it to be mine and it would be given me. This is not only not found in the scripture, but is a very dangerous way of looking at the gospel.  God has never promised to give us great riches on this earth; but, he has promised to provide what we need. By that He promises to give us daily the needs for that day.  Psalm 37: 25  "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."  Do you trust him to provide what you need today?  Do you praise Him for that provision or grumble because you want more?  Let us not be found like Israelite nation in the wilderness who grumbled because they did not like the manna they were given to eat.  Every morning God provided that days food in the middle of the desert; yet, they wanted and pridefully thought they should be given more.  Numbers 11: "⁴ And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

⁵ We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

⁶ But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."  So, let me ask you this question. Are you grumbling to God because His provision is not what you wanted or are you praising Him for providing what you needed? Are you seeking the Giver or the Gift?  He knows what is best for me today and I will trust and praise Him no matter what surrounds me.

 

John 10: ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

We have a great shepherd and we are His.  He will protect us and guide us each step of this journey. He will guide us into His paths of righteousness and we should like sheep following without question because we know His voice and trust our Great Shepherd.   Listen to the words of this song with the first half written by Martin J. Nystrom  and combined with the song Jesus Like a Shepherd lead us believed to be written by Dorothy Ann Thrupp.  Let these thoughts comfort your soul.

Shepherd of my soul 
I give you full control
Wherever You may lead 
I will follow
I have made the choice 
To listen for Your voice
Wherever You may lead 
I will go
(Repeat)
Be it in a quiet pasture 
Or by a gentle stream
The Shepherd of my soul 
Is by my side
Should I face! 
A mighty mountain 
Or a valley dark and deep
The Shepherd of my soul 
Will be my guide
(Repeat all)
(Repeat verse)
Wherever you may lead 
I will go
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Much we need 
Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant 
Pastures feed us
for our use 
They folds prepare
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus
Thou hast brought us
Thine we are
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou has brought us
Thine we are
We are Thine 
Do Thou befriend us
Be the Guardian 
Of our way
Keep Thy flock 
From sin, defend us
Seek us when 
We go astray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Hear Thy children 
When they pray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Hear Thy children 
When they pray
(Repeat)
Hear Thy children 
When they pray
Hear Thy children 
When they pray

Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Blessed Jesus
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Blessed Jesus…

^{Isaiah 51:3} For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

⁴ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

⁵ My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust…

¹¹ Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

¹² I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

¹³ And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth;

Sometimes along this journey of life we seem to fall into a desert or dark valley.  I would like to tell you that as a Christian this can never happen; but, then I would be lying.  I have passed through some very dark valleys in my life that felt so barren at times that I cried out to God with such a longing.  I did not know how to put one foot in front of the other or how to survive.  I felt burdened even further by the guilt that perhaps all of the long desert time was punishment for sins and therefore I needed to continue marching forward like a dutiful little Christian carrying my cross.  Little did I realize then that the deserts and valleys of my life were gifts of love from God.  He needed me to see His hand guiding my every step.  His purpose was to bring me to a place of full Joy in Him.  That Joy could not be found until I let go of the guilt, the pride, and the counterfeit joys that I sought after with all my heart.   Do Valleys and Deserts still arise before me in this journey, certainly; but there is a difference now in how I view them.  If I see them as a stepping stone to bring me closer to God and I realize that He is there with me to show me the way and to help me to become more like Him; then joy remains (not a giddy fake laughter; but a true joy that cannot be destroyed by the tears)  This is a peace and hope in God’s grace, including His future Grace.  This is a joy built out of faith in the one who will sustain me and holds me in the palm of His hand.  This is in the understanding of His perfect, unconditional love for me that makes "all things work together for my good."  This was a poem I wrote for my book Mountaintop Experiences in the Valley and I hope it brings you hope if it is a desert or valley you are facing today.

GIVE ME THIS VALLEY

I cried, Lord, please help me climb

This mountain so sublime

Full of health and wealth and fame

Surely there I’d praise your name

But I heard a whispering voice

Said, “for you that’s not my choice”

I want you in this valley deep

Where your joy my heart will keep

Lord, you can take that mountain high

And let me stay here by your side

In this valley filled with pain

Where I know you know my name

Give me a life where I might live

Dependent on the Grace you give

I’d rather be here by your side

Than on that great mountainside

Give me the faith and hope that’s yours

As your spirit through me pours

To a world in need of you

Give me strength for them to view

Let me show the Glory of Your Hope

Far from that slippery slope

In the valley where you stand

Let me walk and hold your hand

Though the Valley may be dark

You’re the light, my precious spark

You are all I need to know

Let me walk now here below

Give me the love of your great smile

That casts aside my selfish guile

Remove my thoughts of selfish pity

Your heart I might see clearly

You are the only one I need

For my soul you have freed

By the valley that you walked

To the cross where you were mocked

So let me walk this valley too

Where there your heart I knew

Keep your mountains filled with pride

Let me stay here at your side.

I hope also this song is a comfort to you, so beautifully sung by Larnelle Harris