Effie Darlene Barba

Mark 2: ¹⁶ And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The pharisees who believed themselves to be righteousness could never recognize that they needed a savior and they were blinded always to their own need.  They could never realize that as we are told in Romans 3:⁹ What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." 

How true that remains today of so many self-righteous who believe they somehow they deserve heaven because "they have lived a good life and never hurt people".  Then there are those who claim themselves children of God and spend a lifetime condemning others.  So tightly caught within the web of their own pride they fail to see the lost soul that God is reaching out to because that one doesn’t look the part to sit in our fancy church pews.  But Christ came to save those who knew they were sinners and needed a Savior.  The more I know of Him, the more unworthy I know I am; yet, He chose me, He loved me, and He saved me.  As you grow in Your Knowledge of Christ, you begin to see His magnificent Glory and His Righteousness.  When looking at a house, it may appear clean within a dim light; yet, the brighter the light, the more dust one can see.  The same is true in a man’s life.  In the dimness of the light that would be shown by other men, we may not look so bad; but in the brightness of God’s light shining around us, we are such wretched sinners.  Those who chose to remain comparing themselves by the dim light of this world can never seek Christ; because they cannot see that they need Him.  John 3: ¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Kcm2OAWNA

^{Psalm 94:}

¹⁸ When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

¹⁹ In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Such a beautiful verse. When my foot slippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. It is even more significant when you look at the verses that proceed it. These two sentences come in the center of scripture which have just described man’s dilemma and God’s right for vengence against such perverse and vain hearts as are within man. Yet, this same just and righteous judge who by all rights should condemn every one of us–provided a means of mercy. Because of that salvation which God has freely given unto me through such a grave cost to Himself; when I begin to slip (as I do) I only need to cry out and His Mercy will hold me up. No matter how tumultuous are the thoughts whirling within my brain, He stretches forth to delight my soul with His comforting words so gently whispered. He draws me ever closer by His resounding love and mercy; therefore, I see His Glory shining through and know without a doubt that He is my greatest treasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBzLOIGR7CA

^{Hebrews 4: 9} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Odd sentence, let us labour therefore to enter into that rest.  Labor to rest?  Perhaps in my life I have known a few people who work very hard at being lazy as though it were their job; but, I am certain that is not what this scripture refers to.  Remember the writer is speaking to the early Jewish Christians who are very familiar with their distant ancestors wandering in the wilderness for 40 years because their idleness drew them away from believing in God’s promises.  Their idleness had led to their bickering, worrying, and discontent with God.  They could not patiently, hopefully rest in the promises of God.  So this labor is referring to our diligently seeking to know Him more, to remain vigilant in prayer and to study His word so that we might know and rest in His promises.  We must cease from our own striving to do the work so that we might allow Him to work out His righteousness through us.  This is a matter of the heart and faith.  Do I truly believe that God has saved me and that He has provided for me His righteousness?  If so, then my actions will display that.  If I believe that God has conquered sin and set me free from it’s power, again I will rest in that promise and will not be burdened with fighting it in my own might-rather I will rest in Him, placing every temptation quickly at His feet.  If I believe that God has the best plan for my life, why would I ever fret or worry.  All of this is a matter of faith. I rest in His promises, if I believe He is the Creator of the Universe and that He provides for those who seek Him with all their heart.  My only labor is to continually cling to and seek to follow after Christ and His promises.  I am to continue to study His Word to show myself approved by God–because if I truly in my heart see Him as my greatest treasure; how could I do less than to seek to know Him more?.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlVibpNfK-Q

Psalm 42: ⁷ Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

⁸ Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

When all the questions of this world come over you like billow waves.  When you are striving so hard to "be all that you should be at work and home"  When the demands on you seem to be more than you can handle.  When the sounds in your own head are too many to go to sleep.  When the bills are more than the money coming in.  When all of life seems to overcome you.  Where do you turn when the darkness calls upon the darkness and the waves and billows seem to be pushing you under–you feel like you are drowning.  Remember this, the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time to comfort you and in the night his song (a lullaby) to cradle you into a restful sleep will surround you as you remain in prayer to the God of your life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKSyFOsAp6c

^{Psalm 16 (AMP): 1} Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have found refuge, and in You do I put my trust and hide myself.

² I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good beside or beyond You…

⁵ The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot.

^{KJV 8} I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

¹⁰ For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

¹¹ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Can you like David say, "Everything good and everything right in my in my life is you, Lord.  You are the one bright shining star in my life and because of that I can see all the other blessings through eyes which are enlightened by your Glory; recognizing my unworthiness for even the smallest of mercy, I am blessed because of you.  I have no good beside or beyond You."  My eyes remain fixed on the goal line (which is my Lord and Savior- Christ) as I run this race called life.  He is ever before me and at the same time he is there at my right hand upholding me so as to prevent my falling to destruction–ever whispering words of encouragement to prevent me from desiring to quit.  He makes my heart glad, He shares with me His Glory, and this earthly flesh (though tempted and tried within this world) can rest in the hope that my salvation was bought and secured by Christ.  He will not abandon me.  He will guide each step of my journey.  In His presence is fullness of joy.  I can rejoice, hope, and forever rest in my grace for today and my future grace which He has promised to complete in me. 

Hebrews 6: ¹⁷ Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

¹⁸ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

²⁰ Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKNldb_g6Rc