Season of the EPIPHANY ... Frankincense

Where IS HE+...

The ONE+ born

King of the Jews?

Frankincense... that fragrant herb...

also from the resin...

which helps the bitternesss of the myrrh.

MEDITATION

Our dear Heavenly FATHER, we thank THEE for always bringing enough frankincense to mix with the bitter myrrh.

We pray, O dear FATHER, that THOU canst see JESUS when THOU lookest upon our hearts.

We pray for THY FATHERLY goodness to rest upon us during our trials ... that we may bring glory unto THEE.

Sanctify our trials and make them a sweet savor unto THEE, O LORD OUR GOD.

O LORD GOD, let it never be said, when THOU lookest upon me, "Where IS HE+?Have you hidden your light under a bushel? "

Remember, O MY+ child: If you deny ME+ before men, I +  will deny you before MY+ FATHER and before the Heavenly Angels.

Where IS  HE+,

in your life,

MY child ?  



Denying CHRIST: By DISOBEYING HIS+ Word

~ ~ ~

Becoming DISAPPROVED

By CHRIST+

~

No... we don't "earn" our salvation;

But we CAN earn HIS+ disapproval !
~

But I keep under my body,

and bring it into subjection:

lest that by any means,

when I have preached to others,

I myself should be a castaway*.

I Cor. 9:27

*The word castaway is in the Greek actually UN-APPROVED.

~

To continue (Chapter 10:1-4) the thought stated by The Apostle Paul:

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and were ALL BAPTIZED unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did ALL EAT the SAME SPIRITUAL FOOD; and did ALL DRINK the SAME SPIRITUAL DRINK; for they drank of that spiritual ROCK+ that followed them: and that ROCK+ was CHRIST.

.

So, here we see that baptism by water ( the Red sea) and The HOLY SPIRIT (the supernatural "cloud") was effected for all. We also see here that CHRIST was the spiritual "drink" (His+ Blood), supplied to all. CHRIST JESUS was also the spiritual food, the Bread+ of Heaven, the TRUE MANNA+, referred to in the verses above because JESUS Himself+ explained that to us in John 6:31-35.

~

But with many of them

GOD was not well pleased:

for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

(verse 5)

~

Yes, GOD disapproved of them even though they were baptized and ate of CHRIST'S Body and drank of CHRIST'S Blood... as the Scripture states in those 4 verses. And yes, being "disapproved" means being cast away, or as Our LORD JESUS said, being "cut off from the True Vine+ ." ( John 15)

~ ~ ~

If the toiling, laboring, self-denying Apostle Paul was concerned about becoming un-approved and thus, cast away from CHRIST JESUS... shouldn't we be concerned also ?

+ + +

Why do you look for love

in all the wrong places?

.

Why do you turn to others for love

and shy away from ME+ ?

.

Have I + ever hurt you?

Have I+ disappointed you

or caused you grief?

.

Nay, but rather,

your going your own way

has caused your grief

and disappointment.

.

Do not mistake approval for love.

I+ love you despite

the grief and disappointment

you have caused ME+ .

.

If you will walk in

ALL of MY+ Ways

-- forsaking your own --

I+ will fill up your heart.

.

You have MY+ Love;

Now strive for MY+ Approval*.

+ + +

*Philippians 3:12-14

.

.

Glory be to The FATHER,

Who created thee;

And to His Beloved SON+,

Who saves thee;

And to The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT;

Who sanctifies thee.

+ + +

DENYING GOD... When do we do this?

William Law... that single-minded Christian who exhorts us to walk in the ways of holiness for HIS+ name's sake... was quoted in a Continuing Anglican church newsletter recently. Brother Law said:

Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behaviour as either:

1. a denial of the wisdom of GOD,

or as

2. a confession that he is

out of HIS+ Will.

To be always in a thankful state of heart before GOD is NOT to be considered a HIGH PLANE of spirituality

but rather...

the normal attitude of one who believes that

"All things work together for good to them that love GOD, who are called according to HIS+ purpose."

Perhaps this holds true regarding all grumbling and complaining, also ?