Chosen Ones

Chosen Ones

1 Kings 8:16 “...but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’

Chosen. 

God chose David for a specific task. Through out the Bible God has chosen others for specific tasks. He chose the Levites to minister to Him, He chose the apostles, He chose Paul. God choses individuals for specific tasks. He chooses people from among His already chosen ones. 

What does it mean to be chosen? Who does God choose? Am I chosen? What am I chosen for?

Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2 NKJV
For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Psalm 89:3 NKJV
"I have made a covenant with My chosen,

Psalm 105:43 NKJV
He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.

Isaiah 41:9 NKJV
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

Isaiah 43:10 NKJV
"You are My witnesses," says the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.

Matthew 22:14 NKJV
For many are called, but few are chosen."

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;

Revelation 17:14 NKJV
These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

The Chosen Ones are first called and then chosen.They are called out of darkness and into His marvellous light. Many are called but only few are chosen. They are chosen to belong to God , to be holy, to be a special treasure. God makes His covenant with His Chosen Ones and He does not cast them off. They have such a joy and gladness at God’s leading in their lives. The Chosen are witnesses, called to know God and to believe Him and to understand Him. The Chosen Ones are royal priests called to proclaim His praises. The Chosen are with the Lamb who has the victory. They have been called and chosen and they are faithful.

1 Cor 1:26-31 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

God has called me and chosen me. He has called me out of darkness to stand in the wonder and brightness of His light. I belong to Him, to be His special treasure and to live a life of holiness, gladness and joy as He inscribes His covenant upon my heart. God calls me to know Him, to believe Him, to understand Him, to be faithful and to share Him with others. I am chosen by God to live for His holy purpose.

Flowers of Promises

Flowers of Promises

1 Kings 8:24, 56 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses."

These words spoken by Solomon at the dedication of the temple, in affirmation of God’s fulfilled promises made to David and to Israel, through Moses,bring to my mind the confidence I can have in God’s word. 

Ps 33:9 "For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."

His word is active...alive...it accomplishes what He says it will. At the creation of the world He breathed the word and it was done.

Isa 55:11 "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

His word comes to me in clusters of promises....promises packed with power in the fulfilment of things spoken, of things that will be done, of things that will be accomplished according to God’s purpose. 

Ps 119:11 "Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens."

Ps 119:160 "Your word is true from the beginning"

God’s word to me is forever sure. It is true. It is for me...for me personally. He speaks to my heart.

Rom 4: 20, 21 "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."

Abraham was fully convinced that God can perform and accomplish all that He has promised.

2 Cor 1:20 "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."

Ps 145:13 " The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. "

God is faithful....his word is dependable..reliable...I can become fully convinced.... I can know for sure...I can believe in His word.

“All along our pathway, God places the flowers of promise to brighten our journey. But many refuse to gather these flowers, choosing instead the thorns and thistles. At every step they weep and mourn, when they might rejoice in the Lord because He has made the road to heaven so pleasant.
As we look at the promises of God, we find comfort and hope and joy; for they speak to us the words of the Infinite One. Properly to appreciate these precious promises, we should study them carefully, examining them in detail. How much joy we might bring into life, how much goodness into the character, if we would but make these promises our own! As we journey in the upward way, let us talk of the blessings strewn along the path. “ The Youth’s Instructor, January 23, 1902.

Lord I want to run free and gather armfuls of flowers...to skip with joy..to experience the exuberance of delight in the beauty of each and every picked flower. Thank you for the flowers of promises strewn throughout the Bible in clusters of scented wonder.

Hope in the Promise

Hope in the Promise

1 Kings 1:17-19 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’

In 2 Samuel 7 we find David in the early years of His reign has already brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with a great display of rejoicing and solemnity. Now David confides in Nathan the prophet, about his desire to build a temple of glory to God. Nathan sees it as a good thing and encourages David to move forward. However, God steps in and speaks to Nathan in a vision and tells him that David is not to be the one who will build the temple. He is a man of war and God is seeking a man of peace to be the builder. God has chosen David’s son to be the builder. God promises to establish David’s throne and the throne of His son.

2 sam 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”

This promise made to David was full of hope, mercy and grace. This promise was made to David early in his reign. He had not yet sinned his great sin with Bathsheba. Solomon, the child of David and Bathsheba was not yet even conceived for at this time Bathsheba is still the wife of one of David’s great mighty men, Uriah the Hittite.

I look in awe and amazement. God knows the future...He knows David is soon to fall into a great sin that is going to bring much pain, heart ache, and brokenness not just to himself but to his entire family, the family of Bathsheba and the family of Uriah and to the nation of Israel. God is making a promise to David before David becomes a scheming murderer and a betrayer of a loyal and noble friend. God is making a promise before lust is conceived in his heart and bares the fruit of adultery. God is making a promise before David becomes a liar and leads a life of deception. God sees all of this yet God’s mercy and grace will be extended to David. God’s forgiveness will be given to him. His mercy will be so great towards David that even the child of this marriage will be the one to fulfil the dream and the desire of David’s heart.

It reminds me of this verse in Rom 5:8
But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What amazing and beautiful hope and love and mercy is presented in this verse. While I am in the midst of my sin...before I choose to do this sin...before I fall...God is there showing me His glorious other centred love as revealed at the cross. His love is drawing me despite the choices I make, despite falling. He presents love, hope, mercy and grace in such a glorious light. He isn’t there ready to cast me off as soon as I sin. He is there drawing...always drawing me to Himself with His love.

I think of David on the other side of his great sin...as he writes Ps 51 in deep repentance...in heart sobs and pain. Are the words of God’s promise filtering through in His mind? Does he remember that God has promised him that his own son will build the temple...does his mind recall the the blessing God poured out upon his family? Does he think about His humble response of awe at God’s love for Him and for His holy purpose and calling? His response to God’s promise must be ringing in his mind.

2 Sam 7 :25-29“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

David’s heart is won. God’s love melts him. How amazing that God would make such a promise to Him and honour his family knowing what depths of sin David would fall into, while knowing who David truly was deep in his heart...a sinner in desperate need of a Saviour. The goodness of God breaks his heart and in deep repentance he prays.
Ps 51: 1-12
Have mercy upon me, O God,According to Your lovingkindness;According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak,And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

May the beauty and the glory of your love melt my heart today as I ponder the great and precious promises you have laid out before me as precious jewels despite my sinfulness and despite my choices. For your goodness leads me to repentance.

Getting Fit

Getting Fit

About 6 weeks ago my friend Carrie and I joined a gym. Now there was a long drawn out process before we joined that gym. I kept thinking about how I needed to get fit and exercise more. I made some disorganised attempts such as bike riding more and getting out a lot more during summer but it wasn’t consistent. Carrie kept researching gyms...we live in a country town north of Sydney...it’s full of gyms...She researched into a health programme, a woman’s gym, gym contracts, gym fees, gym promotions, gym offers and she talked to gym owners and instructors. 

Then one day I saw it...the sign!!! It was for Snap Fitness. No contracts...pay fortnightly....not far from home....So Carrie decided to go and talk to the them. What was even more amazing was that it was for normal people like me. When I thought of a gym I always thought of super fit people that look like they spring right out of the pages of a fitness magazine. They have muscles and bounce and eat yoghurt. So Carrie came away with a form to fill in and she was decided. This was finally THE gym. It was about then that I decided to leap on board with the idea. I had been interested in going to the gym but hadn’t said too much to Carrie. So when I made the leap to join with her she was rather surprised. 

We filled in our forms, parted with our money and had time for orientation . It seemed like a friendly place. People did appear normal even though there were a few of those ultra fit magazine type of people bouncing around. It was my first time in a gym ever. There I was standing in this large area filled with equipment I had no idea how to use...I did after orientation...the whole thing was a totally new experience for me. 

 We diligently went regularly and used the equipment and we knew we made a right decision. We worked out relentlessly and we were enjoying some results. We were committed. Then came our free offer. Yes.. when we joined we got one free session with a personal trainer...Charlie. Charlie knew her stuff...she has degrees and experience Internationally. She herself was fit and she just oozed with the love of working out. Charlie wrote out a programme for us and away we went. They say “no pain no gain” and it was a killer of a programme. Carrie and I discovered muscles we never knew existed before. 

However with commitment and diligence to Charlie’s programme I have come to a place where I am fitter, it’s no longer painful, I am enjoying it and I am working out 4-5 times a week. This week Charlie came to us to book another personal training session...free..I love that word..she is planning on taking us to the next level. 

All of this reminds me so much of God...God calls me to make a commitment to Him. To become spiritually fit.  For some of us who have never been in a church before we first went....like going into a gym for the first time..it can all seem so surreal. What goes on here? How does it work? Some people seem super *spiritually* fit...others look really *normal* like me. We can try out the equipment of reading the Bible for ourselves, enjoying Christian music and reading some great books about God and we start on our journey with God but it’s not until we meet up with Jesus our Personal trainer that we can really move forward spiritually. Jesus knows each one of us so personally and He knows what our journey is about and how to reach our hearts and draw us closer to Him. Some times it’s painful as Jesus reveals things in our life that He wants out of our lives or things He wants us to deal with. The end result is totally worth it.

1Timothy 4:8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Unveiled

Unveiled

I kings 8:11-13 “... the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Then Solomon spoke:

“The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud. 

I have surely built You an exalted house,
And a place for You to dwell in forever.”

A cloud of darkness? God’s glory? How can that be? So often I have seen paintings, pictures and in my mind’s eye when I think of God’s glory being seen I think of brightness, shining light...all darkness being dispelled. How can it be in darkness? 

I realise my thought processes are wrong they are not in line with The Word. I have deep down the concept of Ying and Yang of light and dark of good and evil. Yet this is not God. In God their is no evil only goodness...always and only goodness. So what is the darkness?

Ps 97 2-6 “Clouds and darkness surround Him;Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.A fire goes before Him,And burns up His enemies round about.His lightnings light the world;The earth sees and trembles.The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.The heavens declare His righteousness,And all the peoples see His glory..”

Here we see God’s throne...we see clouds..... darkness yet there is fire and lightnenings and His glory is seen.

Ex 24:15-18 “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.  So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

EGW tells us “The thick cloud opened in the sight of of Israel and the glory of the Lord broke forth like a fire.”

Again I see clouds of darkness yet a bright light of fire breaking forth from it. That mixture..darkness yet brightness.

Ex 40:34-38 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.  But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.  For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

Eze 10:4 “Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.”

Ps 18:11 ".He made darkness His secret place;His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies,  From the brightness before Him

Psalm 139:12  "Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and light are both alike to You."

The darkness is not about God hiding from me. The darkness is a veil...it hides the brightness that I can behold Him in my sinfulness. So that I can start to see Him. In the darkness and in the clouds I can behold His glory.I can start to see Him. In the sanctuary a veil was between the holy place and the most Holy, in which was the mercy seat and the presence of God. The veil is my protection. It allows me to start to see God’s glory for even in the darkness His glory is made manifest.

Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened , and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

At the cross the veil was torn. God wants me to step past the darkness of His glory that I can behold in my sinfulness. He has opened the way for me being able to see the brightness of His glory. It is through the cross...through forgiveness and cleansing that I can see the brightness of His glory. 

Heb 6:19:20”This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Christ’s righteousness in me and through me and covering me enables me to step beyond the darkness of His glory into the brightness of His glory.... to see Christ more fully.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Step me O Lord from the darkness of beholding your glory, through the blood of Jesus Christ, and into the brightness of your glory. May I be changed into your image as I behold you glory moment by moment.

Fill Me With Your Glory

Fill Me With Your Glory

My mind is sifting through pictures of splendour, pomp, ceremony, fervour, grandeur, great rejoicing and worship....worship...and  the presence of God.

1 Kings 8:1- 10

Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion.Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast ....  So all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.  Then they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up.  Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim. ..... And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

At the appointed time the hosts of Israel, with richly clad representatives from many foreign nations, assembled in the temple courts. The scene was one of unusual splendor. Solomon, with the elders of Israel and the most influential men among the people, had returned from another part of the city, whence they had brought the ark of the testament. .....In bringing to the temple the sacred ark containing the two tables of stone on which were written by the finger of God the precepts of the Decalogue, Solomon had followed the example of his father David. Every six paces he sacrificed. With singing and with music and with great ceremony, "the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place." 2 Chron 5: 7. As they came out of the inner sanctuary, they took the positions assigned them. The singers --Levites arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps--stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets. See verse 12.

"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and

thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God." Verses 13,14.” P&K p 38

Do I want the glory of the Lord to fill  me,the temple of God with His glory? Do I want my worship to be acceptable like it was with Solomon?

I see several important things that God is calling me to. God is calling me to a life of obedience but obedience under the blood of Jesus Christ...His righteousness. The great sacrificing of the animals by Solomon were all a token of the blood of Jesus Christ. 

I recall the story of Uzzah and when King David first moved the ark of the Covenant. He was filled with a godly zeal, he desired the occasion to be one of great rejoicing and imposing display. It was a scene of solemn gladness and triumph as all the people worshiped God. There was music and singing of praises to God. Yet it all went so badly as God smote Uzzah as he puts his hand on the ark. ( 2 Samuel 1-8) David had failed to do two things. He had failed to follow God’s divine direction for the moving of the ark and he failed to place the ceremony under the righteous blood of Jesus Christ.

Even if my motives are overflowing with joy and holy zeal...even if I am filled with praises to God, He asks first of me to be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and in that washing that His works of obedience may be carried forth. God can manifest His presence, His glory, in my life when I am fully surrendered and covered with His righteousness.

“ But we are all like an unclean thing,

And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags..” Isa 64:6

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” titus 3:5

“ Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb 10:22

“....the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Eph 1:23

“ And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph 3:19

“ But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18

Lord wash me and cleanse me and give me your righteousness that my heart may be prepared for your in filling of your presence and glory.

A Treasured Possession

A Treasured Possession

As I read 1 Kings 5-7 my mind is drawn the absolute beauty and splendor and magnificence of the temple Solomon had built.

“Of surpassing beauty and unrivaled splendor was the palatial building which Solomon and his associates erected for God and His worship. Garnished with precious stones, surrounded by spacious courts with magnificent approaches, and lined with carved cedar and burnished gold, the temple structure, with its broidered hangings and rich furnishings, was a fit emblem of the living church of God on earth, which through the ages has been building in accordance with the divine pattern, with materials that have been likened to "gold, silver, precious stones," "polished after the similitude of a palace." 1 Corinthians 3:12; Psalm 144:12. Of this spiritual temple Christ is "the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." Ephesians 2:20, 21.” P&K p 36

God is calling not just His church to be spiritual temple of beauty and magnificence but He is calling me personally to be a temple of beauty. To be beautiful in Him like the beauty of a jewel.To be His treasured possession.

1 Cor 3:16 “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

I am a jewel. I am a treasured possession. Treasured and cherished by God. 

Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.

As a jewel of Jesus’ I have a sense of belonging. He tells me I am His. As a jewel I have beauty in Him.

Deut 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Exodus 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. 

Deuteronomy 14:2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession

Deuteronomy 26:18 And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The life of a treasured possession belonging to Christ is a life of obedience, holiness, a life of His covenant being written in my heart. He wants me to declare His praises for He has called me out of darkness and into His glorious light and into the life of a jewel for Jesus. 

I am a temple of the Holy Spirit, a building of beauty and glory on Christ. God wants me to believe Him. He wants me to know my worth in Him and to live the life of one who is loved, treasured and made to feel special by Him. 

I love Him so very deeply.