Glory

… that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, (Ephesians 3:16 ESV)

Glory

I am using a rechargeable battery for battery-things in the sanctuary.  And I am impressed.  Batteries are, in my opinion, more valuable, more excellent, more amazing in how long they last, not in how much voltage or amperage they push out.

More than 3 volts in my microphone would burn out the circuits, not impress me.  But a battery that lasts months instead of weeks is great.

These batteries, despite being drained every week, have lasted for years.  I do not know why I bothered purchasing spares.

The company that manufactures the batteries advertises on facebook.  I see comments from customers who complain about poor quality in the batteries.  I see comments from customers who brag about excellent quality in the batteries.

My experience has caused me to praise the company.  In fact, my glowing endorsement resulted in an invitation from the company to invest in their product. 

But here is the important part.  My five-star rating of the batteries does not result in me praising the guitar or the microphone in the front of the sanctuary.  My five-star rating of the batteries does not result in me praising my voice, or my guitar skills.  My five-star rating of the batteries does not result in me praising the small cylinders of metal and plastic.

My five-star rating of the batteries results in me praising the manufacturer.

In much the same way, the things that sometimes I can see God empowers me to be able to do does not result in praising my prayers, or my patience, or my kind acts, or my endurance in Him…  but rather, the things HE does through me results in HIS glory! When I see things correctly.

God does not answer prayers merely to help us… He answers prayers so our eyes look up to HIM, the prayer-answerer.  God does not save our eternal souls from damnation merely for our sake… He saves our eternal souls so we declare HIS grace.  God does not give us light on our darkest days merely to enable us to endure… He gives us light so we will be in awe at HIS light.

He empowers us with His glory, strengthens us with His glory, helps us with His glory, saves us with His glory not merely for our sake… but because it Glorifies Him!

I sometimes end my prayers with the phase, “for Jesus’ sake… amen.”  I rarely think about what that phrase really means.  But today I see that Jesus’ sake is the best reason to pray, the best motivation to pray, the best background to prayer, the best result of prayer.

His glory is rich.

In Christ Alone

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16 ESV)

In Christ Alone

I once worked for a company that was owned by some self-professed wealthy elite.  These were high rollers, who were movers and shakers.  And as long as I worked for them, I had the opportunity to roll high, move, and shake, too.

I did not take the opportunity all that often…

But after I left that job, I was no longer even potentially welcome in that group.

The men no longer answered my (rare) phone calls… and if facebook was around, they would have unfriended me.

THEY were my contact with the ‘in’ group.

Christians sometimes forget that it is Christ, and Christ alone, who gives us access to the Father, a relationship with the Spirit, and entrance into heaven.

God’s promises were to Abraham and his offspring, the Messiah.  And we get to tag along when we cling to Him.

We like to elevate ourselves.  But not yet.  Until we are Glorified, we are ‘in’ only because of Jesus.

Separation

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. (II Corinthians 3:16 ESV)

Separation

Say what you want about the COVID years, but at the very least, COVID had the effect of driving people apart.  Not only regarding arguments about government overreach, medical accuracy, and health care.  But also those masks made us feel alone, even in a group of folk.

Walking through the grocery store, we stopped looking at each other.

Eating in a restaurant, we stopped paying attention to the other guests.

Face to face meetings became rare, and uncomfortable.  Almost as uncomfortable as zoom meetings.

But time, knowledge, and exhaustion have left that loneliness in the past.

But the memory of it can help us understand Paul’s words.  There is a separation, caused by human Sin, between God and us.  It is a vast chasm, bigger than COVID’s six feet.

But turning to Jesus, acknowledging our need for help, admitting our restless sin, accepting His loving sacrifice, tears off the masks.

In Him, we have a way to God.

In Him, we can never be alone.

In Him, the separation is finished.

Beautiful

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (Corinthians 3:16 ESV)

Beautiful

I have stood on the lip of the Grand Canyon, and it was a grand view.  I have watched the skies hum with Northern Lights and it was incredible.  I have lived near some of the most beautiful sites on our planet, and been amazed.

But what was most beautiful about them, was my companion, my best friend, my wife.

The temple was the most beautiful building on earth.  Not just because the architecture, accouterments, and materials were incredible, but because until Christ Jesus, the Messiah, was born, the temple was Immanuel!  It was God’s presence among His people.

And now Christians have that presence, too.  And while we usually focus on the peace, love, and power that God’s presence fills us with, His presence also makes us beautiful.

Not because your nose is the right size for your face.  But because you are God’s temple, Christian.

Not because you are noble-acting, polite, or nice.  But because you are God’s temple, Christian.

Not because you are stylish, popular, or friendly.  But because you are God’s temple, Christian.

Because God IS beautiful.  And His Spirit in us makes us beautiful reflections.

The End

…in their paths are ruin and misery, (Romans 3:16 ESV)

The End

There are two ends, and ONLY two ends to human life.

First, everyone who sins without Christ as their redeemer, buffer, protector, savior, sacrifice, and source of new life Is heading toward ruin and misery.

Second, everyone who sins WITH Christ as their redeemer, buffer, protector, savior, sacrifice, and source of new life is NOT heading toward ruin and misery.

It is that simple.

So cling to Christ, right?

Everything else is ruin and misery.

Everything

And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16 ESV)

Everything

I have a role of duct tape in my toolbox.  It is great at temporarily joining together things that have broken apart.  But it is not waterproof.

I have a set of various clamps that ignore water.  They connect different kinds of pipes.  But they sometimes require too much pressure and break the pipes.

I have two powerful electric staplers.   They make a satisfying WHOOMP when I squeeze the trigger.  But the the holes the staples make in the materials is frustrating.

Nothing in my tool collection fixes everything.

But Jesus fixes everything.

He mends broken hearts.  He floods loneliness.  He laughs lovingly at fear.  He restores sin-wrecked creation to creation’s creator.  He wipes away tears.  He restores my soul.

There is nothing like His fixings in the universe.

Exaggeration

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

Exaggeration

Johnny Cash exaggerated when he sang, “I’ve been EVERYwhere, man, I’ve been EVERYwhere.”

The Romans exaggerated when they claimed, “ALL roads lead to Rome.”

Hallmark movie heroines exaggerated when they declare, “I have ALWAYS loved you.”

Does God really love THE WORLD?

Well, it says so right there.  But what exactly does it mean?

First it might mean, I suppose… our planet.  We sometimes call our planet, the world.  And God does love His creation enough to redeem it.  To fix it.  To stop it’s groaning. To repair Adam’s damage.

It might mean all the nations of earth throughout history.  And in a general sense of general love, God does care enough for all such nations to bring a method of salvation to the folk who dwell therein.

Similarly, it might mean all the people of the world.  God created humans, however rebellious we became.  And He blesses mankind, even when we do not deserve it.  He helps the world through His Son.

But mostly, this verse is declaring that God loves HIS PEOPLE, that world… that kingdom… that universe… so much that He absolutely ensures our salvation, through Christ.

I know that does not sound as BIG and BROAD as the other options.

But it actually is the interpretation that gives His love teeth.  Look what He did for His people?  He gave His Son.

I love, in a sense, all the folk of Valley Center.  But I love our church folk in a deeper, better way.

I love all the folk of our church.  But I love my family in a deeper, better way.

I love my family.  But I love my wife in a deeper, better way.

If this seems unfair, I offer a solution.  I offer it hopefully, cheerfully, optimistically, confidently, joyfully, humbly, and gladly.

Become one of His people.

The Fish and Pride

John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire…” (Luke 3:16 ESV)

The Fish and Pride

One of my favorite cartoons shows a fish, eating a bigger fish, which is eating a BIGGER fish, which is eating a HUGE fish… which is… you get the idea.

There is always a bigger fish.

We like to be good at things… and we like that to be acknowledged.

John the Baptist was a powerful prophet, a dynamic preacher, a social influencer, and he drew huge crowds to the Jordan River.

But when he was noticed, he did the right thing… the only right thing, really.

He pointed people to Jesus.  Amazingly, John pointed people to Jesus before Jesus was officially known.  John could have basked in his glory for a time.  John could have taken some praise, enjoyed his popularity, felt needed, appreciated, and wanted.

But he pointed people to Jesus.

Our pride sometimes stops us from doing that.  Our pride, sometimes justifiable pride (some of you are GOOD at things…) makes us enjoy the occasional limelight.

But every such limelight appearance is a chance to point people to Jesus.

Be blatant about it, like John.  Be obvious about it, like John.  Maybe even be annoying about it, like John.

Because Jesus is always better.

Special

He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter)… (Mark 3:16 ESV)

Special

It is popular these days to suggest that Jesus loves us just the way we are.

And in a sense, that is true.  God’s Love (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is unconditional.  He loves us ‘just the way we are’ in that our unlovely aspects do NOT drive Him away from us, or cause Him to reject us, or put a series of things we must do (or be) to earn His love.

But just the way we are?

No… He has plans for His people.  He is moving us towards more submission to Him.  He is moving us towards more desire to love Him in return.  He is moving us towards becoming more Christlike, and less us-like.

Christ displayed this particularly when He changed Simon’s name to Peter. 

I am not sure exactly what the transition was, to be clear.  While, “Peter” is usually understood to mean, “Rock”, “Simon” has a number of possible meanings.  Simon can mean, “Listen”.  Simon can mean, “Flat-nosed”.  Neither of which really seems to contrast “Rock” very clearly.

But apparently the most common name in Judea around that time was Simon.

While Peter, at that time, was an extremely rare name.

Maybe Christ, when appointing Simon as one of the twelve, was declaring that being a child of God changes us from ‘common’ to ‘special.’

Not because we are skilled, or popular, or well-dressed, or good looking, or pious, or anything… anything but chosen by Him.

He changes us from the common sinner, into the special forgiven sinner, yes?

And there is nothing more special than that.

The View

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him. (Matthew 3:16 ESV)

The View

What a view Jesus had!  When His baptism was finished, Jesus looked, and heaven itself was visible to Him.  The dual natures of Christ make this passage a little hard to grasp, but the simplest and most obvious thing is that Jesus saw heaven.

I can not do that.

You can not do that.

In fact, of all the people you know, Jesus alone saw heaven itself from His position on earth.  Later, He ascended there.  Today, He dwells there.  As King, He rules from there.

But we back on His baptism day, He saw heaven.

Our eyes do not see it, but we can get a glimpse of heaven through Him.  But only through Him.  Perhaps in prayer we approach heaven, but only through His name.  Perhaps in the Lord’s Supper, we dine with Him, but only through His sacrifice.  Perhaps in His Word we understand heaven a little, but only through His teaching.

We can see His view, when our eyes look to Him.

And soon, we will see Him as He is… and see what He saw… and see what He sees.

What a view.

Conversations

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV)

Conversations

Words are not cheap.  What we talk about reveals our hearts.  If our words are complainy, selfishy, rudey, and meany, our hearts probably are, too.

God hears our conversations with others, not just our conversations with Him.

For the people of Malachi’s time, while many spoke in ways that displayed their separation from God, SOME spoke in ways that showed they understood God’s wonder, and loved Him in hope.

God paid attention, and noted them permanently as folk who were His.

What does your conversation reveal to God and the world about you?

Consider these contrasts, what you generally talk about, and determine where your words place you:

Complaining… or praising…

Shaking our heads… or moving our hands and feet…

Demanding… or humbly asking…

Me, me, me… or Him, Him, Him…

Fear… or hope…

Criticizing… or helping...

Disinterest… or focus…

The good news is, that Christ is the solution for complainers, head-shakers, demanders, Me-ists, fearful folk, critics, and disinterested folk JUST as He is the solution for praisers, movers, requesters, Him-ists, hopers, helpers, and those who focus.

Let Him help change you from the left column, to the right.  Starting with what you talk about.

Hands

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. (Zephaniah 3:16 ESV)

Hands

Fear often stops us from doing things.

The People of God in Zephaniah’s day had plenty to be afraid of. 

And maybe we do, too.

The order of this command is important.  Fear not, then find strength.

Finding strength is not the pathway to fear-ending.

We find strength when the fear is gone.

But only if the end of fear happens in the right way.  Christ Jesus is the only answer to fear.  And when we believe, and fear flees, then God graciously gives our hands the strength we need to do the work HE calls us to do.

Jesus allows us to be willing and able. Jesus empowers us to be willing and able.  Jesus makes us willing and able.

Fear not, because He has work for us to do.

When You Can Not Help

I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. (Habakkuk 3:16 ESV)

When You Can Not Help

Have you ever felt so helpless that your body trembles?  Your lips quiver at the sound of your fear?  Your bones feel rotten?  Your legs cannot hold you up?

Maybe, like Habakkuk, it was the terror of warfare. 

Maybe it was a growing awareness of the looming effects of your sin.

Maybe it was a political crisis. 

Maybe it was crippling debt.

Maybe it was a breaking relationship.

Maybe it was death’s scythe.

Habakkuk felt like that.  And in the midst of it, He was granted the faith to wait quietly on the Lord.

He stopped trying to fix things himself.  He stopped trying to raise his metaphorical sword and win battles.  He stopped trying to solve everything for himself, his family, and his nation.

Because Habakkuk know the Lord would win.

And the Lord DID win.  He won when exiled Israel returned home.  He won when the prophets stopped writing the Bible, because all the words needed were written.  He won when Immanuel arrived.  He won when every enemy was sliced, diced, and shattered on the cross.  He won with the final enemy, death, trembled and lost on Resurrection Day.  He won when the throne was given on the Day of Ascension.

We do not have to wait for His victory.  It happened.  But now we wait for understanding.  Now we wait for consummation.  Now we wait for every tear to be wiped away.

But those things ARE coming.

Hope

You increased your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The locust spreads its wings and flies away. (Nahum 3:16 ESV)

Hope

God was disappointed with His children, Israel.  They had repeatedly rebelled against Him, consistently ignored Him, and constantly chosen sin, unrighteousness, and hate instead of choosing the Lord’s way of holiness, righteousness, and love.

And despite their arrogant expectation that God would continue to give them second chances, He had finally turned away from them.  God removed His protection from them.  God allowed Israel to fall into utter destruction and disrepute.  The blessed nation of God’s People was battered, ruined, and ashamed.

Nahum uses metaphors to help us understand how bad things were.  For Israel (including both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms) God’s blessing was incorrectly measured by wealth.  Rich people believed their accumulated possessions indicated God’s favor.  And so, since Israel was successful financially, they believed that God did not really care about their sin.

But we see that God took away from them particularly what they valued most.  Their wealth was carried away by foreign merchants.  Their rich land was as empty as if locusts had devoured everything.

They were undoubtably devastated.

But despite appearances, God had not really taken everything from them.  God only took those things that they foolishly valued more than they valued Him.

Even in His wrath and holy justice, God had not abandoned them.  In fact, the only real abandonment that God performed was against His Son, on the cross.  God abandoned Jesus in the fullness of God’s wrath.  Israel here deserved to be abandoned.  Judah here deserved to be abandoned.  God’s people then, and God’s people NOW deserve to be abandoned.

But as bad as things got, merchants and locusts emptying the Promised Land of earthly value, God kept His promises of salvation, redemption, restoration, and love.

God often gets our attention by bringing loss and suffering.  And we deserve all of it, honestly.  But every trouble we experience is a reminder of our Savior.  The suffering servant.  The bearer of God’s wrath.

Have hope, in Christ, because God’s just anger was put on Jesus’ back instead of ours.

Voice

The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to His people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. (Joel 3:16 ESV)

Voice

My grandfather told this story about his Recruit Division Commander (the Navy’s Drill Instructor). The man was like a mountain.  He woke the recruits loudly.  He called them to order loudly.  He dismissed them loudly. 

He had one volume level:  Extra Loud.

But in the wild chaos of battle, my grandfather said that he imagined that terrifying voice becoming a comfort to every sailor.  Sure, it was loud, but it was loud on HIS side!

The Lord’s voice is something like that.

While the unrighteous should fear when they hear His voice (in His Word, in creation, in His people, or via His Spirit), God’s people can find comfort in His voice.

He is mighty, and He has called us to His side.  He is awe-inspiring, and He has brought us to His city.  He is both loud and quiet, terrifying and peaceful, roaring and whispering.

But to us, His people, whose righteousness is bestowed on us through Christ’s life and death, His voice is the cry of freedom, of victory, of redemption, of salvation.

We hear that voice only through the mediation of Christ Jesus.

We are comforted by that voice only through the mediation of Christ Jesus.

We find rest only through the medication of Christ Jesus.

Debate

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.” (Daniel 3:16 ESV)

Debate

These three young men were commanded to disobey God.  It was not complicated.  God says worship only HIM, the One True, Living God.  And the king tried to get them to worship him, the king.

We might expect these men to argue passionately.  And there are times that would be appropriate.  But here, perhaps knowing that only the Spirit persuades, they did not argue.

We might expect these men to throw a staff like Aaron before Pharaoh.  And there are times that would be appropriate.  But here, perhaps trusting that God had a different plan, they did not argue.

We might expect these men to call on God’s power to strike down the blaspheming king.  And there are times that would be appropriate.  But here, perhaps realizing that they were first called simply to obey God, they did not argue.

I am wondering, today, about the times that I debate, and shout, and rage… thinking that God needs me to defend Him.  I am wondering, today, about the times that I outsmart the enemies, outmaneuver the enemies, outfox the enemies… thinking that God would be glad I was on His team. I am wondering, today, about the times I think God loses if I am not loud enough… thinking that God’s presence and power are best shown through my mouth.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose not to do those things.

But they obeyed what they knew God’s Word taught.  Right there in the first commandment. 

This is not a complicated command from God.  No gray areas are discernible.

And so nothing needed to be said.

Only something simple, but dangerous, to do.

They did not debate… but God won anyway. 

God wins today, too.

THE Answer

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: (Ezekiel 3:16 ESV)

THE Answer

Ezekiel had just suffered through a terrible vision.  He describes it in dreadful word-pictures and it is almost as terrible for us to read about it as it was for Ezekiel to see it.    Earthquakes, rebellion, and the promise of ineffective ministry were all a part of what Ezekiel experienced.

And then God transported the empty-hearted Ezekiel PLOP into the middle of some Hebrew Exiles.  War refugees who were without physical, intellectual, and emotional hope.

After a wait of seven days, God finally spoke to Ezekiel.

We do not yet know the message God gave Ezekiel.  But it is enough to read that God was not silent.  He saw the sorrows besetting the Hebrews due to their stiff necks… and He spoke.  He saw the hopelessness endured by those broken members of God’s people… and He spoke.  He saw their emptiness… and He spoke.

God spoke.

There is no better answer to whatever we are suffering with.

A lot of people speak.  A lot of ideas get proposed.  A lot of excuses get made.  A lot of false hope gets presented.

But God spoke.

If we want hope, He is the source of hope.  If we want redemption, He is the Redeemer.  If we want the joy of our salvation returned, He is the joy-giver.

And He starts with His Words.  For us, His written Words.  For God’s people, the Bible.

Read them.  Hear them, like Ezekiel.  Let them fill you, turn you, fix you, and re-establish you.

Listen to Him speaking.

Deep Needs

He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes. (Lamentations 3:16 ESV)

Deep Needs

I had a panic moment recently.  My awaited tax return was five days late.  My bank seemed unwilling to help, my tax program did not have the information.  And the IRS said, “we sent it, ask your bank.”

At the same time, some tough counseling situations were drowning my peace, car trouble was looming its head over my daily plans, and the airline flights for a summer wedding trip were suddenly canceled. 

I stared at my computer screen… and found peace in these words of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was hurting.  Jeremiah was afraid.  Jeremiah had complex and apparently unsolvable problems that were tearing him apart physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

My problems were miniscule compared to his.

Many in the world have problems that make mine seem like mosquito bites.  Many of God’s people have problems that make mine seem like mere cold French fries.  Many of you have problems that make mine seem like a forgotten bad daydream.

But the answer to ALL of those problems, no matter how overwhelming or underwhelming is the same thing.

Oh, how we need Jesus.

The peace I found from Jeremiah’s words is that Jesus knows my needs.  The Holy Spirit knows my needs.  The Father knows my needs.

And His saving Grace, and continued mercy are enough.

More than enough.

More than I can imagine.

He is that great.

No Need to Look Back

And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. (Jeremiah 3:16 ESV)

No Need to Look Back

I remember the day I got my learners’ permit to drive.  I was excited, glad, and it was SO necessary.  But as good as it was, I would not want to go back.

I remember DeAnne and my first date.  We were excited, glad, and it was SUCH a necessary beginning to our wonderful relationship.  But as good as it was, I would not want to go back.

I remember the first guitar I owned.  It was not quite plastic, and the strings would not stay tuned.  But I did not care. I quickly learned how to play, “Greensleeves.”    I was so excited, so glad, and I needed the guitar to get me started.  But as good as it was, I would not want to go back.

The Ark of the Covenant was beautiful, symbolic, and powerful.  But it was temporary.  It existed to point the way to the Messiah.  And when the Ark was being carried through the wilderness, in the tabernacle, and in the temple it was exciting.  It made God’s people glad.  And it was necessary.

But Jeremiah foretold the time we live in now.  We no longer need the Ark because God’s presence, through Christ Jesus, is IN us.  We no longer need the temple because God’s presence, through Christ Jesus, is IN us.  We no longer need that Holy City.  Because God’s people, through Christ Jesus,  ARE the city of God.

There is more to come!  We will be fully transformed into Christlike holiness.  We will know fully God’s presence always.  We will not endure any more effects of the old days.

But we do not have any need to look back with yearning.  To admire the Ark-days.  To wish for a return to the tabernacle, the temple, or those wonderful things that only existed to aim folk forward to what we already now have!

Because we have Jesus, Himself!  Not a mere (but absolute) Jesus promised.

Yourself

The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks,

glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, (Isaiah 3:16 ESV)

Yourself

Our society is strongly in the mode of encouraging us to “be yourself.”  We are urged not to define ourselves by the standards of society, culture, and peer-pressure.  But to determine who we believe we are, or wish we are, or dream we are, and stick to that determination.

But…

What started as good advice to “know ourselves” (even way back with Socrates) has instead become an excuse to avoid criticism, Biblical standards, submission to God, and community involvement.

We see these women of Isaiah’s time, not really being true to themselves.  When we act superior to our ability or character, we become haughty.  When we stretch out our necks, we are attempting to draw attention to ourselves in unnecessary or inappropriate ways.  When we glance with wanton eyes, we attempt to shortcut deep relationship, and achieve shallow, easy skin-deep loves. 

But the strongest picture is of their feet… mincing (walking as if they were other than what they are) and bell-tinkling (proclaiming LOOK AT ME!!!!!) describe someone who is not actually being true to themselves, but instead are in denial of their created and developed nature.

IF we are true to ourselves, we know our Sin and rebellion against the One True Living God.  IF we are true to ourselves, we know the only pathway to improvement, success, and peace is through the Christ who restores us to God Himself.    IF we are true to ourselves, we know that we cannot fix ourselves, improve ourselves, or survive long without Jesus.

The people of Isaiah’s time (actually women AND men were guilty of this) painted themselves as other than what they actually were.

Because they did not want God’s help.  They did not accept God’s knowledge.  They did not hold to God’s standards of truth, beauty, and goodness.

And so they minced.

And so they missed.

The same is true for us, today.  God is the ultimate definer.  God is the only determiner.  God is the only identifier. 

And we connect with Him only through Christ Jesus, the redeemer, the fixer, the sanctifier, the Savior.

In Him, we find out who we really are… and who we are going to be.  And His understanding is complete, full of understanding, full of love, and full of hope concerning our future.