The Sweetest Frame

Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.  (Mark 12:12 NIV) How many times our are own actions changed because we are afraid of the crowd?

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I've been really chewing on this verse the last couple of days. The message of Jesus is foolish to those who are perishing. They don't get it. It doesn't make sense that the death of a Jewish man brings life to the world. But to those who are being saved, this message isn't foolish, it is literally God's power at work. It is changing, remaking, renewing lives every day. It's not my job to decide who should hear it. I just need to tell it.

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes–who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:13-17 NIV84)   What an honor to serve God day and night in His temple. What a privilege to wear a blood-washed white robe.

In a world of broken promises - God still keeps His. Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Our God does not "enjoy" our pain. His desire is for us to turn and live... Ezekiel 18: 23 Have I a ny pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God , and not rather that he should turn from his way and live ?... 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone , declares the Lord God ; so turn, and live.” Thank you Lord, for being so gracious.

I am amazed with technology. This week I've been playing with Google Chrome and Unity through VMware fusion. Some really amazing stuff. But this isn't a tech post. What amazes me is that for all of the smart people in this world, when God wrote the word a few thousand years ago he knew what we would never know. We can try to define when life begins, and we can break things down to a molecular level. But here's a reminder that God is God and we are not... Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. When does the spirit invade the body? Only God knows. Literally. On this side of heaven, this is something that we will never know - no matter how smart we get. This is a reminder that God is great and glorious and worthy of our adoration. Lord, let us revel in Your power and knowledge and bring the nations together for Your adoration.