Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

NEW COATS FOR OLD WOUNDS–His Healing Love by D. Winn

He provided each of them with a change of clothing. Gen. 45:22, N.E.B.

It is human nature for us to retaliate when we feel that we have been mistreated. Even as Christians, we might find our hearts struggling against “forbidden” emotions such as anger and defensiveness. To withdraw from the offender provides, at best, only temporary relief. And it leaves us to deal with the guilt we experience at having felt such negative emotions in the first place.

Does God understand? Or does He merely “keep score”–grimly noting when we fail or stoically approving our stiff-upper-lip “successes”? After all, He’s God! What can He know of our miseries? Plenty! Acted out in the life of His Son, we behold our mistreated, misunderstood, and maligned God not just telling us how we should behave, but showing us Himself.

Another portrayal was through Jacob’s son Joseph. Joseph had a beautiful coat of many colors. That coat was taken from him by his brothers, who callously sold him as a slave. Later they dipped his coat in blood and presented it to his father as proof of his demise. Far from dead, however, Joseph grew to be second only to Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. Years later famine forced his brothers to unwittingly seek sustenance from the very one they had so mercilessly mistreated. Joseph held no grudge against them. He not only gave them the food for which they asked, but he arranged for all their needs to be supplied in the coming years. And he “provided each of them with a change of clothing.”

For the beautiful coat that had been taken from Joseph and dipped in blood, those brothers received coats, as it were, for themselves. Joseph could have supplied them with funds to purchase their own garments. Instead, in a gesture of sublime forgiveness, he himself clothed them. It was more than they had asked for, more than they expected or deserved. But by doing so, Joseph demonstrated his unconditional acceptance of them. They did not have to deal with his offended feelings. And so their relationship was healed.

What wondrous love! What inspiring sensitivity displayed in service of restored friendship! When I realize that this is exactly how God relates to me, my heart is tempered toward those who do me wrong. In them I see myself; and in me, I can only desire that they might see God.

Prayer: God, we ask for help not to take offense to every wrongdoing inflicted by the things that people say or do. Thank you for your overwhelming grace and mercies. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” (Matthew 27:46 NKJV)

Since January of 2020, many are worn down from the rapidly evolving effects of the pandemic, which acted as a catalyst to produce catastrophic events. Just when we said, “No more!” a senseless war has our hearts torn apart. What happens when you are emotionally beaten down by the vicissitudes of life?

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus gives us the events of the Great Tribulation prior to His Second Coming. Still, we are commanded to have faith in Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. How can we have the unwavering faith that God requires of us? By following the example of our role model, Jesus Christ.

Born to Die

Never forget! Jesus was born [as a human] for the purpose of dying. And not just a natural death. He was beaten, tortured with piercing thorns, and spikes through His wrists and feet. It was for humanity that our Savior suffered, bled, and died. But Hallejuah and Amen! He Arose! Still, Jesus is serving humanity as our Heavenly Intercessor, presenting us as faultless before God, when we pray the prayers of confession and repentance of our sins.

The Faith of Jesus

How did Jesus maintain constant, unwavering faith? What was Jesus’ faith? He depended upon the Word of God, His Father. When He was tempted by Satan, our archenemy, Jesus responded with, “It is written…” Throughout Jesus’ life on earth, He prayed. And what an exemplary prayer life! Jesus constantly prayed to God, His Father. ” After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23).

The Baptism and God’s Acknowledgment of Jesus

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'” (Matthew 3:16 NKJV).

Jesus’ Rigorous Trial in the Wilderness

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. (Matthew 4:1-2)

Imagine that you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and following your baptism you were told “Now you will have to retreat to a wilderness area for 40 days and nights and fast from food.” Yes, there are individuals who would readily agree to be obedient to God’s command because they have the faith that God would take care of them. Even so, that is not the typical faith that the majority of Christians possess, especially new believers. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father is not extreme in His requirements for humanity. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17).

Jesus’ Emotional Distress from Pending Death

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.'” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus’ Emotional Distress from God’s Apparent Abandonment

“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” (Matthew 27:46 NKJV)

Amid the awful darkness, apparently forsaken of God, Christ had drained the last dregs in the cup of human woe. In those dreadful hours He had relied upon the evidence of His Father’s acceptance heretofore given Him. He was acquainted with the character of His Father; He understood His justice, His mercy, and His great love. By faith He rested in Him whom it had ever been His joy to obey. And as in submission He committed Himself to God, the sense of the loss of His Father’s favor was withdrawn. By faith, Christ was victor. Ellen G. White

The Cross was not something that happened to Jesus— He came to die; the Cross was His purpose in coming. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The incarnation of Christ would have no meaning without the Cross. The purpose of the incarnation was redemption. God came in the flesh to take sin away, not to accomplish something for Himself. The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both. Oswald Chambers

Endurance is a Characteristic of God’s People

1. For through the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Romans 6:23).
2. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…(Hebrews 10:35-36).

The Often Forgotten in the Faith Hall of Fame [The Early Chruch Christians]

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrew 11:35-38)

It takes constant prayer and a reminder that “God is BIGGER than all of our circumstances. Never forget that we are created in the image of God. Not just our physical attributes, we have the highest intellect of living creatures. Ever-learning, we process life through cognitive abilities not acting on instinct as animals. Yes, God has gifted us with freewill of choice and the ability to express our emotions, whether in happiness or despair.

The Holy Spirit was sent as a Helper to humanity because Jesus requested: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. (John 14:16). Through prayer and supplication, only human beings have access to the Holy Spirit and the opportunity to live a mistake-free life. We have spiritual guidance available 24/7. And messenger angels serve as our guardians [Psalm 91]. 

Is God love? Yes, His very Name defines LOVE. What can supersede our gift of love from God? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

Destination: Heaven! Faith, trust, and walking in obedience. In Jesus’ Worthy Name. Amen!

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. (Matthew 14:22-24)

Before the storm, the disciples witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 men [Bible scholars estimate a total of 20,000 people, including women and children] from a young boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish. Yet, it took the possibility of the disciples losing their lives from the raging storm to acknowledge that Jesus was who He said He was. “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.'” (Matthew 14:33).

We receive a daily outpouring of grace and mercy and have witnessed or heard many testimonies proclaiming God’s miracles like the disciples. Where do we stand in our acknowledgment of Jesus’ deity? Our lifestyle choices reflect our love and commitment to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Daily we strive for a close relationship with Jesus fueled by faith. Read Hebrews chapter 11 for the “Faith Hall of Fame.”

Because of sin, it is human nature to have a spirit of discontent, which produces mental restlessness and emotional distress. We seek answers and contentment outside of God. Jesus desires that we have peace. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

Many Christians are plagued with worry, anxiety, and unhappiness. Yes, attending church and knowing the scriptures demonstrate dutiful service to God. Still, without complete surrender, commitment, and obedience, we exclude ourselves from true discipleship. Our primary need is to have a nurturing love relationship with Jesus Christ based on faith. Jesus must be our focus. He is our Intercessor, presenting us as righteous to God.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).

Jesus has provided us with the answer to possessing peace, joy, and happiness. Daily we recommit ourselves to remain in Him! Our relationship with Jesus is before our spouses, children, family, and friends. There is no middle ground. Faith is believing in the unseen God and trusting Him with the unknown. Steadfast faith results from knowing the Scriptures, always believing in God’s promises [that God will always do exactly as He says], and living as His chosen.

“When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:15).

Faith matures from individual worship–spending quiet time in solitude to hear the Holy Spirit as well as collective worship at church. Faith in Jesus propels us to leave the familiar, opt-out of a survival mindset, and believe in God on a higher level. “…I believe, but help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24).

“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)

Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. We are rapidly progressing to the end of time on this earth. Come to Jesus! Step out of the familiar by taking a leap of faith. Develop a heart-to-heart relationship with the Savior. Connect with Jesus every day through praise, prayer, and gratitude. Every day proclaim with thanksgiving, “Jesus, Truly You are the Son of God!”

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:12-13)

Prayer: God, we pray for an increase in faith. We desire to step out of the familiar into the unknown because you promised never to leave us or forsake us. Please give us an anointing of the Holy Spirit and wisdom as we seek knowledge through the Scriptures and to have a closer relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

In reading 1 Kings 19– 2 Kings 2, we are told of the faith and the human frailty of the Prophet Elijah. As I focused on his faith–he prayed for no rain for three years and his frailty–he ran away from Queen Jezebel, who threatened to kill him. Even so, he was translated without death, taken up in a fiery chariot to heaven, as witnessed by his successor, the prophet Elisha. I’ve come to realize that God is a loving, gracious, and merciful Heavenly Father.

Despite the masquerade of strength that we present to those around us, we are as naked babies before God. The Omnipotent Father God knows the depths of brokenness in our hearts. As we approach God for His divine intervention, we do not need to be ashamed of our weaknesses. There is no pretense with God. All He expects is for our prayers to reflect the honesty of our hearts. Yes, it is a humbling experience to admit that we cannot make it through life without God. Remember that God did not create us to live independently. He is Abba [Father] when we have a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

In the early church, there was a false concept that one should not suffer any physical or emotional disorders if one is genuinely a Christian believer. But Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul that all of us have weaknesses.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might be part for me. And he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, and persecution, in distress has, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Paul acknowledged [his and] humanity’s inherent character weaknesses and our constant need for God with humility. Jesus Christ imparts His strength and power to every believer that approaches Him in prayer. Praise God that we never have to think about God condemning or judging us when we ask for His help.

Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).

Prayer: Thank you, Abba–Heavenly Father that we can come boldly before your throne of grace for help. God, we ask you to resolve our dilemmas and remove our cares and anxieties. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. When our plans align with God’s plans, He opens the windows of heaven. Thank you, Heavenly Father. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Amen.