Jesus, the Truth and God as Father – Purity 1925
Purity 1925 03/31/2026
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Good morning,
Today’s photo of Ercole de Roberti’s (1455-1496)’s painting, “Christ Crowned with Thorns (1479-80), comes to us from yours truly as I captured this work of art during my visit to the Clark Art Institute on July 9th, 2023.
Well, It’s Holy Tuesday, and I share Roberti’s work of art as part of my Lenten journey to recognize beauty in the things of the past and to draw our attention to Jesus and His atoning work on the Cross.
I recently have been walking in circles where people have a non-specific spirituality and a vague sense of a higher purpose and meaning to life but who don’t “want to preach” about any one way of truth or righteousness. Unlike, these seemingly kind but deluded folks, I have no qualms about stating that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to God the Father but through Him.
While I can be united in the purpose of supporting others in their search for a higher meaning, personal empowerment, and the attainment of their personal goals, I can’t agree with them when they throw up thanks and praise to “faith”, a nebulous nonspecific “god” or “the universe – itself”. I am happy to see that they recognize their dependence and debt to the Creator and Mover of all Things but when they fail to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior – I pray for their salvation and that their eyes would be opened to the truth that goes beyond creation – the truth that not only encompasses all of existence but that sees God clearly as – a loving Father who sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us.
The idea of God as Father can be a foreign concept but it is the message that Jesus died to deliver. God loves us and wants to help us just as a devoted father seeks to love, care for, and protect his kids.
Speaking of God as Father, today’s entry in the the David Jeremiah devotional “Living in His Light” speaks about that topic and I am sharing it on the blof today to encourage all of us to ask God for the help that only He can bring. David Jeremiah writes:
“GOD KNOWS
Therefore do not be like (the unbelievers). For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. – Mattew 6:8
“You observe your child working diligently to put together a wooden puzzle, with growing frustration. But you don’t say anything. Finally, she turns to you and asks for help. You take the opportunity to remind her of your love for her and your willingness to help her with anything she might need. Then, together, you both complete the puzzle.
People often ask, “If God already knows what we need, why do we have to pray and ask Him?”
First, Jesus revealed the truth about God’s knowledge of our needs when He warned the disciples about attempting to impress God by praying over and over with many repeated words (Matthew 6:7). Instead, Jesus offered a short prayer as an illustration (Matthew 6:9-13).
As that prayer indicates, Jesus wants us to come to God as “Our Father”-like a child who asks her father for help. Yes, God knows our needs, but He wants to enjoy our relationship of trust in Him, and that trust is built through the conversation we call prayer.
Right now, God knows your every need. He is waiting for you to come and talk to Him.” -David Jeremiah – From Living in His Light
Amen. Often, we can separate ourselves from the Lord because of our sin or lack of progress. Because we can’t do everything right yet and occasionally do things that are wrong, we feel that we are not worthy of the Fathers love or think that He is angry with us.
But that attitude is wrong. That’s not how God looks at those who have put their faith in Jesus. The judgment and weight of our sin is removed from us the moment we put our faith in Jesus, but because we were used to carrying it for so long, we often forget that it is no longer upon us. The burden of our sin and the need to perform has been taken away.
In Christ, we are accepted and loved as God’s children. God is no longer our judge. He is our Father, and He waits for us to ask for His help to live life by His ways so we can stop suffering and move forward with His power and peace.
As we walk to the cross of Good Friday, we often feel the weight of all that Christ did for us, but we have to remember that all of it was done out of love for us, and we are to receive it as such.
God made us His children by faith so we could be set free and live with Him in peace. So go to the Father with thanksgiving and rest in the knowledge that you are loved and accepted as you are and that God will help you when you ask.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on the Providence of God.
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Today’s verse is the second of five passages of scripture that fall under the twenty fourth point of our counseling reference guide resource section on the Providence of God.
24. God sovereignly works out his plans, his perfect will. No one can hinder or stop him.
Today’s Bible verse reminds us of the limits of our free will. Man plans their course but the Lord establishes their steps.
No matter how much agency we may think we have, there are at least two inescapable facts of our existence that we have no control over – our birth and our death. Invetro-manipulations aside, no one can choose when they are born. Personally, our lives are established by forces beyond our control, and we are born weak and helpless. Besides the Lord giving us life, we are dependent on others from day one, and that only changes by degree as we grow old.
Likewise, and suicidal pronouncements aside, no one controls what happens when you die. Sure, we can pull the trigger or drink the poison, but our final destination is determined by God and His grace.
And so it follows that all our results throughout our lives are also dependent on God’s mercy and grace.
So, we encourage you to humbly acknowledge God’s sovereignty and to find peace with Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com, where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today, we continue sharing from “Pause for Power” By Warren Wiersbe.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Wiersbe’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 59 – A Sure Sign – Read Isaiah 7–8
The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14
These were perilous days for the nation of Judah. Assyria was growing stronger and threatening the smaller nations. Syria and Ephraim (the northern kingdom) tried to pressure Judah into an alliance against Assyria, but Ahaz, king of Judah, refused to join them. Why? Because he had secretly made a treaty with Assyria (2 Kings 16:5–9).
If Ahaz had believed God’s promise, he would have broken his alliance and called the nation to prayer and praise; but the king continued in his unbelief. Isaiah addressed the whole “house of David” and gave the prophecy concerning “Immanuel.”
The ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy is in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is “God with us,” which is what Immanuel means. This “sign” also had an immediate significance to Ahaz. A woman who was then a virgin would get married, conceive, and bear a son whose name would be Immanuel. This son would be a reminder that God was with His people and would care for them. It is likely that this virgin was Isaiah’s second wife and that Isaiah’s second son was named both Immanuel and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (meaning “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil”) (see Isa. 8:1, 3).
Something to Ponder – King Ahaz’s fear of Assyria was stronger than his trust in God. Are there any situations that shake your trust in God? If so, what are they?[1]
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[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures, 2nd Ed., Year in the Word Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010).
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