Good Morning Pastor John,
In our Old Testament course* we have been reading in Psalms. I’ve always loved to read how David, in anguish, cried out to God, and then to hear his relief when encouragement would come. It would always touch me and encourage me to read how David would stir up his soul and to feel his faith in God.
However, last night I had a new experience. In the cd, you were talking about how then no one knew the things we know now about God. We know that there is only one God, that He is creator of all things, He knows all things at all times, and is in control of it all. You explained that back then, the thought of only one God was so foreign, no one could believe that unless God touched his heart. Only people like David and the prophets who had an experience with God could believe that, and they were all hated for it. You compared it to now with Christianity, how Christians now cannot believe that only God is in charge of all things in their lives. He’s in charge of the good things and the bad things, and the devil has no control of anything. And like then, unless you have an experience and God opens your heart, you cannot believe this. And just like back then, if you believe this, you are hated and slandered.
As I was reading and listening to you on the cd, I felt the fear of God like I’ve never felt before. It was a good, clean fear that fell on me like a blanket. It made everything in me feel quiet and still.
Since I woke up this morning, I’ve been thinking about what I felt last night. It made me think of these verses in Psalms 139:
- Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts,
- and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
I don’t want to be found lacking in anything when my time comes to stand before Jesus. The other day I was thinking about being perfect. I remember meeting a woman one time who would say we cannot be perfect, that the only one who was perfect died over 2000 years ago. I remember thinking how bad that felt. Then I was listening to you in a cd, you read Matthew 5:48: “So, be perfect, just as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” You said, “We can be perfect because Jesus said so!” That was so encouraging. When we received the holy Ghost, we were given everything we need to be perfect.
I don’t know how to exactly write all this, but it feels like it all goes together. I don’t want to be lacking, Jesus has given us everything we need to be perfect so that on our day of judgment we can be found worthy. While I’m here, I pray that Jesus will search me and know my heart. While there’s time, I want to be cleansed inside and out; I want to be perfect before the Lord.
I love good, clean sobering thoughts from Jesus.
Michelle
* Old Testament Course (Pt. 1) – Going to Jesus.com