Go ye and LEARN what that meaneth, " I will have MERCY and NOT SACRIFICE..."

" For I desired MERCY and NOT sacrifice; and the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

What is mercy? As I read and meditate on the WORD I marvel at my weakness... and stand in awe at the Lord's goodness!

I marveled this morning while reading through the account of the Lord Jesus sitting down and eating with the publicans and sinners...

Yes, publicans and sinners.

Matthew 9:10-13

"  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. "

How in need I am of the LORD GOD. 

How easily I find myself just like the Pharisees... judging, finding fault, and lacking compassion. 

Do you ever find yourself "whole"... and not in need of a Physician? 

Do you ever find yourself thinking that you are " sacrificing unto the Lord"... but lack mercy toward another?  

The Lord's admonition to the Pharisees, is also good for me. I  must learn and know what it means to show mercy.

I thought about how quickly I judge another person and find so many faults... because, well, they "aren't as they should be". Sometimes I look too long(way too long) at the speck in the eye of another person.  Do you do the same?  

In the light of God's Word,  I'm ashamed at how shallow my "goodness and faithfulness" to the Lord can be. 

I can be very faithful in my morning devotion, but does it go away throughout the day when I'm faced with showing kindness to a "publican" or "sinner"?

" O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? 

for your goodness is as a morning cloud, 

and as the early dew it goeth away." 

Hosea 6:4

Mercy... showing kindness and compassion... pardoning iniquity. 

Mercy... learned only through the knowledge of God.

" Who is a God like unto Thee, 

that pardoneth iniquity, 

and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? 

He retaineth not His anger for ever, 

because He delighteth in mercy. 

He will turn again, 

He will have compassion upon us; 

He will subdue our iniquities; 

and Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."  

Micah 7:18,19

God's mercy on us(when we didn't deserve it)...ought to be the same mercy we show toward one another.

Faithful and loving Father, we humbly acknowledge our sins before you. How often we too, like the Pharisees, judge and find fault in others. Teach us and guide us to walk in humbleness of mind, laying aside all forms of selfish pride and self-works. Help us to learn what it means to have compassion, mercy and love  through the help of your Holy Spirit. 

May you look unto the Lord Jesus Christ and learn of His ways... His gentleness, compassion and faithfulness that always brought glory to the Father.

~Ellie

HE heard my voice out of HIS temple, my cry came before HIM, even into HIS ears.

" In the day of my trouble I will call upon THEE: for THOU wilt answer me." Psalm 86:7

Do you ever find yourself being overwhelmed with burdens? I know some of us struggle with burdensome loads more than others. 

Some of us are known to be "sponges" and manage to absorb all manner of burdens... not just ours, but also the burdens of others. And then there are those who can be so focused on their own burdens, they hardly have a moment to see someone else's burdens.

Nonetheless, burdens are heavy. Loads too heavy to carry alone. 

Yes, we all undergo trials and afflictions. And, yes... they can become burdensome, or heavy loads. 

But, burdens don't necessarily have to make us ineffective in our spiritual walk.... 

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and HE shall sustain thee..." 

Psalm 55:22

This past week, I faced such a moment when I found myself carrying a heavy burden... all by myself. It was no wonder why the morning seemed so heavy... making me tired and worn. I was completely focused on my own strength and had forgotten to cast my burden upon the LORD.

Oh, how often I forget...

Indeed, the LORD will sustain me! He hears when we cry for help. He is ever merciful!

In His goodness, the Lord sent a hymn later that morning as a sweet reminder of His love to me. I pray it will encourage you as well... to cast your burden upon the Lord and... leave it there. 

It's so much easier to have the ONE WHO IS ABLE... carry it!

LEAVE IT THERE

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,

And you have to get along with meager fare,

Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain:

Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,

And your soul is almost sinking in despair,

Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,

Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;

He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,

And your body bends beneath the weight of care;

He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

 Charles Tindley~1916

As hard as it may sound, burdens can be for our own good... that is... if we bring them before the Lord  and not be succumbed underneath their load.

Oh, Father, thank you for your kindness towards us. Thank you for hearing our cries that are raised before you. Thank you for answering us in our need.

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: 

He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears."

Psalm 18:6

May you be encouraged today to seek the Lord and cast your burdens upon Him... for He lifts those that are bowed down.
~Ellie

Let your loins be girded about, and your LIGHTS be burning.

" No man when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the LIGHT. " Luke 11:33

Have you ever wondered if the LIGHT in you is burning brightly? Can others see Christ living in you? Are you a witness for Him?

I asked myself these questions as I was meditating upon several verses in my daily Bible reading. 

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; 

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." 

Matthew 5:15

I was really struck when I read the verse again... the light... it gives light to ALL that are in the house.

For in a room, none can help but notice the light when it shines....

You know, I've known this verse since childhood.... heard it in Sunday School.. and heard it being preached upon. But recently I saw something a bit different, something I had missed before.

This LIGHT dwelling in us should give light to all that are in the house.

Have you thought about the importance... of being a light in our own homes... that our own family see Christ living in us? Sometimes we forget to shine brightly in our own homes... where those closest to us know us best. It's there, though, where it comes most easy to... simply dim the light, place it in a secret place... or even hide it.  We often become weary in well doing...

However, we are reminded to have our loins " girded about " and to keep our lights burning.

But I didn't stop there, because after being blessed by the verse in Matthew, encouraging me to shine brightly in my own home, I decided to look up the same verse in a different gospel...

" No man when he hath lighted a candle, 

putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, 

that they which come in may see the LIGHT. " 

Luke 11:33

Luke says it a bit different... that those who come in, ought to see the Light. We are to be a light even to those that come into our homes...

Do we shine and direct others towards the ONE who is the true Light?  Can those near and around us feel the warmth and see our lights burning brightly?

I realized one thing of importance...  when Christ rules in our lives...  when we are led by the Spirit... our lives will bring Light to those around us... 

... in our homes 
...and to those that come in.

The Light... Christ Jesus... the One who lights our candles.

What a blessed reminder that we are not to cover the light, so as to hinder its brightness or usefulness... but rather to be a vessel used of God... to bring light to those around us.

Oh, that our deeds might manifest His working in us. 

" But he that doeth truth cometh to the light 

that his deeds may be made manifest, 

that they are wrought in God." 

John 3:21

Could we, too, be a witness... as John the Baptist was for the coming of the LORD JESUS CHRIST...

...and can the LORD GOD say the same of us?

" He was a burning and a shining light..." 

John 5:35

May you be encouraged to shine brightly in your home... that those therein and those coming in... may see Christ living in you.

~Ellie

Every WISE woman buildeth her house...

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to his bones." Proverbs 12:4

This past week I've been dwelling much on the roles of wives in the home. 

And because I've been reading through the Proverbs, I thought to stop a bit and do a quick study. I need God's guidance in my own home. I need God's guidance in the words I speak to a friend in distress.

What is the role of a wife in the home? What is my role? How do we keep the home from being destroyed? Can we even build the home? I can only go to the WORD for answers.... because God's WORD is truth.

" Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

 Psalm 127:1

There's wisdom ... and there's folly. And God differentiates between the two quite clearly.

" Every WISE woman buildeth her house, but the FOOLISH plucketh it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1

But first and foremost... in order for a home to survive the wind and the storms, a solid foundation needs to be applied.

A couple of verses in Matthew lays it out clearly.

The WISE will hear and apply God's word: 

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a WISE man, which built his house upon a rock. " 

Matthew 7:24

The FOOLISH will not apply God's word:

"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand." 

Matthew 7:26

And if the LORD JESUS CHRIST is our rock, then we are to walk in HIS ways by imitating Him in our lives... in our homes.    

It sounds easy right? Well, then why the troubled homes, separation, divorce? Do we not hear? Do we not apply God's word? Do we not let go of self and allow God to fill us with His LOVE? I'm not sure...

My thoughts may be rambling... but GOD'S WORD is direct.

Just reading through Proverbs, I'm simply amazed with the wealth of knowledge found... in just 1 book of the bible! And so I'm reminded clearly of how we ought to behave as women...

A woman must NOT: be clamarous, a brawler, angry, contentious, do evil, be strifeful, have hatred...

A woman MUST BE: gracious, virtuous, guard her lips, answer softly, open her mouth with wisdom, have the law of kindness on her tongue...

The list can go on. But LOVE covereth a multitude of sins. And PLEASANT words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

O Lord, give us godly homes where YOU dwell...  keep us from folly.

" Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge... be thou in the fear of the LORD, all the day long. " 

Proverbs 23: 12, 17

May you build your house on the SOLID rock... and hear the instruction of the LORD. 

~Ellie                           

Come unto ME all ye that LABOUR...

" The servant of the LORD must not strive; but be GENTLE unto all men..."  2 Timothy 2:24 

Lately I've been thinking about what it means to be like the Lord Jesus. And for some reason I ended up thinking about gentleness. 

Gentleness. A fruit of the Spirit. A trait that's often lacking in many of us. But how do we get gentleness?

A gentle person suffers long. I suppose a gentle person has to go through the "school of suffering "... because I think you have to learn to let go of self before you can ever be gentle. Gentleness requires crucifixion of all pride.

" I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." 

Galatians 2:20

It's quite humbling not to live for yourself. The flesh seeks glorification. But in order for God to have His perfect work in us, the "me" needs to be abased. 

" He must increase, but I must decrease." 

John 3:30

Only then is the character of the LORD JESUS CHRIST in full glory. 

I thought about the 2 disciples following the LORD when John the Baptist points them to the LAMB of GOD. The Lord Jesus turns and asks them,

" What seek ye..." 

John 1:38 

They wanted to see where HE dwelt. 

And the LORD tells them, 

"Come and see." 

John 1:39

They saw where He was living and they abode with HIM that day.

I thought of the spiritual application and how the LORD desires us to seek Him, to come unto Him... to abide with Him all day.  

A gentle person walks daily with the MASTER... and learns from HIM.

" Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and gentle in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Matthew 11:28-30  

Lord, make me a servant that's gentle. May my calmness and peace be dependent on the ONE who walks beside me.   

May you seek the LORD and desire to abide with Him all day.

~Ellie