Now Therefore Ye Are No More Strangers and Foreigners But Fellow Citizens In the Household of God - Part 1518

Every so often, I hear people say that they struggle or have difficulty with reading the Word. Some rationalize this by suggesting it must be the type of words some translations of the manuscripts cite. Others say that the difficulty is in understanding the context, and how we ourselves fit into the pages of His living document -- meant to be lived in a fashion, that we come to understand the Lord's purpose in our life.

Note that I am speaking about those hearts who are earnest for His knowledge, but haven't yet sought Jesus through His Word sufficiently to break through the enemy's barriers. I am not referring to the scribes and Pharisees, et al, that Jesus dealt with, and their hardened hearts. Also, I believe that too often we want to understand everything we read in the Bible (right then and there) without knowing the basic principles of the Lord., and from whence comes our salvation.

I often use the analogy of a child in school. We can't comprehend grade 12 algebra if we have not understood the very basic concepts of math from grade one. Our faith journey is similar. The Lord has built precept upon precept so that when we seek Him through His Word, He can reveal Himself to us. This is why our heart's desire is to set our sights on the heavenly, so that we can receive His wisdom and knowledge. "Give us this day our daily bread!"

Certainly, when we ask Jesus into our heart, and are subsequently water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus, we enter into a new relationship with Him. (Acts 2:36-47) Just like meeting a new friend, or as some speak of peeling back an onion, Jesus gives us just enough to keep us coming back for more. Like a buffet table, He wants us to continually come and dine with Him, and taste and see that the Lord is good.

It is herein that we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself becoming the chief corner [stone]; in whom all the building fitly framed together growing unto an holy temple in the Lord -- in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Through His Spirit -- the Holy Ghost. (Ephesians 2:18-22)

In other words, the Lord God prepared Himself a body so that He could become the perfect sacrifice on the cross. He shed His precious blood so that you and I might have life in Him -- a more abundant life. One whereby we can share the good news gospel of Jesus Christ to one and all, and to encourage others to see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:9) But I believe I may be digressing here.

Here are some scriptures that do not require a lot of understanding, but are capable of reaching into one's heart. Meditate and contemplate on these today, and then reason with the Lord Jesus to give you understanding.

"Jesus wept." (John 11:35)

"And when [Jesus] was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it." (Luke 19:41)

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." (Mark 10:47)

And Peter [whom the Lord had said would deny Him three times] remembered the Word of Jesus, which said unto him, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice." And he went out, and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75)

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the Word that Jesus said unto him, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept." (Mark 14:72)

"And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:62)

Do you remember the woman in the city, who was a sinner? "When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, ad did wipe them with the heads of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment. The Pharisee which had saw this, spake within himself, saying, "This man, if H/he* were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches H/him* for she is a sinner." [* the small h for the man's "if" thoughts -- not to take away from who Jesus was as the one and only He]

And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." And Simon said, "Master, say on." Jesus said, "There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them will love Him most?"

Simon answered and said, "I suppose that He, to whom He forgave most." And He said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged." And Jesus turned to the woman and said unto Simon, "See thou this woman? I entered into thine house. Thou gave Me no water for my feet: but she hath washed My feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gave Me no kiss, but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman has anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore, I say unto thee, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

And Jesus said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." (Luke 7:36-48)

We all come to His throne with years of baggage and dogma acquired in the world. However, Jesus sees our heart, and He will lead and guide us into all truth. He will guide our steps, and give us the instructions we need for that day, if we submit our worldly desires unto Him. No one said that the road would be easy, but we can know that He will provide us with the strength and wisdom to move forward.

One of my favorite scriptures, because of the song that became popular back in the day is from Psalms -- "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." (Psalms 137:1)

There is a humility of heart when we come to Jesus and recognize that He is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) The same Lord God who made man and woman in the beginning came forth as a mighty man so that we might have salvation. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

We see the fruit of those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength throughout the new testament. For example, when Paul commended unto the people the Lord and the Word of His grace (which was able to build them up, and to give an inheritance among all them which are sanctified) -- when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all, "and they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake ..." (Acts 20:32- 38)

This is not to suggest that there were not times when even Jesus had to ask His disciples, "Are ye also yet without understanding?" (Matthew 15:16)

The purpose is to seek Jesus and He will open the door to understanding. Therein, will we know "that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

Why is this important?

So "that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 1:12)

Stand in the offering plate.