God, Our Source

God does not require perfection from us; He supplies it as we draw near to Him. God does not require that we make ourselves righteous; He supplies the robes of righteousness for us to wear.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

God knows we are flesh, for He made us. He understands the battle that rages between our loving desire to obey our Father and the demands and appetites that our carnal natures insist on, for Jesus was God made flesh, and lived among us without sin, though tempted in every way as we are.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

God calls on us love Him with all that is within us. Anything within us that does not bow down in submission, any thought that exalts itself against the Lordship of Christ, we reject and separate ourselves from, no longer claiming any part of that and no longer defending or supporting the source of those imaginations. Just as Lot fled the city before judgment fell, let us flee from the things, the sources, the imaginations, the pretensions, the arguments, the obstacles, the lofty opinions that rebel against God.

Hebrews 4:16 So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

God calls on us to draw near to Him. This places us under His protection and shelter where He can watch over us and give us the words to direct our paths and our actions, the encouragement to step out in the leading of His Spirit, the confidence to speak God's message of repentance and hope and acceptance and life to those hungry for His answers.

Psalms 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

God is our loving Father. He delights in having His children surround Him. Their noise and play and boisterous rowdiness does not displease Him. He treasures the unskilled drawings and the rough-made crafts that we present to Him. Do not be reluctant to offer Him the best you have simply because it is not as good as someone else's. Offered with a sincere heart made pure by the washing of the Word and the cleansing of the Blood, our praise, our worship, our lives are accepted as treasures before His throne with which He is deeply pleased.

Psalm 27:6 Now I will triumph over my enemies who surround me! I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy! I will sing praises to the LORD!

God rejoices in our sacrifices of praise. He would rather have a tuneless shout of joy than a harmonic paean from a cold, uncaring heart. He receives gladly a croaked "Thank you" sobbed through tears and congestion than an orator's high flourishes spoken without heart-felt meaning. God does not judge as man judges, for man sees only the actions on the surface whereas God sees the intents of the heart. Love Him and obey Him as best you understand. He will accept you and correct you with love and draw you nearer and entrust you with more.

Gracious Lord and loving Father, thank You that after You invited the rich, the powerful, the mighty of this world to the wedding banquet of Your Son, and they refused, turning the honor into a thing they despised, that Your grace and mercy opened the doors for us to come in and be accepted in the celebration dinner. We gladly receive the robes You provide for us to be accepted, for without Your gift, we would not have the means to be included. We honor You, O Lord, with our imperfect and unworthy, but heartfelt and sincere praise and thanks, for accepting into Your family.

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