Fear Not Surrender

When I saw [the Son of Man],
I fell at his feet as though dead.
But he laid his right hand on me, saying,
"Fear not ..."
~ Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

Fear Not Surrender

"And it shall be, in that day," Says the LORD, "That you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My Master,'
~ Hosea 2:16 (NKJV)

Whether ancient or foreign, some cultures do not ask a woman's consent to marriage—betrothals involve agreement between bridegroom and bride's father. Yet honorable men have nonetheless given a woman the option to accept or reject a husband. (One example is Rebekah.)

Once wedded, some men might approach a bride with the attitude, "I now receive what is mine." An honorable man will approach the virgin gently, bidding her to surrender and fear not.

Fear of the Lord is not an outdated Old Testament concept, but is also urged in the New Testament. His church's reverent fear is received by a Bridegroom Who says, "Fear Not."

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

More than any other imperative, the Bible records Jesus directing us "Do not fear," "Do not worry," "Do not be anxious." We approach God with fear knowing that He will still it.

We surrender not as an enemy who has been vanquished, but as a bride who is beloved.

Lord Jesus, please help each of us to see which areas of our lives hold fear of surrender to You. Please speak gently to us, and enable us to give You all.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image from album "Face Down" by Matt Redman, mattredman.com

The I AM Made Mine

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
~ Revelation 1:8 (NKJV)



The I AM Made Mine

God Almighty is the Beginning and the End—but not always my God, my Almighty, my beginning and end.

"... lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven ... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
~ Jesus (Matthew 6:20-21 NKJV)

It's been said that a person's god is identified by calendar, clock and checkbook. How often is my foremost use of talent, time and treasure consistently centered upon the One I call "Lord"?

Now He could do no mighty work there ... And He marveled because of their unbelief.
~ Mark 6:5-6 (NKJV)

Just yesterday I argued with God about something being impossible. How often do I limit what He might do in my life by my lack of faith, by calling Him less all-powerful than I know He is?

" 'And you shall love the LORD Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment."
~ Jesus (Mark 12:30 NKJV)

I love my God. I wish I never failed to think of Him first upon rising, last at day's end; to unfailing ask Him first for my next step rather than come to Him as a last resort in adversity; to accept every blessing from Him with thanks and praise upon my lips. I fall short more often than I nail it. I take great comfort in knowing that His love for me is without condemnation, that He knew me before my beginning, and that when all else is laid to rest, He shall indeed be my end.

Lord God Almighty, how often I speak Your name without giving it full weight. I ask for myself and for everyone who reads these words that You would renew our awareness of Who You are. Please increase our faith in You, increase our love for You, increase our generosity with You.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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Behold Your God

"The ultimate aim of the gospel is the display of God’s glory
and the removal of every obstacle to our seeing it
and savoring it as our highest treasure."
~ John Piper

Behold Your God

From Jesus Christ,

the trustworthy witness,

the firstborn from the dead, and

the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who

loved us and

washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has

made us kings and priests to His God and Father,

to Him be

glory and

dominion

forever and ever.

Amen.

~ Revelation 1:5-6 (NKJV)

The number three represents entirety or wholeness when it appears in Scripture. Father, Son, Spirit. Beginning, End, Middle. Was, is, is to come. These verses contain three threes.

The Person of Jesus is Trustworthy Witness, in Whom we put faith. He is the Firstborn of the dead, in whom we have life. He is Ruler, Prince, or (literally) Primary over all other authorities, before Whom every knee will bend, either freely in this life or under condemnation on a day to come.

The Presents of Jesus to His people are His love, in greatest fulfillment for the human soul. He washes us from sin, that we may have peace with God, fellow man, and ourselves. He then bestows to us highest honor—we are not merely royalty, but kings; not merely servants, but priests.

The Power of Jesus is His matchless glory, the beauty of purest Light which compels us to fall down in worship. His dominion is unrivaled, and can be contested by no other power in the heavens, on the earth, or under the earth. His power is eis toús aīonas ton aionōn, "unto the ages of the ages," undiminished by passage of time.

Behold your God. Let your pride be diminished before the Person, Presents, and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Love Him well.

Father in Heaven, much dissatisfies us in this world. Forgive us for believing we need more than what You are to us, bestow to us, and reveal to us. Remind of us often of the great honor You’ve shown us. Increase our capacity to love You.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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The Necessity of Beauty

The look at the book of Revelation begun in January was interrupted. It will be picked up again, going back to the beginning for continuity.

"Though we travel the world over
to find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us
or find it not."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Necessity of Beauty

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
~ Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)

The Bible's last book—"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"—is exhaustively studied concerning end times and Christ's second coming. But what might the book reveal about the Person of Jesus as He prepares to receive not only a throne but also His bride, the church?

Ancient Israelite custom was for the bridegroom to prepare the couple's home and wedding, while the bride gave full attention to preparing herself as would please her husband. Among the betrothal gifts he gave her were garments, perhaps as an indication of his preferences.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV)

This journey through Revelation will look specifically at Jesus, the garments of righteousness He gives His bride, and how he defines His bride's beauty. We'll look again at the necessity of beauty, not for the world's sake, but in anticipation of pleasing our Beloved Bridegroom.

Lord Jesus Christ, You are King of kings, Lord of lords, and most especially our Beloved Bridegroom. Please give Your Holy Spirit as our divine Valet, to open our eyes to what most pleases You, that we might make ready for Your coming.

FOLLOW-UP NOTE: An invitation for response from the male perspective is included in Wendy's comment below.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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