Being In God’s Corner

I’ve heard of God’s “corner” of the earth, of the challenge of you or I being in his corner.
Ever wonder where that corner, that spot is at? 

I have property, my own little corner of the world.  But, do I have control over any corner of the world?  Is being in God’s corner a spot as insignificant as where I stand in a boxing ring? 

I do know this, no matter what corner of the world I am in—God is there.  It does not matter if "I am in His corner or not!"  He has sovereignty over every nook, cranny, and corner of the world, to include you, me, … all nations of people… the demons as well.

 

God does not have a mere corner.  God has all that there is because, “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19).  God is with you and me now ... here, over there, everywhere … in good and bad times … everywhere, all the time.  He is more than a corner, he reigns over all four corners and all above and below, all places and things!  God has promised you, when he came down to us as the incarnate Christ Jesus, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). 

 

To this my heart rejoices, as the heavens declare, "Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns” (Rev. 19:6) … all gory to God!

In all corners, and more,

Owen <><

God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.
~ Psalm 47:8

For goodness’ sake!

“For goodness’ sake” is a frequent figure of speech or idiom for surprise, astonishment, or even annoyance that people express where I live.  But, what is goodness, and since it is possessive who is goodness?  I think down deep most people are in the image of goodness, after all, we’re created in the “image of God” (Gen. 1:27) and everything God made was “very good” (v. 31).  But, we have two issues.  One, people messed up and we have a sinful, bad, nature (Rom. 7:18).  Two, we view others as a “good” or “bad” person, “for goodness’ sake,” if we’re created good, then who is this “goodness’ sake” or purpose or benefit we are to be concerned about?   

In our daily conversation, figures of speech and thoughts we have removed God, or Christ; the One who’s sake or purpose or benefit is of concern to you.  So, who is in the phrase “goodness’ sake” is identified by Jesus, in that “No one is good — except God alone” (Mark 10:18). 

When we remove the sake, benefit, purpose in our life “for God’s sake,” “for Christ’s sake” from out of our language, we have removed the Lord from our life, our worldview and culture.  What is left?  Nothing of goodness remains in us.  When we receive Christ, when we truly follow Jesus, it is then, and only then, the Holy Spirit can live in us and for God’s sake, the benefit of his glory.  In Galatians 5:2, Paul reveals that the fruit of God’s Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,...” and such is reveled with Christ’s Spirit in us —“And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:24).          

 “For Goodness’, Christ’s sake,” be who and what God created you to be.  

Owen <><  

Protected From Evil

Someone demonized isn’t a demon.  A demonized person is someone attacked by a demon—they may be possessed, indwelled by an evil spirit … or they be oppressed, assaulted in their soul, mind—but, that does not make them evil of themselves.

 

 


They are the victim of the evil one who wars against God’s goodness.  The angles of evil—demons and their master—seek to destroy God’s beautiful creation, people, who were made in the Lord’s divine image. 

The pride of the evil one is a burning flame of desire to go to war against all that is good and righteous.

Because of that, “there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.” —Rev. 12:7-8

 

That war wages today, the battlefield is our world, the victims are those created in God’s image, you, me, yes everyone. Be assured, Jesus has prayed for those who are His.  To the Father he prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”  ~John 17:15-16

In Jesus’ prayers,

Owen <><

In the Midst of God’s Will

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will
but to do the will of him who sent me."
~ Jesus, John 6:38

Jesus rattled the disciples with a truth for those who are a truly his followers, that you‘d be persecuted for his Name sake (John 15:20). 

As you're seeking God’s will, will you be able to accept it, what ever it is?  Jesus was in the midst of God’s will when he prayed, "may your will be done" (Matt 26:42); that was just before being kissed by the betrayer.  Jesus was smack dab in the middle of God’s will, when he was nailed to the cross.

Following Jesus is not a blind faith, but purposeful and passionate obedience wrapped within the Comforter's peace and hope.
 
Owen <><