Admirable & Rejoice

Philippians 4: 8 commands us think about anthing admirable. But what is admirable? Admirable means inspiring or deserving or adoration/praise. There are wonderful people, places, things and ideas that may fall into this catagory.

I have met people who give their lives to reach the lost and people who give their time to help the poor and sick. I know people who provide care for the elderly. There are places where anyone can recieve kindness, charity, and love. Many churches, nonprofit organizations that offer counseling, as well as places like Disaster Relief. There are events set up just to raise money to assist others whether it is for cancer research, monetary assistance to people suffering from a particular problem, or to raise funds to install a radio tower so that the world can hear the Gospel. Many of us think of ways to serve, be kind, to be generous, to be selfless, to love everyday.

These people, events, and ideas encourage us and inspire us. The apostle Paul has said, "think of such things!" These things are admirable. Instead of thinking about illness, pain, hurt feelings; rather than entertaining jealous thoughts, slanderous words, gossip, lies, and anger, we should fix our mind upon the Spirit of God whose fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control(Galatians 5:22, 23). We should stop the thoughts that lead us to think poorly of oneself and others and remember each other for the gifts that God has given us. We should think of whatever is admirable!

The ablility to think of admirable things comes from God alone. He alone gives us His Spirit which manifests itself with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. Therefore, our thoughts should be fixed on God. God is admirable. God inspires. God is worthy of adoration and praise.

"Let us rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 Let us be glad, happy, delighted and full of joy. Let us rejoice in the Lord. We don't have to give our minds over to the things of the world that are full of hate. So, let us fix our mind on Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2) and Rejoice! Let's offer our minds to God, who is the most admirable of all the heavens and earth.

Majesty

What do you think of when you hear the word "MAJESTY"? I always thought of the spectacular views of creations such as grand mountains, trees glassed with ice, the vast ocean, wide open fields of the great plains, desert sunsets, grand water falls, lightening storms, etc. Everyone has an image of what they consider majestic whether it be the Grande Canyon or the Grand Cayman.

Majesty is defined as the dignigty or power of a sovereign, grandeur, illustriousness, greatness. Sovereign means superior to others, chief, supreme authority, power or rank. Grandeur means splendor, magnificence, impressiveness, eminence, glory, and brillancy. Perhaps these images of majesty within creation provide us with a glimpse of our Lord.

However, in my recent word study through scripture, I found majesty to depict a completely different idea. Exodus 15:6-11, the author describes the right arm of God wiping out the enemy within Egypt with His majesty.

Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power.

Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you.

You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.

By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up.

The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy boasted, I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them.

I will draw my sword an my hand will destroy them.

But you blew with your breath and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

'Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?

Who is like you-

majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory,

working wonders?'

Other scriptures reference the majesty of God being something to fear and to flee. Isaiah 2:10 states, "Go into the rocks, hide in the ground fromt he dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!" Verse 19 states, "Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to the holes in the ground from the dread of the Lord adn the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth." And verse 21 states, "They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth." This is the first I ever confronted majesty to be frightening. Yet, should I be? Have I a need to be frightened of the Lord's majesty? Should I dread the day when God shakes the earth?

Again, Psalm 110:3 says, "Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth." Troops? Battle? Does the author here really think of God's majesty being a vast army standing in power, authority ready for battle and dressed for victory? I hope so! I need this majestic God who overcomes my enemies, who shakes the earth, who goes into battle for me.

Sunday morning I accepted the invitation during worship service to receive prayer. I've been in battle with satan and have become exhausted, incapable of fighting, impotent in power. I need the majestic army of God to stand in battle for me. I need the majestic right arm of God to shatter the enemy. I need the Lord to be "glorious and majestic in deed and for His righteousness to endure forever," Psalm 111:3 Only God has the strength, the authority, the greatness, eminence, illustriousness, sovereign power, magnificent ability to shatter the enemy, my enemy.

I want the majestic Lord to go into battle for me. I want the majestic Lord to stand in my place and fight. For He doesn't become exhausted, he continues forever! I will rely upon the majesty of God. I will think upon the majesty of God. His majesty is more than I can fathom. His majesty is worth all my praise.

"The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength." Psalm 93:1

"Out of the north he comes in splendor; God comes in awesome majesty." Job 37:22

"To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 25

Why not chose Him to go into battle for you? You can't lose with God as your commander, your general, your chief! The victory already belongs to the Majestic Lord. GOD WINS!