Happy Father’s Day to those that have children.  I have been blessed with some really good’ns.

Not doing anything special today, Carla had to work and my children are involved in activities that won’t allow them to come over, but we are thinking of each other.

I have a couple of movies I want to watch this afternoon, good over evil, so will just take the time to watch them.

Psalm 19:7-11  The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

We can rest in Christ and not worry about the many laws the Jewish people had to obey in order to eventually be saved.

The laws gave them a mandate as well as a focus and a direction to live their lives, knowing that when the Messiah came they would be reunited with God.

Since we are no longer under most of these ordinances of God, many think that they have no bearing on how they, as a Christian, lives.

Many believe that the Old Testament shouldn’t even be taught in the New Testament Churches – that it does not have a hold or bearing on our lives in Christ.

They are wrong!

There are certain laws that God laid down for the Jewish people that are very much in order for us – the Ten Commandments being one of them – and truths, only blood can wash away sin, we no longer have to sacrifice animals – but we do need to accept the one sacrifice in their place, Jesus’ sacrifice.

Several things rise up within me as I read the Old Testament.

We learn who God is, too many people are portraying God as uncaring deity who has turned everything over to Jesus and no longer cares what we do.

But God hasn’t changed. 

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not;

He has love for His children.  He has passion for them and wants to have them with Him; that is the reason He sent His Son.  He hates sin and he will punish those that sin – and even more so those that lead others into sin.

In the Old Testament we receive encouragement, we have hope.

In the Old Testament we learn that nothing is too difficult for God.  We learn that even when things are at the bleakest, He knew ahead of time, has already planned for it and He WILL be victorious.

In the Old Testament we read these stories, we feel kinship with the ‘stars and heroes;’ we rejoice as we see God and His mercy; through God, man being victorious over evil.

The Old Testament is every bit as exciting as watching a modern day movie where the bad guy loses to the good guy – and when we really look at many of those movies we can see their fundamentals come from the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament we can read of the ways God works, one of which is demonstrated in the book of Esther.  If it has been a while since you have read it, I encourage you to read it now.  My heart thrills every time I read it and see His mighty hand at work.  A woman and her uncle, who changed the course of history.

In the Old Testament we are shown not only the history of the Jews, but how God dealt with them through time.  How He lifted them up when they were in need and turned to Him.

In the Old Testament we learn of men and women who prayed for years before they saw results of their prayers.  We realize that even though we want something now, God has His own timing.  We learn that our prayers might not be answered while we still walk the earth – it may be years, decades, even centuries before God moves the way ‘WE’ think He should move.

In the Old Testament we meet Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Samson, David, Isaiah; we meet Ruth, Esther and Sarah and all the many other great people that stood for God and were blessed by Him.

In the Old Testament we read of how a person’s heart can change the direction of a country – for good and for bad.

How He chastised His chosen people when they turned from Him.

In the Old Testament we learn of the dangers of turning away from God and of the love He has that will allow Him to forgive us when we repent.

The Old Testament is full of good advice, guidance, examples and truths.  It lays the foundation of Christianity.

Mathew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Christ taught in the Temple.  The Apostles, after Christ’s death and resurrection, taught in the Temple. 

They did not cast off their roots for another religion, they showed how Jesus embodied the Jewish religion, how HE was the Christ and thus the fulfillment of the Old Testament – the Scriptures these people knew and cherished.  

The New Testament would not exist without the Old Testament.  It proclaims the coming of Christ.  It is the confirmation of Christ’s heritage and verifies and legitimizes His teachings and His sacrifice on the Cross.

The Old Testament is quoted by both Jesus and His Apostles so that the Jews could understand who Jesus is and accept Him as the Christ.

If the Old Testament was important to these people’s conversion to Christ, it is important to us.  It shows that Christianity is not a new religion; it is a fulfillment and extension of the Jewish religion.

Even though it meant that their lives were in danger and that they were suffering at the hands of the Jewish leaders, Christ’s people still preached in the temple, glorifying the Father’s love and forgiveness through His Son, Jesus.

Acts 5:40-42 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

The more I read the Bible, the whole Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments, the more I understand the love of God for His people; the more I am thankful and rejoice, praise and worship Him for allowing me to be one of His.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again