The Son

Adam was the first son of God. He was a man that attempted to be like God, to ascend into heaven. 

His descendants were sons of men. 

Jesus was the second Son of God. He is God who became a man, descending down to earth. 

His descendants are the sons of God. 

He called Himself the Son of Man while He was the Holy One of God. 

The Fast That I Choose - Isaiah 58:6-8

Isaiah 58:6-8 ESV 

“Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

This passage speaks of the true fasting from the Lord's viewpoint. The focus is on our neighbor. It might be a fasting from changing the focus on ourselves to the needs of others. This is the love expressed by the life of Jesus given to mankind and that is to continue through our hands. 

We are to be the love and light of Christ in the world. This involves emptying ourselves, of being poured out for the glory of the Lord. We follow the Lord in this way. 

He did it for us that we would do it for others. Spread the word. 

In Him - Ephesians 1:7-10

Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

The unification of heaven and earth began with Jesus, and continues with the believer, to be consummated upon His return. He is the first and last of creation. 

The fullness of time revolves around Christ. The fullness of God's purpose resides in Christ. In Him we have our being. 

Election vs Choice

Israel is God's elect. He chose them out of all the people in the world. 

He chose them. 

We choose God. We choose Him because He is out this world. 

We choose Him. 

We both experience God. 

The Lord Saw It - Isaiah 59:14-15

Isaiah 59:14-15 ESV 

Justice is turned back,

and righteousness stands far away;

for truth has stumbled in the public squares,

and uprightness cannot enter.

Truth is lacking,

and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him

that there was no justice.

Israel had fallen away from the Lord, led by the leaders of the day. Without the Lord the darkness of man finds increase as light of the Lord is pushed away. 

The same is true of our nation today. We are led by leaders who do not recognize God, but find truth in themselves. Therefore truth is lacking. Justice flees and uprightness is barred from the streets. Evil prospers and persecutes those are opposed to its darkness. 

The Lord sees this and will watch over the ones that please Him. 

Nothing Will Be Impossible - Matthew 17:19-20

Matthew 17:19-20 ESV 

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

What may be meant by "this mountain?" Has anyone heard of someone moving a mountain moving from here to there?

Israel is often referred to as a mountain. Mt. Zion often is used to speak of Israel or Jerusalem. This may be the mountain in view. 

Jesus may be telling His disciples that with a little faith this mountain of God would transform from the wine of the Old Testament covenant to the new wine of the new covenant. Our access to God moves from here to there. It will move when Christ opens the door to heaven, the very presence of God. 

The earth is shaken and the Rock of our salvation becomes the highest mountain. 

Nothing is impossible for us. 

Feed My Sheep - John 21:17

John 21:17 ESV 

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

A different Greek word for love is used in the third question to Peter. It expresses a closer, more intimate love that is associated with affection and family. He brings the question down to a personal level. 

This is the question posed to every believer with God seeking a personal relationship with each one of us. If we answer yes, we are to feed His sheep with our love for one another. We each are called to feed the sheep around us. We find pasture and peace together.