White on Rice

In my Anglican Church each week, we have four Bible readings.  I write down whatever jumps out at me from each reading, usually a strong sentence or two from the sermon and then see what happens from there... I will start by giving you the reading and then in italics the passage, verse or message that jumps out at me.

The readings for today:-

Genesis 1: 1-5  

 God spoke and light appeared

Psalm 29

Vs 3 God thunders across the waters,
   Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—
   God, across the flood waters. 

Acts 19: 1-7

Johns Baptism was for repentance.  The Holy Spirit baptises into Jesus Christ.

Mark 1: 4-9

God said, as the Spirit alighted on  Jesus 'You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.'

'The Jews hated the water and thought all darkness and evils of the world existed in the water" Rev Ken Youman

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When God created the world, He paused and saw it as good.  When Jesus was baptised, God paused and was overcome with love for His Son.

It was when Jesus began his ministry that God's love came to the fore.  Jesus was/is/always will be the only way of salvation.  Its like God pauses before He applauds His Son.  God wants us all saved, all to be with Him eternally.  He wants us in relationship with Him now.  He doesn't want us to pause.

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Like white on rice is the Holy Spirit on us who believe Jesus is our salvation.

Jesus took our sins on His body on the cross.  He was punished for the things I have done wrong.  He was a once and for all time past/present/future sacrifice for our sins.  We don't have to strive to be acceptable because we are already acceptable because of Christ. 

Jesus died and rose again sinless!!  Praise you Jesus.  He is now seated at the right hand of the Father.  His work is done. It is finished and now He lives to intercede for me before the Father.  I am forgiven, made clean, filled and enveloped with the Holy Spirit.  And I have done nothing to deserve it except believe in Christ's sacrificial death for me.

The Holy Spirit hugs me like white on rice!

***

Hmmm...white on rice.  A grain of rice is white inside and out.  If you boil or steam it, it gets whiter and brighter.  If you squish it when cooked, its white inside.  The Holy Spirit permeates and colours every part of the one who believes and accepts Jesus as their saviour. We need to be baptised in the Holy Spirit to be hugged by Him, enveloped by Him and coloured by him.

My Inspiration - Psalm 118

Psalm 118

 ¹O GIVE thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

    ²Let Israel now say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
    ³Let the house of Aaron [the priesthood] now say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
    ⁴Let those now who reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
    ⁵Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place.
    ⁶The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
    ⁷The Lord is on my side and takes my part, He is among those who help me; therefore shall I see my desire established upon those who hate me.
    ⁸It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
    ⁹It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
    ¹⁰All nations (the surrounding tribes) compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will cut them off!
    ¹¹They compassed me about, yes, they surrounded me on every side; but in the name of the Lord I will cut them off!
    ¹²They swarmed about me like bees, they blaze up and are extinguished like a fire of thorns; in the name of the Lord I will cut them off!
    ¹³You [my adversary] thrust sorely at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.
    ¹⁴The Lord is my Strength and Song; and He has become my Salvation.
    ¹⁵The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings of the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!
    ¹⁶The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!
    ¹⁷I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.
    ¹⁸The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death.
    ¹⁹Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness; I will enter through them, and I will confess and praise the Lord.
    ²⁰This is the gate of the Lord; the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall enter through it.
    ²¹I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; and You have become my Salvation and Deliverer.
    ²²The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
    ²³This is from the Lord and is His doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
    ²⁴This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
    ²⁵Save now, we beseech You, O Lord; send now prosperity, O Lord, we beseech You, and give to us success!
    ²⁶Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].
    ²⁷The Lord is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]. Decorate the festival with leafy boughs and bind the sacrifices to be offered with thick cords [all over the priest's court, right up] to the horns of the altar.
    ²⁸You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You; You are my God, I will extol You.
    ²⁹O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.