Dear beloved student of God’s Word,
This wonderful gift to us of God’s Word is a priceless treasure indeed. (In the Armenian culture, we call it “God’s Breath.”) And it is His Word which reveals to us, to quote Dr. Fuller, “This world is not our home, and we’ll not be at home until we’re at home with the Lord.”
But since we’re still here, I’d like you to picture yourself “camping out” with Dr. Fuller as he explores the second chapter of Ephesians during the entire month of April. As we anticipate and celebrate Easter, if we find ourselves in a world we more and more do not recognize, Dr. Fuller will explain why, and then he will unfold to us God’s abounding mercy and great love. He will also reveal how verse 10 affected his life personally and powerfully.
In these days when we may feel that we live in a strange world of uncertainty and fear, we need to keep in mind that our true home, our true abiding place, is the Lord Himself! Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). What an awesome statement – that God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) has taken up residence in believers!
The Apostle John really lays this out for us in a complementary way with Ephesians 2. “See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory], And everyone who has this hope [confidently placed] in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (holy, undefiled, guiltless)”
(1 John 3:1-3 Amplified Version). And how are we purified? “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
So, dear friend, it seems that my comments here about the Word of God have come full circle in this letter. May say with Jeremiah, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16).
Music can also bring joy, and this month our featured CD is “In the Springtime” with 5 choir numbers, 5 quartet numbers and 5 piano solos by Rudy Atwood. The cost is $16.50 which includes shipping (but for Californians it’s $18 due to tax).
Joyful in Jesus,
Michael Khanchalian, D.D.S.
OFRH.org