What happens when we sin ... even by mistake? Job 18-19

Job 19:4 (NASV)

“Even if I have truly erred,

My error lodges with me.

Job 19:4 (NIV)

If it is true that I have gone astray,

my error remains my concern alone.

As can be seen by comparing the NASV and the NIV, the above verse has some ambiguity among writers, translators and authors.   Although there is certainly no ambiguity on the part of God, there does seem to be some variety in how we might take Job's response to Bildad's counsel.   The NASV seems to be telling us that Job admits his pain and situation may be because he foolishly did something he is unaware of and will, alone, bear the guilt of it.   Like bearing the danger of hosting a bad person for the night, Job will have to allow the sin they folly he ignorantly enjoyed to lodge with him and be an unwanted and tormenting guest.    On the other hand, the NIV seems to be indicate that since he erred he "alone" will have to bear it and it not Bildad's concern (or the other friends).   Scripture teaches us that we never bear a sin "alone" (no one else's concern).  It teaches us that when we sin we affect those around us.  Read about Achan in Joshua chapter six.   Paul even tells us that if we observe believers in sin we are to restore them (Galatians 6:1).  NO sin is in a vacuum.   But, that doesn't mean Job didn't think that at the time ... or, even believe it.   Frankly, the way Job's friends were expressing their friendship he might just be saying, "leave me alone with my folly, if that is what it is ... it is better than being attacked by you time and time again."   Who would blame him.   But, it is more likely that the NASV got it right by implying that when we sin (even in ignorance or not consciously) we invite the affects of sin to dwell with us.  LIke a hotel clerk we check sin into a room in our lives, even though we know they will destroy the room we give them.   Sin is with us.  She lodges in our hearts to do harm.   We must not think contrary to this.   Even unconscious sins are taking up room to do damage to our peace, our joy, or relationships and our harmony with man and God.   When we err, we invite error to lodge with us.  

What if there was no verse five? Psalm 24-26

In the following verses there is a truth that can only be realized by those who have come to know it in humility, repentance and faith.  Note David's words:

Psalms 24:4-5

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood

And has not sworn deceitfully.

 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord

And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

No on has a clean heart.  Everyone has lifted their soul to falsehood.   The falsehood is actually, "lifted their soul to worship a vain idol or thing."   Everyone has sworn deceitfully.   That is 24:4.   That is the condition of man.  That is the ugly truth about who we all are and how we all behave.  As much as we like to think we are good and self-righteous people, we are not.   Job was a just man and eschewed all evil.  Yet, he found out in the end that this earthly righteousness was nothing compared to God's holiness and true righteousness.   But we can be thankful that verse four gives way to verse five.   No one would have complained or criticized David for ending his Psalm at verse four.  However, he didn't.   He gave us verse five.   David states that "he" (the one who has an impure heart, a soul worshiping falsehood and a swearer to deceit) will "receive the blessing of The Lord" and "righteousness from God of his salvation."   The word "receive" the blessing means to carry something.   The picture is that we receive God's blessing and are "forced" to carry it around all day and night.   What a delightful burden.   God is giving us a blessing that we bear and carry.  It continues to protect us and fulfill us.   We are given the righteousness of God, as a gift.    What a great verse.   But, what if it had all stopped at verse four?   What if there was no verse five?   God's grace is that when we deserve nothing because our heart and soul are worshipping falsehood, He still gives us the burden of His blessing and the joy of His salvation.   God is the giver of grace and we are the undeserved recipients.   Thank God for the truth of verse five!!

Is there "sheep stealing" going on today? Judges 17-21

The story of Micah and his priest in Judges 17-18 is one of my favorite stories.   Here, in a time where everyone simply did what they pleased, we find a man with spiritual sensitivity, but lacking the knowledge of, or the will to, obey God's Word in the Law.   He so wanted a spiritual aspect of his life that he stole money, used it to purchase an idol of a god and even made one of his sons a priest for him.   When a Levite comes by, the Levite, with no spiritual sensitivity or will to obey God's Word, becomes Micah's hired priest.   The priest had a good wage, a good set-up and had little to worry about.   Until a better offer came along.  Note what happens when the Danites come by and steal the idols of Micah.  When the Levite tries to stop them from taking the idols the Danites make him an offer he can't refuse:

Judges 18:19-20

They said to him, “Be silent, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?” The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people.

This aspect of the story so reflects our churches today.  Both member and leader of our churches are looking for the next best thing.   Members swap churches like most people swap cars.   Every few years is nice to get a new one.   The leadership of today's Church is just as bent on the next big thing.  Ministry follows the pattern of what is popular rather than the principles of God's revealed word.   Sheep stealing has become an excepted way to build the church.   It is doubtful that when Christ said He came to build the church that He meant that one church would build on the membership of another by employing the next great thing.   This priest in the story of Micah found it to be better to be with a tribe rather than a man.  Although he made a commitment to the man the tribe was a better deal.   Paul stated in Romans 15:20 that he would not build where another man was building.   Paul knew the temptations of stealing from other flocks.   This priest didn't have character and was not lead by God's Word.  The Levite was lead by dollars and powers.   So, true of today's ministries and where the flock goes.   

Can we afford to be gracious? Genesis 32-35

People who experience God's grace and blessing can afford to be gracious to others!    When God forgives (and you realize it) than it is easier (and should be expected) to forgive others.    God's grace is mean to be contiguous.    Jacob, in his youth and with the help of his mom, had swindled his brother out of his blessing from his father, Isaac.   Earlier, with the help of Essau himself, he had stolen his birthright.   Essau had every reason to be angry at his "little" brother.   Jacob (soon to be renamed, Israel) wanted to appease this anger with gifts and sent his flocks and herds ahead of him to wear Essau down and perhaps allow his anger to subside.   Isn't it interesting that the very flocks Jacob had earned and, according to his father-in-law, stolen from Laben, Jacob was willing to simply give over to his brother Essau.   What he one time cherished and thought was his very life, Jacob now was ready to give up for his life and the life of his family.    When Essau rejects the gifts, note what Jacob says, 

Genesis 33:10-11

Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” Thus he urged him and he took it."

God had dealt graciously with Jacob.  He could afford to extend that graciousness to his brother.   Essau may have been offended by that phrase when you put some thought into it.   It was Esaau who needed to forgive and have mercy and grace and, yet, it was Jacob offering it.   But, Jacob had realized that God had promised him blessings and protection.   He had every reason to be gracious to his brother.   Those who have been given God's grace should be the first to extend God's grace to others.   When we are in the position to do so we ought to be the first to extend a warm and "open" hand.   God blesses us so we can bless others.   That is the meaning of God's blessing to us.   We are to be hold and hoard.   We are to be open and generous ... because God was generous with us.  

Can we get "more" hope? Romans 15-16

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Apparently, we can "abound" in hope.   Most believers probably can relate to the concept of abounding in Love ... or, abounding in Faith.    But, what is the concept of abounding in Hope?   The first thing we should note about this concept is that whatever it is and however it is accomplished in our lives it is completely God who makes it happen.   Paul's prayer in this little expression calls for two members of the trinity to make our abounding in hope happen:  The God of hope and the power of the Holy Spirit.  So, we need to get out of the thought that having an abundance is something WE do.   Having an abundance of anything spiritual is up to God and His work in our lives.   Another aspect we see in this brief prayer of Paul is that the word abundance has no limit.  There is no measuring line in the concept of the Greek word.   We don't "arrive" at this hope of abundance.  Rather we are constantly gaining what God is producing.    In our society we think in limits.  In God's work of sanctification He only thinks of movement toward holiness.     The last truth to read from this verse is that God seems to supply joy and peace, which enables hope to flourish.  Apparently, God fills us with joy and peace (fruits of the Spirit) and that allows the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to abound in hope.  As God fills us with joy and peace we have an understanding that God is at work and in control.   That gives us hope of what God can do, is doing, and will, yet, do.    God is working in our lives to produce hope so that we see that God is the reason for our hope, not our own strength, outlook or skill set.   Hope is a gift of God (like Love and Faith).   Hope is through the power of the Spirit.  

How do we move a mountain with prayer? Matthew 20-22

Matthew 21:21-22

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea, ’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

The disciples had the great privilege of seeing miracle after miracle.   They say the blind see, the lame walk and the demon possessed restored.   They even saw things of nature when Christ was in the boat and saw Jesus calm the seas.   In the case above they saw Jesus curse a fig tree and cause it to wither away.   The real lesson was in the fact that the fig tree did not produce fruit and therefore was destroyed.  So, too will be all those who hear the gospel and don't submit in faith thus allowing the Spirit to produce fruit.    But, the disciples, like on many occasions didn't see the truth taught but only the miracle accomplished.   They wanted to know "how" Jesus did the "trick."   Jesus indulges them (like He did on most occasions) and tells them that they too would be able do something on the level of cursing fig trees and, even more.  IF they had faith and didn't doubt.   He goes even farther and tells them that, with faith, they will be able to ask for anything in prayer and receive it.    We read the same thing from the hand of James in his epistle.   In James 1:5-8 we read about having faith without wavering.   James must have been listening to Jesus as he stood by.   Faith must be complete to be faith.  Doubt in faith is like water in wine ... not really the same thing.   Doubt is the fear we have that God will not answer our prayer, or worse, when we think He can't answer.   Faith is the thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).   Faith moves mountains.  

What do we do when we are out of strength? Isaiah 40-44

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

 Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

 Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

This may be one of the most popular and known passages of Isaiah, often quoted in the time of hardship and despair.   And, rightly so!   This is the New Testament equivalent of Sanctification and living by faith.   Once we are saved by faith, faith is just beginning.  We are compelled to live by faith because that is how God's word tells us to live (Habakuk 2:14; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).   Here, in Isaiah, we have the basis for living by faith.  As we humble ourselves and give up all control, we "wait" or "hope" on The Lord.   This is the key to the blessings that follow.   We can get regained strength, new feathers to fly, run and not become exhausted, and even walk and not be weary.   But, the key is that we "wait."  Waiting calls for a loss of control.   If you are in the doctor's office and waiting you know what that means.  You have no control.  You are completely at the mercy of the doctor and staff.  If you are in court and have to wait you are completely in the hands and mercy of the Judge.   Waiting is the thing we don't do well.  In today's society our retail stores and fast food outlets track how long we had to wait to place the order and receive the order.   We are not in the waiting mood.  Yet, that is what God tells us to do in the midst of hard times.  We are to "wait" or "hope" (The NASV says "wait" and the NIV says "Hope").   We should expect to grow weary and tired and to stumble badly.  The remedy for this problem is to rest in the yoke of God's love and Christ's power (Matthew 11:29).   Every year an eagle molts their feathers and has to wait for God to restore the feathers.  Only then can they resume flight.   So, too, the believer in the waiting period.  God is in the process of renewing the strength and HIs conduit is the attitude of trustful waiting.  

How do we use our tongues? Job 15-17

Job 16:4-5 (NASV)

“I too could speak like you,

If I were in your place.

I could compose words against you

And shake my head at you.

 “I could strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.

Job 16:4-5 (NIV)

I also could speak like you,

if you were in my place;

I could make fine speeches against you

and shake my head at you.

 But my mouth would encourage you;

comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

What a blessing God has given us in our speech and language.   When others are hurting and in pain, we have the ability to encourage, support and uplift them.  Or, NOT!   Job, in responding to, yet, another verbal attack from one of his friends, let's them know that he, too, could be like them.  He tells them that he knows the power of the tongue.  He has the ability to confront others or comfort others.   He knows our language and speech can uplift or tear down.   Solomon makes this point, repeatedly, in the book of Proverbs.   He states over and over how the tongue can beat up or exalt others.   Job simple states that he recognizes the words of his friends but if he was in their shoes he would be more encouraging.   Somehow we think the truth has to be cruel.  Paul tells us to speak the truth.  But, he tells us to do so in love, which means it must be possible.   God's truth to us is in love.  Our truth to others must be in love.  Don't forget that God loves us and speaks frank to us in His word.  So, too, we should not condemn, but encourage others in their walk with God.   God wants us to reflect to his character in the way we treat others.   

What happens in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Psalm 21-23

Psalms 23:4 (NASV)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

In the midst of life we often find ourselves in the "shadow of death."   Most times it is because of our own choices we make and the paths we decide to follow.   We follow the crowd and the enticements of the world and low and behold it brings us to this valley.  However, regardless of the reason we are in the location nothing changes God's love and care for us.  Even though we see evil we have no reason to fear.   God's is present in the midst of our darkest hour.  He surrounds with His presence and His holy angels to protect us.  Without that protection we would be consumed by the evil of this world.   The protection might come, however, in the form of a loving staff or a correction rod.  The sheep knew both from the Shepherd.   The shepherd's staff could be used as a confront rod, used to correct and or a gentle staff, used to guide and nudge.    God doesn't use either without a loving hand.  We can welcome both in our lives because both are their to show us His presence and be assured of His protection.  Even the rod of God beats the most tempting delights of evil.   We might be walking in the shadow of death ... sin's final and fiercest weapon ... but we can rest assured we will sense God's comfort through a correcting hand or guiding nudge.   

Why did God give us giftedness? Judges 12-16

Judges 16:20

She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

When Delilah enticed Samson to tell him the secret to his strength he failed to realize and remember what God had done for him, with him and in him.  He fell into the trap that we all fall into from time to time: Our strength is from within ourselves rather than from God's grace based on our faith demonstrated in obedience.   God gives us all "giftedness" when we put our faith in Him.   Through the Spirit He entrusts us with gifts that we can, in turn, use to glorify Him. When we fail to remember where the gift comes from and who it is ultimately for in regard to its use, we fall into the same trap of Samson.  He began to use his gift for show rather than for the purpose it was intended.  God doesn't give us gifts to use for ourselves or for our profit.   In Acts 8:9ff we have the story of a magician who observed the power of the Spirit in Peter's life.  He thought he could purchase the Spirit for his own profit.   Peter cursed him in God's name and the man discovered you can buy the Spirit and use Him for your own profit.   When God gives us a gift we are to use it the way it was intended and for the purpose of its intent.   Use your gifts for God.  He alone gets the praise of them and the use for them.  

Can God find us when we are on the run? Genesis 28-31

Genesis 28:16-17 (NASV)

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “ Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “ How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

Jacob is on the run.  He is running from his brother, Esau, mainly.   But, he is also running from his past, his parents, and his God.   His guilt for tricking his brother out of his birthright must have been a large burden to carry.   He might have rationalized it all that he was only doing what his mother told him to do. Yet, he had to carry the guilt and the shame that he had lied to his father and taken from his brother what was legal his (although God had said Jacob would rule over Esau).   Now he was running to a country he knew nothing about, to a relative he had only heard stories from the lips of his mom.  When he arrives near the city of Luz he decides he will take a nap ... one sure way to put away your guilt.   Yet, in the sleep, God comes to him and he sees that the place he is in is really a place God dwells.  Here, in his running, God finds him!    Here, in his attempt to escape the responsibilities of his new birthright, he is reminded by God that he will fulfill those responsibilities and that God will be with him as he does.   Even in our running away we can be assured of God's faithfulness to His plan and promises and our achieving our part in that plan.   We might think that we are too ashamed to do His will, especially after we are deceptive and manipulative.   Yet, God is here and He can turn a place like Luz (to depart or turn aside) into a place God Bethel (house of God).   God does not leave us alone, even when we sin.  God pursues us and will be were we are, even in our running.   He can turn a Luz into a Bethel in anyone's life.   When we want to "depart" or "turn aside" (Luz) God can bring us safely into a "place of God" (Bethel).   

Are our desires sin? Romans 13-14

Romans 13:14 (NASV)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Romans 13:14 (NIV)

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Paul is in the middle of telling us (in chapter 13-14) how to behave in this world, both in front of believers and non-believers, alike.  He jumps back and forth in regard to these states of men.  At the end of chapter 13 he has just told us make sure we are acting as believers in front of the world.  We are to pay taxes as we ought.  We are to obey the government as we ought.   We are to make sure we do all these things because the hour is fast approaching when Christ will return.  His conclusion is that since we have these behaviors demanded of us as servants and ministers of The Lord, we should make sure there is nothing in our lives that pulls us away from those obligations.   We are to "make no provision" to fulfill the evil desires of the flesh.  In making this statement, Paul readily admits we will still have those desires.   He has just written at length (chapters 1-11) that we are "positional" saved but "practically" at war with our flesh.   He has not mentioned the flesh much since his large exposition in chapter 7.   Here he tells us that, like a set of clothes, each day we are to "put on Christ" and make sure we avoid doing things, or opening doors, where the flesh can have its desires titillated and thus lead us into sinning.  The desires are going to be there no matter how strong you are and not matter the level of your faith.   Paul, here, tells us that our responsibility is to make sure we don't give those desires a window or, worse, a door to see the desire feed.   We are to do this by faith, which is the context of the verse.   If we know we have a "desire" for food, we shouldn't hang out in the kitchen.   If we have a desire for drinking, stay away from the bar.   The same is true of other desires we have in life.  God gave us the desires.  The desires are not sin.   It is how we satisfy the desire that makes it sin.   Today, make sure you give no cause or avenue for desires to be fulfilled in a wrong manner. 

Does God want us to prepare for glory? Matthew 17-19

Matthew 17:4 (NASV)

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

The story in the opening of chapter 17 of the Transfiguration of Christ is remarkable, memorable and educational.   We see so many truths and doctrines revealed.  Christ, Peter, James and John all go up to the mountain, leaving the other disciples at the bottom.   At the top of the mountain something miraculous happens:  The Lawgiver, Moses, appears; along with a The Prophet, Elijah.   The two stand by Jesus, the Messiah, and their persons begin to glow brighter than the new-day sun.   Peter immediately recognizes that he is in "a moment" and asks Jesus if he should build "tents" or "booths" for the three of them.   The concept of "tents" could have meant the feast of booths where the nation of Israel used the tents to remember that they lived in them and God didn't want them to forget their sojourning.   Or, more appropriately, Peter thought that the Kingdom was going to be established right at that moment and thought we need to have a tabernacle, like the one in the wilderness, to hold the glory he was seeing, or a place for God to dwell.   After asking Jesus to build the tents, he never gets an answer.  The reason Christ doesn't respond is because Peter is off base with the question.   God, instead, speaks from heaven and lays out, "This is His Son, in whom He is well pleased, listen to Him."  This is the same thing that was stated at Christ baptism, with the addition of, "Listen to Him."   Peter was ready for the Kingdom, but God had more work for His Son.  Jesus had teaching and suffering yet to accomplish.  Peter, like us, had a plan.   But, Peter's plan did not include suffering.  Peter was ready for the glorification stage without the suffering stage.   Sound familiar to our lives.  We want God to rush in, save the day, and give us glorification.    But, there is a process of teaching and suffering to go through.   It is vital to not miss this point.  We want to do great things for Jesus (build tabernacles) but we fail to remember that God has work for us to accomplish, prior to the glorification stage.  Like a sport team that wants to play in the championship game without doing the sprints and work prior and during the season, we earnestly strive for the end without doing the work in the beginning and middle.   Peter is to be commended for his instant desire to capture glory.  But, he needed to know there are other stages he had to experience and observe first.  

Why does God save us when we are in trouble? Isaiah 34-39

Why does God deliver us?  There are so many times that the peoples of God cry out to God for deliverance.  Imagine you and I were in heaven and had a chance to hear the cries of the faithful saints that come up to God.   What would we hear?  What would it sound like?   While I was writing these five sentences I heard the "swoosh" sound come across my iPad.   It is there to alert me to the fact that I have new email messages.   I heard three "swoosh" sounds as those five sentences were composed.   There goes another one, now.   But, imagine you were in heaven and it was the cries for help from the Saints and God had a "swoosh" sound that was saying, "YOU've got cries for help!"   I would think it would be just one giant SWOOSH that was heard across the heavens.   We cry continually out to our God.  And, we should!   But, why does He hear the "swoosh" and why does He save us?   Because, He thinks we deserve it?  Most people don't think they deserve bad in their life which must mean they think they deserve the good God will provide when He rescues us.   However, we don't deserve good and if received what we did deserve it would be for our ruin.   Then why does God save us?  When King Hezekiah was being attacked by a large army he cried out to God.  Here is what he gives us as an answer to our question: 

Isaiah 37:20

Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”

We must come to the realization that God saves us so that HE WILL BE HONORED, not that we will be or should be.   God is to be glorified.  In this particular story the nations of Assyria and Babylon had thought they were the big and bad and tough guys of the day.   They were evil, wicked men who deserved hell but demanded honor.   God was about to put them both in their place so that God would be honored.   God saves us to receive praise.   Man thanks he "chooses" God to show how smart, or sensitive or trendy he is.   But, in reality, God saves us out of His grace and deserves all the glory and honor for it.   The next time you want to take credit for your own salvation remember Isaiah 37:20.   God wants the glory and deserves it.  

Is God focused on us? Job 14

Job 14:15 (NASV)

“You will call, and I will answer You;

You will long for the work of Your hands. 

Job 14:15 (NIV)

You will call and I will answer you;

you will long for the creature your hands have made.

Job wanders in this chapter from false doctrine to good doctrine and back again.   Remembering that Job had no Scripture to turn to during this time of suffering (this was the first Biblical book written) we should be amazed at His good doctrine and perhaps cautious at the false doctrine produced from his friends and, at times, Job, himself.   But, in the above verse we see that Job leaves the thoughts of his depravity and his mortality and instead looks to the end of his life.   He sees a time when God can change him (vs. 14).  He looks at a time when God will look upon him as the person created by God.   Job knew, despite the original sin in mans life that was carried through to him, that God would and does look at each of His created beings and longs to redeem them and longs to work in their lives.   Note what the Psalmist says in 138:8

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

 your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

In this passage we see the longing for what Job says God will do: Not forsake the work of your hands.   Knowing that God has us in His hands and is shaping us and molding us to the image of His son is special.  We can rejoice that despite the sickness, loss and pain (Job's current life) God "longs" for the work of His hands.  God doesn't cast us aside.  We are the focus of His creation and the purpose of His Son's death, burial and resurrection.   God is calling us and we must answer Him for we are the focus of His work in the redemptive story of Christ.   

Why does God resuce us? Psalm 18-20

Psalms 18:19 (NASV)

He brought me forth also into a broad place;

He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

Psalm 18 may be one of the most encouraging Psalms David wrote via the power of the Holy Spirit.   When you are in the middle of a struggle these verse can be uplifting and inspiring.   You could pick any one of the fifty verses to find a place to hang depression, remove distraction, and/or recover from disgruntle foes.  Throughout the Psalm we see God reveal Himself in Salvation and become the refuge to those who call upon Him.  But, in the above verse we wee the "why" behind the "what" God does for us.   Why does God rescue us?   Why does He intervene on our behalf?  Why does He protect us from angry friends or evil enemies.   Here we see the reason He does all this: He delights in us!!   He doesn't rescue us because we deserve it.  He doesn't call on us because we cry for it.   He rescues us because He takes delight in us.  He loves us.  He has His eye on us.   We are the "apple of His eye."  To think that the God of the universe delights in us is more than we can imagine.   We are more than His creation.  We are the pinnacle of His creation and the object of His love.   As  you go through tough times and are attacked by tough people, we can rest in the knowledge that God loves us and delights in us.  We are the object of His love in such a way He provided the Savior to redeem them.   

Why does God use the weakest to accomplish His purpose? Judges 6-11

Judges 6:15

He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

Why does God use the weakest among His people to accomplish great tasks for Him?  In the story of Gideon we have the great truth revealed that God wants to use lesser souls to accomplish great things.   In the above verse Gideon makes the observation that he is not worthy to be used by God for a great task since he is the youngest from a very small family.    His view of himself is that God will not use someone of such small stature.   Yet, this is who God uses for much of His work.   God uses the weak things of the world to confound the strong and the wise in the world (1 Corinthians 1).   When we are weak than He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10; 13:9).   Gideon had an "assumed constraint" in his life.  He assumed that since he was young and of no means he was constrained to do little for God.   It is in these times that we can be used mostly by God.   Later Gideon would go and fight the army of the Midianites with only 300 men.   Again, his weak army (low in numbers and having no weapons) would be victorious in God's strength.  When we are weak He his strong.   We ought to relish the we are weak.  For than He can and is strong.   God puts us in these situations so that we can later rejoice in what He did through us, not what we accomplish for Him.   God rejoices in our weakness.  

When we are in coflict what is God doing? Genesis 24-27

What does God do while we are living with people who would rather make war than make peace?   We live in a world of contention.  People are quick to get angry and to express that anger in unusual ways.  We are told to live at peace with man as much as we can.   However, men seem to want to cause war and frustration rather than peace.  In the story of Isaac and King Abimelech, God actually intervened to give Isaac peace.   Abimelech didn't like that Isaac came to him and then pretended that Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was his sister.  So, Abimelech sent them away in anger.   Isaac doesn't fight this and moves away, only to run into conflict with more of the locals over a well dispute.   Isaac's life for awhile, even though he was were God told him to be, was full of strife.   But, then Abmimelech comes to him and wants a treaty.   Why?   Note the following:

Genesis 26:28 (NASV)

They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,

They "plainly" see that The Lord is with him.   When the world sees that God is with us they back off their dispute.  Only God can make that happen.   God sees when we are in conflict.   Isaac, unlike most, simply went with the flow and avoided those who had a conflict with him.  As he went through the well dispute he didn't press his rights or his authority.  He simply allowed others to have their desire and he moved on.  God saw that and blessed him anyhow.   This is similar to his farther, Abraham, who allowed Lot to have the best of the land.  God blessed Abraham despite having the lessor of the land choice.   God blesses us and opens the eyes of those in conflict with us so that they will want peace with us; even if they despise us.   Our part is to trust in faith that God can and will resolve the conflict.   

What's on your mind? Romans 12

Romans 12:2 (NASV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is –his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Our minds are constantly being conformed to accept the world view of the society around us.   We wonder why we have an epidemic of mistreatment between youth, even to the extent of bullying.   Yet, for the past two to three decades we have had a constant stream of sit-com television where "put-down-banter" running non-stop in front of our youth.   It is any wonder they put down and tease their peers?  Our minds are under attack.   We are being taught to get even and not show mercy through constant bombardment of shows, movies, books and video games.   No video game would even sell where the shooter turned the other check, as suggested in Romans 12.   No TV show would be watched with instead of vengeance the victim offered a cup of water.   We are supposed to be in the business, as Believers, to "renew" our minds.   I like what Vine says about this word "renew": 

VINE: “the renewing (of your mind),” i. e., the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life;

We are to be making "adjustments" in our thinking to transform and conform out mind to think like God.   The problem with believers is that we have constant shaping of our mind, unwillingly and often unknowingly, to the mind of this world.  We attempt to solve our problems via the world's mind.  We seek to construct our lives via the world's mind.   Instead, through faith, we are to shape our mind into the mind of God.   That will enable us to "prove" what is "acceptable".  The Christian walk begins with the Christian mind.   We can't forget that.  We can't expect to walk differently if  we don't think differently. Note the next verse in this context:

Romans 12:3

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Unless you have the "mind of God" you will fall into trap of having you on your mind and, like the world, exalting yourself rather than God.  So, what is on your mind? 

Do we focus on the major things of life? Matthew 14-16

Matthew 15:13-14 (NASV)

But He answered and said, “ Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

In today's "politically" correct environment most people struggle with what to say or do about false teaching or false behavior.   Christ was quite "narrow minded" when He told His disciples there was only "one way" to God ... through Him (John 14:6).   We seem to forget how narrow the thought is of Christianity.  We are supposed to "inclusive" when in reality the Christian message is remarkably "exclusive".   In the above passage Jesus is responding to the Pharisees who had verbalized their complaints that the disciples of Christ did not "wash there hands" before they ate.   Remarkable!     Petty!  These religious leaders could make such an impact for God.  Yet, they focused on the minor things of life.   That is Jesus' response to them in return.  He wants them to focus on mercy and justice and humility.   To end the discussion and conclude the teaching Jesus tells them that erroneous teaching always ends up in the same place ... the hole from which it came from.   He tells His disciples to "leave them alone."   They will end up in a pit and all they lead.  Those who focus their ministry on the minor and "regulation" aspects of faith will simply end up in a hole.   Let us not make the same mistake.    We focus so much on appearance as a qualification of Christianity.   Tattoos, facial jewelry, holes in blue jeans and hair color/style are our modern day "Pharisaical Hand-Washing" concerns.   A biker in Church will often feel like an orange in a tomato cart.   Let's cease on the minor (see above) and focus on the major:  Mercy, Grace, Love, Justice, Humility.  

Does God care "how" we handle problems? Isaiah 29-33

Isaiah 30:1

 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord,

“Who execute a plan, but not Mine,

And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,

In order to add sin to sin;

Does God care "how" we handle problems in our life?   "Well, of course, He does," you say.   Yet, unless the situation is very bad we seldom begin with turning to God for help and solutions.   When we are out of money we think of banks and loans.   When we are in poor health we think of doctors and hospitals.   When we are hurting we think of friends and companions.     In Isaiah 30 we have the prophets message from God to Israel that they once again refused to turn to Him and, instead, turned to man, or man's ways, for strength, deliverance and support.    Israel's leadership, while under attack, was looking to Egypt for help.   They wanted to turn to their fellow man when other men was out to get them.   We do the same thing.   We first consult those around us and not always the One above us.   In 30:1 (above) we read that God says when we do things like this (seek help from others rather than God) we "add sin to sin."   The statement means that since they are "in sin" in their rebellion to God, they are now "adding sin" to this "sin" by not repenting, but rather seeking refuge in Egypt.   As a leadership trainer I have often told those I am coaching, "Don't let how you handled a problem to become the problem" (which happens all of the time in all types of organizations across the country).   That thought or principle comes from this verse in Isaiah.   Don't add sin to your sin.   Egypt was not going to save them for three reasons:  1). God had sent the trouble to them so only God can stop it.   2).  Egypt itself was about to be destroyed.  3). God is the one who rescues His people ... He is a jealous God.    When you are facing a challenge make a habit of calling on God first.  You may need to borrow money from a bank ... but, talk to God first and follow His leading.  He might answer your prayer from a loan.   But, He might find another way, also.   If you have health issues, you might need a doctor or hospital.   But, don't leave God off the list of who you call.   In a heart attack you can call God before you call 911.   If you are hurting God often brings friends to comfort you.    But, turn to God first and ask Him to send the right friends and give you the right ears to listen to them.    To compound sin with more sin.   Seek "first" the Kingdom of God ... 

How do you withstand life's turmoil? Psalm 15-17

Psalm 15:5b

... He who does these things will never be shaken.

Do you have the stability to withstand anything that comes at you in life?   Can you handle a death of a loved one?  Can you handle a bad health report?   Can you withstand the storms of financial ruin?  Can you still stand tall when sin knocks, continually, at your door?  At the end of Psalm 15 the writer tells us that we can be assured we "will never be shaken."   Those words are proceeded by a conditional phrase: "He who does these things ...".    In the proceeding verses he delineates what "these things" are.    A quick look at them and we see they are simply restatements of what "walking" like Christ would be.  They are the "fruits of the Spirit" in different words.    They are the entire Christian life word-for-word.    What the writer is telling us is that righteousness that comes from Christ worked out in our life by a walk with the Spirit will result in the ability to handle life's "shaking."   When we have the indwelling Spirit working out the righteousness given to us by faith in Christ we can be assured of stability and strength in times of trouble.   We can't handle life's difficulties on our own.  We can't handle life's pain without Christ's presence practiced in day-to-day outcomes.   Job was able to handle the largest amount of stress know to man.  His children were killed, his property destroyed or stolen, his health afflicted, and the loss of the support of his help-mate, his wife.   Yet, the righteousness that comes by faith sustained him.  It did not prevent these things from happening and may have even open the door for them.  But, he was not shaken by them and was restored in the end.    He who does these things (Christian life through faith in Christ) will not be shaken.  

Why do we need God's presence to serve? Judges 1-5

Judges 4:8

Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

To understand this verse you have to understand the context and the theme of Judges.    The nation refused to follow God's Word to both claim the land and to drive out those living in the land.  They were not to engage in relationships with them or have any contact with them.   But, they failed in that outcome and as a result mingled with the inhabitants of the land, following them in sin, especially idol worship.   As a result God would empower the evil nations and would allow them to persecute Israel.   Israel would call out to God in this pain and God would send them a deliverer, a "judge", to rescue them and lead them. (Of course, they would soon fall into the same sin and the cycle would repeat.)    During one of many of these cycles God had raised up a women, Deborah, to be the prophetess of record.   The fact that there was a women prophet speaks to the sinfulness of the men at the time (so say most commentators).   Deborah calls Barak to "lead" the people out of sin by taking on the current tormentor (who is empowered by God to inflict pain on the rebellious nation).   Barak is willing to go but not alone.   He is no fool.   Some may say he lacked courage or stamina or something, since he asked a women to accompany him.   However, perhaps more appropriately, Barak may have seen Deborah as God's representative.   She was the presence of God in their midst.   Since he had an impossible task, Barak knew the only way to be successful was to assure that Deborah (God's presence) was with him.   We can move forward into battle all we want.   But, unless we consciously assure that we have God with us, we endanger not only ourselves, but those we lead, as well.   God gives us His Spirit today to be with us.   But, we can move forward and quench the Spirit's activity in our lives.   We can attempt to do activities for God but it ought to be with God's power and God's leading.   Be like Barak:  Don't attempt to move without God's presence!  

What happens when our imaginations rules our faith? Genesis 20-23

Genesis 20:11 (NASV)

Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.

What happens when you use your imagination rather than having faith in God and his plan?   In the above section (and verse) we see that Abraham, after traveling to the land of Gerar, wanted to make sure the king, Abimelech, didn't kill him and take Sarah, Abraham's wife.   God prevents this by warning Abimelech in a dream to keep his hands off Sarah.   Abraham didn't help the situation because rather than trust God he lied to Abimelech and told him that Sarah was his sister, not his wife.   Why did Abraham do all this deception?   In the above verse we see his explanation.   He "assumed" that their was no "fear of God" in the place and therefore acted on his own plans and his own methods.   This is a formula for disaster.  Assumption that God can't work in a place like this is a sure way to find yourself in a worse spot.   God can act and care for us anywhere.   The story of Joseph, Jonah, Daniel, and Paul show us this.  Abraham forgot God's master plan.   The actual reason he lied to Abimelech was his lack of faith and trust in God's plan.   God had told him Sarah and he would give birth to a son.   That means God would not allow an unbelieving king to hurt them.  He needed to remember God's promises.    In chapter 22 that actually happens when God asks him to sacrifice the child (Isaac).   Here Abraham remembers that Isaac will be a leader of a great nation.  That meant, in Abraham's mind, that if he killed Isaac, God would raise him from the dead to fulfill God's plan.   God's plans are not hindered by unbelieving kings.   God's plans are not hindered in an unbelieving "place" where there is "no fear of God."    Our part is to trust God's plans and rest in them.   It is God's part to work out the details and what that may mean.   

What is the greatest desire of your heart? Romans 9-11

Romans 10:1

 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

What is the greatest desire of your heart?  What should it be?   In Romans 9-11 we have one of the deepest, but also toughest sections of Theology.  In this section we have a complete breakdown of election - the act of God choosing those He wants to save and choosing (and even actually creating) those upon who He wants to demonstrate His wrath.  You have to read the section multiple times and, by the faith He gives you, accept the words stated by the Apostle Paul.   The fact that is section is so deep on election makes it even more amazing what Paul says about our part in sharing the gospel with the lost.  In 9:2 we read that Paul says he would give up his own salvation for his kinsmen in the flesh ... his people.   In light of election that is a ridiculous statement.   Never-the-less it shows Paul's understanding of His role in the salvation of others.   His point is that if God "chooses" those He wants to save He also will choose those He wants to use as instruments to lead them to salvation.   That point leads Paul to the above verse.   His greatest desire and deepest and most earnest prayer is for the salvation of his brothers in the flesh, the Nation of Israel.   Paul understood his role in the salvation process (later in this chapter we read about the need for a "preacher" to tell others about Christ).   Paul's greatest desire is the salvation of those he wants to see come to Christ.   We can pray for many things.   But frankly praying for the closing of a house, a better job, or even the health of someone we know, pales in comparison to what Paul's greatest desire in prayer is all about.   How much time in our weekly prayer journal would we find notes and comments about those we are praying will be saved?   We have many deep desires in our prayers, but do we actually spend time praying and desiring that those around us will find Christ? 

How should we treat "law breakers"? Matthew 11-13

Matthew 12:7 (NASV)

But if you had known what this means, ‘ I desire compassion, and not A sacrifice, ’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

The context for this verse is important in the understanding of the verse.   The self-pious religious leaders of the day had observed Christ's disciples walking through the grain fields and gleaning the grain.  They were hungry and this was a way that people of the day would actually find food.   There was nothing wrong with "what" they were doing.  But, the Pharisees where offended about "when" the disciples were doing this.   They were gleaning for food on Saturday, the Sabbath day.   Since the Law said you can't do any work on the Sabbath Day it was "technically" against the "Law" to do that.   However, Christ reminds them, using an example, that even the reverend King David allowed his men to do an even more incredulous act; eating the bread in the Ark of the Covenant, the Showbread.    Jesus' point is that if God allowed David to do this, the disciples were fine with what they were doing.   But, He goes on to explain more clearly, since the Pharisees seldom understood His stories, analogies and Scripturally examples.  He states the above verse as an explanation as to the reason the disciples are okay.   God is not as worried about our "Sacrifice of Worship based upon the Perfect Observance of the Law" if that "observance of the Law" does not also include "mercy" or "compassion."   In Micah 6:8 we have the same statement.  God prefers mercy and justice more than sacrifice.   God told Saul the same thing through His servant Samuel.   In this verse Jesus is actually quoting Hosea 6:6.   God wants us to have the right heart of worship before we do the acts of worship.   To tell a hungry person they can't eat because they have to follow the law is not merciful or compassionate.   God prefers love, mercy, compassion and obedience more than legalistic worship.   How we treat others is important to God.  It isn't one verses the other, however.   We ought to keep the law as we practice mercy and practice mercy as we keep the law.    God wants us to treat others with kindness and mercy.    

What does God think of the things we build? Isaiah 23-28

Isaiah 23:9

The Lord of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty,

To despise all the honored of the earth.

This section of the prophet's message opens with the description of the nation of Tyre.   Tyre was the pride of the nations.  They were majestic and powerful and filled with all earthly beauty.   We might compare New York City, Chicago or Los Angels to it today.  Or Paris, Or London, or Dubai.   When you see these cities you are struck with the power they represent.   They are filled with all of man's glory.   They believe they are the answer to everything wrong with man and a testament to everything that is right with man.   So, why would God open, or include, His prophecy against Israel with this destruction description of Tyre?   If you read the verse above you can see the answer.   Note what one commentary says about this section:

Matthew Henry: "Whence shall all this trouble come? It is a destruction from the Almighty. God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory. Let the ruin of Tyre warn all places and persons to take heed of pride; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. God will do it, who has all power in his hand; but the Chaldeans shall be the instruments."

I love Henry's line, "God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainly of all earthly glory."    When politicians speak today they are filled with such personal vanity and glory.   They believe what they have built with their hands will remain forever.   The same can be said of business owners, coaches, pastors and writers.   We all think that our hands have built great and wonderful things that deserve praise.   The Tower of Babel is a good example of the same thing in the past.   Man tries to build something to reach high and inflate their egos.   But, God, in His power and providence, can bring it all down.   He can take the greatest city (Tyre) and make it seems as though it was never there.    Rome was destroyed in that way.   In this chapter God will use the Chaldeans to destroy Tyre.  The Chaldeans will become prideful and God will use another nation (Persia) to bring them down.   Let us not think the thing we have built (no matter what it is) that we have built it and we deserve any praise or glory.   This is God's World.  He builds up and He tears down.