Do you know what God is painting? Ecclesiastes 3-4

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NASBStr)

 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

If you have ever watched an artist actually draw, paint or design a picture, you might have an understanding of the above verse.   As you watch them compose at the beginning you have little clarity of their strokes, color selection, angles and/or shadows.   It is only as you stay patient to the end that you see the full robust of their previous choices.   This seems to be Solomon's meaning of the above, in the context of God's work with mankind on the earth.   If you simply watch each stroke, by itself, it may make little sense.  Not having a mind like the Artist, we seldom understand each stroke, or shadow drawn into our lives.   He takes great pains with each line He draws, but since we are a fallen creature we must understand that God has a finished product we won't fully understand until the end.   The result of the fall is that God placed in our heart the beauty of being aware of the past and the future but not knowing what it actually means.   It is only the creature who is IN Christ who can fully comprehend.  Our human nature can't.   But, to him/her who has had the love of Christ shed into his/her heart, we have understanding of the hope that is in us.   Men of faith understand that all God made is good (Genesis 1) and all that has happened and will happen is within God's perfect plan (Romans 8:28).   Those without faith struggle to find meaning with the eternity placed into their heart.  It is only until we understand and have faith in the redemptive plan of God that we can appreciate each color and hue of the canvas of our lives.   God is busy painting a master picture for us and with us and to us.   When we have faith in Christ we see darkly what God is doing from the beginning from the end.  In the end we will see the master piece He has painted.  At that time we will discover that the painting is not for us, but for Him.   We are not the picture, we are the paint.  

Do you stay up late and get up early? Psalm 125-127

Psalms 127:1-2 (NASBStr)

 Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain.

 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To retire late,

To eat the bread of painful labors;

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

When we look at our lives from the perch of heaven, we are going to see just how ridiculous our continuous labor and hot pursuits really were.   When we have the view point of the God of Glory, we will see how vain and empty our pursuits have been.  We worry about sports teams, job success and family dynamics.  But all of it, even family, pales in comparison with the God of heaven.  We labor in vain if we are not allowing God to build the family.  We labor in vain if we are not allowing God to be our number one source of strength, shield and security.   It is empty and useless to pursue the cares of this world, just to find out that God can, and does, give to us, while we are fast asleep.  The context of this entire chapter is our ultimate trust in God verses the faith and trust we put into our own energy and pursuits.   Solomon, the writer of this Psalm, even tells us that, when we sleep, it foolish to hire a watchman to guard us if God is not already on patrol.   A watchman with God's security can only warn us of the peril we are about to experience.   It is only the God of the universe who can protect us and keep us secure and give us meaning and purpose.   Don't labor in vain.   Don't work so hard at night and get up so early that we simply eat painful and tasteless bread of sorrow. 

What really follows our acts of repentance and faithfulness? 2 Chronicles 29-32

2 Chronicles 32:1 (NASBStr)

 After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.

Despite what Hezekiah did, mentioned in the last verses in chapter 31, God allowed chapter 32.   Obedience equals blessing but it does not exempt us from the affects of sin in the world. (Romans 8:1-25).  In our modern day view of God, had we read chapters 29-31 we would expect chapter 32 to begin as follows: 

After these acts of faithfulness Hezekiah had rest on all sides and lived prosperous all the days of his life. 

Yet, that is not what we see here.  The prosperity people of faith would have a hard time explaining the correlation between chapters 29-31 and what we actually read, above, at the beginning of chapter 32.   We should note, first, that Hezekiah's "work" in chapters 29-31 is not referred to as "acts of obedience" but "acts of faithfulness."   The distinction might be small to some, but it shows the reality of pleasing God.  Hebrews 11:6 states that without "faith" we can't please God.  Hezekiah's "works" in the previous chapter are actually based upon his "faith" in God and trust in God's Word, promises, precepts.   With that said, we see the King's faithfulness is not blessed with prosperity, but with more pain and suffering and threats of the world.  Despite true repentance and faithfulness, the evil King Sennacherib was motivated to come to Judah to besiege it.   We have been taught, falsely, that trailing behind our acts of obedience we will see the great blessings of God.  Yet, in this passage we see that despite their faith and repentance, the King of Assyria was allowed to invade Judah and besiege it. Rather than prosperity they were given a test.  As we read the rest of the chapter we see that God delivers him from Assyria, provides further blessings, and then, allows the King of Babylon to be the next 'tester" of his faith (2 Chronicles 32:31).   The blessing that follows obedience is not prosperity but rather the presence of God and the peace that comes, despite our physical well being.   Preachers of "blessing follows obedience" fail to describe situations like the above to point out the blessing may be a test of faith and will be the peace of God in the midst of fear, suffering and the unknown.   True faith in God is found in these times.   

How do you make wealth? Deuteronomy 7-9

Deuteronomy 8:16-18 (NASBStr)

In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth. ’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

It is so easy in life to look at your position, possession and power and think back about how YOU made it all happen.  In fact, we celebrate OUR accomplishments.  Walk into most offices of CEOs or leaders of any organization and you will see artifacts of the accomplishments hanging on walls and/or sitting on shelves.  Like historical cheerleaders they silently applaud that we are great, good and grand.    We think that our degrees, our victories, and our published reputation have been accomplished by our brain, braun and/or beauty.   God was worried that the nation of Israel would set the same path for themselves.   He sent Moses to remind them that they did not accomplish their journey through 40 years in the wilderness by their own efforts.  They did not live Egypt because of their strength.  In fact, they were not God's people because of their numbers.   God gives wealth, strength, honor and reputation for His glory and to keep His promises.   We ought to never take glory for making wealth.   God makes that happen.   When we boast of our accomplishments we take glory from God.   He gives us talent and skill and turns that talent and skill into wealth.   God promises that if we use our talent and skill for Him, He will honor us.  He doesn't honor us, however, because we are skilled.  He honors us because He honors His promises.   He equips us; He gives us strength to us that skill; He gives us the faith to believe to use that skill for Him - what is in all that whereby we think we can have any honor?   Give God the glory for your skill and the fact He enables us to make wealth. 

What do you say that reveals more about you than others? James 1-3

James 3:8-10 (NASBStr)

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

James was a disciple and, of course, one of the pillars of the early church.   James was there when Peter would burst out, before the Messiah, foolish and bold statements, without substance or stability.   James was there when Paul stood up to Peter at one of the first church "annual" meetings.   James must have heard about the women at the church of Ephesus that Paul warned Timothy about.  James certainly knew about how believers were taking other believers to court in Corinth ... without the internet, bad news still travels fast.   James had first hand knowledge of the power of the tongue.  He saw how some believers used it to preach the word (Paul, John, Peter).  But, he saw how some used it to gain personal power and/or profit and forsake The Lord (Demes, Diotrephes).  In the above passage James is finishing his treatise on the tongue.  He has already pointed out that in regard to size it is the smallest but most destructive of instruments.  He has pointed out how the element of human nature is set aflame due to the rash remarks of the tongue.   Above, he begins to draw the conclusions he wants us to know.  The first is stated boldly: We can't, with the same tongue, bless God and curse man (our fellow believers in context) who was made in the imagine of God.   God has made man and for us to curse man (speak ill of him, or attempt to destroy his reputation with our tongue) we dishonor God.   James plainly states: These things ought not to be.   The tongue, according to Solomon, is simply a connection to the heart.  So, when we say bad things about God's people we simply reveal the contents of the heart.  When we speak badly about people we reveal more about us than we do about them.  

Christ forgives some; does the Church? Acts 9-10

Acts 9:27 (NASBStr)

But Barnabas took hold of him (Paul) and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:17 (NASBStr)

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “ Brother Saul (Paul), the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

It is amazing how The Lord works in the lives of His people, especially in the lives of those He has called to be ministers for Him to the lost.   Paul, who was formerly the persecutor of the church, was converted.   The Church, however, didn't see the glory of God in His salvation and they were afraid of him and did not trust him.   To assist Paul in understanding his personal conversion, God sent Ananias to open his eyes.  However, to assist the Church in their understanding about the conversion of Paul he sent Barnabas.   It was Barnabas who put his arms around the alienated Saul, who was renamed Paul, and introduced them to him.   In the Christian life we need others to convey God's work to those being saved and those they are joining in their salvation.   The skeptic nature of the Church failed to see the amazing change that can take place in people by the powerful grace of God.   That is why God not only sends an Ananias to remove the scales from the eyes of the convert, but a Barnabas to remove the scars form the hearts of the people of God.   When God gives grace to the non-believer and converts him or her, He also has to give grace to the church to forgive.   Barnabas took that role and was God's instrument of grace.   We all need an Ananias to point us to Christ.  We all need a Barnabas to point the Church to Christ's amazing work of grace.  

Why can we read Habakkuk? Habakkuk 1-3

Habakkuk 2:2 (NASBStr)

Then the Lord answered me and said,

“ Record the vision

And inscribe it on tablets,

That the one who reads it may run.

Habakkuk 2:2 (NIV1984)

The Lord’s Answer

 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

The above verse is not the most famous in the book of Habakkuk.   In fact, it wouldn't probably rank in the top 20 of those we would pick to meditate upon or learn from.   The most famous is two verses later when the writer tells us that, "... the just shall live by faith."   That verse is quoted three times in the New Testament and not only is the lynch-pin of Justification by Faith, it was the "heralded" message of the Reformation.   Men and women lost their lives over the belief and defense of verse four.   Yet, without verse two, verse four would have been lost with the hearers of the day, or, perhaps a generation later.   When great truths are spoken, those who hear them can rejoice, reject or otherwise respond as they hear.   But, God didn't want just the immediate listeners to hear this message (in, in fact, they rejected the message as they heard it).   God wanted everyone then and forever to hear it.   That is were the above verse comes in.  Before the reformers could, by faith, respond to Habakkuk and Paul's message they had to read it.   God knew that and instructed Habakkuk to write it down.   It is amazing that in our power of technology and modern communication, the written word is still the bedrock of society.  Contracts are written; marriage vows might be utter, but nothing is legal without the written license; the written Constitution still runs our country.   God instructed many of His chosen leaders to write down His message (see Isaiah 8:1; Ex. 17:14; Jer. 30:2; Eze 24:2).  You can live the life of faith in verse four without having the written Word, instructed in verse two.   Habakkuk, however, was not just instructed to write.  He was instructed to write plainly.   We can rejoice that God not only records the source of our faith but does so plainly, so we can believe it.   The message of God's Word is plain.   Yes, there are some things difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:15). But, the message is plain: God's love is the reason for man's redemption and God's wrath is on all those who reject that love.   Habakkuk was an obedient prophet.  He wrote the words down for us.  So that we can believe and have hope.  

Do you stop to consider life? Ecclesiastes 1-2

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NASBStr)

Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Have you ever stopped to "consider" your activities.   A favorite proverb, written by the same pen as the above states the following when speaking to Lady Folly (a metaphor for sin):

Proverbs 5:6

She does not ponder the path of life;

Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

Not "knowing" that your path is unstable is a very foolish way to walk through life.  In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon is giving us a first-hand experience of his journey in life.   Solomon had everything.  He had wine, women and song.  He had riches and popularity.   He had power and time.   Solomon had everything Wall Street works for, everything Hollywood promotes, and everything Washington flaunts.    As God gave him the wisdom to consider all that he had, done and live, he came to the above conclusion: All was vanity (emptiness).   We get excited about sports, invigorated by profit, and falsely assured by riches.  Yet, Solomon gives us this gentle reminder that everything on this earth is empty.   In the Book of Ecclesiastes Solomon is comparing everything physical and earthly with everything spiritual and heavenly.    When you make the comparison  you see that all that we possess and live for is simply vain, shallow and termporal.  Ecclesiastes, from the pen of the man who had it all, reminds us to "consider" our ways.   If we fail to ponder we will fail to prepare.   Folly does not ponder.   Hence she is unstable in all her ways.   Wise men ponder and realize that every activity they do on this earth is but temporal and vain.   Don't get too excited about vain things.   Put our hope and trust in something eternal ... God's grace and love.  

What if God did not protect us? Psalm 122-124

Psalms 124:1-3 (NASBStr)

 “ Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”

 Let Israel now say,

 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side

When men rose up against us,

 Then they would have swallowed us alive,

When their anger was kindled against us;

It is the old play-ground quote that states, "My dad is bigger than you dad!"    That was the trump card of all arguments.   Sometimes "dad" would be replaced with brother; uncle; or, worse, mom.   You knew if some kid through down the "mom" card you were in trouble.   Knowing that you have powerful person on your side made you much bolder at the swing set.   In the above Psalm we have the best throw-down of all: My God is bigger than you God.   The writer here makes it plan to all who read that if it were not for his God, he would be defeated.   He even states it twice.   The emphatic nature of the repetition should not be missed.   Notice the peril that would await them had not God been there to rescue: Swallowed alive!!  Men live to swallow others (see Prov. 1:12).  We may not think it but men live for the destruction of other men.   We ought not be naive in the land we live; there is but one step between us and death - were it not for our God.   Man's anger is kindled against the believer.  It is simply restrained by the working of the Holy Spirit in the world.   If the Holy Spirit were removed we would see the full wrath and violence of man toward each other (2 Thess. 2:1-12).  Let us praise God that He walks with us, beside and before us.  He is on our side.   

Does your pride put you in bad situations? 2 Chronicles 25-28

2 Chronicles 25:19 (NASBStr)

You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom. ’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”

The King of Judah, Amaziah, had some victories in his life (he won the war with Edom).   As a result he thought he could go after a bigger nation, in this case, Israel, his brother.    The King of Israel, Joash, sent him the above message trying to persuade him to not allow the pride in his heart to make him think he could do more than he could.   We have here one of the great lesson's in life about confidence vs. pride.   There is one thing to have confidence in The Lord that God can and will do great things for us and through us.   There is another thing to think that since you had the strength to conquer one area you have the power to continue in another.   We do this with sin in our lives many times.  We overcome one sin and think we did it in our strength and then we are totally crushed by the flesh in another area.   When our hearts become filled with pride we put ourselves in great danger for failure.   Pride clouds the mind in regard to decision making.  Pride often decreases work ethic because pride focuses on the past accomplishments not the future demands.   Pride says, "This is what I have done ...!"   Faith says, "God help me to do this ...!"   Pride brings us all down because it focuses on what we think we are in regard to greatness.   Faith focuses us on God because we believe He is great.  

Why were you saved? Deuteronomy 4-6

Deuteronomy 6:23 (NASBStr)

He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers. ’

In Deuteronomy God is giving the new generation the instructions and understanding of what happened to the first generation, that was rescued out of Egypt but died in the wilderness.    It would have been easy for this young generation to think that God wanted to bring them out of captivity, but not fully bring them into freedom (living in the land of promise).   Moses simply states to them that the very reason God purchased them and redeemed them from Egypt was to bring them into the place of milk and honey.   The picture we have in this passage is that of redemption and sanctification.    The writer(s) of the book of Hebrews and the rest of the New Testament bring this out in several passages.   God's redemption has a purpose for ultimate freedom and liberty in Christ.   Christ's salvation is both redemptive and re-inventive.   God saved us from our sin and is, at the same time and continually, creating us into a new creature.   The Israelites were not just saved from the bonds of Egypt; they were also saved to the bounty of the promise land.  God wants us to rejoice in being saved from the penalty of sin.  But, He also wants us to rejoice in the rest found in the life with Him, as we are given victory after victory over our enemies (sin in our lives).   Moses was encouraging the nation to not forget the purpose of their redemption.   The same lesson is for us.  God did not save us to give us simply a ticket out of hell.  God saved us to give us victory in the alien land we have been called to take up temporary residence.   We ought not limit our salvation to the day we were saved.  God saved us to bring us on to produce fruit with Him, in Him and for Him.  

Is sanctification by faith or by works, or by both? Hebews 11-13

Hebrews 11:32-34 (NASBStr)

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

There is debate in the Christian church in regard to the Sanctificatioin.  Regretfully, most church goers are so enthused with exciting worship and so weak in doctrine they seldom see the nuances of the discussion.   Stated simply there are those who believe that although Justification is by faith, sanctification requires my participation with God ... by works.  Most Work-based-sanctification theologians would not state it so bluntly, but that is the simply truth of it.  When "I" have to play a part in sanctification (or justification, or anything), and I bring my "works" to the table, I have a "works-based" sanctification.  A tenant of this theology is that if I obey the things of God, good things happen to me.   God blesses my obedience.   The converse of the argument is, that like justification, sanctification is wholly by faith.  This argument states: God produces fruit in me as put faith in Him.   This argument maintains that the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc) are products of the Spirit's work in me as I live in faith toward Christ.   The above passage gives us a clear understanding of how faith is the agent that produces good works in my life.   Note that in the writers summary of Hebrews 11 that he states it was "by faith" that they conquered, performed, obtained, escaped, and from weakness were made strong.    These are not the elements of justification.  These are descriptions of things in the sanctification process.   It is by faith that works are done in our lives.   As we yielded once to the flesh to commit sin (Romans 6 ... it takes no work to sin ... we just yield to the impulses of the flesh) so now we yield to Christ in the same way (Romans 6 ... we don't work to complete sanctification ... we just yield in faith to Christ).  We continue to yield to Christ and the Spirit of God produces fruit in our lives that are the evidence of our justification ... or, sanctification of our lives.   Salvation is NOT just justifications.  It begins with predestination, includes sanctification, embraces sanctification and ends in glorification (Romans 8:29-31).  Not ONE link in the golden chain can be take away to add our works with it to make it complete.   "The just shall LIVE by faith," is stated in Habakkuk; Romans; Galatians and Hebrews.    If we have "work" to do in the sanctification process, we must yield to Christ in faith and allow Him to "perform acts of righteousness" in us.  Sanctification, like all parts of Salvation, is completely by faith.  

Are you where you want to be or where God wants you? Acts 7-8

Acts 7:9-10 (NASBStr)

“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.

God is amazing!   In the midst of the worst trials of life, He and only He can turn the most tragic into the most terrific.   Joseph was hated by his brothers.  Unless you have had brothers who hate you and are willing to either toss you into a pit or sell you into bondage to slave traitors, you can relate to how this must have felt.  He was sent on an errand to check on the safety of his brothers and was sold as a slave instead.   Once in slavery he was given a good place to work and, yet, again, betrayed and mis-treated.   Finally, he was given the chance for freedom and put as second in the land under Pharaoh's authority.   God changed Pharaoh's heart and the heart of the people to hear the wisdom of Joseph.  Wisdom only God could give the young man.  God rescued him and granted him favor AND wisdom.  Joseph's wisdom came from God's grace.  Joseph's favor came from God's grace.    Joseph's governorship was God's grace.   In the midst of trials God can have a testimony through us, if we are willing, by faith, to simply be used by him.  Joseph was not where he wanted to be, but he was where God wanted him to be.  When we are where God wants us to be we can be assured we will have the favor from the world we need and the wisdom to provide to them.  Just think of the man delivering this message in Acts.   He will die at the end of the message.  But, he is where God wants him to be.   Joseph was promoted; Stephen will soon be stoned to death.  Yet, both were where God wanted them to be.  

Are you hiding behind walls or His grace? Nahum

Nahum 1:7-9 (NASBStr)

The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble,

And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

 But with an overflowing flood

He will make a complete end of its site,

And will pursue His enemies into darkness.

 Whatever you devise against the Lord,

He will make a complete end of it.

Distress will not rise up twice.

Nahum is a prophecy against the city and nation of Nineveh.   Even though they repented under Jonah's ministry, they failed to teach their children about that great repentance and they fell back into sin.   They had sought refuge from the Babylonians and Assyrians within the walls of their fortified city.  They felt safe and secure.  They had withstood many enemies within the comfort of those walls.   However, they had rejected God and He would all the Babylonians and Assyrians to conquer them as punishment for rejecting God's grace.  But how would that happen behind the tall walls of a secured city?   The walls were made out of bricks, filled with straw and baked in the sun.   However, when God allowed the Tigris River to flood it quickly dissolved the Ninevite stronghold.   The walls deteriorated in the flood and the walls crumbled.   Their security was completely dissolved around them.  Note what Nahum says later in the book:

Nahum 2:6 (NASBStr)

The gates of the rivers are opened

And the palace is dissolved.

In contrast, God's stronghold is secure.   God is mocking the Ninevites.   Those who take refuge in Him will never fail to be safe and secure.   Because He is good.  He is a stronghold in times of trouble.   The walls they thought would protect them crumbled by a simply flood (sent by God).   We might think the things we possess or the jobs we hold will keep us safe in storms.  But, in reality the only refuge and stronghold we have is the goodness and graciousness of God.   Faith in God trumps any "walls" we may hide behind.   God's goodness is the greatest and only refuge we need.    

Are you making the right choices in priority to be praised? Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:30 (NASBStr)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

It is appropriate that the book that began with the motto of, "The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of Wisdom," should end with the characteristics of the virtues women, who, fears The Lord.     In verse 26 we see that wisdom comes out of the mouth of this women:  What's in the heart comes out through the tongue (also one of Solomon's themes ... Proverbs 4:23).   Solomon is not forbidding charm or beauty as much as he is pointing out their most certain emptiness.   The Hebrew word for "vain" here has a dual meaning.   Not only does it refer to the fact that something is empty but also fleeting.   Perhaps the reason it is empty is because it is fleeting.   The passing of beauty and charm (charisma) pales in comparison to the long lasting, eternal focus of the Fear of The Lord.   Those who fear The Lord are not concerned with the attraction of beauty and charm.   Both may get you into the right groups and on the covers of the right magazines, or popular with the "in" crowd, but neither will last and deserve praise.   Willingness to follow God and Fear Him bring wisdom that last's forever.    The virtuous women is not concerned with the temporal.  She is absorbed by the eternal and weighty things of the world.    Hence, she will be praised.  

Did you see my kids? Who watches them while I sleep? Psalm 120-121

Psalms 121:3-4 (NASBStr)

He will not allow your foot to slip;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

 Behold, He who keeps Israel

Will neither slumber nor sleep.

I slept in this morning.   As a result I didn't see my life leave for work.   So, if she was counting on me for protection, assistance or companionship, she was extremely disappointed.   I love to sleep.   The fact that we have a God who does not slumber but is always attentive to our needs gives the writer of this Psalm inspiration to tell us that, "He will not allow your foot to slip."   What a blessed assurance!!   Our ability to have security in our walk in life is not tied to our character, strength or even obedience.   The fact that we are "kept" in His hands is based completely on the character and grace of God.   By faith we are held by His amazing grace and that grace flows from His omnipresence and omnipotence.    If you have ever taken multiple children to the park you can rejoice in what we are told by the writer.   Too many kids and you lose track of one or two every few moments as they run about the playground equipment.  Mothers and fathers can often be heard asking one sibling about the other, "Where's your brother?" or, "Where's your sister?"    God never turns to the Son or the Spirit and asks, "Have you seen David? I was distracted by something and lost track of him."   He does not slumber or sleep and become disengaged with His children.   Rejoice that it is the character of God that keeps us safe and secure and not anything on this life or within us.   

Do you have conflict in your life? Know why? 2 Chronicles 21-24

2 Chronicles 21:8-10 (NASBStr)

 In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves. Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him. And he arose by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots. So Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.

When we sin we can expect revolt from those around us.    God promises us peace and rest when we walk in His ways.  That peace and rest may not always look like what the world sees.  It might be peace in the midst of suffering rather than absent of suffering.  However, in the above passage we see that when Jehoram walked away from God, God used his enemies as a tool to correct him.   Remember that the story of Judges was this exact cycle.  The nation of Israel, in the midst of prosperity and blessing from God, would observe their enemies rise up against them.   Those enemies would afflict them and put them in bondage.   The nation would repent and cry out to God and God would send a "judge" to deliver them (think, Samson).   Once delivered they would again walk in faith to God and be blessed by Him.   Then, again, they would trust in their own strength, fall into sin and the cycle would repeart.   So, we see hear in our text the same series of events.   Jehoram, unlike his father, rejected God's Word and walked and lead like other kings.   As a result, he found that those who were once loyal to him are not fighting with him.   The next time you find yourself in an argument or fight with someone, it doesn't mean that you are living in sin.  But, it can be that God is allowing that conflict to correct a problem or issue in your life.   When a man's ways please The Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). 

What if God sets you down? Deuteronomy 1-3

Deuteronomy 3:28 (NASBStr)

But charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he will give them as an inheritance the land which you will see. ’

Despite the fact that Moses was rejected by God as the leader who would lead the people into the promise land, he still had a responsibility - like David, who was rejected to build the temple - even though he was rejected from the bigger blessing.   We tend to take an all or nothing approach to these type of situations in life.   When, in reality, we ought to look at them as simply the same blessing to serve God but in different avenues.   When we are rejected from one path for God, there is always another we can take.  Think of Barnabas.   Barnabas was rejected from going on the second missionary journey with Paul.  Barnabas saw some profit in a young man named, John Mark.   Paul didn't.   So, Paul headed out on his own, having rejected his missionary-mate.   But, Barnabas didn't sit and stew on it.   Instead he trained John-Mark, who would later become valuable to Paul. Moses, here in this text, was rejected as a leader but not as a leader-trainer.   He may not be the one in the front to lead the way but he was able to train the one who would lead the way.  He was to not only encourage Joshua, he was to strengthen him.  Moses wasn't to be envious of the leadership given to Joshua.  He was to transfer his skill sets to the young man who would lead the nation into the promise land.   Moses hand would forever be on the people because his hand was on the leader of the people.   If you are told no by God in one area, there is another area just as important.  

Are you perfect? Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 10:11-14 (NASBStr)

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made A footstool for His feet. 

Verse 14: For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

The point of the book of Hebrews is to show the Jewish believers the connection of their old system (covenant) and how Christ not only fulfilled each shadow of it, He made it obsolete.  Therefore, they don't need to return to that covenant and system to find holiness, perfection or sanctification.  They were tempted to believe in Christ, but also prefect their faith by returning to and following the requirements of that old system.  In the above passage in particular the writer is informing them that under the old covenant many priest would make many offerings.   The reason they would make many offerings is because not one of them, alone, could take away sin and thus perfect the faith of the offerer.   But, when Christ offered Himself, He completed the offerings, once for all ... for all times.    As a result, read again verse 14 - "For by one offering He was perfected for all time those who are sanctified."    Perhaps, better, the verse should read, " .... those who are being sanctified."   It is a continuous action until we are complete in glory with God.    We are made perfect and being made perfect by the complete and finished sacrifice of Christ.  We can't make ourselves perfect, nor do we need to.  We already are as far as God is concerned because of Christ's sacrifice for us.  The word "perfect" is the Greek word "teleioo".   It means "to bring to and end".   When people ask us how we are doing on any given day, we could say, "teleioo".    We can claim perfection in Christ because He sacrificed His life to make us so.  We can try to accomplish that on our own, but the writer already told us our efforts won't bring us to perfection;

Hebrews 10:1

 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.

Are you speaking profound things at work? Acts 5-6

Acts 6:9-10 (NASBStr)

But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Believers often underestimate the power of the Spirit in their lives to assist them at difficult times.   Especially in difficult times that call for discussion or debate about our belief.   Stephen was simply a man in the church.  He wasn't a trained theologian, that we know of.   The church needed some men to take over the care of the widows gathering in the church and, along with several other men, Stephen was selected.  It says that the qualification for these men was that they were full of faith and wisdom and had a good reputation.   They were Godly men first, servants of the widows, second.   However, Stephen proves himself to be quite a communicator of the gospel message.  When confronted by the religious leaders of the day he proved himself worthy of the debate.  It will cost him his life, however ... see chapter seven.   But, the truth in the above passage is that when called upon by God for any service, two things remain true.   The first is that wherever we serve we are to be faithful to the gospel message.  Simply servanthood to the widows does not exempt us from communication of the Word.   The second truth is that God fills ALL believers with His Spirit and with His Wisdom (Wisdom is Christ ... 1 Corinthians 1).   We can rest assured that as we walk in faith to Him that in any job we undertake He will give us power, wisdom and strength to fulfill it: To the point that the unbeliever will not be able to cope with what God provides.   Befuddled religious leaders can handle the clarity and power of God's Word delivered by His servants through His Spirit.   Our job is to be available, faithful and yielding.  God does the rest.   

Are you planting and nothing is growing? Micah

Micah 6:14-15 (NASBStr)

“You will eat, but you will not be satisfied,

And your vileness will be in your midst.

You will try to remove for safekeeping,

But you will not preserve anything,

And what you do preserve I will give to the sword.

 “You will sow but you will not reap.

You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil;

And the grapes, but you will not drink wine.

Have you ever felt like you were spinning your wheels?   You keep doing the same things and, even though the things you are doing are supposed to produced results, nothing different happens.   People say that the definition of insanity is that you do the same thing over and over and expect different results.   Yet, you keep doing the same thing and different results don't happen.   There are many reasons for this to happen but in the above passage in Micah we see one of them: Sometimes God withholds the results that come from doing normal things simply to show us His sovereign rule in our lives, or because of sin in our lives.  In the above passage it was for both reasons.  That nation of Israel, Judah in particular, had sinned and continued in their sin.  As a result, normal activities would not produce the normal results.   Eating would not satisfy hunger (might this say something about our weight problem in our society?).   The land, although tilled and planted properly, would not produce crops.   Normal patterns of crushing grapes to produce wine would be hindered.   When we are in the midst of doing normal activities and not seeing the expected results it is wise to look to God for the answers.  He might withhold the desired results to draw our attention to Him and to seek His sovereign rule.   If you feel like you are beating your head against the wall it might because in the midst of your normal activities God put the wall there.  

Are you stupid? Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30:1-3

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man. Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

 Here are some awesome words that might puzzle those who are turning to Proverbs to find wisdom: Agur, the son of Jekeh, says he is "more stupid than any man" and that he does not "have the understanding of man." He goes on to say he has not "learned wisdom" or has "the knowledge of the Holy One." These are some awesome words coming from an author, soon to be quoted in a book "full of wisdom" and written for those "seeking wisdom" and the "answer of riddles) (Proverbs 1). Why would Agur say such a thing? There is one thought that what Agur is saying is that he is not writing his own words but rather is copying out proverbs from someone else. That very well could be true. But, I think an alternative solution is that Jekey has come to the understanding that he is not a Godly man and is not "qulafied to write" such heavenly and awesome truths. And, maybe that is the best way to become a writer of wisdom literature: You know you can't and that you are stupid ... it is only through God's power and through the Holy Spirit's ministry that Agur can compose such truths. We all should come to this understanding before we attempt to minister to others through the Word. Only God can make the "stupid" wise. Only God can turn man's frivolous words into God's powerful message. If it were not for God's power we would only be empty tools. God has the ability to give us meaning and give us a sound message. We may not have knowledge of the Holy One, but God can provide it.

Are your eyes open to the truth of Scripture? Psalm 119

Psalms 119:130 (NASBStr)

The unfolding of Your words gives light;

It gives understanding to the simple.

See also:

Psalms 119:18 (NASBStr)

Open my eyes, that I may behold

Wonderful things from Your law.

The Psalmist knew the power of God's Word.  That is what Psalm 119 is all about.  Each verse of the 176 makes a reference to the power and joy of God's Word.  In the above two verses the writer tells us the secret to unlocking the power and the joy of God's Word:  God must unlock it.   God must "unfold" it to us and He must "open my eyes" for me to see it.  The unbeliever can read and hear the Word every day of their lives.   But, unless God unfolds the truths and opens the eyes of their heart the truth it holds is lost to them.   They can't practice it because they can't see it.   As we read God's Word each day our prayer ought to be that of the above: Open my eyes, that ...!!    We need God to peal back our unbelief and see the great truths and insight in the Scriptures.  How many times do we read a passage over and over only to come to it again on some special day that God opens up a new truth.  We had read the truth hundreds of times but it is that day that we catch a deep meaning.  Our prayer as we read the repetition of Psalm 119 should be that we don't pass over anything but that God will unfold the truth and open our eyes to see it.   

How do you stand strong in God? 2 Chronicles 17-20

2 Chronicles 19:11 (NASBStr)

Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Act resolutely, and the Lord be with the upright.”

"Act resolutely, and The Lord be with the upright."   This phrase ought to be our motto on any given day.   Allowing God to strength us and to empower us as He dwells with us is an act of faith to accomplish this admonishment.   There are many, many times in Scripture that the believer is admonished to "stand strong in The Lord."   Yet, there are many times when we fail to do so.   David failed to stand strong in regard to the affair with Bathsheba, despite his ability to stand with God against Goliath.   Peter failed to stand strong in the court yard as he denied Christ three times, despite his ability to stand strong with God as he started the church.   Moses failed to stand strong as he hit the rock rather than spoke to it, despite his ability to stand strong with God before Pharaoh.   Paul failed to stand strong for God, by his own admission in Romans 7, despite standing strong for God as he wrought most of the New Testament.   As believers we tend to fluctuate in our ability to stand strong for God.   In the above phrase we see that our ability to stand strong and be resolute is our faith that the "Lord is with the upright."   When we believe God is with us, we can stand hard and strong for Him.  When we walk in the flesh, however, we think we are standing on our own strength and we fail and fall flat on our spiritual face.   To be resolute for God is to put your faith in God that He is both the object of our strength and the enabler of our strength.   

Do we follow the lette of the Law or the spirit of the Law? Numbers 33-36

Numbers 36:6-9 (NASBStr)

This is what the Lord has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they wish; only they must marry within the family of the tribe of their father. ’ Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. Every daughter who comes into possession of an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. Thus no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for the tribes of the sons of Israel shall each hold to his own inheritance.”

The spirit of the law is to be maintained in the practical exercise of the law.   When Moses gave the nation of Israel the commands from God in regard to who gets what portion of the land for which tribe there were certain "exceptions" or "loop-holes" discovered.   There was an original problem in that the daughters of Zelophehad were given no inheritance.  Since the land was distributed based upon the fathers being given the land; and their father had died.   Moses said they were supposed to get land and be considered as their father was still alive.    Yet, now the other tribes questioned what would happen if the daughters married outside their tribe ... would not the land become the possession of the new tribe and thus cause a need to realign the boundaries?   Moses agrees this could be a problem and tells the daughters they are to marry within their own tribe, thus limiting their choice of a husband for the greater good of the nation.   The spirit of the Law here is clear: The land is divided by tribes and not to change hands.   The failure to obey the clear intent of the law would violate the purpose of the law.  This is a clear example of what God intends for the entire Law.  The Law is perfect based upon the perfect character of God.  Our bending it to fit our personal agendas does not support the character of God.   Adultery is forbidden in the Law.  Yet, looking a women to lust after her is the spirit of the Law and sinful based upon the character of God (Matthew 5:27).  Murder is spoken of here in this section.  But, again in Matthew 5, Jesus tells us that being angry without a cause is the same as murder.   Believers, lead by the Spirit, need to make sure they follow the spirit of the Law, not just the letter of the Law.   

Is your salvation secure and sure to the end? Hebrews 5-7

Hebrews 6:17-19 (NASBStr)

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

Now that is a mouth full!!  If you read the above passage in Hebrews you might easily get confused with the writer's language.   If we read the same passage in the Amplified Bible version we get a long rendition of it, but perhaps might grasp the writer's meaning more readily:

Hebrews 6:17-19 (AMP)

Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.

 This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].

 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,

The key to the passage is that the believer's assurance is based upon the promises and oath of God's Word, that never changes and never fails.  This might come strange to us as there is nothing comparable for us to relate to.  Nothing in our life can compare to the assurance we have in the God's promises, oath and non-changing of His plan.   When God says we have an anchor, the metaphor of the ship not moving because the anchor is set in the rocks at the bottom of the sea, He gives us a powerful picture.   We don't have to worry about our salvation.  It is strong and sure, like an anchor for our ship.   God will get us to the end of our salvation and therefore we must believe to the end (the main theme of Hebrews).  If you have ever had a time  you doubted your salvation or God's ability to save you completely because of your constant sin, God is there, as an anchor to your soul.  

When facing trouble what is your formula to follow? Acts 3-4

Acts 4:29-30 (NASBStr)

And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond- servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

Peter had already spent one night in jail for doing something good.  He had, through the power of Christ, healed and man and got punished for it by the masses.   After he was released he returned to the disciples and they, in unity, prayed.  Part of the prayer is recorded above.   It is not good to be threatened and attacked.   It causes stress and fear.   What do you with that fear?  You take it to God and you ask Him to quiet those who threaten.  You ask Him to care for your cares and to extend His hand and heal.   Only God can take a bad situation and calm the troubled seas.  Only God can and will heal bad situations.   When authorities don't follow God they can and do create havoc for believers.  Here, in this story of Peter and the healing of the lame man, is a perfect example of that truth.   But, the disciples, rather than run or hide, stood bold.   They stood on the truth that God was in control. He made heaven and earth and is the only one who can calm the trouble they were facing.   This would be the first of many times Peter would face this pressure.  He eventually would die as a result of his stand for Christ.   But, the formula was not to hide, but take the fear to The Lord in prayer and acknowledge His control.  

Do you want others to have the grace you enjoy? Jonah

Jonah 4:1-4 (NASBStr)

 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.” The Lord said, “Do you have good reason to be angry?”

Can you imagine being so filled with anger and rage and judgment that you do not want God to extend His marvelous grace and mercy to others?   Can you imagine the pain that must be to carry?   Jonah makes a bold confession in this passage.  He confesses that he is so filled with hurt from the Ninevites that he can't imagine for them the same love and grace God has given him.   Remember, he has just recently had the blessing of God's grace.  He was in the deep of the sea and God sent a fish to rescue him.  He was just recently in the digestive system of a great fish and God caused the fish to release him ... unharmed.   Remember, he just saw the amazing repentance and confession of a city so large it took three days to walk through it.   Yet, he is ready to commit suicide simply because God gave grace and mercy to those he hated.   Pray to God that we never become the same in our lives.   God's grace is everlasting, deep, wonderful, liberating and free to those chosen by God and on whom He bestows that grace.  We can become so clouded by our revenge and frustration with man that we fail to extend to them the same grace that God has given us.   Allowing God to have mercy on whom He will have mercy (Romans 11) is having faith in the character of God that He will always do what is right.   Most believers, today, if they lived in Paul's day would not have wanted God to give grace to Paul.   At first, the disciples in Paul's day were skeptical and fearful of God's chosen servant.   We ought to be praying that everyone would be able to taste the saving grace and mercy of God.   We ought not to become "displeased" as Jonah did.   Who do you want God to withhold His bountiful mercy? 

Who do you seek for justice and relief from bad treatment? Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:26 (NASBStr)

Many seek the ruler’s favor,

But justice for man comes from the Lord.

If you have ever experienced mistreatment, unfair accusations, wrongful conduct you can appreciate the above proverb.   Solomon was a man of great stature and many people sought his "favor" (Hebrew word: Face).   See 1 Kings 10:24.   He knew that men would want him to judge between their different opinions.  The first example of his great wisdom in Scripture was the two women who fought over the one baby (1 Kings 10).   And, even though Solomon possessed Godly wisdom he knew the truth above: True justice for man comes for God.  No man can be completely just.  We don't have the capacity since we are full of sin.   We might appeal to our rulers of this age to give us some just treatment to relive the way others have done us wrong.   But, even that justice is tainted.  True and pure justice can only come from someone with a true and just heart ... and that is not mankind.  We need to look to God for justice and fair and equitable treatment.   Note the following:

Psalm 27:8 - When You said, “ Seek My face,” my heart said to You,

“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”

But, when God administrates His justice He does so through through the agency of man.   In Proverbs 21:1 we read that God controls the hearts of the king.  We read in Job 36:6 we read that God defends the poor and provides them with justice.  If we want to have justice we need to appeal to God.  Only He can provide it.  He often will through those He puts in leadership.   He ultimately will in the end of the age.   We need to remember that until God's final judgement unfair accusations, wrongful conduct and general mistreatment will affect us all.  Seek His face for relief.   

What can man do to me? Psalm 117-118

Psalms 118:5-6 (NASBStr)

From my distress I called upon the Lord;

 The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.  

 The Lord is for me; I will not fear;

 What can man do to me?

What can man do to me?  We are often in fear of man.   We don't use the word fear, but that is what it is when we bend to peer pressure.  We are afraid to be laughed at by man, ridiculed by man, or singled out by man.  That is the worry men have about "what man can do to me?"   In the above Psalm the writer reminds us that in the middle of distress we can call upon The Lord.   When we do so, He answers us.   He not only answers us, He puts us in a "large place."   There is a lot  you can do in a "large place."   You have more room for error in a large place.   You can turn around in a large place.   You can invite others to your place in your large place.   There is room to praise and dance in a large place.   Man can't touch the believer who turns to God for help when God answers and puts the man in a large place.  Don't worry about the pressure from the world around you.   In the midst of distress call upon God.   He WILL answer.  He will then put you in a very large place to give you plenty of room to stretch and trust further in HIm.   In the midst of distress He doesn't limited you, He expands  you.  He uses the problem you are facing to enlarge your world.  

What if you are outnumbered? 2 Chronicles 10-16

2 Chronicles 13:18 (NASBStr)

Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their fathers.

To completely understand the passage before us we need know were we are in the story of Israel's history.  Solomon had died and his son, Rehoboam had taken his place on the throne, but not before he had split the kingdom over a labor dispute.  Israel formed, under King Jeroboam, with ten tribes to the north and Judah formed, under King Rehoboam, with two tribes to the south.  Hence, the battle between the two would reign for the next several years.   In the story before us we have, Rehoboam's son, Abijah, was now the King of Judah.  Unlike Israel, he had lead the people to continue to follow God and to serve only him.  Jeroboam in the north, however, needed to get a following so he established new ways to worship and new priests.  Having 800,000 valiant warriors Jeroboam's wickedness lead him to go up against the 400,000 of faithful Abijah.  What do you do when you are out numbered two to one?  Not only was Abijah out numbered, the passage seems to indicate that Jeroboam's men were skilled and Abijah's men not.   But, this was not just a physical and material resource issue.  This was a spiritual issue.  Jeroboam was evil and Abijah was good.  One turned away from God and the other turned to God. In Proverbs 21:22 we read that the wisdom of God, found by fearing The Lord, can and will defeat the power and strength of men.   The strength of man is no match for the wisdom and power of God.   Abijah might have been out numbered by he plus God was stronger and mightier than Jeroboam and thousands.   Samson had the same strength against such odds.  Gideon had the same strength against the Midianites.   In 1 Corinthians 1 we read that the wisdom of God may be foolishness to men but it confounds them in the end.    When we are outnumbered and weak, that is when we are strong.  Rejoice in the promise of God to turn our weakness and outlook for defeat into strength and victory for Him.  

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASBStr)

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.