Proverbs 14:26-27
In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.
The theme of Proverbs is, "The Fear of The Lord." Throughout the book we see the advantages of those who Fear Him and those who reject Him and choose folly over fear. In the above two proverbs we have two of the blessings or advantages of Fearing The Lord. Solomon is telling us that we can have confidence in our lives in two ways because we fear The Lord. One is we can find a place of refuge when we Fear The Lord. Being in perfect reverence for God gives us a place to hide under His wings in the storms of life (Psalm 91). The other advantage or blessing is that we can avoid traps set by Satan, folly, our flesh, the wicked, etc. When we are in reverence of God we recognize these traps earlier, for sure. Yet, God also covers us in a way that we can be confident that we won't be brought into snares that want to claim our spiritual, emotional, intellectual, or physical death ... unless that is God's plan for us. We can rejoice when we Fear The Lord because we have God working in us and watching over us and waiting for us to seek shade in His almighty character.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Do you love God because of WHO He is or because of WHAT He has done? Psalm 90-92
Psalms 91:14-16
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
We are often told that our coming to God for hope and salvation ought not be for the benefits that we are given in such a pursuit, but rather out of love for Him. There would be little argument against such a thought. We ought to love God for WHO He is and not for WHAT He has done for us. Yet, that is so hard to do. By real definition, the world love is an action verb, not a passive noun. Because God IS love He DOES love. Note the above verses from one of the most blessed Psalms every penned. Because the Psalmist loves God note what God does for Him. Note that as a result of what God does for him he (the psalmist) writes this psalm for us and rejoices and loves God deeper and with more gratefulness. It is agreed that we must first come to God in love. So, the truth of loving God for who is finds security in the above verses, as well. But, in our thrust to keep that truth pure, let us not forget that God promises to do MUCH for us. We can rest assured that He will: 1). Deliver us; 2). Set us in a secure place; 3). Answer us when we call; 4). Rescue us; 5). Honor us; 6). Give us long life; 7) Satisfy us; and, 8). Allow us to see our Salvation. Those are great reasons we love God. But, as the writer states, it is because we love Him that these things become true for us.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
We are often told that our coming to God for hope and salvation ought not be for the benefits that we are given in such a pursuit, but rather out of love for Him. There would be little argument against such a thought. We ought to love God for WHO He is and not for WHAT He has done for us. Yet, that is so hard to do. By real definition, the world love is an action verb, not a passive noun. Because God IS love He DOES love. Note the above verses from one of the most blessed Psalms every penned. Because the Psalmist loves God note what God does for Him. Note that as a result of what God does for him he (the psalmist) writes this psalm for us and rejoices and loves God deeper and with more gratefulness. It is agreed that we must first come to God in love. So, the truth of loving God for who is finds security in the above verses, as well. But, in our thrust to keep that truth pure, let us not forget that God promises to do MUCH for us. We can rest assured that He will: 1). Deliver us; 2). Set us in a secure place; 3). Answer us when we call; 4). Rescue us; 5). Honor us; 6). Give us long life; 7) Satisfy us; and, 8). Allow us to see our Salvation. Those are great reasons we love God. But, as the writer states, it is because we love Him that these things become true for us.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Does it matter to God if we ingore His Word? 2 Kings 21-25
2 Kings 24:20
For through the anger of the Lord this came about in Jerusalem and Judah until He cast them out from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
We ought not underestimate the wrath of God and what He does about sin in our lives. God is a loving, kind, merciful and gracious God. But, when we think of those things and sing praises to Him about those aspects of His nature, we ought to be careful to never forget that He is a God of judgement, righteousness and truth, who hates sin. When someone rejects His truth and begins to create their own system of worship to gods they have created that angers the righteous God of the Ages and demands that He act. God sending Judah off to captivity, as He did Israel, is a perfect picture of what happens when we ignore God's Word and go off and create our own things to worship. God is a God of justice. He will show mercy to those who humble themselves (Josiah in this section is a perfect example of that truth). But, God will show justice when even those who think they are "His" people sin and disobey and ignore the Word of God and the character of God.
For through the anger of the Lord this came about in Jerusalem and Judah until He cast them out from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
We ought not underestimate the wrath of God and what He does about sin in our lives. God is a loving, kind, merciful and gracious God. But, when we think of those things and sing praises to Him about those aspects of His nature, we ought to be careful to never forget that He is a God of judgement, righteousness and truth, who hates sin. When someone rejects His truth and begins to create their own system of worship to gods they have created that angers the righteous God of the Ages and demands that He act. God sending Judah off to captivity, as He did Israel, is a perfect picture of what happens when we ignore God's Word and go off and create our own things to worship. God is a God of justice. He will show mercy to those who humble themselves (Josiah in this section is a perfect example of that truth). But, God will show justice when even those who think they are "His" people sin and disobey and ignore the Word of God and the character of God.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Does God have a plan for the poor of our land? Leviticus 22-24
Leviticus 23:22
‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the Lord your God.’”
My wife and I have been traveling for most of the month of July. We have visited many midwest and southern cities in our travels. The one thing in common in all of these cities is the number of homeless and sign-carrying men (and women) looking for food and/or money. It is a sign of our economy, a result of our policy, and an outcome of our decisions. However, this is not unique to the U.S.A. Nor it is unique to this century. In the above passage God recognized that there would be needy in the land. He knew that the choices and the depravity of man would result is some being wealthy and some being poor and needy. He instructs the nation of Israel to make allowance for this issue of life and to leave parts of their fields full of bounty. He knew that the average person would want to glean the entire field and leave nothing. But, to show mercy to the needy God instructs them to leave the edges of the field when they gather the harvest. This would allow the needy of the land to have food available, but to have to work for the food. The system God puts together is not based upon a free offering to the poor. It is not solely based upon the generosity of the wealthy. The system we have here is that the farmer is to have faith that leaving the edges of the field will be cared for by God's grace and the poor will need to get up and find the edges of the field and work for their food. There was no welfare system in God's plan. Both had to have faith that God would care for them. But, God caring for them didn't mean that all the food in the field growing on the plant was theres. Nor did it mean that God will care for them by dropping money in a bucket at their feet. God would honor those who trusted Him on either end of that spectrum.
‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the Lord your God.’”
My wife and I have been traveling for most of the month of July. We have visited many midwest and southern cities in our travels. The one thing in common in all of these cities is the number of homeless and sign-carrying men (and women) looking for food and/or money. It is a sign of our economy, a result of our policy, and an outcome of our decisions. However, this is not unique to the U.S.A. Nor it is unique to this century. In the above passage God recognized that there would be needy in the land. He knew that the choices and the depravity of man would result is some being wealthy and some being poor and needy. He instructs the nation of Israel to make allowance for this issue of life and to leave parts of their fields full of bounty. He knew that the average person would want to glean the entire field and leave nothing. But, to show mercy to the needy God instructs them to leave the edges of the field when they gather the harvest. This would allow the needy of the land to have food available, but to have to work for the food. The system God puts together is not based upon a free offering to the poor. It is not solely based upon the generosity of the wealthy. The system we have here is that the farmer is to have faith that leaving the edges of the field will be cared for by God's grace and the poor will need to get up and find the edges of the field and work for their food. There was no welfare system in God's plan. Both had to have faith that God would care for them. But, God caring for them didn't mean that all the food in the field growing on the plant was theres. Nor did it mean that God will care for them by dropping money in a bucket at their feet. God would honor those who trusted Him on either end of that spectrum.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
What do you do when Satan hinders your most simply tasks? 1 Thessalonians 1-3
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.
The book of First Thessalonians is full of instruction and encouragement of the believers in Thessalonica. But, it also contains some of the most valuable insight in regard to the apostle and those he lead to Christ. Paul loved these people. He found them to be his reward ... their continuing and growing love, bused upon their sure and established faith. Paul so much wanted to see them and, according to Timothy, who Paul sent to them, they wanted to see him. Here we have two believing entities who wanted something good to happen ... mutual fellowship. Yet, Satan did what he could do to hinder them from such a basic and for granted activity. Of course, Satan knew that if Paul went to them He would continue to grow their faith and that was something he would always want to stop. We seldom remember the work of Satan in the lives of believers. Satan can't touch us, but he can prevent us. Satan can't control us, but he can control the world around us (at God's permission) and that will stop us from doing some of the most basic, yet assuring tasks in the faith, even simply fellowship. Satan wants our lives to be solitaire and lonely. God wants us to trust Him through it all and allow Him to remove those hinderances. Paul couldn't go, so he sent Timothy. The accomplished goal was still made, as Timothy strengthened their faith. Satan can try to stop God's work, but at best he can only slow it or delay it. He can't prevent it. When we want to do something good for God we just have to remember that Satan will try to stop us. Through faith we persevere to grow our faith.
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.
The book of First Thessalonians is full of instruction and encouragement of the believers in Thessalonica. But, it also contains some of the most valuable insight in regard to the apostle and those he lead to Christ. Paul loved these people. He found them to be his reward ... their continuing and growing love, bused upon their sure and established faith. Paul so much wanted to see them and, according to Timothy, who Paul sent to them, they wanted to see him. Here we have two believing entities who wanted something good to happen ... mutual fellowship. Yet, Satan did what he could do to hinder them from such a basic and for granted activity. Of course, Satan knew that if Paul went to them He would continue to grow their faith and that was something he would always want to stop. We seldom remember the work of Satan in the lives of believers. Satan can't touch us, but he can prevent us. Satan can't control us, but he can control the world around us (at God's permission) and that will stop us from doing some of the most basic, yet assuring tasks in the faith, even simply fellowship. Satan wants our lives to be solitaire and lonely. God wants us to trust Him through it all and allow Him to remove those hinderances. Paul couldn't go, so he sent Timothy. The accomplished goal was still made, as Timothy strengthened their faith. Satan can try to stop God's work, but at best he can only slow it or delay it. He can't prevent it. When we want to do something good for God we just have to remember that Satan will try to stop us. Through faith we persevere to grow our faith.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Do you know Jesus intellectually? Or, has He revealed Himself to you spiritually? Luke 23-24
Luke 24:16
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
In the aftermath of the crucifixion, some of the most important doctrines and teaching of the church are revealed. Perhaps none more as important as the truth we see in the above passage. The verse is taken out of the middle of the story of the two men who were walking on the road out of Jerusalem, only to be joined, unknowingly, by the resurrected Jesus. As Jesus pretended to know nothing about the crucifixion events, these men were amazed at His lack of being "in-touch" with the story of the day ... of the century. However, for a couple of guys who seemed to know the whole story, they still did not recognize Jesus. Why? Because Jesus had not revealed Himself to them. This entire section contains example after example of Jesus revealing Himself to people so that they would believe in Him. Each time HE INITIATES the revelation. He broke down the Scripture for these men and they eventually were allowed by Jesus to see Him. Jesus did the same thing for the disciples later. These passages teach us that the revelation of Jesus is totally dependent upon Jesus making Himself known. When we seek Him, He must be the one who reveals Himself to us. He does so through the Scripture and the ministry of the Spirit. When we approach God we need to do so, at His mercy and His revelation. He will reveal Himself to us. We simply approach by faith, not by our intellect. These men and the disciples knew intellectually what had happened. But, they needed Jesus to reveal Himself to them spiritually.
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
In the aftermath of the crucifixion, some of the most important doctrines and teaching of the church are revealed. Perhaps none more as important as the truth we see in the above passage. The verse is taken out of the middle of the story of the two men who were walking on the road out of Jerusalem, only to be joined, unknowingly, by the resurrected Jesus. As Jesus pretended to know nothing about the crucifixion events, these men were amazed at His lack of being "in-touch" with the story of the day ... of the century. However, for a couple of guys who seemed to know the whole story, they still did not recognize Jesus. Why? Because Jesus had not revealed Himself to them. This entire section contains example after example of Jesus revealing Himself to people so that they would believe in Him. Each time HE INITIATES the revelation. He broke down the Scripture for these men and they eventually were allowed by Jesus to see Him. Jesus did the same thing for the disciples later. These passages teach us that the revelation of Jesus is totally dependent upon Jesus making Himself known. When we seek Him, He must be the one who reveals Himself to us. He does so through the Scripture and the ministry of the Spirit. When we approach God we need to do so, at His mercy and His revelation. He will reveal Himself to us. We simply approach by faith, not by our intellect. These men and the disciples knew intellectually what had happened. But, they needed Jesus to reveal Himself to them spiritually.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Do you know where life comes from? Ezekiel 36-42
Ezekiel 37:10
So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
In this chapter of Ezekiel we have the story of the dry bones that come to life. Ezekiel is brought to a valley and in the valley are the dead bones of where men were laid to rest. Ezekiel was told to prophesy over the bones and God, by His Word, would bring the bones together, bone to bone. God when then cover them with flesh. But, they still would have no life. God would have to bring the life into them. For them to have life, Ezekiel was to prophecy over the bones. That is the only way anything has life ... by The Word of The Lord. We sometimes think that those who we see have life. Those who walk around in bone and flesh, might even think they have life. But, it is God who gives life. Jesus came to give us life. Note what Jesus said below:
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
It is God who gives life. We don't make it and produce it. Only God can give real life and breath in us. In is through God's Word we were created and it is through God's Word we have life. We don't make it on our own. We don't produce our own breath. God and God alone gives us life. He does that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Through faith we experience this life as we walk by faith in the ministry of the Spirit.
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