1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.
This verse is taken from the story of David and Saul. Saul, the king was a very prideful man. David was just a shepherd boy, but he was a boy who who was lead by God and had been obedient to God. God used David to kill the giant Goliath. And, unknown to Saul, God had already selected David to be his successor. However, Saul could not handle the reputation that was being given to David. He couldn't stand not being at the center and having the highest praise. Saul was envious and jealous for what David had and he failed to earn in regard to his reputation. Envy is a very difficult emotion and sin to deal with it in our lives. To desire something holy is a good thing (1 Timothy 3:1 ... Timothy is told by Paul that to "desire the office of the ministry" is a good thing). However, to desire something evil, in this case, praise for yourself, is a bad thing and sin against God. Perhaps David's son, Solomon, had this story in mind when he penned the following words:
Proverbs 14:30
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
Notice in the New Testament where wars, fighting and anger among Christians are said by James to stem from:
James 4:1-3
Warning Against Worldliness
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Saul was jealous and was not able handle the success of another one of God's children. He was not able to rejoice in the success of others without wishing harm on that person. Envy and jealous is rotten to the bone. The truth is God hates the sin of jealousy. Note the spirit of jealous and envy in Solomon's words below:
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Truth #92 - God doesn't promise us comfort when we do His will - Exodus 1-4
Exodus 3:19-21
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
When God calls us to work for Him we tend to think that everything should be easy and okay. After all, God called us and we are in God's will, therefore things should be okay. The world's standards are this way. The world thinks if they are doing things okay everything is going to be just fine. The world views bumps in the road as something that should be avoided and something that indicates you are doing something wrong. However, notice what a walk in the Spirit looks like. In this chapter. Moses has a burning bush experience (you can't get a more direct message from God than a burning bush that never burns up!). Moses knows God's will, perhaps, better than any man on the face of the earth. Yet, in the above passage we see that his walk with God will meet the obstinance of the King of Egypt. Notice what Paul tells us about this in Roman's nine:
Romans 9:14-18
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
God gave Moses a word about his work, but God also raised up a king with a hard heart so that God could use him to show great wonders and His awesome power!! When Peter was called to preach he was also placed in prison. When Daniel was called to interpret the dreams of the King he was also place in the den of the lions. When Paul was allowed to sail around Asia to proclaim the truth of the gospel he was also placed in the deep and allowed to almost drown for the message. God does NOT promise us to be free from harm, but to be delivered from it and prosperous in it. Notice what King David tells us in the following Psalm:
Psalm 33:19
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
The psalm doesn't tell us that God will keep us from death or keep us from famine. It tells us that God will deliver our soul from death and keeps us alive IN famine. We have been taught by the world that our "creature comforts" are at the bottom of the pyramid of what we desire in life (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). Yet, God turns that upside down. God wants us to trust Him for our needs and, rather than seek comfort in our mission for Him, redefine success, not as outcomes, but in obedience by faith. Moses, over the next chapters of the book of Exodus, will not see much success by the world's standards as he leads a rebellious people across the desert. But, he will be honored by God for being faithful and obeying on that faith.
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
When God calls us to work for Him we tend to think that everything should be easy and okay. After all, God called us and we are in God's will, therefore things should be okay. The world's standards are this way. The world thinks if they are doing things okay everything is going to be just fine. The world views bumps in the road as something that should be avoided and something that indicates you are doing something wrong. However, notice what a walk in the Spirit looks like. In this chapter. Moses has a burning bush experience (you can't get a more direct message from God than a burning bush that never burns up!). Moses knows God's will, perhaps, better than any man on the face of the earth. Yet, in the above passage we see that his walk with God will meet the obstinance of the King of Egypt. Notice what Paul tells us about this in Roman's nine:
Romans 9:14-18
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
God gave Moses a word about his work, but God also raised up a king with a hard heart so that God could use him to show great wonders and His awesome power!! When Peter was called to preach he was also placed in prison. When Daniel was called to interpret the dreams of the King he was also place in the den of the lions. When Paul was allowed to sail around Asia to proclaim the truth of the gospel he was also placed in the deep and allowed to almost drown for the message. God does NOT promise us to be free from harm, but to be delivered from it and prosperous in it. Notice what King David tells us in the following Psalm:
Psalm 33:19
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
The psalm doesn't tell us that God will keep us from death or keep us from famine. It tells us that God will deliver our soul from death and keeps us alive IN famine. We have been taught by the world that our "creature comforts" are at the bottom of the pyramid of what we desire in life (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). Yet, God turns that upside down. God wants us to trust Him for our needs and, rather than seek comfort in our mission for Him, redefine success, not as outcomes, but in obedience by faith. Moses, over the next chapters of the book of Exodus, will not see much success by the world's standards as he leads a rebellious people across the desert. But, he will be honored by God for being faithful and obeying on that faith.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Truth #91 - Mission focus is better than passion focus - 1 Corinthians 9-10
1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
A mission focused life is one of clarity, freedom and energy. To know WHY you are here (on this earth, in this community, in this spot on the globe) is like a fire that builds inside and fuels all the rest of what you do. You can't know WHAT to do about a situation in life if you lose focus on the WHY of your life. In the above verse we are in the middle of Paul's focus on his ministry and the authority he has for his ministry. He COULD claim the right of apostleship. He could claim the right of authority over these members of the Corinth church because he lead them to the Lord ... he was their spiritual father. Apparently there were some in the church that were not only questioning Paul's position of authority, but also telling others to not "support" his ministry financially. He could come in and demand their support based upon his position in the world-wide church. However, Paul had already made a decision in his life. His life was not about his right in position but his commitment to his mission. He had already laid all of his "rights" aside but saying he would be a servant of Christ and do what Christ wanted him to do. By becoming a servant to Christ, Paul had become a servant to all ... because he wanted to win all to Christ. His mission was not to exercise his rights, but to serve Christ by winning others over to Christ's way. This is his point in chapter 9 and the connection to the freedom in chapter 8. He may be free, but, through faith in his call, he is obligated to serve. I love how one commentary lays out what Paul is telling us:
World Biblical Commentary:
Paul writes, “For being free … I enslaved myself to all.” The opening of the line (“for”) shows that Paul is offering a further explanation for his practice of foregoing his rights or freedom on behalf of others. Moreover, he says, “I made myself a slave” or “I enslaved myself,” referring to the past stance he had taken in doing missions, not to a current and renewing practice as the tense of the verb (“I make”) suggests in the NIV. Being free, having rights, Paul laid his rights aside in order to win as many as possible. Paul states that effective evangelization of others is more important than claiming, possessing, and preserving his own rights. The point of consistency in Paul’s behavior was that he always put doing God’s mission ahead of everything else.
Finding freedom in service may be the height of life experiences. Even though we can claim a right, we don't ... we serve Christ and therefor others. Paul had a right to demand and, instead, he allowed himself to be defrauded so that the mission of reaching someone for Christ would not be hindered. Paul saw that his mission for Christ trumped all other emotions he might have had and could control his decisions. The truth is, we are all bound to the mission and not our own individual passions. Mission focus might make us servants of others, but it produces freedom that others can never quite understand.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
A mission focused life is one of clarity, freedom and energy. To know WHY you are here (on this earth, in this community, in this spot on the globe) is like a fire that builds inside and fuels all the rest of what you do. You can't know WHAT to do about a situation in life if you lose focus on the WHY of your life. In the above verse we are in the middle of Paul's focus on his ministry and the authority he has for his ministry. He COULD claim the right of apostleship. He could claim the right of authority over these members of the Corinth church because he lead them to the Lord ... he was their spiritual father. Apparently there were some in the church that were not only questioning Paul's position of authority, but also telling others to not "support" his ministry financially. He could come in and demand their support based upon his position in the world-wide church. However, Paul had already made a decision in his life. His life was not about his right in position but his commitment to his mission. He had already laid all of his "rights" aside but saying he would be a servant of Christ and do what Christ wanted him to do. By becoming a servant to Christ, Paul had become a servant to all ... because he wanted to win all to Christ. His mission was not to exercise his rights, but to serve Christ by winning others over to Christ's way. This is his point in chapter 9 and the connection to the freedom in chapter 8. He may be free, but, through faith in his call, he is obligated to serve. I love how one commentary lays out what Paul is telling us:
World Biblical Commentary:
Paul writes, “For being free … I enslaved myself to all.” The opening of the line (“for”) shows that Paul is offering a further explanation for his practice of foregoing his rights or freedom on behalf of others. Moreover, he says, “I made myself a slave” or “I enslaved myself,” referring to the past stance he had taken in doing missions, not to a current and renewing practice as the tense of the verb (“I make”) suggests in the NIV. Being free, having rights, Paul laid his rights aside in order to win as many as possible. Paul states that effective evangelization of others is more important than claiming, possessing, and preserving his own rights. The point of consistency in Paul’s behavior was that he always put doing God’s mission ahead of everything else.
Finding freedom in service may be the height of life experiences. Even though we can claim a right, we don't ... we serve Christ and therefor others. Paul had a right to demand and, instead, he allowed himself to be defrauded so that the mission of reaching someone for Christ would not be hindered. Paul saw that his mission for Christ trumped all other emotions he might have had and could control his decisions. The truth is, we are all bound to the mission and not our own individual passions. Mission focus might make us servants of others, but it produces freedom that others can never quite understand.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Truth #90 - God wants us to seek leisure - and to serve Him in it - Mark 5-6
Mark 6:30-32
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
As I read this passage and write this blog, I am in a hotel room in some city. This will be my fourth day on the road, speaking in one city and then the next. It has been a fun week and an exhausting week at the same time. Two days ago I talked to a group of leaders on the subject of "strategic abandonment," which is speaker-code-speak for, "how to quit something" you are currently doing and why "quit" doing it. Yesterday was a 14 hour day of coaching one-on-one and speaking to two separate groups in the morning, afternoon and evening. We live in a pretty busy time in our society. We ALL of a very full calendar and we al tend to put more on each day than we do strategically abandon it. As I read the above passage I am struck by the comment made by Jesus to His disciples. These men were mere fishermen. They knew what a long day would be be and they had, especially in those days, a supreme work ethic. Even without wifi I am sure they were productive individuals. They didn't spend much of their time, if any, on entertainment or mindless watching news, a TV show or listening to talk radio. They had no phone to play them their favorite music. Technically, they didn't even have a calendar. Yet, in the service for Jesus they had NO TIME for leisure ... even to eat!! We have all been there, yet, probably not like these men. Jesus' solution was for them to get away to a boat (since I live on a boat most of my days I find this especially pleasing). The boat, to most of the disciples was a familiar place. It was a place that would have reminded them of the beginning; a place that would have reminded them of what they left behind to follow Jesus; it was a place to focus on the internal and eternal, rather than the pressing needs of the external. These were not men who made a bad choice on their calendars, but men who choose to follow the service of the King. They escaped to be refreshed because they worked so hard in that service they had "no leisure even to eat." Jesus told them to stop and to get away. Jesus wanted them to "rest awhile." The word rest, according to Greek scholars means: "to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength." In the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke's gospel the word is used in a sense of foolishness in the verse below. After the rich man had accumulated much wealth (his retirement nest-egg), he is said to say the following:
Luke 12:19
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
This is not the rest our Lord is talking about in the above passage when He tells the disciples to get away to a desolate place to find a boat and rest. He is not telling them to take a cruise ... although there is nothing wrong with a cruise. He is not telling them to find personal leisure time to simply check out of the world. He is telling them to realize that life is busy (in any age) and that finding a place to do some introspective work, is a good thing even for our Savior and His disciples. The interesting aspect of this story is that before the disciples can do this (escape to a place on their boat) the crowds need to be sent away. But, as Jesus sees the crowds He is moved with compassion and wants to know how to feed them. He is about to feed 5,000 people with a little boy's lunch. Even in their hectic pace and full calendar, Jesus takes another meeting. He tells them to escape than in right in their path is another opportunity for Him to glorified and honor the Father. God is always at the center of our work and leisure, no matter if we have been working all day. The truth is, God has given us the day to use the day for His glory and His purpose. That might mean busy and tired and no time, even to eat. Yet, for His glory the strength and resources (a little boys lunch) are quickly turned into a story known all around the world, even to unbelievers. Even in the midst of seeking leisure to eat and to recharge, the ministry of glorifying God is still at the center.
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
As I read this passage and write this blog, I am in a hotel room in some city. This will be my fourth day on the road, speaking in one city and then the next. It has been a fun week and an exhausting week at the same time. Two days ago I talked to a group of leaders on the subject of "strategic abandonment," which is speaker-code-speak for, "how to quit something" you are currently doing and why "quit" doing it. Yesterday was a 14 hour day of coaching one-on-one and speaking to two separate groups in the morning, afternoon and evening. We live in a pretty busy time in our society. We ALL of a very full calendar and we al tend to put more on each day than we do strategically abandon it. As I read the above passage I am struck by the comment made by Jesus to His disciples. These men were mere fishermen. They knew what a long day would be be and they had, especially in those days, a supreme work ethic. Even without wifi I am sure they were productive individuals. They didn't spend much of their time, if any, on entertainment or mindless watching news, a TV show or listening to talk radio. They had no phone to play them their favorite music. Technically, they didn't even have a calendar. Yet, in the service for Jesus they had NO TIME for leisure ... even to eat!! We have all been there, yet, probably not like these men. Jesus' solution was for them to get away to a boat (since I live on a boat most of my days I find this especially pleasing). The boat, to most of the disciples was a familiar place. It was a place that would have reminded them of the beginning; a place that would have reminded them of what they left behind to follow Jesus; it was a place to focus on the internal and eternal, rather than the pressing needs of the external. These were not men who made a bad choice on their calendars, but men who choose to follow the service of the King. They escaped to be refreshed because they worked so hard in that service they had "no leisure even to eat." Jesus told them to stop and to get away. Jesus wanted them to "rest awhile." The word rest, according to Greek scholars means: "to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength." In the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke's gospel the word is used in a sense of foolishness in the verse below. After the rich man had accumulated much wealth (his retirement nest-egg), he is said to say the following:
Luke 12:19
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
This is not the rest our Lord is talking about in the above passage when He tells the disciples to get away to a desolate place to find a boat and rest. He is not telling them to take a cruise ... although there is nothing wrong with a cruise. He is not telling them to find personal leisure time to simply check out of the world. He is telling them to realize that life is busy (in any age) and that finding a place to do some introspective work, is a good thing even for our Savior and His disciples. The interesting aspect of this story is that before the disciples can do this (escape to a place on their boat) the crowds need to be sent away. But, as Jesus sees the crowds He is moved with compassion and wants to know how to feed them. He is about to feed 5,000 people with a little boy's lunch. Even in their hectic pace and full calendar, Jesus takes another meeting. He tells them to escape than in right in their path is another opportunity for Him to glorified and honor the Father. God is always at the center of our work and leisure, no matter if we have been working all day. The truth is, God has given us the day to use the day for His glory and His purpose. That might mean busy and tired and no time, even to eat. Yet, for His glory the strength and resources (a little boys lunch) are quickly turned into a story known all around the world, even to unbelievers. Even in the midst of seeking leisure to eat and to recharge, the ministry of glorifying God is still at the center.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Truth #89 - God knew you before you knew you - Jeremiah 1-6
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Understanding the sovereign rule of God in the lives of His people might be one of the most difficult mysteries of the Godhead we can focus upon. Churches have spilt over how God's sovereign control of His universe is actually put together. The above verse ought to be a key piece in that puzzle. Jeremiah is about to tell us about the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the nation. The book will cover the events over several years, multiple kings and numerous sins. God, according to the book of Jeremiah is bring a nation from the north (Babylon) to take the nation captive. Jeremiah will speak to them and tell them not to seek refuge in Egypt or another country, but to allow this discipline from God to take place. He will be telling them to lay down their swords, don't fight and surrender to these wicked armies from the north ... because it is God's will that they do so. Jeremiah will be punished, banished, and imprisoned for this dialogue of doom and despair. And, he will weep. This is why he is known as the weeping prophet. Yet, through all of the Jeremiah is steadfast and sure in his message and his ministry because of the above verse. He has clarity for the work he is about to do ... God called him to it. He has no worries about what his daily calendar is all about ... God called him for the work. This call took place, according to God's Word, BEFORE Jeremiah was ever born. God formed him in the womb, but before God formed him in the womb his mission and his walk was formed in God's plan. We might argue all the nuances of God's sovereign rule on the earth and the events in the earth, but we ought never fail to believe and respond to this truth: God has a plan and His people are part of that plan and that plan was worked out and set in motion well before the foundations of the earth were ever established. Notice what Paul told the Ephesian church several centuries after Jeremiah wrote the above verse:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God, before creation, prepared "good works" that those who have been saved by Christ, should walk in them ... do them. God didn't just save us, (and this before the foundation of the world), He saved us to do good works. God has ordained those good works and you and I, each day, are to seek the good works that God has ordained for us ... before we were even born. We are not here to find our "will" or to do our "thing." We are not here to accumulate wealth, to make ourselves comfortable, or craft our trade. We are here to fulfill a purpose for our God and that is the plain and simple truth, no matter what you believe, think or can understand about the sovereignty of God. Before we were in the womb, He knew us!!
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Understanding the sovereign rule of God in the lives of His people might be one of the most difficult mysteries of the Godhead we can focus upon. Churches have spilt over how God's sovereign control of His universe is actually put together. The above verse ought to be a key piece in that puzzle. Jeremiah is about to tell us about the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the nation. The book will cover the events over several years, multiple kings and numerous sins. God, according to the book of Jeremiah is bring a nation from the north (Babylon) to take the nation captive. Jeremiah will speak to them and tell them not to seek refuge in Egypt or another country, but to allow this discipline from God to take place. He will be telling them to lay down their swords, don't fight and surrender to these wicked armies from the north ... because it is God's will that they do so. Jeremiah will be punished, banished, and imprisoned for this dialogue of doom and despair. And, he will weep. This is why he is known as the weeping prophet. Yet, through all of the Jeremiah is steadfast and sure in his message and his ministry because of the above verse. He has clarity for the work he is about to do ... God called him to it. He has no worries about what his daily calendar is all about ... God called him for the work. This call took place, according to God's Word, BEFORE Jeremiah was ever born. God formed him in the womb, but before God formed him in the womb his mission and his walk was formed in God's plan. We might argue all the nuances of God's sovereign rule on the earth and the events in the earth, but we ought never fail to believe and respond to this truth: God has a plan and His people are part of that plan and that plan was worked out and set in motion well before the foundations of the earth were ever established. Notice what Paul told the Ephesian church several centuries after Jeremiah wrote the above verse:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God, before creation, prepared "good works" that those who have been saved by Christ, should walk in them ... do them. God didn't just save us, (and this before the foundation of the world), He saved us to do good works. God has ordained those good works and you and I, each day, are to seek the good works that God has ordained for us ... before we were even born. We are not here to find our "will" or to do our "thing." We are not here to accumulate wealth, to make ourselves comfortable, or craft our trade. We are here to fulfill a purpose for our God and that is the plain and simple truth, no matter what you believe, think or can understand about the sovereignty of God. Before we were in the womb, He knew us!!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Truth #88 - God holds it all together; Thank God!! Job 25-26
Job 26:7
He stretches out the north over the void
and hangs the earth on nothing.
Bildad, in chapter 25, has once again attacked Job's claim of his innocence. In chapter 26 Job is about to challenge Bildad's thoughts claiming he has no knowledge apart from God and therefore what he says must be submitted to God for God's approval. Job, in this chapter, is launching an argument that God is majestic and He can do as He pleases and whether Job is innocent or guilty, God is not affected one way or another. God's character is not subservient to Job's behavior. Job is claiming ultimate sovereignty of God ... God does what He does without Job's actions. In the above passage we see Job referring to the creation of the universe as an example of God's independent and ultimate power. God has, and does, hang the heaven in pure space with nothing to support it, except the power of His world. Note the following from other authors of God's Word:
Psalms 104:1-2
O Lord My God, You Are Very Great
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
Psalms 33:6
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Zechariah 12:1
The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:
Those who KNOW God, KNOW and FEAR Him!! They know that God is the sustainer of the universe. Like a tent with no center poll, God takes the four corners of the heavens and sustains them in the sky and hangs they earth on its axis, simply by the Word of His Power. The earth just hangs there, at the most perfect tilt. We know that if the earth were to move just a degree off its axis we would either freeze to death or be burnt by the rays of the sun. So, is the earth so hung that we would be destroyed if it moved in any way and it hangs there in open space simply by His Word. You might wonder who is going to supply your next need, but remember this: The truth is God is not controlled by us and our needs. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and holds everything together.
Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He stretches out the north over the void
and hangs the earth on nothing.
Bildad, in chapter 25, has once again attacked Job's claim of his innocence. In chapter 26 Job is about to challenge Bildad's thoughts claiming he has no knowledge apart from God and therefore what he says must be submitted to God for God's approval. Job, in this chapter, is launching an argument that God is majestic and He can do as He pleases and whether Job is innocent or guilty, God is not affected one way or another. God's character is not subservient to Job's behavior. Job is claiming ultimate sovereignty of God ... God does what He does without Job's actions. In the above passage we see Job referring to the creation of the universe as an example of God's independent and ultimate power. God has, and does, hang the heaven in pure space with nothing to support it, except the power of His world. Note the following from other authors of God's Word:
Psalms 104:1-2
O Lord My God, You Are Very Great
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
Psalms 33:6
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Zechariah 12:1
The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:
Those who KNOW God, KNOW and FEAR Him!! They know that God is the sustainer of the universe. Like a tent with no center poll, God takes the four corners of the heavens and sustains them in the sky and hangs they earth on its axis, simply by the Word of His Power. The earth just hangs there, at the most perfect tilt. We know that if the earth were to move just a degree off its axis we would either freeze to death or be burnt by the rays of the sun. So, is the earth so hung that we would be destroyed if it moved in any way and it hangs there in open space simply by His Word. You might wonder who is going to supply your next need, but remember this: The truth is God is not controlled by us and our needs. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and holds everything together.
Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Truth #87 - God blesses the righteous and that extends to their children - Psalm 36-38
Psalms 37:25-26
I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
The contrast in these three Psalms (Psalm 36-38) is quite striking. All three of them speak of the way of the righteous vs the way of the foolish. Those two are different in that the righteous makes God their hope and put faith in Him for their righteousness and existence and forgiveness for sin (Psalm 38:1-3, 21-22). The fool begins by saying there is no God and laughs and embraces and enjoys their sin (Psalm 36:1-4). Not only do they view sin in their lives differently, they have different outcomes in their lives. In this same chapter we are told the wicked will not be there when you look of him:
Psalms 37:10
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
The righteous, however, in the above passage, are said to be not only be blessed; so, too, their children. The righteous man, forgiven by God, knows what grace and mercy are all about. Yet, the fool can only see the pleasure right in front of them and will be condemned for always chasing it:
Psalms 37:32-33
The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
Psalms 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
However, the righteous are so blessed by God, God will extend that to their children. The righteous are so blessed that it runs over and they bless others. That, too, is said by God our verse for today, to run over into their children. Not only are the children of the righteous blessed for his righteousness, they are a blessing to others in his old age. He lives to give to others and lives long enough to see his children give to others. That is a truth to live for and trust God to work out in the lives of your children. Live to bless others by the grace of God and you will live to see your children do the same!!!
I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
The contrast in these three Psalms (Psalm 36-38) is quite striking. All three of them speak of the way of the righteous vs the way of the foolish. Those two are different in that the righteous makes God their hope and put faith in Him for their righteousness and existence and forgiveness for sin (Psalm 38:1-3, 21-22). The fool begins by saying there is no God and laughs and embraces and enjoys their sin (Psalm 36:1-4). Not only do they view sin in their lives differently, they have different outcomes in their lives. In this same chapter we are told the wicked will not be there when you look of him:
Psalms 37:10
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
The righteous, however, in the above passage, are said to be not only be blessed; so, too, their children. The righteous man, forgiven by God, knows what grace and mercy are all about. Yet, the fool can only see the pleasure right in front of them and will be condemned for always chasing it:
Psalms 37:32-33
The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
Psalms 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
However, the righteous are so blessed by God, God will extend that to their children. The righteous are so blessed that it runs over and they bless others. That, too, is said by God our verse for today, to run over into their children. Not only are the children of the righteous blessed for his righteousness, they are a blessing to others in his old age. He lives to give to others and lives long enough to see his children give to others. That is a truth to live for and trust God to work out in the lives of your children. Live to bless others by the grace of God and you will live to see your children do the same!!!
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