January 31 -- "Promises for Lovers of God's Word"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 119:113-176 

"Promises for Lovers of God's Word"

God has made promises to humankind. Over seven thousand of these promises are found in the Bible. The genius of the Bible is that anyone and everyone can share in these promises of God if they choose to.

Some of the promises of God are unconditional, which means that God will fulfill His promise with or without our cooperation or us meeting any conditions. An example of an unconditional promise is God’s promise to never again destroy the Earth with a flood. This requires no conditions to be met by humankind – it something that He will fulfill without prerequisites or stipulations being met. On the other hand, some of the promises of God are conditional – they carry an “if-then” type of structure. They require us to fulfill some stipulation in order to receive what God has promised. An example of this is His promise of eternal life, which He has promised to those who fulfill the condition of believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. IF you believe in Him – THEN you will receive eternal life.

Here in Psalm 119:165, we come upon one of the conditional promises of God. It is a dual promise of “great peace” and “not stumbling.” But notice the condition or stipulation found in this promise – it is only promised to those who satisfy the condition of loving God’s law. The Hebrew word for “law” here refers to the manner and principles which God has prescribed for humankind to follow. It encompasses the entire body of God’s instruction found in the Bible, including the Law, the Prophets, the Wisdom Books, the Gospels, and the New Testament writings.

Do you “love” God’s ways? The Hebrew word for “love” in this verse is a verb which means; to desire; to breath after; to long for; to delight in. As followers of Christ, our hearts should desire and delight in God’s word. It should be something we take delight in and pursue in our lives. Do you love God’s truth in this way? Do you love His commandments, His precepts, His statutes, His rules, His testimonies, and His instruction? If so, He promises you will have “great peace.” The word “great” means much, many, abounding in. If you love His law, He promises abounding peace in your life.

In addition to peace, He also promises that “nothing can make you stumble.” His word is sure and solid and is the only sure anchor that can keep you from drifting away. If you build your life on the ways of people, or pop theology, or the latest trend, you are sure to be led astray.  But if you build your life on a deep love for God’s law, you will be securely anchored and nothing will ever cause you to drift away. 

January 30 -- "God's Unmovable Word"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 119:57-112

"God's Unmovable Word"

What, if anything, in this world is actually “permanent”? The building you’re in is not permanent at all. The sidewalks and the asphalt out there are not permanent at all. The great roads, bridges, buildings and skyscrapers are not permanent. In fact, this earth itself is not permanent. The sun is not permanent, someday it will probably go up into a supernova and burn out. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall never pass away."  (Matthew 24:35) The reality is this: although there is nothing truly permanent in this universe, there is nothing more permanent than the word of God. 

God and his word are lasting and unchangeable. The meaning here is that the word - the law - the promise - of God was made firm, established, stable, in heaven; and would be so forever and ever. What God has affirmed to be true would always remain true; what He has promised is sure forever.

That is why it is so wrong for us to talk about the word of God as applying to a particular culture or time in history. As some would say, "Oh, they just wrote according to the understanding of their own culture of those times – it really isn’t relevant for us today." It is so wrong for us to challenge the word of God or seek to change the word of God because God has forever settled His word in heaven. God said it; that settles it. There's no disputing of it. There's no arguing of it. There's no challenging of it. It's the word of God. It's forever settled – firmly fixed in heaven.

Truth doesn't change with the values or morals of a society. God's commandments and laws don't change because the standards of our society are so changed. The truth of God is absolute. The law of God is absolute. It is not relative to a situation. It is not relative to the morés of a society. God has established His absolute law. His word is forever settled in heaven. If you find yourself arguing with the word, you're wrong. God's word is a settled issue.

The Hebrew word for “firmly fixed” (or “settled”) in this verse means to set up; to stand; to put into place. It carries the idea of being set up in an upright and stationary position – unable to be moved. The Bible you have in front of you has been set up by God to act as a permanent display of His truth. It never changes. It never needs revision. It is firmly fixed, not only on Earth – but in Heaven for all of eternity. You can believe it with confidence and rely on it with all your heart.

January 29 -- "Praising God Alphabetically"

Today’s Reading: Psalm 119:1-56

 

"Praising God Alphabetically"

Psalm 119 is one of the most unique and amazing Psalms in the entire Bible. In addition to being the longest book of the Bible (176 verses), this Psalm is an alphabetic acrostic poem in the original language. It is also the only Psalm that focuses exclusively on the value of God’s holy word in our lives.

In the Hebrew language, there are 22 letters. Accordingly, there are 22 sections (or stanzas) in Psalm 119. Each of these 22 sections begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verses 1-8 all start with the first Hebrew letter, aleph (א). Verses 9-16 start with the 2nd letter, beth (ב).This pattern continues down to the last 8 verses, 169-176, which all start with the last Hebrew letter, tav (ת). The resulting Psalm is a compilation of the entire Hebrew alphabet. What an amazing way to praise God through the alphabet!

By way of example, here’s a paraphrase of verses 1-4 which all start with the English letter “a”:
A blameless one is blessed, who walks according to the law of the Lord.
A person who keeps His statutes and seeks Him with all his heart is blessed.
Also, he does nothing wrong; he walks in His ways.
And You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.* 

One of the reasons this Psalm was designed as an alphabetic acrostic was to help Jewish children learn their A-B-C’s. Every Jewish boy was required to memorize Psalm 119 as part of their early childhood education. By doing so, they would not only learn the “Aleph-Beit” (Hebrew for alphabet), but they would learn 176 Bible verses rich with meaning for their lives.

The writer of this Psalm uses at least ten different words all referring to the word of God (“ways” “testimonies” “word” “truth” “statutes” “commands” “precepts” “promises” “rules” “law”). The theme of these verses is the praising God by one who delights in and lives by God’s sacred truth. It describes the greatness and glory and power of God's word. Knowing and reciting these truths was a means of planting God’s word in the hearts of His little ones. As they grew up, having these truths embedded in their hearts would help them to experience God’s promises, comfort, guidance, strength, and protection throughout their lifetime.

How about you? Have you taken time to memorize God’s sacred truth? To hide it in your heart? To make it the firm foundation of your life? If not, it is time for YOU to commit God’s word to memory. Plant it deep in your heart. It will bring comfort in your affliction and His promises will give you life.

(*Source: June 25, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Alphabet Psalms, Psalm 119)

January 28 -- "A Poof of Air"

Today’s Reading: Psalm 94 

"A Poof of Air"

Many men and women (most of whom we would consider “geniuses”) have introduced amazing concepts to mankind. We call them “great” men and women, “heroes” even. Throughout history, humanity has been blessed by many great thinkers: Aristotle, Plato, Confucius, Tesla, Einstein, Marie Curie, and the like. Even today, many famous people are looked upon as possessing “superior intellects.” On the website wonderlist.com, you can find a list of ten modern day geniuses with IQ’s ranging from 190 to 230. Compared to the rest of mankind (with average IQ of 100), their thoughts are magnificent and impressive. But what about compared to God? How impressive are the greatest minds when compared with the mind of God?

How do you compare the thoughts of the omniscient God with the thoughts of man? According to verse 11, the greatest scholastic and scientific minds from the history of mankind are “but a breath” compared to our God. The mind of the most genius musical composers in history are “like a vapor.” The thoughts of the greatest inventors of all time are empty and hollow compared to the infinitely matchless thoughts of God. In fact, God views all of the so-called wisdom and knowledge of man to be but a vapor that has no substance and quickly vanishes. “Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor.” (Psalm 62:9)

The Hebrew word translated “breath” in verse 11 is “hebel.” This word literally means vapor or mist – a “poof of air” which has no substance. The root meaning of this word is seeking to convey emptiness, futility, and hollowness. It is found 73 times in the Scriptures where it is translated as: vapor, breath, vanity, vain. Figuratively, this word means something transitory and unsatisfactory. Various Bible versions have translated this word as “breath” (ESV); “futile” (NIV); “vanity” (KJV); or “shallowness” (MSG). You get the idea. It simply means that, compared to God, the thoughts of man are transitory and lack substance.

In reality, all human knowledge is known to God in eternity before it is known by men. All we have been able to do is discover His knowledge. We have discovered many of the natural laws and scientific principles which He has infused into His creation. Over time, we may discover more and deeper truths, but God is the One who placed it all here for us to discover. And, one day, all human knowledge will dissolve and vanish into thin air, giving way to the one true Genius, Hero, and Great Thinker: The Lord God. He knows our thoughts, that they are just a poof of air.

January 27 -- "The Perspective of Eternity"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 71

"The Perspective of Eternity"

In Psalm 71, the believer is pictured looking back on a long life and recalling how the wicked always have opposed him. But just as God has protected him since childhood, the Psalmist is confident that He will continue to do so now that he is old.  From his youth he has proclaimed the great saving acts of God. He prays that God will not disappoint him now, and that he will continue to proclaim the message of divine salvation until the end of his life on earth.

You can sense in the Psalmist’s words that he has lived a life filled with purpose and passion. He has served the Lord and done so with diligence. Now, he is dreading the idea of being “put out to pasture.” He longs to see God’s purposes continually be fulfilled even into his final days. His heartfelt prayer is, “Forsake me not when my strength is spent.” He still has a mission to accomplish in this life – and that mission is to pass the truth of God to the next generation.

What a profound perspective on life! This is the perspective of eternity. It is so easy and commonplace for aging people to focus on themselves – after all, their body is breaking down, their health is deteriorating, and their mind just isn’t what it used to be. As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. Certain parts of the brain shrink, especially those important to learning and other complex mental activities. It is so tempting get your eyes on yourself and your situation rather than looking upward and keeping your eyes on eternity.

But God isn’t finished with you yet!  He saved you to bring you into an abundant life of purpose and passion. And His purposes do not fail just because your hair is turning gray. His calling on your life is to continue to proclaim His message to future generations. Psalm 92 tells us that the person who trusts God, “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” (Psalm 92:14). His calling is for you to flourish as His obedient servant all the way to the end.

So, don’t give up. Don’t get your eyes on yourself. Keep your eyes on eternity. After all, “The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.” (Proverbs 20:29) He is not about to forsake you now!

January 26 -- "Be A Man"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 2

"Be A Man"

It seems that our culture is losing the notion of what it means to be “a man.” For some, a “real man” is a logger who wears plaid and doesn't shower for 10 days. For others, he is a college professor who talks about Shakespeare. On the WikiHow page called, “How to be a Man,” we are told that men must know and follow the “man-code” which includes such things as never using smiley faces or emoticons and never initiating conversation with your neighbor at the adjacent urinal station. But are these really the signs of a man?

When king David’s time came to pass from this life, he took his son Solomon aside and said, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and SHOW YOURSELF A MAN.” With those words, David was commanding his son to step up to the challenge of being a “real man” as he took on the new chapter in his life as Israel’s king. But David’s definition of a real man differs dramatically from our modern-day understanding. David goes on in this verse to explain to Solomon what a “real man” looks like from God’s point of view.

A real man keeps the charge of the Lord. The word “charge” simply means the “assignment” or “calling” God has placed upon his life. For Solomon to show himself a man, he must follow through with the entirety of God’s plan for his life. So must you! God has given you an assignment that He expects you to complete during this life – so step up to the challenge and keep the charge of the Lord your God.

A real man walks in God’s ways. To walk in His ways means to know what God expects of you in thought, word, and action. He has given you His word as a flawless guide to the behavior He desires to see from your life. Proverbs 20:7 says, “The godly walk with integrity.” So act like it! Don’t just “know” His ways, but walk in them.  

A real man keeps God’s statutes, commands, rules, and testimonies. David uses four key words here to describe the law of the Lord. Each word refers to essentially the same thing – God’s revealed truth as found in the Scriptures. A real man will know his Bible, love his Bible, and live out his Bible.

You want to show yourself a man? Then discard the world’s mistaken definition of manhood and begin right now to keep the charge of God, walk in His ways, and keep His holy word to the best of your ability. This may not impress the world around you, but it impresses your Heavenly Father enormously.

January 25 -- "The Power of Spoken Blessings"

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 1 

"The Power of Spoken Blessings"

David called for Zadok the priest to conduct his son Solomon's inauguration ceremony.  As he was anointing Solomon as the new king, Zadok pronounced a powerful blessing: “May the Lord be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king, and may he make Solomon’s reign even greater than yours!” With these words, Zadok was invoking God’s blessing upon Solomon and his term in office. 

It was common practice in Solomon’s day for the priest to raise his arms upward and forward with the palm of his hands bent slightly downward and facing the person receiving the blessing. This priestly blessing was known in rabbinic literature as “raising of the hands.” With it, God was seen to be passing His blessing to the priest who, in turn, passed it on to the recipient. Solomon was about to embark upon his new calling in life and, as such, he required the indispensable work of God upon and through him.

In Luke 24, we see Jesus performing this “raising of the hands” as His final act upon Earth.  “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.” (Luke 24:50). He blessed them with joy, peace, power and authority to take His Gospel message into all the world. And right in the middle of His priestly blessing, Jesus parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.  Jesus, like David and Zadok, knew the power of spoken blessings.

There is power in a spoken blessing. A spoken blessing is a positive, Biblical statement that invokes the blessing of God in the life of another person. Spoken blessings can bring hope, encouragement, and direction to our families, friends, and others.  The power of spoken blessings does not come from the speaker, but comes from God. When we speak God’s promises into the life of another, we are acting as a conduit to transfer the blessings of God to them. This is why many pastors make it their practice to conclude their worship services with a “benediction” – a spoken word of blessing upon the congregation.

Who do you know today that is in need of God’s power upon his/her life? Since all believers are a “kingdom of priests” (Revelation 5:1), you have the opportunity and God-given authority to raise priestly hands and invoke a spoken blessing upon them. Who could you bless today?

January 24 -- "When God's Loved Ones Die"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 116, 117, & 118

"When God's Loved Ones Die"

A few things in the Bible are referred to as “precious.” For example: the wise woman is “more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 3:15); the word of the Lord is precious (1 Samuel 3:31); Jesus is the precious Cornerstone (Isaiah 28:6); the precious sons of Zion (Lamentations 4:2); the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19); our precious faith in Christ (2 Peter 1:1); God’s great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). And here in Psalm 116, the Bible refers to death as something precious in the sight of the Lord.

The word “precious” means to have priceless value; to be prized; to be cherished because of its costliness. Your God views the death of His saints to be something of priceless value. Something He prizes and cherishes. The Psalmist is expressing how intimately God cares for him, both in matters of life and in matters of his death. The New Living Translation expresses the meaning more naturally to modern readers: “The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die.”  In the original Hebrew, the term rendered “saints” refers to the Lord’s faithful followers—those who love and serve God actively and commit themselves to a relationship with Him. This verse reveals that God is not indifferent about how and when His faithful servants die.

The ending of your life on earth is of priceless value to your Lord. During your lifetime of service to Him, the Lord makes it His undertaking to save you and protect you from evil. Many times He rescues you from death (until, that is, your appointed time to die arrives).  The Bible tells us that “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). God knows exactly when, where, and how we will die. The moment and circumstances of our death will not take God by surprise.

When one of God’s faithful followers dies, it is precious to Him. God considers the deaths of those who die in the Lord precious because his Son died to redeem them and to bring them into His presence. Their earthly death actually marks a new beginning. The death of a saint of God is viewed, by God, as something special and it is a time of rejoicing as the saint leaves this world of sin and goes to a perfect place to be with our Lord. “For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8) God rejoices because the child He loves so dearly has now come home to be with Him forever. 

Oh, what a day that will be! Wrapped in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father who considers us – both in life and in death – to be of priceless value.

January 23 -- "To God Be The Glory"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 113, 114, & 115

"To God Be The Glory"

Let’s be completely honest here – humans deserve no credit or praise for the good that comes from their lives. For some, that statement might seem a bit harsh, or even hurtful. It may be hard to admit, but it is the cold hard truth. The Bible repeatedly teaches this truth in one way or another - that human beings (left to themselves) are not capable of achieving anything of eternal value by their own efforts. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot transform ourselves. We cannot guide ourselves. We cannot teach, preach, evangelize, or serve in our own human efforts or strength. Only God can do those things, and rightfully only God must get the credit and praise when they happen.

This Psalm begins with the acknowledgement of two important truths: (1) no glory is ours; and, (2) all glory is God’s. In the economy of God, there is no shared glory. There is no self-glory. To the Lord, and Him alone goes all the credit and praise for all the love and faithfulness He has shown to us. When something good happens, we must resist any attempt to take the credit. We, like the Psalmist, must insist that “not unto us, O Lord, not unto us” should glory be given. Only unto Him.

The more a person is used by the Lord, the more they need to be aware of the risk of self-glory. Especially if God uses them in a public setting. The danger of accepting the accolades of people grows in proportion to the visibility and effectiveness of our ministry. A wise pastor who had become quite popular and renown in our community once told me, “I never believe my own press clippings.” This was his way of saying that the praises of people are misplaced if they are praising him rather than giving glory to God. When someone attempts to give us the credit, we must resist the temptation to accept their praise. When praise and glory is addressed to us, it is so important to “forward the mail” to its rightful Recipient - the LORD our God.

Once we know the truth about our own sinfulness, weaknesses, failures, and inabilities there is no rational reason why we would ever take God’s credit or glory. Take a moment now and let the Holy Spirit search your heart for any area of pride, self-glory, or even shared-glory. Then, in humility and honesty say, “Not to me, O Lord, not to me, but to Your Name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.” 

January 22 -- "Cheerful Givers"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 29

"Cheerful Givers"

When people give, their hearts are glad.

King David had already donated an enormous amount of his own wealth (gold, silver, gems, and marble) toward the building of a new Temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. Now, in one of David’s final acts before his death, he makes an additional donation out of his personal stockpile. He explained that he was making these donations “because of my devotion to the house of my God, I give it to the house of my God.” (V3) David deeply loved the Lord and wanted to spare no expense in the construction of His Temple.

After making his personal contribution, David called upon the leaders of Israel to join him by donating to the cause. And donate they did!  They also gave gold and silver along with bronze and iron.

Then it was the peoples’ turn. You can just see David grinning ear-to-ear as he witnesses the cheerful generosity of the congregation of Israel coming forward and giving such things as precious stones to the Lord. “David the king also rejoiced greatly.” (V9) From there, the only thing David could do was turn to God in prayer and thank Him for His blessings and the generous hearts of the people. “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.” (V11) It was a day of cheerful giving all around! 

In 2 Corinthians 9, we read the words of the Apostle Paul, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The people of Israel were indeed “cheerful givers” that day. The people rejoiced because this wasn’t some kind of “high-pressure” deal where they were forced or coerced into giving. Their hearts were delighted to be part of the work God was doing and because of that they “offered freely to the Lord.”

How about you? Are you a cheerful giver? Do you look forward to donating your time, treasure, and talent to the cause of the Lord? Does your heart rejoice when you have an opportunity to bless others with your financial resources? Or, are you a reluctant giver? Do you hold tightly to your wealth (as small as it may be)? If so, it is time to let go of your selfishness and become a more generous person. If you do this cheerfully from your heart, the Lord will take notice of it and “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11) When you give, it is your heart that will be glad! 

January 21 -- "Serenity Now"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 37

"Serenity Now"

“Serenity Now!” That was the humorous cry of the fictional character, Frank Costanza. And, it is the cry of billions of people around the world looking for just a moment of peace and serenity in their lives.

There is a profound lack of peace and unrest in our world today. People are simply not at peace with their governments, their workplace, their relationships, and, most importantly, themselves. People are struggling with finding rest for their souls. Finding any kind of inner peace or world peace seems to elude billions of people. People are anxious and worried about many things. Even Christians at times experience troubled hearts and lack of peace and serenity. But that’s not what God intended. Our loving Heavenly Father, knowing our propensity towards anxiety and worry, has made a way for every human being to experience “serenity now.”

Peace, in the Bible, comes in four “flavors.” First, is peace with God. Peace with God is, at its core, a spiritual reconciliation between family members. It's a restored relationship between our Heavenly Father and His wayward and rebellious children. The way to peace with God is only through faith in Jesus Christ – “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

The second form of peace is cessation of war between fighting factions, countries, or people. We refer to this elusive experience as “world peace.” It is something we all long for and pray for. True world peace can only come when the people and governments of the world submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Only then will peace reign.

The third type of peace is inner peace, or serenity. We call this the “peace of God.”  It is a spiritual calmness that invades your soul and replaces your anxiety and worry. This type of inner peace comes only to the follower of Christ and only when they are trusting God with the affairs of their life – “And the peace of The Christ will rule in your hearts, to which you are called in one body” (Colossians 3:15) If you are dealing with unrest and worry in your life, today is the day Jesus is calling you to “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Take a moment right now to be still in the presence of God. Lay your burden down. Ask Him to remove your unrest and replace it with His indescribable peace. Trust Him with your troubles and rejoice in His peace.

Finally, we come to future peace. This is the peace spoken of in Psalm 37:11. On the day when we enter into God’s eternal presence, one of our most remarkable experiences will be being astounded at the “abundance of peace.” We will simply be blown away by Heaven’s perfect peace and calmness and serenity. It will be like nothing we’ve ever experienced! For sure, that will be “serenity now!”  What an experience this will be. It will be beyond our greatest expectations as we “delight ourselves in abundant peace!”

January 20 -- "The Legacy of Good Advice"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 28 & Psalm 112

"The Legacy of Good Advice"

King David, the man after God’s heart, had lived a good life. Although he had many struggles and failures, his life was marked by the blessings of God.  Now, he is about to die at “a good age, full of days, riches, and honor.” (1 Chronicles 29:28) In his final few days, he made it a point to pass on his legacy to those who would follow behind him. First, he addresses the leaders of Israel. Then he turns his focus on his son, Solomon.

In verses 9-21, we read of David’s charge to his son. He passes on the plans for construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and encourages Solomon to remain strong and courageous as he takes on this important project. The most profound and poignant portion of this charge is found in verse 9: “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (NLT)

David’s charge to Solomon to “know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart” is one of the repeated pieces of advice found in the Bible. With these words, David reminds his son that the MOST IMPORTANT pursuit ahead of him was to maintain a right relationship with the Lord. All of his other challenges and pursuits in life pale in comparison to this one most important pursuit. David knew that he could no longer “carry” Solomon along in the faith – it is something he must make personal and do for himself.

The dictionary defines “legacy” as an amount of money or property left to someone in a will. But this definition of legacy falls far short of God’s definition. In God’s kingdom the most important thing you can leave to your children and grandchildren is a vibrant faith and love for God. All the riches and property in the world are worthless compared to the vast wealth of knowing God and serving Him.

As a parent or grandparent (or brother, sister, cousin, friend, neighbor, coworker) your most sacred duty is to leave a legacy of faith for those who come behind you. Make sure that you constantly advise them that they must know and follow God and that “if you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.”

January 19 -- "Holy and Awesome!"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 27 & Psalm 111

"Holy and Awesome!"

On the day we finally arrive in Heaven and look back on the history of our planet, there will be three things we will declare about our experience with our Creator: He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name!

He sent redemption to His people. Repeatedly. Yahweh is a God of redemption. In Hebrew, this word “redemption” literally means “to place a distinction or division between, thus to liberate.” God repeatedly throughout history is seen liberating His people. By placing a distinction between Noah, who found grace in His sight, and the rest of the corrupt population, God liberated Noah and his family from the flood waters. God placed a distinction between the Jews and the Egyptians when, through Moses, He liberated the slaves from their bondage. Repeatedly in the history of Israel, we see God stepping in and sending judges to liberate them from the hands of their oppressors. Later He sent Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel to liberate them from Babylon. And, in the most profound act of liberation, God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus to redeem an entire lost world from sin, misery, and eternal death.

He has commanded His covenant forever. Yahweh has made a legal agreement with the human race. This covenant contains His binding oath that He will perform certain things on behalf of those who accept the terms of His agreement and agree to follow Him. The New Covenant is the unchanging promise that God makes with humanity that He will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. “’But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,’ says the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people’”  (Jeremiah 31:31-33). This is His forever, permanent covenant with mankind – it will never be rescinded or broken.

Holy and awesome is His name. Because Yahweh has sent redemption to His people and established His forever covenant with them, there is nothing left to say but that He is holy and awesome. The word “holy” means to be like none else. It reflects the fact that Yahweh alone is unique and separate from all other beings. It carries the idea of being pure and sacred and free from defilement of any kind. And His name is “awesome!” The Hebrew word here means to stand in awe, reverence, and honor of the One who is like no other.

What will you be doing in Heaven? Praising your God’s holy and awesome name as you reflect on His redemption and eternal covenant. That day can’t come soon enough!

January 18 -- "The Satisfier of Every Need"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 26 & Psalm 145

"The Satisfier of Every Need"

As God was creating the world, He had to take into account the dietary and nutritional requirements of each living thing. He had to make sure that there were the proper kinds of foods for the various classes of animals, plants, and other living organisms. Imagine the failure it would be for you to purchase, say, a horse but not purchase the necessary hay and feed it would need to remain healthy and strong. Now, imagine the colossal failure it would have been For God to have created a particular type of animal and placed it in our world, but didn’t create the necessary food to sustain that animal. Fortunately, as our genius and unfathomably wise Creator made all of the living organisms, He placed them in an environment that would “satisfy the desire of every living thing.” 

From the smallest organism to the largest plants and animals, our God made sure to create a world where there were adequate supplies for all. He created phytoplankton, bacteria and other protozoa for the microscopic organisms to feed on. At the same time, He made sure there was an adequate supply of plants, fruits, and vegetables for the herbivores to eat and a variety of smaller animals for the larger carnivores to be satisfied. What a hand this is that holds in it all the food that meets the desires and necessities of His universe of creatures! 

Implied in this verse is the truth that God has not left nature, He is in it. The great Spirit of God is embedded in all the wheels of His machinery. There is a Personal God in personal action, in all of the natural world. He is not a God who is far off, or who is disinterested in the daily affairs of our world. No, in fact, He is constantly opening His hand and satisfying the necessities of “every living thing.” As Jesus said, “not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge” (Matthew 10:29). Wherever there is a creature that God has made to need anything, that creature shall have what its necessities determine.

This verse goes on the say that the Lord who meets the needs of His creation, does so with righteousness and kindness. Some may view our God as an angry ogre “in the sky” just waiting to inflict pain and punishment on those He chooses. But our God is far from that. In the kindness and gentleness of His heart, He is just waiting to supply righteousness, peace, and joy on those who call upon Him. The deepest desire of this “living thing” we call a human being is the deep need to be connected to and in fellowship with his/her Creator. His hand is open. He is waiting to satisfy that desire in your life. Come to Him and discover the greatest kindness you can imagine. He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing.

January 17 -- "Guide Me to the Level Ground"

Today’s Reading: Psalms 143 & 144 

"Guide Me to the Level Ground"

Have you ever gotten lost while hiking or walking through unfamiliar territory? If you have, then you probably wished that someone with knowledge of the terrain would show up to lead and guide you out of the spot you're in and back onto the right path.  This is exactly how David is feeling as he cries out for God's Spirit in verse 10 to lead him to level ground.

This Psalm is a cry for help.  David, whose desire was to live his life according to the will of God and not according to the will of David, finds himself lost in the "dense forest" and "rocky cliffs" of life. He is tired and thirsty and hungry and needs help getting back to the clearing.
The phrase “lead me on level ground” at the end of this verse has a very interesting meaning in the original Hebrew language. This verse literally means “guide me to level plain.” It carries the picture of a being on a hike in the wilderness, caught in the thorns and thickets and surrounded by cliffs and rocks and calling out for a wise and experienced guide to lead you  confidently back into the solid level clearing. 

In the Scriptures, the “level plain” was a safe and proper place for God's children to walk – the place of holiness, righteousness, faith, and obedience. It alludes to a spiritual condition in which there is a firm foundation of solid ground underneath us – a spiritual level ground so to speak.

David knew that if his plea to fulfill God’s will with his life were to become reality, he would have to be taught and guided by His all wise and knowing God. In fact, if he was not taught by God what His will is, he had no hope of discovering that will, let alone doing it.

What about you? Do you want to live your life according to the will of God? Do you want to discover His highest and greatest calling for your life? If so, are you pleading with God to lead you to that level ground? Stop trying to figure it out with human reasoning or problem solving. Simply acknowledge your own wretchedness and cry out to Him to teach you His will and to lead you to the place of holiness and righteousness.

January 16 -- "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"

Today’s Reading: Psalms 131 & 139 

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"

As the great singer, Louis Armstrong, once sang, ♫“I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” ♫ It is a wonderful world God has made. Even He thinks so! (See Genesis 1:31) As He stepped back from His acts of creation, He saw everything He had made, and behold, it was very good. Our God finished His creative work by taking delight in it – He saw all that He had made – and behold, it was wonderful in every way.

Think about how wonderfully made you are. Much like your Creator, you are a triune being – made of body, soul, and spirit.  Your body is, of course, the physical part of you designed by God to interact with the “very good” environment He created. It is your human anatomy made up of several very complex and ingeniously designed systems: skeletal, muscular, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems all controlled and maintained by your unmatched brain and nervous system. Every human being – all tissues, body parts, and the organ systems are made up of billions of cells - the fundamental unit of life. Your body is truly fearfully and wonderfully made. And I think to myself…

Your soul is comprised of your consciousness, mind, emotions, and will. Your soul is mysteriously able to perceive and understand things in the intellectual or psychological world. Your soul is your personality, who you are. With your soul you think, reason, consider, remember, and wonder. You experience emotions like happiness, love, sorrow, anger, relief, and compassion. And you’re able to resolve, choose, and make decisions. With your soul, you are able to communicate and interact with other human beings. Your soul is indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. And I think to myself…

Your spirit is the deepest part of who you are.  It is the invisible life force, wind, or breath found in all living human beings. By means of this innermost part, you are able to contact God and have fellowship with Him in the spiritual realm. The spirit is the part of you that covers matters like faith, trust, worship and so on. The spirit is seen as the innermost part of your being. It is enveloped by your soul, which in turn is enveloped by your body.  It’s in your spirit that you find meaning and purpose in life. Your spirit is also fearfully and wonderfully made.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful God who made such a wonderful world!

January 15 -- "He Regards the Lowly"

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 25 & Psalm 138 

"He Regards the Lowly"

Although we were created in God’s image, sin has marred God’s creation. As a result, it seems to be built into our nature to categorize and classify members of the human race. We see some as “upper” class and some as “middle” or “lower class.” And those who perceive themselves as being in the upper class have a tendency to disregard, or even disrespect, those who they see as “lowly” (common, ordinary, unfortunate).  Some even see it as a great offense if someone attempts to break into their circle or personally approach them.

But our God is not like us! Our Lord God is high royalty – He is the only true “upper class.” He is the King. He is the Lord. As the Creator of the universe, He truly is far above all space, matter, energy, and life. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He possesses vast and endless wealth and power. “For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.” (Psalm 97:9)  As such, He has no obligation to respect or regard those who are below Him.

But here’s the amazing thing… He is not offended by any of us attempting to gain an audience with Him or personally approach Him. He welcomes all. He invites us into His “inner circle.” In fact, the Bible goes out of its way to teach us that God doesn’t see social classes the way human societies do. To Him, there is neither rich nor poor, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female. All are alike to Him. And all are loved deeply by Him. In fact, He loves us so much that He humbled Himself and became a “commoner” just so He could rescue us from sin - “Though He was in the form of God… He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in the likeness of man.” (Philippians 2:5-8) Today’s key verse (Psalm138:6) says that this God – the LORD - “regards” (respects) the lowly. He gracefully welcomes the common, ordinary and unfortunate people into His presence.

And yet, so many people seem to be “afar off” from Him. If God is so welcoming, what then is the barrier that keeps so many people away?  There is only one barrier that keeps people from accessing Him. And it is not Him. Human pride is the barrier. This verse goes on to say that “the haughty He knows from afar.” The “invisible barrier” that keeps us away from our King has not been put there by Him, it has been put there by our pride and arrogance. He broke every barrier to come to us. He only asks in return that we approach Him humbly and accept His grace and love.  Those who remain haughty will keep themselves out of His “inner circle.” 

January 14 -- "A Place for Every Member"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 24

"A Place for Every Member"

King David is “getting his house in order.” As part of that process, he focuses on the priests and their duties in the house of the Lord. While chapter 24 may seem like a dull and meaningless list of names and procedures and assignments, it teaches us a very important lesson about our service to the Lord. None of God’s word is meaningless – every word, every name, every person, every event, every location, every list was put there by God for our learning. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction” (Roman 15:4). One of the lessons we can learn from chapter 24 is that God has a place for everyone and a specific purpose each one is called to fulfill.

In the New Testament, we are taught about the Body of Christ and the truth that every member of His body (the Church) has a place and a specific purpose to fulfill. “All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). In the Church, though we are many, we “form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5). As members of the “one body,” we each have been called by God to perform a specific ministry in His church and each of us has been endowed by God with the talents and spiritual gifts to perform that ministry. That includes you! God has chosen YOU for a specific ministry. And He has given you the ability to fulfill that ministry!

According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing, prophecy, evangelism, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the help and encouragement of people. The gifts have also been categorized as those that promote the inner growth of the church (apostle, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, teaching, word of wisdom/knowledge, helps, and administration) and those that promote the church's outer development (faith, miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, evangelism). Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 make it clear that each and every Christian is given spiritual gifts according to the Lord’s choice. Spiritual gifts are given for the edification (building up) of the body of Christ.

You have been given spiritual gifts by God so that you can help with the advancement of God’s work on earth by serving and using your special ability. Yes, you! Just as David focused on the place and specific purpose for each of the priests, so you should focus on discovering your spiritual gifts and the place and specific purpose God has called you to fulfill.

January 13 -- "Jerusalem Forever"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 23 & Psalm 110

"Jerusalem Forever"

As David goes about arranging his affairs, he declares that “the Lord God of Israel dwells in Jerusalem forever” (V25). David knew that of all the places on the Earth, the Lord had chosen the city of Jerusalem as His dwelling place.

The Bible makes nearly 800 references to Jerusalem (also called ‘Zion’) as God’s chosen city. The prophet Daniel declared that Jerusalem was the city that is called by God’s name (Daniel 9:19). Jesus referred to Jerusalem as “the city of the Great King” (Matthew 5:35). God, of course, is omnipresent. He is not confined to one city or any geographic location. But, God chose Jerusalem as the place from which His name and majesty and glory would be declared to all the Earth. 

But, why did God choose Jerusalem over all the cities of the world to put His name and call His home? From his human standpoint, King David had some practical reasons for choosing Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. For instance, its natural defense system, its fresh water supply, and its central location. But these aren’t the reasons God chose the city. God chose Jerusalem for divine reasons.

In reality, the Lord has not revealed His reasons for choosing Jerusalem as His dwelling place. (Nor has He revealed His reasons for choosing Israel as the Promised Land or the Jews as His chosen people.) The Lord is sovereign and makes His choices for divine reasons which are often unknown to us. One day, perhaps, we will understand His choices. But for now, we accept God’s truth and His sovereign choice: Jerusalem is His city – He dwells there forever!

Over the centuries, many have attempted to expel the Jews and God from Jerusalem. Many have sought to “kick God out” of His city. In fact, the city is currently occupied by both Jews and Gentiles and the Holy Temple in the heart of the city is merely a remnant. But we know with great certainty that the Lord is there and we look longingly for that day when “the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east!” (Zechariah 14:4-5). Jerusalem is the Lord’s city. Forever. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

January 12 -- "Choosing Prayer over Retaliation"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 108 & 109

"Choosing Prayer over Retaliation"

What is your response when others attack or criticize you? Sometimes they come at you with lying tongues or words of hate. They may even accuse you of wrongdoing or repay evil for good. It is not unusual for the follower of Christ to be maligned or slandered. The question is, how do you react when it happens to you?

That is the idea behind Psalm 109. In this Psalm, David is grieving over the way others have treated him. He feels betrayed and hurt by their lies and deceit. He describes his hurt by saying, “I loved them and now they slander me... they return my good with evil.” You can sense his sadness and distress in the words of this Psalm. Keep in mind that, as king, David had the power and authority to take decisive action against these people. He could have taken matters into his own hands and rooted out his detractors and had them punished severely. But that’s not what he does!  Instead, he takes to his knees and seeks God’s intervention. There is a tenderness in his voice when, in verse 4, he says, “I give myself to prayer.”

Instead of responding to their attacks with confrontation or by striking back, David wisely places the matter in God’s hands. He seeks the Lord and asks Him to respond to these cruel detractors. His heartfelt prayer is that God would not sit by silently while these people continue to attack him. His plea is, “be not silent, O God of my praise.”

Unfortunately, the prayer that follows is a rather rotten prayer. In fact, Psalm 109 has been called “the most terrible psalm in the whole psalter.” David prays that the people who hurt him would be hurt in return. Rather than pleading with God for their forgiveness and blessing, David takes the “low road” and prays that the Lord would ruin their lives for their hurtful attacks.  He asks God to dispatch evil upon their lives, shorten their lives, take away their jobs and their families, give them financial misfortune, and let curses rain down on them. Wow!

David’s response to pray rather than strike back is a wonderful example for us to follow. The content of his prayer, however, should not be the content of our prayers.  Jesus taught us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Our prayer should not be one of revenge or hurt, but of blessing and salvation. As the Apostle Peter said, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9) What should be your response when other attack or criticize you? Get to your knees and pray God’s blessing and salvation upon their lives, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:45)

January 11 -- "Joy is Coming"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 22 & Psalm 30

"Joy is Coming"

“Joy” is not a word I would use to describe myself after first waking up. I’m not grumpy per-se, I’m just a little “happy challenged” when morning comes. I might be awake, but speak to me at your own risk.

When David the Psalmist says, “joy comes with the morning,” he is not referring to our daily wake up patterns. His point is that trials and troubles don’t last forever in our lives. At some point, the darkness will lift and our joy will return. Specifically, David is commenting on the duration of God’s discipline in our lives.

There are times in all of our lives where we undergo God’s correction and discipline. Part of the process of finding wisdom and listening to our Father’s instruction includes receiving discipline from our Father. If we are to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ, there are times when God must discipline us for our “bad behavior.”

Sometimes we grieve the Lord by our insistence on sinning. Sometimes, even when we mean well, we can do foolish things and “miss the mark” of God’s righteous standards. In those times, our loving Father may choose to “jab” us with trials and difficulties to get us back in line with His perfect plan for our lives.  Part of our training is for God to administer discipline. 

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6) How does God discipline us? God can and does use various methods of discipline. He may use trouble at work, hardship at home, or challenges in the ministry. He may allow us to experience loss.  He may even allow physical ailments into our bodies. The reason we are corrected by Him is “so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32).

Always remember, God’s discipline – when received by us – will always result in restoration of our joy in Him. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. The result of God’s discipline is growth in holiness and maturity. And, ultimately, our dark times will always give way to the light of His presence – either now in this life – or in eternity in His kingdom.