October 21 -- "What is Better than Life?"

Today’s Reading: Psalm 56 & 63 

"What is Better than Life?"

What is better than life itself? After all, without our life, we cannot experience or appreciate anything in the created universe. Life is the most precious thing, right? Well, actually, David here tells us that God’s “steadfast love” is BETTER than life. Because, without God’s love, life would be empty and meaningless.  It is the love of God that makes life worth living.  It is the love of God that brings joy and satisfaction to our spirit. It is the love of God that causes our hearts to sing with rejoicing and praise. Nothing is better than God’s steadfast love!

This is why followers of Christ praise Him. Because we have discovered something far greater than life itself. We have discovered God’s steadfast love and that’s why our lips praise Him. If you don’t yet know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you are missing out on the very purpose and essence of life – to know God and be known by Him and to experience His steadfast love in your life. If you’re searching for the answer to the hollowness in your heart, look no further than to Jesus. Turn to Him, call on Him, put your faith in Him, confess your sins to Him, receive His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life. Only by doing so will you understand that His love is better than life.

Jesus once said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). With those words, Jesus revealed that there is a plane of existence that is deeper than just living a physical life of body, mind, and emotions. Life is more than biology. There is an “abundant” form of life where our spirit is made alive and we experience what David refers to as “better than life.” Only in Him can we find this deeper and more meaningful abundant life.

Because His steadfast love is “better than life” something happens to our lips, our hearts, and our hands. Our lips praise Him, speaking and singing out words of admiration and worship. Our hearts bless him “as long as we live,” bringing honor and devotion from the depths of our spirit. And, our hands lift upward to express our thanks and celebrate His steadfast love. This is the posture of a true believer: lips that praise Him, hearts that bless Him, and hands lifted up to Him.

In this posture, we find “The Message” paraphrase of these verses most helpful… “In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.”

© Eugene H. Peterson by NavPress Publishing

October 20 -- "Shout for Joy!"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 35

"Shout for Joy!"

Our Lord delights in the welfare of his servant! This thought alone should cause us to “shout for joy and be glad!”  Psalm 35 is a song by David where he is rejoicing in the work of God turning the tables on those who are pursuing him without a cause. He prays that the Lord will continue to contend with those who fight against him.

Throughout this joyful Psalm, David uses words of rejoicing and praise: “rejoice in the Lord”; “exulting in His salvation”; “I will praise you”; “shout for joy”; “be glad”; “great is the Lord”. David acknowledged the hand of God upon his situation and it brought his heart to a place of shouting for joy.

The word “shout” in this verse is the Hebrew word “rānan” which means to give a ringing cry, to address in a loud tone, to triumph, to shout, to still, to command, to glory. This is a shouting praise. You don’t sing it, you shout it! A shout commands our victory. It stills the enemy. This kind of praise is a battle cry; a cry of victory. Sports fans may recognize this as similar to the shout of victory they express when their team makes the final out of the ninth inning in a decisive victory. Shout for joy! Loudly!

When was the last time you “shouted for joy” to the Lord? I mean really let loose and gave a ringing cry of praise to our God? In today’s Psalm, David is calling for all those who delight in his vindication (“righteousness”) to give a mighty shout of praise to God. In the same way, God calls all of us who love His workings in our lives to shout for joy unto Him.

In the words of the song by Hillsong, we are exhorted to shout our praise to God, “Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing. Power and majesty, praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name. I sing for joy at the work of Your hands. Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have In You.” *

So, take a moment today to SHOUT for JOY like David to the Lord. Praise Him for delighting in your welfare and defending you from your enemies.  Remember, we are commanded in Psalm 100:1 to “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.” 

 

* “Shout to the Lord” lyrics © 1993, Wondrous Worship, admin. Music Services.

October 19 -- "Awaking in His Likeness"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 27 & Psalm 17

"Awaking in His Likeness"

David lived his life with an overriding hope and expectation – that one day he would awaken in God’s very presence and “behold” Him face-to-face. In that moment – and not until that moment – he would be FULLY satisfied, fulfilled, and contented.

Nothing but God Himself can satisfy the wishes of the human spirit. He made us with infinite capacities and desires for spiritual fulfillment. He alone, the infinite God, can meet and gratify these desires. No soul has ever been fully satisfied except the soul that finds God and is satisfied in Him. During this life, we are granted a “taste” of God’s satisfying presence by the work of the Holy Spirit in our human spirits. But, until we see Him face to face, we will not be fully satisfied to the full depths of our spirit. But that day is coming!  And, oh, what a day that will be!

When we arrive in His presence, He will satisfy our soul by fully restoring us to His image, which because of sin and the fallen nature of mankind, had been lost.  During this life, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work within us to make us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.  He is molding and shaping us to be more and more like Him each day.  This is the goal and purpose of our life – to become just like Jesus. The Apostle Paul said, "And we with open face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed from glory to glory into the same image by His Spirit in us” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Think of it – our spirits are being changed step-by-step, day-by-day, “from glory-to-glory” into the image of our Creator.  "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, it does not yet appear what we are going to be, but we know that when He appears we are going to be like Him for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2 )

One day, the Holy Spirit’s work in us on earth will be completed and we will finally enter into eternity. Whether by rapture or death, on that day, we will experience two amazing and astounding events: we will see God’s glorious face, and we will be fully formed into His magnificent likeness and image!  WOW! Think of it!  We will see our Maker in His holy presence, and we will resemble Him!

While we are satisfied with the Spirit’s immediate presence and work in our lives, we shall be fully satisfied only when we awake in the likeness of our God. Nothing can meet the wants of our nature; nothing can FULLY satisfy the aspirings of our soul, until that occurs.

October 18 -- "Righteousness Rewarded"

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 26

"Righteousness Rewarded"

David has just spared Saul’s life (for the second time). David now confronts Saul with the fact that he did him no harm when he had the perfect opportunity to end his life. Surely David would have done himself a great favor by getting rid of Saul, who was making his life miserable. Or, would he?

David, in his words to Saul, explains why he did not jump at the opportunity to harm him – because the “Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.” David refused to better his own life if it meant compromising his convictions. He weighed out the situation and came to the conclusion that eternal rewards from the hand of God were far more important than the instant gratification he would’ve gained by killing Saul. He chose eternal gratification over instant gratification because He knew that His Lord was a God who rewards righteous acts.

It isn’t hard to understand what the Lord wants from us.  It’s not complicated. To gain His blessing and reward we don’t have to go through some complicated series of actions or religion. No, the Lord blesses us and rewards us for two actions – righteousness and faithfulness.

Righteousness means to act rightly and in accordance with God’s moral guidelines. That means He wants us to live in accordance with His holy word. When faced with a dilemma, we must do as David did and weigh the consequences of our actions against God’s moral law. We must choose obedience to His word over instant gratification.

Faithfulness means to be firm in your allegiance to God and His expressed purpose for your life. When we came to Christ, we made a promise to be faithful to Him and His calling upon our lives. Faithfulness involves remaining true to that promise and carrying out His plan (to the best of our ability).

The Lord rewards every one of us for our righteousness and our faithfulness. His rewards come in many forms. Sometimes He rewards us instantly with temporal blessings. Sometimes His rewards wait until we enter His eternal kingdom. But you can be sure of one thing – the Lord will reward you for your righteousness and faithfulness. Especially when your action or reaction comes from a decision to choose His ways and His truth over your own benefit and gratification.

David spared Saul’s life because his desire for God’s rewards far outweighed his need for temporal advantage.

 

October 17 -- "Bound in the Bundle of the Living"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25

"Bound in the Bundle of the Living"

David and his men were hungry, so David went to Nabal, a wealthy rancher and requested some food and provisions. Nabal, (whose name means, “foolish”) did not heed David’s request but sent them away with empty stomachs. As a result, David mustered his men and prepared them to attack Nabal and his men. But then, along came Nabal’s wife, a woman named Abigail.

Abigail, (whose name means “the father’s joy”) brought joy to David and his men when she secretly provided some food and provisions for them and pronounced a blessing upon them. Because of her kindness, David called off his attack and left town peaceably. In the course of Abigail’s blessing of David she said, “The life of my lord [David] shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God.”

To be “bound in the bundle of life” is to know that you are protected and cared for deeply.  When valuable items were transported during biblical times, they were wrapped in cloth, cotton and other soft materials for protection. They were then wrapped again and again to ensure safe arrival. They were “bound” for their protection.  So, when Abigail says to David that his life shall be bound in the bundle of life or “of the living,” she was pronouncing a blessing of safety and protection upon him.  In essence, she was saying, “May the Lord wrap your life in bundles of safety and protection.” Abigail recognized David’s relationship with “the LORD his God.” Accordingly, she invoked a blessing of protection upon David, calling for him to be protected and deeply cared for by the LORD.  Abigail’s reminder of God’s value and protection over him gave David the inner strength to leave the matter in God’s hands.

As a follower of Christ, your life is “bound in the bundle of life” as well.  God wants you to know that He has wrapped your life in many layers of care and protection and He cares for you deeply. His protection over your life ensures that you, too, are safe from every attack and in every battle you face in life. It is now up to you to have the inner strength to leave the matter in God’s hands and trust His protection and deep care for you.

In David’s case, Nabal died shortly after this incident and Abigail became David’s new bride. God turned the tables on a foolish man and blessed David in the process as he was living in the care of the LORD his God.

October 16 -- "Doorman of My Lips"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 141 & 142

"Doorman of My Lips"

A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!  It only takes a spark to set off a forest fire. In the same way, a careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can set off a uproar. By your speech you can ruin people’s lives, turn harmony to chaos, sully someone’s reputation.  The tongue is a powerful thing.

That’s why David prayed that the Lord would “watch over the door of my lips.”  He recognized that the words he speaks are important and have consequences.  Proverbs 15:23 tells us about positive words, “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!”  Contrast that with Proverbs 29:20 which says, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  Our words can be positive and uplifting, or they can be hasty and hurtful.  It is a paradox of human nature that the same tongue can be used for good and for evil.

We all need a guard over our mouth.  We need someone to watch over the door of our lips.  Why? Because we are all prone to hurtful words spoken in haste.  According to James 3, we all need to tame our tongue.  The problem is that, “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison”  (James 3:6). It is not enough to speak helpful words “most” of the time if we sometimes use our mouths for hurtful or evil things.  We need someone to keep watch over our lips.

Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit!  On your own, you are never going to be able to do anything to bring your tongue under control.  You are going to have to let the Holy Spirit do it for you!  One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to give us the right words to speak.  Luke 12:12 says, "The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.”  Stop trying to control your mouth in your own effort.  It is time to cry out to God and ask that He place a guard over your mouth.

Here’s how to control your tongue. First, rely on God’s strength to aid you; second, be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit from your life; third, dedicate your heart and tongue to the Lord each day; fourth, put your heart in tune with God’s Spirit by daily reading His Word; finally, yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bring forth words that will encourage, comfort, inspire, and edify.  And then let the “Doorman” of your lips say when to open the door – and when to keep it closed.

October 15 -- "Really Knowing God"

Today’s Reading: Psalm 120 & 140 

"Really Knowing God"

When you get to know someone – really know them – you can anticipate how they will act in various situations.  You only know someone if he or she actively shares information with you, particularly intimate, private information. You may know certain things “about” someone, like their name, where they live, where they work, etc.  You may even know some things about them like their favorite movie, or where they like to shop, or their favorite sports team.  Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter may help you know “about” someone from the things they post.  But do you really know them?  Do you know their innermost character and “what makes them tick?”  Probably not.

To really “know” someone, you need to spend time with them and they need to share personal inside information with you. They need to “open up” to you and let you know the feelings and attitudes and viewpoints that can’t really be seen from a social media post.  As you get to know them, you can begin to anticipate the decisions they will make and the causes they support. In many cases, you can predict their next move.

I once had a very close friend who was accused of doing something hurtful to another person. Others around him began to charge him and accuse him. But I knew this friend, and based on my personal knowledge of him, I was certain that he could not have done what he was accused of.  I knew what “made him tick,” and there’s no way he could be guilty of the things they accused him of.  It turned out that I was right.  After the truth came out, my friend was completely exonerated. I was not surprised because I knew that he couldn’t have done what they said.

David knew God.  He didn’t just know about Him. He had spent time with God, sitting in His presence and, as a result, David knew what God was like, and could anticipate what He would do. You could say that David knew the Lord’s innermost character and had personal knowledge of the things He would – or would not – do.

In today’s key verse (Psalm 140:12), David said, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and will exercise justice for the needy.”  How did David “know” this?  Because he had spent time getting to know God and what He is like.  He connected with the Lord in such a way that he could anticipate how He would act in certain situations. Even if someone accused the Lord of wrongdoing, David had intimate knowledge of God’s innermost character and “knew” that those things could not be true.

This is one of joys of becoming intimate with the Lord. When He befriends you and begins to share His private, intimate, innermost character with you, you can anticipate how He will act in your life. You can life a life of confidence and trust and, like David, be able to say, “I know that the Lord will…”