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thursday…what can man do for me

The Psalms are wonderful places to wander around in. They are like a huge group of gardens. Whatever food we need on any day can be found somewhere in there. We can find flowers and shade. Sunshine to bask in, or quiet places to pour out our distress to the Lord. I often speak of them as my friends. I visit often. I did this morning, to Psalm 118. Here’s part of it.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. {2} Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” {3} Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” {4} Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” {5} From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. {6} The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? {7} The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall look with satisfaction on those who hate me. {8} It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. {9} It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes. (Psa 118:1-9 NASB)

Giving thanks to the Lord is a great way to start a time with Him. Acknowledging His lovingkindness. Speaking out loud that His lovingkindness is, indeed, everlasting. It is a cool refreshment to focus on things to give thanks to God for. It turns the attention to such a positive and faith filled gaze. It is therapeutic to articulate ideas we know or have experienced about His lovingkindness. Try it.

What better truth to be reminded of, or drive deeper, than… the Lord is for me! If He is, what do I have to fear? What person can step in and toss aside His protection or aid? He is for me even when others are against me. He is for me among those who also are supporting what I am trying to do. Either way, He’s my help and encouragement!

And when I feel all lost, I can run to Him as a refuge. A place to hide and rest. A place to feel safe, even just for a time. Using Him this way is better than using even the best and highest of people. Even prince type people.

Have a great day in the Lord. And may you find the Lord in His Psalms over and over. They are always there waiting. And He’s always there too, and always for you.

wednesday…that they should teach them

Psalm 78 speaks about God establishing a testimony, appointing a law.  The admonition is to fathers, that they might teach these to their children.

For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should teach them to their children, {6} That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, {7} That they should put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, {8} And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Psa 78:5-8 NASB) 

The fathers are encouraged to teach God’s ways to their children.  The father taking this role is more critical than I could ever get across.  What the head of the house teaches carries much weight.  How he worships God.  What he models in his life, how he loves his wife.  These are all a part of teaching God’s ways to his children.  It is implicit that the wife would be in union with her husband and functioning in complete partnership and cooperation.  This is God’s key way for building human beings.  And she must take that lead if the father is absent.

But all this is so important that it appears to me that God may be speaking of four generations in this passage.  How many do you see?  It could be interpreted to be just three.  But four or three, see how critical what we do with our children is.  And the dad is the central key, the corner off of which all else will be measured.  Take note, fathers, to the Lord’s command to you.  One could interpret away this responsibility by saying that “fathers” means only Israel’s earlier leaders.  I wouldn’t want to land there, as a father, and I really think He had much more in mind.

What did he say should be taught?  Three easy to remember guidelines for living.  A threefold approach to life that would make any life marvelous in this decaying world.  A lifestyle that every person in every generation should take up.  One, put your confidence in God, every day in every way.  Become more and more mature in this as you go.  Two, remember the works of God.  Remember what the Scriptures say He has done.  Wonderful and powerful things.  Remember what he has done for you.  How long is the list of how He has blessed you?  Three, keep His commandments.  There are right choices to make, both things to stay away from, and things to learn to do.

The final reference is to the previous generation who did not succeed in doing these three things.  Or at least did not persist in it, did not grow in it.  Turned away as time went on.  Why?  Three reasons listed.  Three other choices.  First, they were stubborn and rebellious.  In our society that encourages such an attitude, it is important to launch out on a different path.  You will have to walk against the flow, sometimes even in your own home.  You will have to fight your own inner being.  Second, they did not prepare their hearts.  It takes something intentional and repeated to successfully conquer the on-going press of the flesh, the world and the devil.  Prepare your heart, and keep it fresh.  Like a house or garden cared for with diligence.  Third, their spirit was not faithful to God.  This is a “policy” decision to be made.  Who will be Lord of your heart and life?  Putting Christ back on that throne every morning is a necessary exercise, much like eating and showering.  We re-establish our faithful spirit as we begin each new day.  We grow up in faithfulness over time, so that faithfulness becomes a natural part of our character and integrity.  Doing God’s will becomes our highest will.

Hope these thoughts are a help today.  We have clear instruction from God our Maker and Redeemer in this passage, as well as an example not to follow.  Let’s all be those “faithful to God” people.  He will give us all the grace we need to live this out, and we will need lots.   Have a great Wednesday in Him!

tuesday…turned back in the day of battle

Psalmist Asaph speaks of soldiers of the tribe of Ephraim.

The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle. {10} They did not keep the covenant of God, And refused to walk in His law; {11} And they forgot His deeds, And His miracles that He had shown them. (Psa 78:9-11 NASB) 

A soldier trains, prepares his heart.  Prepares his weapons.  He tests his skills and practices for encounters to come.  He plans his strategies for the battle.  The battle is the whole point, filled with struggle and danger.  Lives and families turn on the outcome.  Even nations.

But the archers of Ephraim, though equipped with bows, turned back in the day of battle.  The ONE THING their whole lives were designed for, all their preparations pointed to, at the very moment of their purpose being fulfilled, they turned back!

If life has suddenly turned difficult, are you surprised?  It is for such a day you have been preparing!  Has ministry degenerated into onslaughts of criticism, with confrontations and great tests of patience and purpose?  Do you think it to be unfair?  Surely if you are trying to do so much good it should flow easily!  But it is the battle we must live for, not the training.

The sons of Ephraim turned back in the day of battle.  May we all be those who rather rise up in the day of battle, pronouncing to our enemy, as David did to Goliath as he faced him, saying “In the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” I will take off your head today.

wednesday…the word is near you

In writing to the Romans Paul refers back to a time when Moses was speaking to the sons of Israel, even before they entered the promised land.

For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. {6} But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), {7} or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” {8} But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” (Rom 10:5-8 NASB)

He is declaring that they were saved by faith, just like we are today.  Christ’s blood ran backward to them as it runs forward to us.  The faith they needed was not too far away, in heaven, or across the seas in some deep pit.  No.  It was near them, even in their own hearts.

We have all been saved by such faith.  And we are called to live by that same faith day by day.  If it seems to far away, or too hard, then it is the wrong kind of faith, no matter what your issues today.  If it must be worked up with iron will or seized with great strength of some kind, it will not prevail.  No.  It must be more like surrender.  Falling into Christ’s arms and giving up.  Committing all to Him and really trusting the outcome to Him.  Then living in simple and restful obedience.

Hope this day for you can be one of surrender to our Lord.  Simple faith.  Restful obedience.  And lots of joy and fruitfulness in your labors.

thursday…two evils

It is easy to think that God was not really a fountain of life until Jesus appeared on earth, until He declared to the woman at the well that she should seek living water from Him, or similar statements in Christ’s encounters and teachings.  But God has always been a living fountain for man.  Consider what the Lord spoke to His people early in the ministry of Jeremiah.

For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns, That can hold no water. (Jer 2:13 NASB) 

From the beginning God’s plan was to make Himself available to mankind as the life fountain they would need to live, one without which they would dry up and perish.  Adam and Eve had the choice.  Cain and Abel had the choice.  We have the choice, as has every human since those days.

As those in Christ, we have made the choice to live in His garden.  But often while traversing through this life we wander away from the flow of the living water in that garden.  We thirst, and fear, and start hewing out cisterns to hold other water we clutch to ourselves.  But like manna held overnight, it is of no value.  Jesus’ ever-flowing stream of living water is better.  Never foul.  Always producing in us the very energy and vitality of life.  Fruitfulness and satisfaction.  Pervading peace and spiritual strength.  Eyes to see meaning and hearts to feel love.

May you drink deeply of Him today, and may your inner being be a well-watered garden of God, blooming brightly inside, and manifesting itself in all manner of love and good deeds.  Christ is sufficient for it, even today!

wednesday…I will remember

Asaph wrote some of the Psalms, though we more commonly associate them with David.  Asaph is the author of Psalm 77.  In the opening verses he speaks of his troubles.  He talks of crying out to God.  He was disturbed and distressed.  Then he says…

I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart; And my spirit ponders. (Psa 77:6 NASB) 

He chooses to take a turn.  He intentionally turns his memory to his songs.  He chooses to sing, to meditate and ponder over God.  He starts to make an attitude move in his heart.  Still he wonders if God has forgotten him, or if He has suddenly chosen to just be unkind.  Then he makes a great discovery!

Then I said, “It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed.” {11} I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. {12} I will meditate on all Thy work, And muse on Thy deeds. {13} Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? {14} Thou art the God who workest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples. (Psa 77:10-14 NASB) 

He discovers that it is not God who has changed, but it was only the working of grief in his own heart.  And again he chooses to think back to the positive things God has already done.  He reviews the miracles he has seen.  Some done for others, some for himself, likely.  He chooses to focus in on all the great deeds God has done, all God’s wondrous work.  Then he is able to begin to declare God’s absolutely perfect plan for earth and man.  He perceives God’s greatness again.  He progresses to worship.

These are worthy thoughts for us.  Excellent practices to emulate.  We always have griefs to ponder.  Extended times of doing so will cast us into depression.  We have lots of things we don’t understand, or ways we believe God has failed us.

But we all also have a whole list of things that we are thankful to God for, things He has already done for us and for others.  Wonderful things we know about God.  We always then get the choice on what to meditate on, what we will allow to dominate our hearts and minds.  In this way we are responsible for the on-going state of our hearts.  Right meditations and songs will lead us to right hearts.  Poor meditations will always lead us to hearts full of poverty—ones dominated by depression, fear, anger, grief and self-pity, among a long list.

Asaph said, “I shall remember the deeds of the Lord.”  I hope this Thursday you will choose to remember Him, too, and all through the weekend.  May it become a life practice when you face difficulties, whether these are internal or external, and all the more when things are going well.

Have a great day, in Him!

friday…we are children of God

How great is God’s love for us?  Great enough that we are called His children.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. {3} And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1-3 NASB)

It’s one thing for someone to care about a person.  Maybe they help pay some bills.  Maybe they help them find a place to live, or aid them in securing a job.  If they are especially nice and devoted, they might even take someone in for a time to their own home.

But it is a special kind of love that would not only take someone in, but would actually appropriate them as their own child.  Give them their name.  Make them heirs of their fortunes.  Link themselves to them inexorably, forever.  Consider them their own flesh and blood.

How great is God’s love for us?  He has taken us in and called us His children.  Not just slaves or servants.  More than neighbors or friends, or even blessed business partners.  We are His children.  We have His name.  We inherit all that is His, the whole kingdom of God.  What more could God do than this?

When we see Jesus, we will be like Him.  We will be part of God’s family eternally.  What a wonderful, privileged blessing is ours!  Ponder it.  Give thanks.  Worship Him who loves us.  And as John says, in your great and joyous hope, purify yourself to live for Him all your days on earth.

Hope on this Wednesday you can move about on earth as a chosen, anointed, blessed child of God all day long!

thursday…that you may be wise

Solomon was declared to be the wisest man that ever lived.  He wrote quite a number of proverbs.  Here’s one that concerns wisdom, as many of them do.

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. (Prov 19:20 NASB)

The instruction, or the cause and effect for being wise, has two parts.  This is not just being wise for the moment, but a plan to be wise every remaining day of your life.

Here’s the two part plan.

One, listen to counsel.  This means really hearing others who are speaking into your life.  Considering their thoughts with the same weight that you would value your own.  Then taking all before the Lord and seeking His direction, because for a believer the Holy Spirit is the Chief Counselor.  But God uses people, too.  We have to put aside our pride and our fears, our prejudices and our impatience and take time to hear before we act.  It starts with your spouse and those closest to you, and works out.  We need an ear to hear.  Not to be commanded like slaves without making our own decisions, but nevertheless ears to really hear.  If we don’t listen to others, we won’t fully hear God.

Two, accept discipline.  This could be interpreted fairly broadly but might be summarized as being willing to be corrected.  This requires some kind of submission to other humans, and higher yet to God.  We don’t like being wrong, being chastened or corrected, but we must be willing to let others go beyond just counsel and allow them, and God (he uses people), to tell us that we are in error.  With a humble heart, if what we are hearing is true, we have to accept our mistakes and sins.  Then our task is to repent and making plans not to make the same error again, or the same poor and willful choice.  This leads to growth, and to wisdom.

There aren’t very many words in this proverb, but lots of power in the few.

May we all hear God speaking through others, and feel Him working in our circumstances, and be people full of wisdom.  Every day

wednesday…that you too may have fellowship

John writes about his contact with Jesus.  He describes Him.  Then he tells why he is sending this info.

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life– {2} and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us– {3} what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. {4} And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. (1 John 1:1-4 NASB) 

He indicates that Jesus had been from the beginning.  Christ’s eternal state is implied here.

He shares how they have actually seen Him with their own eyes.  They touched Him with their own hands.

He is declared the “Word of Life!”  This would look back to the voice of God at Creation saying, “Let there be…” and it was.  He is the giver of all life everywhere.

He is called “the eternal life.”  He is the very non-destructible life.  They have witnessed Him.  They heard Him speak.

Now John proclaims this Christ, this Messiah, to others.  He was manifested to us.  We proclaim Him to you.  Why?

Some of it is obvious.  Others can share in the eternal life that is ours in Christ.  But he goes two steps further.  One, he is inviting others into not only fellowship with God (eternal life) but fellowship with the church—“that you also may have fellowship with us.”  It is such a key part of God’s whole plan in Christ.  It is what we are doing here, week by week.  Inviting people to Christ and the universal church, then inviting them into fellowship with us as a local church.  A new community with which to have a new life and a new purpose.

Two, he says that writing all this, when it takes place, will make complete the joy of John and the church.  Drawing others to Jesus and His church gives them overriding joy.  This is where we are, too.  This is why we live, why we work.

May your week be joyous, and successful, in accomplishing these kingdom purposes.

tuesday…I am watching

After the Lord called and commissioned Jeremiah He asked him a question.

And the word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” {12} Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” (Jer 1:11-12 NASB) 

It is a simple question.  What do you see?  It is a straightforward answer by Jeremiah.  I see the rod of an almond tree.

But the Lord’s response is curious.  I am watching over my word to perform it.  In Hebrew-Aramaic there is a play on words between “almond tree” and “watching.”  They sound similar and are spelled almost the same.  One commentary indicated that the almond tree was hasty, meaning blooming early, and thus God was going to hastily accomplish His word, in this case about trauma coming to Jerusalem and Judah.

But for me God’s statement was a strong encouragement.  He is watching over His word, as spoken through the prophets, to make sure it all happens as written.  Not one part of it will slip by Him without taking place just as stated.  Jesus said it this way, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John10:35).  And Paul, speaking of Jesus the living word, said, “He who believes in Him will not be disappointed,” referring back to a passage in Isaiah (Rom. 9:33).

Anyone who hopes in Christ will not be disappointed!  This is a Scriptural promise.  Hold onto it today.  It may be a day of joyous praise and worship because you feel the wonderful support and help of the Lord.  Or it may be a day of confusion and gloom because you can’t understand how things could be happening like they are.  But for both, as well as those in the middle, Christ will not ultimately disappoint, when all is done.

So believe in Him today with all the energy you can muster, and press on to serve Him.