Daily Devotional - 1482 - Mercy

Daily Devotional – 1482 –Mercy

Psalm 119:41-48 – Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord-- Your salvation according to Your word. So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances. So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Comments and Challenges

As the Psalmist continues to draw close to the LORD, he is reminded of his own human sinfulness. If you have come to faith in Jesus Christ as the One who bore your sins on the Cross at Calvary, then the Grace of God which has appeared of ALL of mankind has sealed that faith. We then have a personal trust in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, who comforts us in that faith, see Titus2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 1:21-22. 

So the psalmist who understands this as you and I should too presents to the LORD boldly, that he is seeking ongoing mercy and grace to continue his struggle as a prisoner to maintain a stable testimony in the face of him who reproaches, such as the guards and officers who are keeping the prisoners marching on the road to Babylon. He; the psalmist is seeking the power of the Living Word of God to deal with being confined. Many of the Psalms are a good source of help when the weakness of our flesh seeks to gain control.

Often my wife and I talk about the work related issues and the bondages that people are controlled by. If we are not careful we become critical over the things people do, to them self and the people around them. When they find out that we are trusting in Jesus Christ and His Word of Grace their actions are redirected to us. Then we find that we also cry out like the psalmist here for the power of God’s Word to keep us walking “at liberty” the liberty that comes from Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit – John 16:13-15.

So do as the Living Word of God Commands and live at liberty before a world that is in the bondage and control of Satan. There are not many ways to have peace with the people around you. Some are even our brothers and sisters in the LORD and in dealing with all people; there is only ONE way.  

That way is the Word which we read daily, this Word was and is Jesus Christ, who; “became flesh and lived among us, and we (the disciples and apostles) beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Who was born, not of blood (physical birth), nor of the will of the flesh (physical out of wedlock birth), nor of the will of man (physical planned birth), BUT OF GOD – John 1:14-13.

Daily Devotional - 1481 - The Heart

Daily Devotional – 1481 – The Heart

Psalm 119:33-40 – Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.

Comments and Challenges

Have you ever wondered why, when you pray as this psalmist does; “teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end” that sometimes in the midst of the prayer you fail and by the end of the day; that not only have you failed the statutes of God, but you have also broken the laws of the land by speeding or some other misdemeanor within your community? 

I suppose there is an argument since the psalmist is a prisoner of war, that all he has to do is think of the word of God, I mean after all there are eight (watches) or periods of time in the Jewish day. The First watch: Sunset to 9pm; The Second watch: 9pm to Midnight; The Third watch: Midnight to 3am; The Fourth watch: 3am to 6am; The Fifth watch: 6am to Noon; The Sixth watch: Noon to 3pm; the Seventh watch: 3pm to 6pm, and the Eighth watch: 6pm to 0pm.

But that argument is very weak and if you think about this as I do; you may just be convicted in your heart that the soul which belongs and longs for God’s Righteousness, Mercy and Grace needs the nourishment of the Living Word God far more than we need the physical nourishment of the things of the world around us. 

So to answer the question of why we cannot get through a prayerful request of “teach me O LORD” without distraction; the answer is because we lack the discipline of being devoted to the LORD God who rescued us from the enemy’s camp.  THIS IS SERIOUS; in that hundreds if not thousands of us saints or children of God; if you prefer, who are redeemed by the Blood of the LAMB walk about in this country as defeated saints. 

I include myself since there are many days when I seek to live for the moment rather than living with the TRUTH. We desire the understanding of the Word of God, but we do not observe understanding with the WHOLE heart. This past Wednesday, one of the elders taught on the heart, soul and conscience of the saint. This subject for the children of God is as J. Vernon McGee would say; is where the rubber meets the road.

The heart is desperately wicked, (Jeremiah 17:9) the soul is desperately good (Ecclesiastes 3:11); the heart seeks to destroy the soul and it is the Holy Spirit that abides in the conscience of the child of God who battles between the heart and the soul (John 16:13-15). If I am giving in to the ways of my heart, my soul will become infected with the filth of the world and the end result will be worse than the first (Matthew 12:44).

So in concluding the heart of man that God references in His Holy Word is a three compartmented function; much like our physical heart. Moment by moment, hour by hour in each watch of the day our physical heart allows the tainted blood that circulates through the body to return. Yet and by God’s design this bad blood is filtered and cleansed with oxygen; but once filtered that same blood is returned for physical use to continue normal physical life. Poor physical condition of the heart results in failure and is sometime fatal.

The physical example of the heart is perfect for you and me to understand that God does expect us to live in the world, but He also expects us to utilize the HOLY SPIRIT to be IN US, WITH US and UPON US throughout the WHOLE day. Just a quick reading of any of God’s Word will not provide the Spiritual FOOD for the SOUL to focus on eternity.

Have a great day today and weekend: But if God is in your day or the weekend; while it may be great for the moment it will have no impact on eternity, nor of the JOY that God promises through His Word. Philippians 4:4-5 – Rejoice in the LORD always, again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men, the LORD is at hand.

Thursday's Blog - 1480 - But we have the mind of Christ

Thursday’s Blog – 1480 – But we have the mind of Christ

Ida and Claire were out for a walk one sunny morning and southern gentlemen are known for their charm and wit. As a young gentleman passed the girls he promptly responded… “I da – Clare ladies; Good Morning!”

Yep! Just fresh Kentucky “corn”! However; this corn is much better than sour grapes! Our nation was once a vineyard, much like Israel. God planted this vineyard to produce the choicest of wines, instead; like Israel we are producing sour grapes. Repent “I DECLARE” or weep and wail. Isaiah 5:1-7

Bible Challenges and Comments

As I have said many times, I love the Living Word of God and I love words too. There is so much we can do with words; that John the apostle puts the use of words in conversation about the LORD Jesus Christ. As being so bountiful that if we were to sit (all of us) and record the things that Jesus has done that the world itself could not contain the things that could be written – John 21:25.

King David wrote many Psalms; these cover every aspect of life, for example David talked to God about his personal sin, the sins of others and of nations – Psalm 38 and Psalm 51. He talked to God about the peace he experienced in his daily encounters – Psalm 23. He also spoke of the passion and resurrection of the Messiah – Psalm 22. The assurance of God’s saving grace – Psalm 20. Yet I need to move on to the matter at hand.

If we as children of God can be so occupied with Jesus; who is God who deals with us as children, who forgives our sin, the sin of others and even the sin of nations; who also provides peace for our day and who died and became our victory through His resurrection for those who believe in Him and too, who provides mercy and grace moment by moment. HOW DOES HE DO THIS? 

Does He do this because He is impersonal, unloving and/or as some might be moved to say… does not exist? Stop and consider that before you are I can think or prepare a word or two about God, He has Himself known each of us before we were formed in the womb, should we not then praise God since we are so wonderfully made. Another Psalm of David is Psalm 139. The entire Psalm speaks of God’s perfect and ongoing wisdom and knowledge of us.

We could write and write some more about the wisdom and knowledge of God toward His wonderful creative work in each of us and yet His thoughts toward us exceed still and spill over any and all thoughts we have toward Him. “How precious also, are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great are the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18.

National revival begins with one person, not a public display or a parade of “do’s and don’ts”.

“Search ME, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” – Psalm 139:23-24. How can it be said in any other way? How does God feel about you and me today? Only He can answer that question. But first we must be thinking about Him moment by moment. God is AWESOME in our lives before Him; to know that God is Awesome we must seek to understand spiritual wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

Daily Devotional - 1479 - Shall we really - OVERCOME?

Daily Devotional – 1479 – Shall we really - Overcome?

Psalm 119:25-32 – My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

Comments and Challenges

The writer of Hebrews is quick to say that the Word of the God is LIVING and POWERFUL. I agree with that writer. Has your soul like the writer of Psalms ever suffered with the dust? The Hebrew word “dust” can mean several articles of the world around us including ashes and rubbish. And the root word means to pulverize on purpose. The words of Hebrew are not necessary to record here, but if interested you can look these words up in your concordance. In the Vine’s the numbers are 6080 and 6083.

If you have some age on you; in other words if you are above fifty years old you might remember a day when the solid food of the Living Word of God was being preached, taught, shared and found in fellowships among a nation whose heart was bent in the direction of God. Today is sadly a different story, but that is not to say that there is no remnant of solid preaching, teaching and fellowships within the land. There is a need though, a very strong need for church leaders to heed to the voice of the Living Word of God.

If we are sincere in our relationship with God and His children, we must first be honest with our self. Revival is not an option in the Christian way of life; it is mandatory. Revival does not start in a nation it starts with “self-evaluation” by declaring to God that the way of our personal laws and thoughts are not the way of His Statutes and Precepts. The writer of Psalm 119 is a prisoner of war who is personally going over this in His prayers and meditation with God daily; each section of eight verses is one day and each section represents a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

I say that to say this; how intense are we today as saints of God to spread out our prayers and meditations before the Living God in such a way as to take even our own English alphabet and begin each contemplation or meditation in line with a letter of the alphabet. No doubt in my mind, our NATION is not in the position that the nation of Israel was during the time of the writing of this Psalmist, who some say is Jeremiah the Prophet. But! “Oh nation of foolish leaders, your trousers are falling to your ankles”. “Beware! You will not overcome, by singing a stupid song, but there is hope if you turn to the LORD God”.

The national leadership is saturated with LIES, but a liar cannot pray and expect a favorable answer. First he or she must repent. Show me your law graciously in order to revive my soul and that of the nation so we do not melt within. Our soul cannot survive on rubbish, dust or crushed laws and precepts. Repentance starts with me LORD, I confess my sin and the sins of the nation, I have chosen the way of truth (YOUR TRUTH), my hope and that of the nation is to CLING to Your judgments and testimonies.

This means LORD that I personally need your commandments to enlarge my heart, Oh LORD do not put me or the nation any further in open shame, and yet it is not my will which is important, but Your will. My soul cries out daily while I watch important men and women (political and clergy) holding hands and singing nonsense that fits the context of Proverbs 25:16 – to many sweet words are sickening and deceptive; be careful, (neighbor or saint) if you believe this since along with the word to overcome the results are found in Proverbs 25-16-20.

The Devotional - 1478 - The who, of who you are

The Devotional – 1478 – The who, of who you are

Psalm 119:17-24 – Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud--the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. 

Comments and Challenges

 When is the last time you asked the LORD God to deal bountifully with you? No doubt if you have had prayer today; it was today. Prayerful requests like keep me safe as I travel, or give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food You prescribe for me (Proverbs 30:7-9) are common among us believers. Let me ask us all a question. Did we ask this of the LORD God in order to live and keep His Word, or did we ask this of Him for selfish reasons?

Notice too that the writer of Psalm 119 is interested in the eyes of his soul and yes our soul is able to see, but many times the vision is blocked. Worry in the mind or the distraction of some form of evil. The wondrous things of the law of God are found in Psalm 19:7-9, the law of the LORD is perfect, His testimonies are sure, His statutes are right, His commandment is pure. Fearing the LORD is purifying and His judgments are true and righteous.

And do you consider that you are a stranger on the earth, if not then no doubt about it; the restoration of your soul at times is blind to the law of God which is perfect, the testimony of the LORD which is able to make you wise, the statutes of the LORD that always rejoice the heart, the commandments that will open your eyes. And yes to be clean and in the Spirit is to fear God, understanding that His judgments are true and righteous.

The desire to be face to face with our Savior is strong, but it should be understood that the LORD God has prepared a table of His presence in our present state of life, Ephesians 1:3-14. Who can understand this, that through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can have His presence and assurance, but we must first allow God to cleanse us of those secret faults; now do not say that you have no secret faults! If God knows what these are… so do you.

Instead of letting the world’s powers and persuasions direct your life, let the Word of God dwell in you and you will notice a wonderful blessing and rejoice as your soul expresses that the Testimonies of God are not only a delight but also a wonderful counselor. I do not know about you but I do know about me; if I look to the world power and allow myself to be persuaded in accordance with the world, then when I lay down at night, my sleep is not peaceful.

LORD, teach us to use the resources of our soul and the Power of the Holy Spirit as we look to You, since all else is simply foolishness.