Do we fall into the habit of thinking of God mostly as severe, unkind and unmerciful? If so, we may have great difficulty expecting good from Him. There is sacrifice and cost in the disciple's life. This is true, there is a cross to bear and sufferings to identify with and enter into. But along with these truths, is the truth that God is good by His very nature and His goodness flows to His creation and especially to His children. When we come to worship our Maker, do we come with expectation of good, or do we come with a constant burden of the trials we experience? To approach our God in worship of Him, without expecting good from Him, brings Him dishonor. It is only from Him and none other, that good comes to us. The ultimate good is His Son, Jesus Christ who died for our sins. But there is also a kind of good in this life; beauty, wonder, peace, joy and so much more. As you approach God in worship, expect goodness and mercy, and you will receive it abundantly.
The Lord, according to this verse, is full of undeserved favor and tenderness towards us; He is patient and continuously withholds judgment and punishment even though we might deserve it. Can we respond any other way but in humble thankfulness to Him? How many of us go along our merry way, oblivious to His great care, His blessing, His provision? Today is a good day to begin accessing how much we have to be thankful for and to express it to our wonderful Lord!
David, the writer, is asking four things of God: to search him, know him, try or test him, and lead him. Since David is known as "the man after God's own heart," we can feel confident that if we follow David's example here, we will be on the right track. When we ask God to search our hearts, it is for our own benefit; God already knows all about it. But it is important for us to know the condition of our own heart and we can not discover its condition without His help. Are you willing to have God show you your heart? When we ask God to test us, we need to be ready for some hard times. It is under pressure that our weak spots are exposed. But until we know where we need to be mended or corrected, we aren't going to seek help! Are you ready to be tested? When we truly seek God's leading in our lives, we need to be prepared for the unexpected. Since God's ways are not our ways, we may be redirected. Be willing!
If we listen to these words of the psalmist, and then examine the life of Jesus Christ, we will see that one reflects the other as a mirror reflects a face. Jesus went out among the poor to bring them hope and help; He gathered the children in His arms to show them love and concern; He called the sick to come and receive healing and wholeness. Beware of gathering in auditoriums, listening to what Jesus commands, singing of uncompromising obedience to Him, and then doing nothing. What would our world be like if Christians did what Jesus did? We wouldn't need the Department of Health & Human Services; the food stamp program; or have children living on the streets of our cities! Christian, decide today to follow Jesus in defending the poor and fatherless, and doing justice to the afflicted and needy. There are many to help!
According to this verse, having faith is critical to getting things accomplished. Now, none of us probably needs to move mountains, but all of us need the kind of faith that could! And to pray without faith is pointless. So where do we get the mountain-moving faith that we need to be effective prayers? Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. As we read the Word and bring it to bear upon our lives, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which is faith-producing. Then as we seek His will, in His way, in His time, which is all that we will want, our prayers will be answered - even to the moving of something as great as a mountain!
The Scripture speaks so plainly here, but do we really hear what God is saying? Work is effort, either physical or mental, hard or easy, directed to accomplishing something productive. The Bible says that working will be to our advantage. It is interesting that, while the opposite of work is play, play is not what brings poverty. It is talk! This verse implies that we would do well to work more and talk less. What would your life be like if you did this?
Jochebed was the mother of three famous children: Moses, Aaron and Miriam. She is listed, although not named, in the "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11. Jochebed lived her life as unto the Lord and her children, as Lockyer puts it "lit their torches at her flame." Her love, faith, and courage saved her son, Moses, from a cruel death. Let mothers take heart as a result of Jochebed's life. As she lived her faith out in front of her children, they, in turn, lived out theirs likewise. We must not under-value the precious responsibility and privilege it is to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
God permits us many different places to gather and many different styles to worship Him in. Whatever our style, let's pay attention to the fact that God wants His children to express themselves joyfully. Every instrument may be used to celebrate our Lord, whether it be the old pipe organ or the new synthesizer. Neither is more holy than the other. The harp and lyre of David's time today may be replaced with the electric guitar. But the important thing is that we have freedom of expression, to worship Him, within proper bounds. There are things which are fitting in worship. Order is fitting, because it connotes respect. Singing in a manner that uplifts and is intelligible is fitting, for the sake of those worshiping. But especially note, sing a new song. Keep your mind on the things of the Lord. Those things are the notes of the song He is weaving through your spirit. And He wants others to hear that song.
Jesus explained that His flesh is true food and His blood true drink. Many stumbled over this teaching. But hard things were not left unsaid by Jesus. They needed to be taught; they were true. Jesus' life was in the Father, and so any who would partake of Jesus would partake of that life given by the Father. When Jesus spoke of the manna from heaven, His listeners understood. That manna had sustained their ancestors for years in the wilderness; but they still eventually died. Those who will partake of the true food and drink will not die. Not only that, but the life we now live in the flesh will be so energized as to be able to accomplish God's will. Understand this if you would know ever more of God Almighty. You can have no part of Him if you do not eat at His table; that food is Jesus Christ. You may say to your loved one, you are my food and drink. So truly must we say this of our Jesus. If we do, we will live forever.
How much do we want to increase our knowledge of God and our growth as a believer, a disciple? Some of us are tempted to say, we can do it alone, we don't need the hassle of the congregation, of formal worship, the hearing of the difficulties of others, and so on. Or we say, "I have done enough. I love God, but I don't need to be in church." Have you said these things, thought them, or heard others say them? Beware, the growth you may have experienced in your walk with the Lord has most likely been severely retarded, if not altogether halted. With all the diversity God has permitted His church, there is a place for you. But it's not something that we should feel obligated to do. Rather, as a heart check, it ought to be something we rejoice in doing. Those who are growing are attending a fellowship regularly. That attendance will benefit the believer, and assist in his or her growth. Be consistent in your fellowship in the house of the Lord. You will be glad you do.
Have you been sent by Jesus? Being "sent" is not just for missionaries. Disciples of Jesus Christ have been sent, but where? Jesus is telling His disciples He is sending them among men who will flog them and throw them in prison. He is warning them that even relatives will betray one another to death! If we have been sent, we must go. Wherever it is, whether to serve in the home, in business, on the field, in politics, the pulpit or any other place, we must be prepared for the response of unbelief. It is natural. If we never see such resistance, we need to ask our Father if we have misunderstood His directions to where He has sent us. Either we are not there, or we are not living the life we are sent to live; not proclaiming from housetops what God has whispered in our ear. God forbid we are not serving Him because of what we fear man can do. Do not fear; serve where you've been sent and acknowledge Jesus before men. He will acknowledge you before the Father.
Sometimes our prayers seem to rebound off brass heavens. Have we a check in our spirit, but can't put our finger on it? David's attitude in prayer was to present his needs, with praise prepared for their answer. He knew in what condition his heart needed to be. To "cherish wickedness" is elsewhere rendered "regard iniquity," "cherished sin," and "regard wickedness." This all means the planned holding onto a thought or action we know is wrong. It always costs to sin. It may feel good thinking a certain thought or doing a certain deed; but only for a brief moment. The cost is guilt, shame and loss of fellowship with our Creator until the sin is dealt a death blow. Don't be a fool. We cannot choose sin and God both. Neither will tolerate the other. God hates sin; sin exalts self. Sin will break your communication with God. Instead, agree with God that your sin is wrong and replace it with righteous thoughts and deeds. God will hearken to your prayer and will answer you.
Jesus modeled the pattern of a true friendship. This kind of friendship is rare in our day and age. When Jesus says we are his friend if we obey Him, He is saying that when we do from habit what we know His will is, then we may be considered His friend. A person knows what his friend likes and dislikes. If you habitually do what the other person dislikes, you can hardly be called a friend. But this knowledge is given. Jesus says we aren't servants to Him because a servant doesn't necessarily know what the master is doing. Jesus told His disciples exactly what He was doing, all that God the Father had said to the Son. A close friend comes to have an instinctive response to you, knowing what you are thinking, the direction you're going. This is the relationship Jesus wants for us. And we can have this with Him, and with others in His family. If you have no such friend, ask the Lord and He will send one.
Satan, "adversary," is generally understood to be an angel of very high rank. He is principally not humankind's adversary, but God's. His sin is desiring to be equal with God, and his methodology to gain that end is rebellion. Since God made humankind to glorify Himself, we have become Satan's target. He desires to show us to the angelic realm as only loving God because we either fear Him in a punitive manner or because of the things He gives us. Job is the example. Neither God's evil equal, or some impersonal "force," Satan is a person of great power and strong intellect. He is very persuasive, bringing down many other angels with him. He has access to heaven (see Job). Satan has observed humankind for all its existence, and knows how we will respond to life. He is extremely dangerous; do not laugh at him. A very high being fallen beyond hope, we are not to pity him, for he may use that to snare us. Do not fear him; Jesus Christ has utterly defeated him. Haleleu-JAH!
Worship is not just the attendance at a local building with other believers once a week. Worship requires an attitude of heart that is habitual. This attitude acknowledges the Holy Spirit's witness to our own spirit, that we are saved by grace, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son. It is through our "mediator" Jesus, that we are able even to approach God the Father. Only His just wrath would we find if we approached in any other name. So in our worship, we need to recognize that we approach through Jesus and that also our worship cannot be accomplished in our own strength, but only in that of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and desires to fill us daily. This strength and truth, imparted to us by the Holy Spirit, enables us to approach the Awesome God, as Father. If you are not approaching God in worship in this manner, you are breaking all the rules of worship. Worship Him in confidence, through Jesus Christ, our mediator.
The Lord is faithful to do all that He promises in His Word, and in this particular verse He says that He will fulfill your desire. Why do you suppose the Lord can speak so positively about your desire? Can it be that when you are His child, He places His desire for you in your heart so that when you discover it, He is more than willing to fulfill it? What is the desire of your heart? Have you stopped long enough in the last few months to know what heart-longings you have? Today is a great day to look deeply into your heart and discover what exactly it is that you are longing for. If you discover that your longings do not line up with the Word of God, ask Him to replace your desires with His.
All of us know people who are "talkers." They talk non-stop, mostly about trivial things, or about other people; and some are stuck on one topic: themselves. Weary is the word for all those who, for one reason or another, have to listen to such a person. But they are certainly not the only ones who sin with their words! How many things did you say just yesterday that today need to be confessed? Did you exaggerate a story? Did you shade or distort or imply something that you shouldn't have? Did you waste time discussing the trivial or gossiping? The Lord considers wise the one who holds his/her tongue. Begin today to hold yours and take note of the sins uncommitted as a result.
This command is given directly to believers, for unbelievers are unable to do otherwise. We are called to check our motives and the intentions of our hearts before we take any action or do any service for the Lord. It seems this verse is telling us it would be better to do nothing than to do it with a wrong motive. Then, to complicate matters, we must realize that we cannot adjust our motives and intentions ourselves. Our first task is to check our motives. Then we must confess our sin to the Lord. Along with forgiveness and cleansing, the Lord changes our hearts. Once our hearts are right, we can proceed with service. What do you need to do before proceeding with service to the Lord? Think about it!
This is a specific question addressed to a specific audience. The Lord wanted them to verbalize their needs: not because He didn't know them; but because He wanted these two blind men to be sure they knew what they were asking for. It is no different for us today. The Lord knows our needs and the needs of others that we might be praying for. But He asks us the same question: "What do you want me to do for you?" Can you answer the question specifically? Spend some time today pondering it and then write out specifically what you would like the Lord to do in your life and for those you are praying for. Date the list and continue praying until you see the answer. When it comes, you will know it - because you were specific!
In Paul's exhortation to believers at Philippi to be like Christ, he speaks the truth about self-esteem: plainly put, it is unscriptural. We are admonished to think better of others than we do ourselves. What a difference there is in God's ways and ours; and what a difference God's ways can make in our relationships with others. When we are willing and able to do things God's way, we find life altered. Friendships will be deepened and more meaningful. How long has it been since you considered others around you better than yourself? If you have fallen into the world's trap of thinking more highly of yourself than you ought, take God's Word to heart today and obtain a right view of yourself in Him!
Miriam was the eldest child of Amram and Jochebed, and the sister of Aaron and Moses. Miriam, as with most Bible characters, is portrayed with both blemishes and beauty. The blemishes follow a pattern with others: her failures happened in mid-life and came in areas unexpected. She rebelled against her life's mission to protect and co-labor with Moses and she was jealous of Moses' position and his wife. Like Miriam, we might be tempted to become discontented with our distinct calling and desire someone else's. Miriam lost not only what she wanted, but what she had! Are you content with God's plan for your life? Be content; the price for being otherwise is too high.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews explained that Jesus suffered in order to set apart for God a people to serve Him. This setting apart came through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Because of this, the writer says we should constantly be praising God. Do we constantly praise God? We know we don't. Even so, the Scripture frequently tells us to do so. There are times when it is very difficult to praise God. That is why it is called "a sacrifice of praise." But we must practice this attitude of constant praise. It occurs when we confess His name. That confession is not a formula of words. Rather it is literally our life style. This is why the writer of Hebrews concludes our verse with the comment about not neglecting to do good and to share. Those who confess Jesus as Savior and Lord will act out their praise in church when they worship and during the rest of the week through their actions. Let's all purpose to please God by such sacrifices.
Many people spend most of their time increasing their wisdom about the things in their area of business. The physically strong work to keep themselves that way, eating right and training long hours. There are those dedicated to building wealth, the inheritance for their children, or to attaining to a certain social or business level. God doesn't say there is anything wrong, per se, with any of those. But if you really want to be proud of something, why waste time on sterile intellectual pursuits, academic credentials, building your body or investment portfolio? All of that will pass away. Instead, let's purpose to know our God intimately, giving that top priority. We're talking about God Almighty! He created everything. He is so interesting a being that nothing can be compared to knowing Him. And He loves us! Decide today to pursue God passionately, with all our energy, and not give up until we see Him face to face.
If fear falls upon you in a punitive sense, check and find its source. Following God's Spirit we have no fear, we have God's love instead. We are exhorted to remember that we are God's children, in such a wonderful relationship to Him that out of our heart we may cry, Papa, to Him who sits above all creation enthroned in majesty! Having become part of God's family we receive His Holy Spirit, who comes to live within us and give us the power to please God. Even if our own spirit questions our position in Christ, God's Spirit witnesses to us inwardly and tells us we are indeed sons of God! If we find ourselves questioning our position in God's family regularly we must ask the Lord to reveal to us its source. Be prepared. We can call Him Papa. He has given us that right. But He also will keep us walking the narrow path by whatever means are necessary.
From Genesis we find that work was designed by God as a blessing. God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it. It was paradise. Sin entered the world; blessing was turned to curse. The earth was cursed. Adam was told he would still till the earth, but by the sweat of his brow (hard labor) and his return would include thorns (trouble). Work became a curse, and the whole world today testifies to this as fact. But our Scripture tells us that God has a gift: enjoyment in our toil! Also, in the New Testament we are told that our work is to be done "unto the Lord." When we ask God for the gift of joy in our work, and do the work for Him, we gain immeasurable benefit. Even more important: the worst witness a Christian can have is to be unhappy in his/her work. Ask God for joy in your work, and do it for Him! Others will ask you for a reason of the hope and joy your work attitude reflects!
Jesus explained, in the parable of the dishonest judge, that if a corrupt judge gave justice to a persistent petitioner, God would do even more for His children who asked Him. How many of us have stayed up all night in preparation for an exam, or some other big event? We have missed food in order to concentrate and get a task done. We show persistance in these ways. How often have we persisted with God? An answer to prayer may seem slow in coming; God is trying our hearts to test our faith. These delays clarify our thinking. Sometimes we have not taken the issue seriously enough to search God's Word to find out what He has already said about the matter. And sometimes it is honoring to God for us to persist in a righteous request when not receiving an answer quickly. Persist! Exercise your faith. Jesus ends the parable with the question of whether, when He returns, He will find faith. If it's important enough to pray about, it's important enough to persist in prayer.
Nowhere in Scripture will we find the instruction to stay away from people. To spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, we must be spending time with people, especially those who don't know Him. Does this mean that we should choose our "companions" from the latter group? Absolutely not! In our verse the word "companion" means to join with someone because of their charm. Do not become "charmed" by someone who does not know the Lord as their Savior. Rather, join with those people who show they are saved by keeping God's commands, His "precepts." These people bear fruit which honors God. Since you will seldom be able to observe this kind of fruit in a short period of time, don't be hasty in making friends. Get to know a person. Find out what they think and do about the important issues of life. Don't be attracted just because of their clothes, wit, accomplishments or position. Be a "companion," in this sense, of only those who love the Lord.
The name Malachi means, "One Despatched," or "Jehovah's Messenger." Little is known of Malachi apart from his prophecies. He may have been a contemporary of Nehemiah which would place him around B.C. 430. Malachi concludes the Old Testament. His day resembles our own. The people weren't contributing to the support of the temple (church), many priests (pastors) were becoming corrupt, and the institution of marriage was in trouble! Malachi warned the people and their leaders. They were careless in their attitude toward God; the teaching of the Word was poor; and judgment would come if things didn't change. He told them to repent and change their ways, and return to the God who continued to love them. After Malachi the Lord was silent for four hundred years, and then He judged Israel. Today, listen to the messenger. His message is God's Word. We must change our ways so we no longer resemble the world around us. The Lord is not silent. His Word gives adequate warning.
When we enter into the worship of our God, we approach Him. But there is also an approach on His part. He comes to us; He even draws us near to Himself. Do you remember when you were a child, how wonderful it felt to be drawn into the loving arms of your mother or father? No matter what was happening, you were drawn into their presence in a very special, intimate way. And as you felt those arms around you, whatever was the matter seemed to be calmed; or perhaps you just experienced a profound joy of acceptance and protection. This is how God approaches man in worship. To put His everlasting arms around us, to comfort us and to bring us into intimate communion with Himself. Remember this today, as you approach Almighty God, that He too approaches you, and draws you into His embrace, that you may know His love for you.
There is no question that some things in God's word are hard for us to accept. Nevertheless, if we really want to discover Him, we must take all of His attributes into consideration. Justice is one of His attributes as stated in this verse. God can be no other way, but just and fair. For those of us that know Him as Savior and Lord, His justice is comforting; for those who don't, His justice probably appears tyrannical. The difference is in the perspective. Are you among the meek? Then rejoice to know that you are lifted up by the Lord! Are you among the wicked? Then repent and accept Jesus Christ as your savior.
What seems right to us very often is not what is right. The only way we can know what is right is to go to the Author of Life and discover what He says. If we are not bringing the Bible to bear upon our lives, we are in danger of drifting to what seems okay. There is no substitute for knowing what God says in His Word. We cannot apply or comply if we don't know it. Why not determine to read through the Bible in a year? Today is a great day to begin this project of earnestly reading and studying God's Word. A regular schedule of what and how much to read will help you attain your goal. Then you won't have to wonder about what "seems right," you'll know what is right!
