What choice have you made? The choice is one of devotion and dependance. Will you choose to depend on the idols that clutter your life or will you depend wholeheartedly on God alone as the source of sufficiency? The story of Israel in Jeremiah speaks to the wayward human heart that battles against God. The word of God to Israel, ”Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’” Jeremiah 3:12-14 Would you turn away from your idols and back to God if you were Israel? Are you worshiping idols today, will you forsake them and cling to God? Continue Reading…
Choice is a matter of volition, faith a matter of heart: Jeremiah 3 and 4
Despised, rejected, oppressed, and crushed for you: Isaiah 52 and 53
Such beauty seen from the grandstand of life is seldom beheld as is seen in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53. We read the beautiful foreshadowing of our present day Hope and Faith. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ The voice of your watchmen-they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.” Isaiah 52:7,8 Within the pages of Isaiah we are given a picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Did the audience who received these worst realize how precious and beautiful these words of God truly were? ”Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.” Isaiah 52:13 Continue Reading…
Only God can release us from our bondage to sin: Proverbs 25 and 26
“It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:27,28 Foolishness is our belief that we do not need God. We seek our own glory believing that God doesn’t matter to our hopes, our dreams, and our lives? When we reject God we are seeking our own way in this world. We let loose an unquenchable appetite for anything that seems to meet the needs of the moment. Our lack of self-control leaves us helpless and weak in a world full of trouble. We were not designed by God to live out our lives seeking our desires unchecked. The more we seek out a life of sinfulness the more we become dissatisfied. ”If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.” Proverbs 25:16 It is only by God’s grace that we can overcome our inherent sinfulness. God enables us to live free from the bondage to our lust because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Continue Reading…
The weight of hopelessness removed at the cross of Calvary: Psalm 139
What is the source of the inner hurt and pain that consumes your life? Do you ever think that no one cares about you or that no one has truly endured a life like your own? Deep down every person wants to know that there is someone who knows their hopes, dreams, fears, worries, pains, and desires. We search out someone who will fulfill that desire in our life and when we fail to find the perfect soul mate we turn to our idols to meet our needs. Do you feel a weight of hopelessness because no one is there to help you? Has everyone let you down and you dwell in a state of continual despair? Where can your hope be found? I can tell you today that there is someone who knows you better than you know yourself. God almighty the Lord of heaven and earth is the one that your are craving to know because He fully knows you. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-4 Continue Reading…
God’s lovingkindness is truly everlasting: Psalm 136
What comes to mind when you think about the lovingkindness of God? Is the lovingkindness of God a solitary act or a renewing act for mankind? Was it loving kindness that caused God to create this creation we live in? Was it lovingkindness that continually delivered the people of Israel from themselves? Was the lovingkindness expressed wholly upon the cross of Calvary? Was it lovingkindness that brought you through life to this exact moment? The lovingkindness of God is not a small act played out in a single moment but it is woven throughout time from the past, through the present, and into the future. The lovingkindness of God speaks to His unfailing faithfulness and covenant with mankind. “Who remembered us in our low estate, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, and has rescued us from our adversaries, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; who gives food to all flesh, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:23-26 Continue Reading…
Truly seeking the wellspring of peace: Psalm 122
What is your progenitor of peace? Can money buy peace, can a lack of warfare bring about peace or can tolerance produce peace? We are naturally inclined to a state of distress and calamity because sin’s curse that is inherent to all of creation. Is there hope for lasting peace? “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you . May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say ‘May peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.” Psalm 122:6-9 When we turn to God and find our hope in Him we can finally experience true peace. Continue Reading…
What is worthy of your praise and adoration: Psalm 113
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 113:7-9 Has the weight of this world caused you to lose hope? Do you feel worthless? Are you a child of God? Everyone that has placed their hope and trust in Jesus Christ is living in a state of continual blessing. God looks upon us and lifts us out of the muck and mire of the world and places us in His wonderful family. We are fruitful because God enables us to grow and flourish. Praise Him with great praise! Continue Reading…
Press on to the next tomorrow because God is God: Psalm 103
How many products do you purchase and consume to combat the effects of aging? We use lotions to soften our skin and disguise wrinkles. We workout rigorously to keep our bodies in shape to hold off the eventual problems of life. We supplement, boost and build up our bodies with herbs, minerals, vitamins and medicines to ease the effects of aging. Is there anything within our power that we can do to turn back the clock and renew our youthful vigor or stop death? We are completely helpless and there is nothing that we can do to empower ourselves. If the story of our lives were left in this state of helplessness would there be motivation to press on in life. Continue Reading…
Expectantly await for the second advent of Jesus Christ: Psalm 85
Over two thousand years ago mankind received the greatest gift of all in Bethlehem. “Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its produce. Righteousness will go before Him and will make His footsteps into a way.” Psalm 85:10-13 The ultimate good for us is the graciously given gift of salvation through the cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ is our hope and our future. The world may appear to collapse around you but the sovereignty of God is eternally enduring. Will you trust that Jesus Christ came and took on humanity so that fellowship could be restored? Continue Reading…
Our perception darkens but God’s perspective brings light: Psalm 79
How would you define your life today? Would you look upon your life and see a continual blessings from God? Do you live in the the current state of blessedness that is yours because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross of Calvary? We can easily take our salvation for granted as we are worn down by the concerns of the world. We are lavishly blessed beyond all belief through Jesus Christ. We need not fall into the self-deceptive thinking that we are not good enough, ill equipped and hopeless to make it through life. The mighty power of God that was displayed on Calvary bridged the infinite gap that had left us separated, excluded, estranged and hopelessly alone in the world. The fellowship that was restored brought us into the intimate household of God, brought us access to God and gave us full citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Do you live in the wondrous truth of your position in Jesus Christ? Continue Reading…
