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
Beloved of God, will you rest in His sufficiency: Psalm 127
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31 Is your outlook of life governed by your focus on God? Are the actions of your life enveloped by an inclusive relationship with God? Solomon’s God given wisdom expressed in Psalm 127 realizes that whatever we choose to do we can never exist apart from God. Have you built your life upon you skills and knowledge or have you abdicated the throne of your life to God? “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He fives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Psalm 127:1,2 Have you worked in vain throughout your life? Have you worried in vain about what the future holds? Beloved of God, will you rest in His sufficiency? God is always able and the work He begins will continue until its completion. Will the glory of God be your motivation today? Continue Reading…
Beware of the idols that encroach upon your peaceful existence: Psalm 115
Beware of the idols that you have elevated to prominence in your life. What draws your devotion and attention away from God? Do you desire to seek God first and foremost in your life? As we go about life in this sin cursed world we take for ourselves many of the habits of our family, friends and culture. Beware of the habits you have developed. Are you seeking to first seek God and love Him with all of your being? The things of this world that you treasure and delight in easily become idols that you worship as they crowd out our desire for God. Beware of these idols that are shallow, powerless and bring death to your life. “Their idol are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears; but they cannot heart; they have noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat. Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts i n them.” Psalm 115:4-8 Continue Reading…
Embrace the life changing word of God: Psalm 86
Is perseverance a premeditation that must be resolutely fixed in our minds before encountering any situation of tribulation where perseverance must be wielded? Our relationship with God is critically important to our outlook on life, our perception of our abilities and our expression of compassion and love towards one another. What happens as we consistently turn to God for our nourishment and hope by meditating upon His Word? “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to hear Your name.” Psalm 86:11 As we continually seek out God and open our heart, mind, soul and strength to His teaching in scripture we will wholeheartedly learn that God is truly to deliver us. ”In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:7 Continue Reading…
Will your legacy be founded upon God and His faithfulness: Psalm 76
Is your family renowned for anything? What is your city known for accomplishing? Is your nation remembered as something great? As we look upon the legacies of our families, cities and nations there are many different desires that fill our hearts. Do you what to come from a rich family who has a long lineage reaching back into the past? Do you want to live in a city that played a crucial role in the development of your country? Do you want to live in a nation that defends the world and seeks to build prosperity and equality throughout for all mankind? It is complete foolishness to seek any of these desire no matter how nobel they may seem. The only renown worthy of acknowledgement is one that speaks to the greatness of the God of heaven and earth. Continue Reading…
To rise above the torrent of uninhibited lust: Psalm 73
The world exists in a state uninhibited lust where people seek to satisfy all their desires through a plethora of ways. Does your life of devotion to God seem a meager fare that doesn’t meet your inner desires. Do you wonder why people who seek out the desires of their flesh prosper? Where do we turn for encouragement and strength to press on in this wicked world? If you have questioned wether a life of devotion to God is of greater worth than the lusts of the world you are not alone. In Psalm 73 Asaph, a leader of a temple choir, expresses his distress over the prospering wickedness all around him, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat.” Psalm 73:2-4 Be on guard against the lies that seek to convince you that the ways of the world are greater than the way of God, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.” Psalm 73:13,14 Continue Reading…
Cling to the foundation built upon God’s faithfulness: Psalm 71
Why do you get up in the morning? Do you have an eternal perspective as you live from day to day? Have you felt life becoming completely futile and lacking hope? Whatever we choose to focus our heart, mind, soul and strength upon will shape the outlook we have for life. If you have consistently focused your attention throughout life upon the accumulation of things in this world you are walking a perilous path that will leave you bereft of hope. Psalm 71 describes the beauty of a life wholeheartedly devoted to God. Can we wholeheartedly follow God? Continue Reading…
Lesson from the life of a toddler and the joy of a puppy: Psalm 28
I love the lessons that we learn from babies. Their nature is completely raw and laid bare as they express their feelings. How often does a toddler require assurance that they are safe? I have often observed young children happily playing only to suddenly express worry and cry out looking for their parents. The child is longing for the assurance that they are safe and that help is readily available. This same need for assurance can be seen in the behavior of a newborn puppy who is eagerly playing one moment and in an instant they are looking about them making sure that their owner is at hand. There is an inherent need found with in all of creation for security, rest and peace. As we grow up we continue to seek out assurance that we are safe. Many times the item we seek out for assurance becomes an idol that doesn’t truly give any lasting security, rest or peace. Continue Reading…
The incontrovertible necessity for daily renewal with God: Psalm 5
Do you truly believe that God is your King? When David states, “Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You do I pray.” in Psalms 5:1 what is he thinking about God? The king of Israel was stating that God was the king of his life. How can we presume to live our lives without God when a powerful and mighty man is running to God for his help and strength. Do you believe that your wisdom and intelligence are great enough to carry you through this life without God? We will never have joy if we do not run to God. It is counterintuitive to seek out our help from God but He is the only source of that lasting joy and hope that our deepest desire craves.
There was a point in my life when I regarded a daily time in God’s Word as a secondary part of my routine that I would seek out only after my desires were met. I was wrong. After many months of consistent time seeking out God in the Old Testament I can affirm the absolute necessity for every believer to take time each day to meditate on the truths of God. The relationship with God that is kindled from your daily time in the Word will remind you of who God is and his amazing nature. When your perspective is grounded daily on God you will find strength to endure every moment. Continue Reading…
Arise, cleanse, and restore the Temple: 2 Chronicles 29 and 30
What was important to Hezekiah? After the reign of Ahaz the kingdom of Judah is left in complete disarray. The temple is defiled and the people are worshiping idols and sacrificing their children. What would you do if you were Hezekiah? “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them.” 2 Chronicles 29:3 The greatest concern of Hezekiah when he took over the reign of Judah was to restore the people’s dependance on God. What effect did Ahaz’s damage to the Temple have on the people when they were barred from entry? How should leader handle a situation where people have lost all regard for God?
It was vitally important for Hezekiah to tell the people of Judah how they strayed from God as seen in 2 Chronicles 29:6-11. The heart of Hezekiah is laid bare before the priests and Levites of Judah, “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.” 2 Chronicles 29:10,11 Why is a tenderhearted leader so important? Hezekiah needed the priests and Levites to help point the people of Judah back to God. His openness before the people shows how sincerely he desired that all of Judah seek after God. If you are a leader do you openly share your heart with those you lead? What effect does that openness have? Continue Reading…
