Does our faith in God cause our lives to be free from trouble and trials? How does our faith in God change our outlook on life and the circumstances we face? We may desire to have a guaranteed way of making our lives carefree and easy but would we be truly satisfied with such a life? “‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,’ let Israel now say, ‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; yet they have not prevailed against me.’” Psalm 129:1,2 When our lives intersect with our faith in God there is no great transformation that changes the circumstances we endure but the transformation occurs within our hearts as we have a hope that is greater than our circumstances. We will face many difficult times in our lives but we will be enabled to overcome all trouble because God loves His beloved. Continue Reading…
Perspective transformed where life and faith intersect: Psalm 129
Truth of salvation is our seed of hope: Psalm 126
Do you feel that you are far from God today? Have you lost your first love for God in the midst of the business of life? The burdens we carry through life will seem insurmountable as they overwhelm us. When we take our focus off of God our feeble faith fails as we grasp at the idols we have surrounded ourselves with. Where can we find our help? God’s faithfulness is greater than the bonds that hold sway over us. He will not forget us and He is the one who restores. “When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter and out tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad” Psalm 126:1-3 You may feel cut off from hope and joy but God will bring you back to Him. Cling to the truth that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross of Calvary. The truth of salvation will be your seed of hope in the darkness of your circumstances. Continue Reading…
Fix your eyes upon an everlasting hope: Psalm 74
What do you do when the you are overwhelmed by the sin cursed world, enemies surrounding you prosper and you feel forgotten? Who are the enemies of christians today? The people who are the adversaries of God are the enemies of christians today. If the wicked of this world crucified Jesus Christ will they spare those who are His disciples? Our lives exist in the midst of a spiritual war zone that seeks to claim as many causalities as possible. The theme of Psalm 74 is one of dependance upon God in moments when that spiritual war is felt more acutely. Continue Reading…
The joy of a life surrendered to God: Psalm 16
What is your most treasured possession? Where is your joy and fulfillment found? Is the foundation of your life a bulwark that cannot be moved? There is great joy found in David’s Psalm 16 as he expresses the delights of God. He delights in the Lord and in Him he placed his hope. He found an immense joy in God that could be found nowhere else.
David desired to follow in the footsteps of the people of renown from generations past? Do you look upon the people who have walked this road of faith before you and long for a fraction of their faith. The faith of generations past seems like something to desire but that faith was developed through many difficult circumstances that shaped each person through some dark moments of life. Your faith is uniquely blessed because God has brought you through many different circumstances to build you up. Embrace the faith that God has bestowed upon you and move forward encouraging those around you. Continue Reading…
The question of life is one based upon authority: Psalm 2
How often do people strive and fight against God’s authority in their life? What is the reality of man’s futile strife with God? In Psalms 2 we see that it is folly for anyone to presume that they can break away from God’s authority? Our intrinsic desire is to throw down the authority around us whether it be in our family, work place, nation. We don’t want to submit to anything that will take away from our devotion to ourself. We strive to get away from the supremacy of God my recreating God in an idolatrous image that makes Him impotent while granting an illusion of power to us. The almighty God of heaven and earth can never be changed to allow our own desires to thrive. Continue Reading…
Contrast shows peoples true feelings: Job 29 and 30
Do we long for the glorious past? Do we sometimes think that God has forgotten us? In Job 29 and 30 Job reflects on everything that has changed since the calamity fell upon him. As Job speaks we get a greater understanding and picture of his life. Prior to losing his children, livelihood and health, Job’s life was marked by renown, admiration, respect, notoriety, charity and compassion. People looked at Job with an awe and wonder at all that he was blessed with and all that he did for others. Did this acknowledgement from men cause pride to develop in Job? After suffering so much loss Job was taunted, spit upon and talked about as he suffered persecution and cruelty from those who once looked up to him. There is a stark contrast between the life of Job before and after the troubling times. Continue Reading…
Hope secured in the mystery of God’s concern for mankind: Job 23 and 24
Job desires to find God and proclaim the wrongs that have happened in Job chapter 23. Would he really argue his case before God? Could any man stand to argue his case before God? The almighty God is so far above our concerns yet He still cares about us. Worship, awe and reverence would be the only thoughts in our mind were God to appear before us. Job knew and understood that God is infinitely greater than himself but he also knew that God cared about him. Does the knowledge that God cared about him make Job more confused? Is it necessary for us to endure difficult moments for us to appreciate God’s reason for ordaining and allowing the situation to happen? Continue Reading…
Will faith endure amid a torrent of questions: Job 13 and 14
“Be silent before me so that I may speak; then let come on me what may. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands? Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before His presence. Listen carefully to my speech, and let my declaration fill your ears. Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. Who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.” Job 13:13-19 The end of the first round of discussions between Job, Zophar, Bildad and Eliphaz comes to a close in Job chapters 13 and 14. Continue Reading…
Direction is found in the strength of leadership: Nehemiah 13
“Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of My God and for His service.” Nehemiah 13:14
“Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of Your steadfast love.” Nehemiah 13:22b
“Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:30b
Is leadership easy? Should anyone ever desire to lead people? Do people choose to be leaders because they desire power? Through the eyes of the world it is important to be a leader because it will add to what you have and it will help you to get more. What is Biblical leadership? In Nehemiah 13 we get a glimpse of a true leader. In this chapter the people of Israel have fallen back to the ways of their fathers while Nehemiah was absent from the city. Nehemiah had his eyes open to the evil that the people in Jerusalem were committing and he chose to take action. Continue Reading…
Joy returns when God is placed first: Nehemiah 11 and 12
What is happening in Nehemiah 11 and 12? You are faced with many names again which may make you want to tune out the details of the text. What is happening in the story of Israel? “And they offered great sacrifices that and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with a great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:43 ESV Why are details given about the priests and Levites? Why was there such joy in Jerusalem? Why list the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel? Continue Reading…
