Have you ever spent an entire night before and examination studying in the hopes that you can earn a passing grade? I never found cramming to be an effective way of learning. The rapid review of facts may give and illusion of comprehension but there will be no knowledge. “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’”Jeremiah 5:21-24 Continue Reading…
Turn, walk, and love the fear of God: Jeremiah 5 and 6
Fear God and keep His commandments: Ecclesiastes 11 and 12
“If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:3,4 Are you guided by wisdom throughout your day? Has your life been marked by wisdom? Throughout life there are circumstances that cause uncertainty and doubt. Will you find guidance in wisdom? ”Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:7,8 Rejoice and know that wisdom governs all the days of your life. You will find joy in the lighthearted days and guidance in the days of darkness. Continue Reading…
It is all about God and not about us: Psalm 112
What does it mean to fear the Lord? How do we reconcile the idea that we will feel delight and a desire to praise God while we fear Him? “Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.” Psalm 112:1 Should the fear of the Lord bring a negative connotation our mind? This fear of God should not be equated with the sin tainted fear that is all too common throughout the world. To fear the Lord is to look upon Him as the creator God who creates, upholds, and judges all things. We need to see the great awe and wonder of God that compels us to fall on our knees and worship Him. Out of this fear, awe and wonder we will be compelled to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength because of His nature expressed towards us. This wholehearted love expression will also manifest itself to the people around us as we delight in God. We delight in God and praise His name because of who He is and what He has done. Continue Reading…
Satisfying delight found in knowing and clinging to God: Psalm 111
What causes a sense of great delight to fill your heart? Have things in your home have brought you a deep satisfying delight? Do you delight in the friends and family that fellowship with you? Does the satisying feeling you get endure beyond a single moment? Every item that you cherish and delight in will never give you lasting hope and satisfaction. Psalm 111 encourages all believers to find their ultimate delight in God. “He has made His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate forever. He has made known to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations… He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” Psalm 111:4-6,9 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…
True motivation sourced in a love of God: 2 Kings 23 and 24
Why do we seek to obey God? What is the reason for our faith? How often is a relationship with God reduced to a barter economy where we build up credit for our behavior to obtain something from God? After the book of the law was shown to Josiah he set about tearing down, burning, and defiling all the idols and places of worship that were shown to be wicked from the book of the law. What compelled Josiah to cast down the idols that had been built up with in Israel and Judah for generations? Was he hoping to win God’s favor? The actions of Josiah make me question why I do things ‘for God’ in my own life. Deep down what are the motives behind our faith and hope in Jesus Christ? Continue Reading…
What kind of example does your life portray: 2 Kings 11 and 12
What kind of influence does a person’s upbringing have on them? Do the actions of parents and guardians matter when a child is raised? The question of how a God fearing legacy is instilled from generation to generation was brought to mind again as I read 2 Kings 11 and 12. In the midst of all the idolatry happening in both Israel and Judah were there children raised who feared God?
After Ahaziah the king of Judah was killed by Jehu Athaliah proclaimed herself queen. In order to make herself queen Athaliah sought to kill all of the royal offspring but Joash the son of Ahaziah was hidden in the house of the Lord for six years and kept safe from her. How did growing up in the house of the Lord impact the life of Joash? Continue Reading…
Ichabod – The glory has departed from Israel: 1 Samuel 3 and 4
I have found it important while reading 1 Samuel to remember the overall picture that this book fits into. The book of 1 Samuel is tied to both the books of Judges and Ruth because they are telling the story of the time when God raises up judges over the people of Israel. The people of Israel are doing what they find to be best in their own eyes instead of seeking after God. Upon this scene the young boy Samuel is born and dedicated to God by his mother Hannah. Continue Reading…
What is the true meaning of sacrifice: Deuteronomy 17 and 18
Why does God require an unblemished ox or sheep to be used as a sacrifice? In Deuteronomy 17 Moses reminds the people of Israel that they shall never offer a blemished sacrifice to God. It seems a little weird to me at first to think that God wanted perfect animal to be sacrificed. I tried to place myself into the story of the Israelites in Deuteronomy and that is when I started to understand why it was important. Let me put this command in a more modern sense. My sacrificing a blemished animal would be me giving my church money only after I have everything I need or it is like donating your car to your church only after you have upgraded to a new and better one. Continue Reading…
