Thursday, May 28, 2015

BEING LOVED BY GOD IS REAL!














I AM AMAZED BY GOD’S LOVE FOR ME!

Psalm 139:17-22
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

As David has reviewed the omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of God, he is overwhelmed by these truths. The boundlessness of God’s thoughts and knowledge not only cannot be understood, but they cannot possibly be measured by finite man. The fact that God would entertain thoughts of a mere man is, therefore, surprising - and the reality that this knowledge does not cause God to seek distance from that man is even more astounding! When David awakes, the infinite God of the universe is still close to him.

When I reflect on these truths, I, too, am surprised. Why would God have time for me? I am so small and inconsequential, compared to the whole world. People are confronted with problems so much bigger that mine; others seem to have a much greater influence in the world, but God chooses to care for me! And yet it is no problem for God to care for all others at the same time. His care for me is effortless, complete, and particular!

When I wake, I am still with God! We can be abandoned by family, friends, even by brothers and sisters in Christ, but God will never do that! Can you and I not be humbled and amazed by these truths? Since these things are true, then, what kind of lives should we lead? The answer is obvious! We should have incredible peace and trust within, and we should be bearers of the good news! How can we keep this wonderful truth to ourselves? How can it not affect our families, jobs, churches, in fact, all of our relationships? Sadly, we know it often doesn’t, and then the answer is easy: we are living as if it isn’t true!

David’s next reaction seems to be sudden and extreme. There is a sense that he wants to distance himself from all those who do not love and worship God the way they should. I believe that he wants to make sure that his own reactions are right and that in no way will he embrace the ungodly reactions of those who hate God. God hates evil and David hates it, too. Nor will he be part of any action that slanders the name of God.

David lived in the midst of God’s enemies, but he was not afraid to be counted their enemy or make them his enemies, if it meant honoring the God he loved. He certainly did not feel superior to them; he had simply chosen whose side he was on.

Are we ready to denounce actions that dishonor God, as David was?  Are we willing to be enemies of those who are enemies of God? What we know about God must make a difference in the way we conduct our lives and, consequently, will impact the kind of relationships we have with others. Jesus stated this fact very clearly:

John 15:18-20
        “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Persecution, division, hatred and difficulties are to be expected toward us from all those who do not love Christ. They hated Jesus, Who never did anything wrong. He only proclaimed truth and exposed error!


May our lives show that we are more fearful to dishonor God, Who loves us and cares for us perfectly, than to dishonor those men who are God’s enemies!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

I WAS PLANNED, WANTED, AND CREATED BY GOD!













GOD HAS PLANNED EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE


Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

As David has recognized the omniscient God who is also omnipresent, and has realized the complete and accurate scrutiny of his life, he now addresses the omnipotence of the LORD.

Psalm 139:13-16
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

God is the Creator and the Sustainer of his life. David has to stop and praise His Lord for the intricate work He has done in creation. Life is not the result of nature taking its course, but it is the result of God’s active intervention. Every human being is individually and carefully created.

God’s work started before life ever started, for before we were conceived, we were planned by the almighty God. Not only was our creation planned, but every day of our life was written.

It is an amazing thought that man not only is in the hands of God for his creation, but is completely dependent on God for every breath he takes.

Does God really know me? Does He know what is best for me? Does He know how to take care of me? All these questions are certainly answered by these verses. So the question we need to answer is this: how many of our attitudes reflect these truths?

When we think of our life or wonder about our health, are we resting in God’s creative and sustaining hand?  Are we grateful for the way God has made us? God’s works are wonderful; they are perfect; we are exactly the way God intended for us to be!

In a world where abortion is so prominent, can we trust God to be fulfilling His purposes? Obviously, God is never the author or initiator of sin, but He is in control of every life. Every life is in the hands of our all-wise God from the moment of its physical conception.

What a relief it is for all expectant couples to know that the little life that is being formed within is in God’s total control, and every moment of that life has been planned before the baby was ever formed.  

As I watch my children and grandchildren grow, I can rest assured that their lives are in the hands of the almighty Creator God!

God’s intimate knowledge of everything about us began before our lives even began! Does this thought amaze you, the way it amazes me? Are you overcome with praise and awe?

The fact that God knew me before I was formed and knew everything about me does amaze me. God knew everything I would think or do; He knew every place I would go and He chose to love me!

I am just one of many multitudes in the world, but I am not insignificant to God. I was planned and wanted by God! My life is in His hands, so I can trust Him and have peace!




Thursday, May 21, 2015

WHY DO YOU FEEL ALONE?















GOD IS HERE, I CANNOT HIDE!


Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

David has dealt with the scrutiny in his life by the all-knowing God. The omniscience of God was cause for both fear and amazement in the life of David. As the writer continues his song of praise to the LORD, he speaks of one more very important attribute of God.

Psalm 139:7-12
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

Not only does God know everything, but He is also everywhere. The way David speaks of this attribute of God suggests that he is reacting to God's omniscience. In other words, it almost seems that although he is awed by the caring scrutiny of God, his fearful response is to want to hide.

But there is no place where he can hide, no place where he can run, and even the darkness of night cannot provide him with privacy.

There is no doubt that our lives would be different if we lived in total awareness that every action was visible to others. I know that my behavior is often affected by the presence of watching human eyes. Therefore, my behavior should be overwhelmingly affected by my awareness of the presence of God!

Every choice to sin proves that I am not taking into account the truth that God is completely aware of what I am doing. I might hide things from men, but nothing is hidden from God.
                                                                      
On the positive side, Gods presence should give us an incredible sense of peace. To know that we are never far from our heavenly Father should cause us to have such rest in Him that fretting and worrying should never be part of our thinking.

David not only makes us aware of the presence of God, but also makes it clear that He is actively present. His hand will lead us and His right hand will hold us. Let us not gloss over these encouraging and amazing truths!

God is always there to lead us. There is no place where He does not go before us, no place where we need to fend for ourselves. He knows where we are, He is where we are, and He holds us when we need to be held.

When I feel alone, my feelings are wrong. If I feel abandoned, that is never true. When I feel crushed, Gods hand is there to hold me. Paul knew very well that God would lead him into hard times so that he would become more aware of Gods presence and care, and display to others his dependence upon that care, which then glorifies the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10
            But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

What an amazing truth: when I am going through a hard time, Gods intention is for me to become more dependent on Him and to become more aware of His presence, and ultimately for Him to receive more glory, as our trust and peace in Him is observed.

We might be far from every one we know, but God is always near! We might feel that we are in a very dark tunnel, but for God there is no darkness!

As we reflect on these truths, two things should happen: The awareness of Gods presence should be a deterrent to sin and it should be a deterrent to despair.

Again, the scrutiny of God is amazing. Not only does He know everything about me, but He is also always close to me.

May our decisions, attitudes, actions, and reactions reflect our awareness of these attributes of God. We are totally cared for!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

HAS THE AMAZING BECOME “NORMAL”?














READ PSALM 139

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT ME!

Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

Several reactions come to my mind, as I read this well-loved psalm by David.

First of all, we notice that David addressed God as LORD. The self-existent and self-sustaining One, the ‘I AM’, is interested in man - in me!  David has expressed this same idea in another psalm:

Psalm 8:4
What is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Does this thought become “normal” to us? Certainly, when we stop to concentrate on it, we are surprised, amazed, humbled, and overwhelmed by this truth. But how does it flesh out in our daily attitudes, in our expectations, in our prayer life, in our service, in our relationships, in our purity, in our sanctification? In other words, how does God’s care for us impact every aspect of our lives?

This first reaction is followed by emotions of both joy and fear. I cannot hide in the masses of humanity, for God is carefully scrutinizing my life, and this produces the fear of God. All of our thoughts and actions that we assume no one notices are not only noticed by God, but evaluated and weighed by Him. But at the same time, when people around us do not seem to be able to really understand how we feel or what we are going through, we are overwhelmed with thanksgiving by the fact that God does know and fully understand everything about us.

God’s knowledge of us began before the foundation of the world, and continues every day of our life and for eternity. God’s searching and knowledge is loving, thorough, and constant.  Are these thoughts producing responses in your life? We should be quick to obey, quick to repent, quick to trust, quick to rejoice because of this realization.

David goes on to describe four attributes of God that express the quality of God’s searching knowledge of us and then expresses some of his reactions.

Psalm 139:2-6
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

The first attribute that David mentions is God’s omniscience. The all-knowing God is searching me and knowing me!

God is aware of every movement in my life. In fact, He is aware of the thoughts that precede and produce my actions. God is totally aware of the reasons I do the things I do! Nothing surprises God about our lives. He knows the history, the patterns, the habits, the decisions that accompany our every action. When we speak, God knows exactly why we said the things we did, for our words express our hearts, which God knows intimately.

God’s knowledge surrounds us on every side. God is never unaware, He is never distracted, He never overlooks, He never forgets.

We can meditate on these truths, but understanding them completely is impossible. David expressed this clearly, when he said that “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

It is a wonderful truth. We cannot remain unchanged by it, even though our human understanding of it is so limited.

If I would only be more aware that God continually searches me and knows me, I would certainly weigh my actions, attitudes, and plans more carefully. In other words, my life would become more closely aligned to His will and His ways!

I think that we need to take time to pray and ask God to help us to live with a greater and more continual awareness of His omniscience. And then ask Him to enable us to walk according to His Word.

May our lives be different today, because we know that we are under the careful and loving scrutiny of our all-knowing God.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

THOSE WHO KNOW GOD’S GRACE MUST BE HUMBLE











BLESSED BY THE PROMISES!

Psalm 138:1-3
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

We are not sure what the occasion for this psalm of David is. There is a possibility that he is referring to the Davidic covenant. For sure, God’s characteristics cause David to praise his LORD: His steadfast love, His faithfulness, for being the only true God, for His sovereign position, for His character, for His trustworthy word, for answered prayer, and for strengthening of a man’s soul. There is no doubt that these are also reasons for us to be grateful to God. May our gratitude be as complete and clear as David’s was!

The most amazing part of the Davidic covenant was the promise of a coming Messiah Who would reign forever.

2 Samuel 7:11-17
        …Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
       
One day every knee will bow, and every king and authority will recognize the authority of the LORD. God’s word will be recognized as true and He will be truly glorified by all. David’s recognition of the high position of God could not help but remind us all of our own humble position before God. Those who truly worship God cannot approach Him with haughtiness or pride.

Psalm 138:4-6
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.

God sees the heart, so the arrogance and pride of man is clearly visible to him.

Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

1 Peter 5:5
        …Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility before God will also produce appropriate humility before men. Unless God works in our hearts, we will never be the obedient and humble people we should be. Our prayer must be to ask God for His help, as we live our lives among God’s enemies.

Psalm 138:7-8
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

What a privilege it is, to know that God’s hand is there to deliver us. God has purposes for us that He will fulfill. David knew that the Lord would not leave His work undone. Even though I am sure there were times when David knew he did not deserve God’s grace, and times when the fulfillment of His promises was not evident, he did know that God’s steadfast love and faithfulness were his assurance and certain hope.


As we live our lives, we should also remember that our relationship with God is based on His grace. We therefore approach God in total humility, trusting His steadfast love and faithfulness to continue the work that He has begun in us. These truths produced gratitude and praise in David’s life, and they should do the same for us.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PRAISING IS HARD!













A TIME FOR TEARS
  
Psalm 137:1-3
By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
we hung up our lyres.
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

Have you ever been in a situation where singing and praising God seemed totally impossible? Where the desolation of a situation was overwhelming you?

The children of Israel knew it well. They were deported by the Babylonians, and then taunted by their captors to sing, when there was no desire in them to sing at all. Their lack of singing was not because they did not love Jerusalem, but because they were captives without the possibility of returning there.

They had been warned that their sin would bring on God’s judgment and they had been told that this was the reason they had been made captives. But now, utterly mournful, they waited for the day that God would forgive them and rescue them.

Sin brings consequences, and there are seasons when our sin weighs on us. The scars will indeed remain with us, but there is hope.

God desires total submission and dependence on Him, and He will do all that is necessary to bring His children back to Himself. We know that our Heavenly Father loves us and has promised to never forsake us. Although we forsake Him, He is faithful forever.

The children of Israel, over their long history of sinning against God in the scriptures, were shown mercy and forgiveness over and over again, when they cried out to Him in repentance. Today they are lost and far away from God, but they are not forsaken. They will be restored in due time!

No matter how many proud-hearted steps we have taken away from God, it takes just one humble step to return to Him: God expects repentance.

1 John 1:8-10
            If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

There is forgiveness for those who confess their sins, and complete restoration of our relationship with God. There will be consequences, there will be scars, but God will use them for His purposes. True repentance does not demand anything from God; it humbly accepts God’s work in our lives.

Our relationship with God begins by grace, and it is maintained by grace alone. We present ourselves to God, unable to offer anything, and we continue in total dependence upon His grace.

There are times of sorrow where singing seems hard or impossible, but they are seasons that will end, as God’s loving mercy embraces us. The world has no real hope, for they live distracted by their idols. True believers do not rely on distractions, but rather concentrate on the One Who died so that we could have hope.

Those who know this hope have a song, one that exalts the eternal love and grace of God. His great love does not overlook sin, but has generously provided a solution for it through faith in Christ’s atonement for our sins.

I, too, have scars and I know that my sin has had consequences, but I also know the grace of God. My job today is to live a life that pleases God, to warn others, and to proclaim the goodness of God.

David learned the consequences of his sins. He had the scars, but he also knew very well the joy of restoration after true repentance and again was able to serve His Lord. God gave him the privilege to write inspired Scriptures from what he learned.

Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.

Psalm 51:7-8
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
           

Psalm 51:15-17
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.


God’s graciousness toward us is astounding; we are truly blessed! May we live in light of God’s steadfast love!

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

LOVED PERFECTLY FOREVER!



DO NOT FORGET GOD’S GOODNESS

Psalm 136:1-3
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

  • There are no days when we should not give thanks
  • There are no spouses for whom we should not give thanks
  • There are no children for whom we should not give thanks
  • There are no parents for whom we should not give thanks
  • There are no brothers or sisters in Christ for whom we should not give thanks
  • There are no relatives for whom we should not give thanks
  • There are no people for whom we should not give thanks
  • There are no events for which we should not give thanks
  • There are no situations for which we should not give thanks
  • There are no injustices received for which we should not give thanks
  • There are no health reasons for which we should not give thanks
  • There are no circumstances for which we should not give thanks
  • There are no jobs for which we should not give thanks…

This list is without end because the LORD is good, He is the only true God, and He is sovereign over all.

God is good, God is wise, God is all-powerful, and God is loving. His steadfast love endures forever.

He loved us in eternity past; He loves us now, and will love us forever. All we experience comes from His creative and purposeful hand, and even though God cannot do evil, He allows even evil in our lives for our own ultimate good.

His love is never capricious, but it is perfect, unchanging, complete, faithful, and eternal. When God loves, He can only do it perfectly, so when we are the objects of His love, we are loved perfectly!

Therefore, deep gratitude should be part of our lives every moment of every day. We are loved by the Creator, the Sustainer, the perfect Caregiver. And His perfect love for us is continues through eternity!

Psalm 136:23-25
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Have we forgotten our former, needy state without God? Have we forgotten how God has saved us from our enemies? Have we forgotten God’s provision in our life?

How much better to be thankful for God’s perfect love!

Gratefulness produces worship!
Gratefulness produces reverence!
Gratefulness produces submission!
Gratefulness produces obedience!
Gratefulness produces service!
Gratefulness produces love!
Gratefulness produces godliness!

Psalm 136:26
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

What a great way to start each day of the rest of our lives!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD! PRAISE HIM!














DON’T ALLOW CIRCUMSTANCES TO DISTRACT YOU

Psalm 135:13
Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

This encouraging psalm reminds us that God never changes: in His reputation, His character, His sovereign control and power, His providential care, His love, nor in any other of His attributes! He is the only true God and we are called to praise Him. Our praise is the visible expression of what we believe about God, of what our hearts are embracing, and how much we trust Him.

The writer’s use of ‘LORD’ reminds us that God is Jahweh, ‘I AM WHO I AM’. We should be awed by the God who is like no other. He is perfect, He does not need anyone; He is eternal, unchanging, self-sustaining, the creator, the sustainer of all - and the list could on and on. The LORD is good! All He does is good, and all He allows is good.
           
Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

Not only is He the LORD and good, but He is also has sovereign control! He is supremely powerful: no one can hinder His decisions, no place is unreached by His authority. All creation is His dominion. He does what He pleases, and all that pleases Him is good and brings glory to Himself!

Psalm 135:5-7
For I know that the LORD is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

This God is taking care of me! Why am I worrying? Why am I complaining? Why do I get discouraged? Why do I get bitter? Why do I not forgive? Why am I not joyful? Why am I not resting? I HAVE NO EXCUSE!

Psalm 135:14
For the LORD will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

Why would I ever look elsewhere for guidance and help? Any other ‘god’ is the creation of man, as is any information about God that does not come from the Scriptures.

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.

How saddening it is, that all over the world there are people who venerate, worship or bow down to idols made by man. And even if their idols are not actually fashioned by men’s hands, so many have idols of their hearts: desires that replace their rightful worship of the one, true God. Let us be wary when our focus wanders to self and this world’s values, and turn it instead to praising the LORD!

Psalm 135:19-21
O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD!

When things are difficult in our lives and we allow our feelings to distract us from the character and work of God, we need to come back to this psalm and allow God’s Word to nudge us back into focusing on Him. Often we drift slowly almost without noticing.
Situations can so quickly take our attention from the Lord’s enduring sovereignty, robbing us of peace, and plummeting our spirits downward. We need to be reminded that God is always is control. He controls our health, our family, our job, our relationships, our all!

A life of praise and thanksgiving to God will be the springboard for a faithful, credible testimony about Him to those who need to hear.