Tuesday, September 29, 2015

DON’T TAKE MATTERS IN YOUR OWN HANDS!














ARE YOUR ENEMIES DRIVING YOU TO GOD?

Psalm 17:1-2
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!

God wants us to pray! And here, David is expecting the eternal, sustaining LORD to listen to his prayer. David is not taking matters in his own hands; he is approaching God with humble expectation that God will look, evaluate and respond to his needs in righteousness.

It is so easy, when we are going through hard times, to want to take matters into our own hands. We might do this by retaliating in word or in deeds, or, as it happens to me, exposing the deeds of others by complaints or accusations. What is certain in this Psalm is that David is showing total dependence on God. His behavior has remained righteous.

Psalm 17:3-5
You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

David has guarded his heart, he has purposed to watch the words of his mouth, he has not spent time thinking of human responses, and he has controlled his actions. He has followed the paths of God, and has been careful not to slip. David is describing the path to righteousness that we, too, should follow. Our first step is to inspect our hearts. Are we storing up anger, disappointment, bitterness, revenge, unhappiness? When we allow these attitudes to build up in our hearts, our mouths will eventually speak accordingly. We should be the first ones to listen to what we say. We tend to justify evil talk, minimizing it as ‘venting’ or ‘blowing off steam’. Sometimes, we prefer to appear more spiritual by asking for advice or prayer, when in truth we are seeking revenge by exposing others - not for their benefit, but to provide some kind of selfish satisfaction or relief. As we allow our hearts to go in a wrong direction, our mouths will expose this, while our minds will produce the ungodly reactions and deeds that soon will follow.

How I need to focus upon the ways of God! The problems and the people will not disappear. What I need is to go to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 17:6-7
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

David has no doubt that God will listen. He knows that he is loved with everlasting, faithful love. God loves His children to run to Him in the midst of their problems. Have you taken the time to reflect on the fact that God is allowing those people and situations in your life in order to attract you to Himself, and to cause you to loosen your grip on the world? God is meticulously working to bring you closer to Him, so He can wonderfully embrace you with His love. Too often, we go to God with predetermined solutions in mind. We then tend to evaluate His love, based upon the answers conforming to what we wanted. Instead, our prayers to the Savior God must be accompanied by complete trust in His will and His providence. God’s response will always show His loving care for us.

The wickedness of David’s enemies was, however, real and seemingly overwhelming.

Psalm 17:8-14
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.
Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
from men by your hand, O LORD,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

The description of these enemies is one of people who have closed their hearts towards God. They live for what is temporal. They will do whatever they can to achieve their human desires. David has not followed the ways of his enemies; he has found refuge under the wings of his LORD.

We must ask ourselves if our lives are driven in by the same desires and goals that the world has. Or are we driven by what has eternal goals and values? What is really causing our distress?

David made the wise decision:

Psalm 17:15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

David chose to look to his God, satisfied by his relationship with his Lord. Is this true of you and me? Let us emulate David, who found his pleasure and satisfaction in God, not in circumstances or people.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

WHERE DOES YOUR MIND TAKE YOU WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES?













HAVE YOU LOST SIGHT OF GOD?

Psalm 16:1-2
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

What a wonderful, confident prayer. David is asking for the protection and preservation of the LORD. He has found his resting place in the care of his Lord. Submissive and obedient, David’s decision is resolute, as he knows that there is no other place where he can find true protection.

We should have the same kind of resolution in our own lives. All too often, we look for protection through our own ideas or from the opinions of men. We allow the world to dictate where and how to find rest. We allow the same troubles that produce unrest and worry for unbelievers to cause turmoil in our lives.

However, we know that David had learned to find his place in the arms of his Lord. It is the difficult times that send us running to find shelter. It is during the dark times when we look for the light. It is in the lonely times when we look for the eternal love of God. It is when we recognize that we are lost sheep that we look for the Good Shepherd!

Trials drive those who have chosen the Lord as their only Lord into His arms!

David has also learned to choose his friends carefully.

Psalm 16:3-4
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

When a soldier is at war, he does not look for protection in the enemy’s camp. The athlete looks for his teammates when he is in competition. David knew that spending time with God’s enemies would expose him to their corruption and problems. Spending time with those who love God was both an encouragement and a joy for David.

The local church is the gift that God has given to believers. There they can find protection, rest, instruction, encouragement and so much more. A believer, who lives a comfortable life in the world, away from a local church, needs to reevaluate his spiritual life,  his priorities and life goals.

David knows that trusting God has been a blessing for him.

Psalm 16:5-6
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

God’s care has produced pleasant results in the present, and gives him certain hope for the future. This assurance continues to guide his days and produces rest at night.

Psalm 16:7-8
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

David has been instructed from the Word of God. He has wisdom as he deals with his daily situations, and has peace during the night. It is at night when we tend to reflect and worry, but nights were not restless for David, because he had chosen where to set his eyes. He knew that the LORD, the Creator and sustainer of all, was by his side. How could he fret when he was so well-protected?

Where do our minds go when we stop and reflect? Are we looking at our problems, or to God, Who holds everything in His hand? Do we lose sight of the God Who has promised to be by our side? If God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us, will He not love us enough to give us what is best for us every day of our lives?

Psalm 16:9-10
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

David is certain of the care of God. He is rejoicing; he is secure. His eternal state is not in question. It would seem that David could not know of the work the Messiah would accomplish to provide this eternal security for His children. Peter preached at Pentecost, using these verses to prove that even David, as he put his trust in God, had shown faith in God’s future provision.

If David could, by faith, have such surety, then how could we have less? We have placed our eternal state in the hands of God. So, how could we not trust Him for our everyday circumstances? If God is powerful enough to secure our life after death, He is surely strong and wise enough to take care of us every day!

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

There is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures in the hands of our Lord and Savior. The focus of our lives here on earth is not to avoid difficulties and problems, for they are used, in the hands of God, to produce spiritual maturity and sanctification in us. They cause us to learn compassion, so as to be a help for other believers, and to become a call for observing unbelievers to be reconciled to God.

Dear friend, as you journey in a difficult world, with difficult people and difficult problems don’t lose sight of your LORD! Meditate on what is true and eternal. Live for that which is of eternal value!

Monday, September 21, 2015

GODLINESS IS A WAY OF LIFE NOT AN EVENT!













FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: A HUMBLE RESPONSIBILITY!

Psalm 15
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

As I read these verses, which the psalmist wrote under the inspiration of God, many thoughts stream through my mind.

We see here a description of the walk of a righteous man, yet even in his righteousness, he still humbly asks what kind of man can be in close fellowship with the holy God. For man’s fallen nature affects his every motive and action, causing division between man and God.  So no one could ever have communion with God by his own efforts. It is only God, Himself, who can produce the ability, the desire, and the strength to live righteously.

Romans 7:18
        For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Man, in his flesh, cannot produce any kind of righteousness, even if he desires to do what is right.

Philippians 3:12-16
        Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Striving toward godliness is not a one-time event, but it is the continuous work of God in us, as we press (that is, work hard) toward that goal.

1 Timothy 1:15-16
        The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Paul knew very well that it was God’s mercy to him, a ‘foremost’ sinner, that revealed the work of Christ in him as an encouraging example for future sinners to also believe unto eternal life.

As we read what David has written in this psalm, the humbling reality of God working in us should flood our souls. At the same time, the responsibility to walk in a worthy manner of our salvation is clearly conveyed.

A believer ought to do what is right, and this should be visible to others. His thinking and the meditations of his heart should be biblical. His speech should be pure.

Matthew 12:34-37
        You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The fact that the mouth reveals what is in the heart is a concept repeated frequently in the Scriptures. I so often tend to justify unkind, angry, derogatory, critical, and complaining words. Our first reaction, however, when wrong words come out of our mouths, should be to check our hearts! I need that reminder, and am very thankful for the work that God is doing in my heart, through His word.

David goes on to describe a person who does not do evil and does not rejoice, or even envy, the evil doers. He does not enjoy the company of the evil doers, but takes pleasure in fellowship with the godly.

One of the check-ups we can do in our own hearts is to ask ourselves whom we love to spend time with, and what kind of conversations we have with them. As believers, we should love to spend time with our fellow Christians, and our conversations should be Bible-driven. I am afraid that, for many believers, friendships and conversations are often driven by the same interests and goals that unbelievers have.

Ephesians 5:19-21
        …addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

A believer is not driven by greed! He is generous! Hoarding wealth or personal gain are not what motivate him. He is willing to suffer loss, rather than lose the integrity of his words and promises. Money is not the principal motivation for what he does! We live in a very affluent society, where it is easy not only to be driven by its same goals, but also to be disappointed that we don’t have what others have. Any financial blessings should drive us to generosity and not greed.

Ephesians 4:28
        Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

This kind of living will produce peace and stability, and most of all, humble and grateful communion with God.

What a blessing, to know that Christ prayed for us, that we would live a life pleasing to the Father. May this be our prayer, too!

John 17:11-19
        And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
       


Thursday, September 17, 2015

LIVING LIKE A FOOL!














UNBELIEVERS ARE FOOLISH, TRUE BELIEVERS SHOULD NEVERE BE!


Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

Do you ever get frustrated with the behavior of unbelievers? Do you wonder why terrible things happen in the world? When a person says that there is no God, not only he is a fool, but his path is highway to corruption, to abominable actions. None of the people who deny God do good.

At times, we may assume that because people around us mention ‘god’, they must believe in the God of the Bible. But every god created by false religions is man-made and has no ability to change the status of men. Not believing in the only true God who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures leaves an individual in his foolish state, driven to ungodliness by his nature.

The god of the Muslims, of the Buddhists, of the Mormons, of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, of the true Roman Catholics, or of any other man-made religions is not God; it is a creation of man that produces wrath from the Lord.

Even those people who believe in a syncretistic view of religion, where all beliefs, or at least some beliefs are acceptable, at the end of the day do not believe in the true God, who revealed himself through the Scriptures.

John 14:6
            Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 Timothy 2:5-6
            For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
           
Any person who does not believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to God, and that we make peace with God only on His terms, believes in another gospel, another god.

When we speak with this kind of doctrinal clarity, the reaction of many is to say that we are judgmental and unloving. My reaction is to say that we are faithful to the Bible.

Psalm 14:2-3
The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.

This is not the observation of a man, but a judgment from God. Not only has man declared that there is no God, and has, in his morally foolish behavior, proven his inability to please God, but he does not even look for God. He has turned to alternative gods and worst of all, has replaced God.

Romans 1:21-23
            For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Nature and the conscience of man condemn man for his state of rebellion.

Lest we think that these were evaluations of God for the people during Old Testament times, Paul reasserts them in the New Testament.

Romans 3:9-12
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
            “None is righteous, no, not one;
                        no one understands;
                        no one seeks for God.
            All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
                        no one does good,
                        not even one.”

So what should be the reactions of those who do believe in God?

Psalm 14:4-7
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the LORD?
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is his refuge.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Although the majority of the world lives oblivious of God, the LORD is not unaware and He will protect His own. Believers should trust in the LORD and find refuge in Him.

As believers, we need to stop hoping that the world will get better through human reform. So many believers place great hope in political or moral reform. We need to stop expecting unbelievers to live against their nature. They are sinners and they are bound to sin. We should be grateful to God that He restrains the actions of men. Our culture is not as bad as it would be, if God was not active in restricting evil and showing common grace to men.

As believers, we should not be arrogant or proud in our faith. We have believed because, in His grace, God has revealed Himself to us. We did not seek Him, He called us to Himself. Paul states this very clearly. We know these things, but many times our actions and attitudes show no compassion for the lost.

Ephesians 2:1-10
            And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christby grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
           
As believers, we should rest and trust in God. We should not live in fear, but in total dependence of our great God. Jesus reminds us of this:

John 16:33
            I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

As believers, we must be ambassadors for God. This is not a passive attitude, but truly an active goal of our lives. Those who do not know God are our mission field, our “raison d’etre”, the reason we have been left in this world.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20
            Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

As believers, we are fooling ourselves if we believe this world is going to get better. We act foolishly, if we forget that God is in total control. We behave foolishly, if we become arrogant in our ways. We live foolishly, if we do not live for the progress of the Gospel!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

GOD IS AS REAL AS YOUR PROBLEMS!











WE MUST FOCUS ON GOD, NOT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Psalm 13
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Will it ever stop raining? Will I ever get better? Do things ever get easier? Is that person ever going to change? Will I suffer forever? Will I ever be forgiven? Will I ever see justice? Will I ever find relief? Will I always struggle at work? Will I ever find a mate? Will I ever stop feeling so alone?

God, where are you? Did You forget me? Are You too busy for me? Have You turned the other way?
  
How long will I continue to worry? How long will I continue to be confused and perplexed? How long will my heart be full of sorrow? When are my days ever going to change?

How long will my enemies rejoice in my calamity? How long will my enemies prevail? How long will I continue to be overwhelmed?

How many of us are asking these kinds of questions of God? It certainly does not seem to be the godly way to deal with the trials of life. If David had stopped here, filled with despair, we should certainly be perplexed. 
But as David continues his conversation with the LORD, he calls Him his God. David has made a choice that drives his life. He has chosen Whom he will trust. The eternal, self-sufficient, omniscient One is his God. He is looking to Him to bring hope to his life. He desires God to strengthen him, so that his enemies will not be able to rejoice in his defeat. David’s defeat would be displaying a “shaken” life before his enemies. He is trusting God and he wants his trust to be visible as a testimony to his foes. 
David has clarity about what he has believed. He has trusted the eternal, faithful, and everlasting love of his God. He knows that he will find joy in God’s care. The heart that was full of sorrow is now a heart that hopes, and will rejoice in the care and work of God. He will not continue in his despair, but God will place a song in his heart. His song will praise the LORD Who deals mercifully with him. His God is the one Who vindicates him. He has no doubt that resting in God will produce peace in him, and he knows that God’s sovereign control will produce benefits to his life.

Is this truly a psalm of desperation? I believe that this is a song that describes real problems of life, which are hard to deal with. It also describes the response of a man who has chosen to trust God in the midst of them, knowing that his God is as real as his problems. He is not hopeless!

When facing the real problems of our lives we are tempted to look at our situations and despair, but God wants us to look at Him and trust.

About two years ago, I had the privilege of watching my parents experience this psalm before my eyes. My mom had been diagnosed with terminal acute leukemia, and when we heard the shocking news, our family was blessed to gather together with our parents. Although there were moments of deep sorrow as we faced the upcoming reality of separation from her, at least here on earth, there was also great trust in the Lord displayed.

My mom and dad were truly examples to us, as they lived out their lives in this difficult time. As we parted company with tears, knowing that we might never see Mom again on this side of heaven, we yet were rejoicing in the fact that we were all trusting God and His sovereign will. About six months later mom went to be with the Lord. During all that time, we experienced the loving care of God for her and for all of us who watched her rejoice in her salvation.

This psalm described David’s real struggles with life’s woes and the comforting care of God. Our experience as we awaited my mother’s homegoing displayed the truth that God never changes, that the Scriptures are true, and that we can live through the real struggles of life because God is still active in comforting His own.

Are you tempted to remain in a state of despair? God’s word and His promises need to be your focus and hope!


Thursday, September 10, 2015

ARE YOU TIRED OF ALL THE LIES?












TO WHOM WILL YOU LISTEN?

Psalm 12
Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
You, O LORD, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

In some ways, this psalm describes the same kind of world we live in. David is denouncing the fact that he is surrounded by wicked people. These people utter lies and are boastful in their talk. Even their words that seem appealing are flattering, but not true. Have things changed that much today? We live in a wicked world, where people are driven by their personal interests, where lies are the norm. These lies are spoken to mislead or to flatter for personal gain. We listen to people, but wonder if they are telling the truth. We don’t trust easily because, in our past experience, we have trusted people who proved unworthy of our trust.

How can we survive in this kind of world, without becoming cynical or disgruntled? We look around and we see the destruction caused by the lies of men. People are hurt and oppressed! With arrogance, men promote and defend their lies.

The psalmist shows us that the path of hope lies in trusting the LORD! He is the One who can surely be trusted; He never lies or tries to fool man. His words are pure, and He is always faithful to His words.

We have, in our hands, a book filled with truth, filled with warnings, filled with promises that we can trust in fully.

David begins this psalm by asking God to intervene. He knows that God is aware of every word spoken, and that He is the faithful judge of the veracity of those words.

David has learned to trust the promises, the purity, and the providence of God.

We, on the other hand, often allow the words of men to bring confusion and despair to our lives. We seem more concerned about the things we hear in news reports than the promises we read in God’s Word. We allow the wicked words of men to invade our minds, instead of meditating on the pure words of the Lord.

We act as if we are victims of the actions of men, forgetting that we are covered and protected by the careful providence of our loving Father.

We look with fear at the wolves, when we can set our sights on the Good Shepherd. We live in fear instead of enjoying the peace that comes from God.

We risk being sucked into a world of lies, and living by the standards of those who are trying to fool others. Even believers, at times, find themselves thinking that they need to lie, in order to survive in the world.

James 5:12
        But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Our reputation as believers should be one of truthfulness at all times. Our conversations should be trustworthy. We should not hide, spin, or exaggerate the facts. Our promises should be kept!

God will protect us from a world steeped in lies. He is the Provider. We do not need to be less than truthful in all we do and say.

We are surrounded by many voices. To whom will you choose to listen? What kind of thoughts do you allow to attract your mind What kind of counselors do you choose to listen to?

Philippians 4:8
        Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


Don’t get discouraged. Our heavenly Father will have the last word! And it will be glorious, true, and  eternal! LISTEN TO THE TRUTH!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

ARE YOUR PROBLEMS OBSCURING GOD?












LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD!

Psalm 11
In the LORD I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
For the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

This is a very interesting psalm, for David is responding to the counsel of some to flee from his enemies. But he had, instead, resolved to trust and take refuge in the LORD. He knew that the Creator, self-sufficient God, sustainer, and sovereign Ruler was all he needed.

Amidst the counsel of those who were inviting him to flee, along with the real difficulties he was facing, David is asking himself where else can he go.

The foundations of David’s kingdom, of his life, were being undermined. Was there any hope?

Many of us have committed our lives to the Lord, but there are times, when surrounded by many voices and facing a world that is crumbling, we are tempted to ask ourselves the same questions. Is there any hope?  What can we do?

It was during those times of fog that David did not forget what he had seen clearly in the light. He knew that God was reigning from above. Not only was He in control, but all His actions were motivated by His character. The LORD is holy and righteous; He reigns from a viewpoint totally different from what man could ever hope to see. God is watching. He never loses interest; He is never distracted, He sees the past, the present, and the future. He sees the motives and the thoughts that precede every action. How could we ever not trust Him? Although we know all this, we still act as if we know what the best outcome is and are disappointed when things do not go our way. Often we allow men to distract us from our firm resolve to trust in God.

Every time I have allowed my confusion or lack of satisfaction to lead my thoughts and actions, it has produced sin. Are there situations that are causing you to question God? Are you allowing a spirit of rebellion to grow within? Beware that God wants you to stop and recognize His rightful position as Ruler of all.

God wants us to recognize His righteousness, to desire righteousness, and to walk in righteousness. God loves it when, in times of testing, His children respond in righteousness.

God is active today, producing His righteousness in me and in you. He is pleased and glorified when we respond, by His power, in a godly fashion. Our lives are made up of many small decisions that can direct us toward, or away from, very big sins.

The righteous will behold His face! Our life on earth is so short, compared to eternity, yet we so frequently allow the temporal to rob us of our focus on the eternal. When we truly live for those things that matter, the things of the world lose their grip on us. May we learn to count our days!


Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.


My goal is to allow God to teach me through trials, people, friends, and the Word, to use my days well. As I learn to give the right value to my days, my hours, my minutes, my seconds, I know that the Spirit will produce in me a wise heart. A wise heart is not distracted by voice of circumstances, for it never loses sight of our heavenly Father! A wise man listens to the LORD!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SO MUCH SIN IN THE WORLD?
















READ PSALM 10

ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED MORE FERVENTLY THAN UNBORN HUMANS

Psalm 10:1
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

How often we are dismayed by the news stories that come across our media, and wonder that the Lord is allowing such rampant sinning against Him.

A godless world, with enemies of God seeming to have control, is not new. It was a problem thousands of years ago, just as it is today. The psalmist describes a world where the wicked oppress the poor, the powerful rule over the weak, men live to satisfy their own lusts, men boast of their wicked deeds, and, in their arrogance, they assert that there is no God. 

So many today are careless about God’s commands, and act as if they are in total control of their own lives.  

Watching the world superficially, one can see scarce cause for hope. The weak and the needy are severely oppressed, and are then tempted to wonder if God even cares or if He is really in control. 

Have you ever wondered where God is? Have you questioned if He really cares? There is so much evil in the world. Animals are protected more fervently than unborn humans. The wicked get richer, while the ones who are honest seem to be in continuous need. Families are victims of the behavior of the ungodly. Deranged people walk into schools, theaters, shopping malls, and kill innocent people. Diseases are causing young and old to suffer. Has God turned His face away? Has God forgotten His own?

The psalmist cries out to God for relief.  
Psalm 10:12
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted. 

As I read this psalm, I cannot overlook the pain of some dear loved ones who are suffering right now. What is God doing? What does He want from us? What is our hope? 

My first thought is that God wants us to focus our trust upon His kingship and His will, rather than upon the pursuits of this passing world. He wants us to trust Him to deal justly with the wicked, who despise both the afflicted and God, Himself. (Psalm 10:3-11) 

1 John 2:15-17 
                Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.               

God wants our grip on the things of the world to be loosened. He wants us to desire Him more than anything else. He wants us to desire what is eternal. I know for sure that an easy life can be much more spiritually dangerous for us than injustice or material needs are. 
What a wonderful gift, to have our attention redirected to Him and become more and more able to see our dependence upon Him! 

Believers have nothing to fear:
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
                “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
                “O death, where is your victory?
                  O death, where is your sting?”

Paul had the right focus: an eternal perspective on both the present and the future. 

Philippians 1:21-26
                For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 

Paul knew that, as long as he was alive, he was to live for Christ.  He lived for the progress of the Gospel in the world and for the spiritual progress of believers. His comfort or safety was not what produced joy in him. 

The psalmist, in his cry to the LORD, did not lose faith, but was secure in God’s care. 
Psalm 10:16-18
The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

The LORD is sovereign; He will take care of His own. He is totally aware of the needs of those who depend on Him. He will answer their cries in due time, and during the hardships, He will fortify their hearts. I have watched suffering believers grow closer to God and find in Him strength that was very surprising to the unbelievers who knew them. God is carefully involved in our lives; He is active in bringing us closer to Him. His work is to produce sanctification in us. He never stops, He is always timely, and He is always caring. 

May we, too, be totally aware of these truths, as we live in this world where the wicked seem to be prospering. May we never envy those who do not know the loving care of our heavenly Father.  May we grasp every opportunity to point men toward God and glorify our loving Shepherd.