Tag: christianity

Covetousness —our far over the top desire to possess for ourselves what God has chosen to give to another, or Humble Contentment Exodus 20:17

Exodus 20:17 Amplified Bible

17 “You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Ten Commandments end with a call to contentment, truly the other side of the bookends to where we started.  The Lord begins His commandments calling His people to love and worship only Him, to never worship any idols. God now finishes His commandments calling His people into a covenant of contentment with everything that God gifts to us, that their love and worship brings with it.  

This is a call to be thankful and content with the life that God has given you;  To not crave or desire what others have or despise what you have been given, but to be fully and utterly, perfectly thankful for the life that God designed for you.   

Excessive material consumption has become a way of life and no matter how much we obtain or have, it is never enough.  We obtain the job we thought was 100% right for us and quickly are 100% dissatisfied until we get the promotion. 

We buy the house to only desire one bigger and nicer. There is not one aspect of our life that we don’t desire more in.  Even in ministry we desire different gifts, a greater platform, or for God to bless more than He has chosen to do so.  

With all this desire never quenched, we become frustrated and ungrateful. 

It’s hard to live in peace and thanksgiving when you never have what you actually desire. 

In this frustration, sin takes root. 

We soon begin to miss all the great blessings that God has blessed us with because we are always focused on what others have or what we don’t have. 

In this 10th commandment God calls us to peace in contentment. If God wanted us to have more, we would have it.  If we needed different circumstances or abilities, we would have them.  Instead of always saying “if only this” and “if only that,” God calls us to rest in all that He has done in and through our life.  

There will always be someone who has more, is blessed differently, or is experiencing life from different angles than you.  However, there is only one you.  Only one you that He walks with daily in the exact way that He does. 

God chose you from the beginning of time. 

God desired you into existence. 

God sent His Son to die so that you one day would not.

He counts all the hairs on your head and gave you air to breathe today simply because He wants you live. Everything you have, no matter how much or little, is because God loves and cares for you.  That should be enough for true Shalom.  

The world will always gift us with disappointments and leave us thirsty. It will never provide you what you are looking for, even if you find it. 

They only part of life which truly offers peace is Christ! 

Jesus is where all of our joy comes from. 

That is why as believers we can smile while poor or rich, sick or healthy. 

We praise His name in all seasons because He is the only one that is worthy of praise. The only One that offers 100% Shalom and 100% contentment.  

In the name of God, the father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,

Pray,

Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible

23 (0) A psalm of David:

(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.

5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.

6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Core Truth of the Matter forever Remains True: The reality is that God thoroughly Hates All Our Deception! exodus 20:16

Exodus 20:16 Living Bible

16 “You must not lie.[a]

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Quotes from Our first President of the United States George Washington:

https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/biography

“I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy.”

Farewell Address to the People of the United States | Monday, September 19, 1796

“Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.”

Letter to Charles M. Thruston | Sunday, August 10, 1794

“Still I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain (what I consider the most enviable of all titles) the character of an honest man.”

George Washington to Alexander Hamilton | Thursday, August 28, 1788

Every command of Scripture serves not only as an instruction for our lives but also as a reflection of who God is.

The command against adultery is rooted in His faithfulness.

The forbidding of murder flows from the life-giving Lord.

And so it is with the ninth commandment against bearing false witness, which comes from the promise-keeping God of all truth, who does not and cannot lie (Numbers 23:19).

What does the Lord have in view when He instructs us not to bear false witness?

It is surely safe to assume that this commandment concerns any form of speech that is far less than truthful.

There are many ways we fall short.

We do it by outright deceit, when we provide false information or withhold the truth in some way.

We do it when we participate in rumors, spreading gossip about others.

We do it by slandering and flattering others.

We do it when we exaggerate the truth, give false impressions, and are careless with the facts. All of this falls short of the divine standard.

In a Court of Law …

According to Maryland Code, Criminal Law §9-101, a person commits the crime of perjury if they “willfully and falsely” make a statement about a “material fact” after taking an oath or any other affirmation under state law.

What is the penalty for perjury in Maryland?

§1621 specifies that those found guilty of perjury may be imprisoned for up to five years or fined according to the statutory guidelines. These guidelines allow for fines of up to $250,000.

A vital component of fighting against the temptation to lie is to understand why we lie in the first place.

The source of lies is none other than Satan himself, about whom Jesus says, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Deceit was his strategy in the Garden of Eden, when he approached Eve with a lying tongue.

Tragically, we are often driven by the same motives as the Evil One when we lie: pride, hatred, and fear. We lie out of pride when we want others to think highly of us. We deceive out of hatred because we want to tear down someone else.

We speak untruth out of a fear of the consequences that we think would result from the raw truth being known. In all of this, we lie because in those moments we love ourselves more than we love God and our neighbors.

The reality is that God hates deception (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Proverbs 6:16-19 Living Bible

16-19 For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers.

In order for us to walk in the truth, we must crucify our pride and be more concerned with what God thinks of us than with what someone else thinks.

We must put away malice and pursue love for others, committing to never speaking slanderously or spreading gossip.

And we must fight an ungodly fear of man, replacing it with the fear of God, who came in flesh, declared Himself to be “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

The Lord Jesus has given His people His Spirit of truth (John 15:26), who empowers us to walk in the truth and put away falsehood.

Only by His power are we increasingly conformed into the image of Christ and ever more reflecting the character of the God who gave the 9th commandment.

Consider now in which situations and in what ways you are most often tempted to bear false witness.

On this first day of Lent consider, pray about how will the immutable truth about Jesus, His saving gospel, His indwelling Spirit motivate you to speak differently from now on—to speak the whole truth, as a follower of the truth?

In the name of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray …

Psalm 15 Living Bible

15 Lord, who may go and find refuge and shelter in your tabernacle up on your holy hill?

2 Anyone who leads a blameless life and is truly sincere. 3 Anyone who refuses to slander others, does not listen to gossip, never harms his neighbor, 4 speaks out against sin, criticizes those committing it, commends the faithful followers of the Lord, keeps a promise even if it ruins him, 5 does not crush his debtors with high interest rates, and refuses to testify against the innocent despite the bribes offered him—such a man shall stand firm forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Righteous Cure for our Chronic unrighteousness Comes Through a Balance of Discipline and Humility. Proverbs 22:1-5

Proverbs 22:1-5 Revised Standard Version

22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together;
    the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;
    but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
    he who guards himself will keep far from them.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Throughout the scope of human history, society after society has separated and valued people by a sense that some inherently have far more worth than others.

Whether it is called a pecking order, a caste system, gender bias, racial bias, ignorance, arrogance, political snobbery, social standing, or elitism, it is based on our faked flawed, fallen, and fleshly status systems and is offensive to God.

The Lord, our Eternal God and Creator, crafted each person in the womb of his or her mother [1] and fashioned every single person in His divine image. [2] He wants everyone to come to Him in repentance and find new life through faith in His Son, Jesus of Nazareth. [3] When we humbly come to Jesus Christ in faith and baptism, Paul says God erases all the distinctions based in our fleshly values:

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. [4]

Each and every person on earth is someone Christ died to save. [5] That’s why we will find folks from every language, tribe, nation, people praising Savior Jesus together as one family, praising the Lord for what He has done to save us. [6]

Today’s relationship proverb reminds us that God made the rich and poor.

He values both. He wants both to know Jesus.

And, He put us on earth to share His grace with both and value all! He wants us to tear down the barriers that separate us and let the Holy Spirit create one new humanity comprised of all kinds of people. [7] 

This realization should humble us, call us to Jesus’ mission, lead us to abandon our prejudices, keep us from making superficial judgments of others, and help us realize that we have much more in common than we have in differences.

If we are going to love God, love our neighbor’s, love as we should, then we must love each other without using labels and thoughts that divide us. [8]

[1] Psalm 139:13-16.
[2] Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6.
[3] John 3:16-17; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Peter 3:9.
[4] Galatians 3:26-29.
[5] 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:15. Since Jesus died for everyone, we must be careful that we don’t alienate anyone (Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11).
[6] Revelation 7:9-12.
[7] Ephesians 2:11-22.
[8] 1 John 4:20-21; Matthew 22:36-40.

In the name of God, the father the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Pray …

Psalm 15 Revised Standard Version

Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?

A Psalm of David.

15 O Lord, who shall sojourn in thy tent?
    Who shall dwell on thy holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right,
    and speaks truth from his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue,
    and does no evil to his friend,
    nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
4 in whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
    but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 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.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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His Hardest Covenant: to Remember that Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy and set apart, dedicated to God. Exodus 20:8-11

Exodus 20:8-11 Amplified Bible

8 “Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath [a day of rest dedicated] to the Lord your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock or the temporary resident (foreigner) who stays within your [city] gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy [that is, set it apart for His purposes].

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

What does God mean when he says “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”?

The word Sabbath comes from a Hebrew word that means “to rest from labor.”

The word holy means something that is sacred or dedicated to God.

God covenants with us to make His Sabbath day, feel different from all other days of the week by resting from our normal daily routine and dedicating our thoughts and time to Him.

What does Exodus 20 verse 8 mean?

This verse firmly establishes the Sabbath as law, a command to be kept.

Yet, it is very clear that this law has its first roots in Genesis 2:1-3, for there, God set the example in what He did. He rested, and He blessed the seventh day. God could have rested at any time. Or, we might say, He needed no rest, naps, at all.

How do you and I honor the Sabbath and keep it holy?

The Bible requires that we observe the Sabbath day with gathered worship, but that is not all we should do. 

Prayer, solitude, journaling, reading and reflection are all crucial ways that we replenish our inward resting in Christ and his work alone for our salvation.

What does “honor the Sabbath” mean?

How are any of us to honor the Sabbath in our smart phone, internet, social media, satellite, fiber optic, technology driven times – How should any of us keep ourselves from perpetually, ritually, looking down at the phone, risking bodily injury versus establishing, practicing, disciplining ourselves to look up at God the Creator, Author and finisher of our faith?

A few suggestions …

  • Rest: Avoid work and allow the whole family to rest
  • Worship: Attend church, read scripture, pray
  • Enjoy: Delight in God’s gifts and enjoy life with God
  • Set apart: Make a distinction between the Sabbath and the rest of the week
  • Sanctify: Dedicate the Sabbath to the Lord

The first Four Words of the Ten Commandments are calls to worship. 

  • The First Word commands the proper object of worship: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
  • The Second Word commands the proper manner of worship: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.”
  • The Third Word commands the proper attitude of worship: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
  • The Fourth Word commands the proper time of worship: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” 

We must worship God exclusively, correctly, reverently, and regularly. If you are not careful, life will crowd God out. But redeemed people must never forget to make proper time for the God who created us, sustains us, and redeemed us. Ray Pritchard said: We give 1 day in 7 to God because 7 out of 7 belong to him!!! 

A man was approached by a beggar on the street. The man reached into his pocket to see what he had. Finding seven dollars and feeling sorry for the beggar, he held out six bills and said, “Here you go.”

Not only did the beggar take the six dollars, but with his other hand he struck his benefactor across the face and grabbed the seventh dollar, too. 

As terrible as that story may seem to you, many of us should hear the prophet Nathan saying to us at this point, “You are the man!” God has graciously given us six days. In arrogant ingratitude, we snatch the seventh day, as well!

We must learn to make time for God. If you are too busy to make time for God, you are too busy. Consider the principle, prescription, practice of the Sabbath. 

The Principle of the Sabbath 

  1. The Fourth Word charges us to be faithful stewards of the gift of time.

It teaches three ways to sanctify our time. 

A Call to Worship. Exodus 20:8 commands: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” 

This command to remember the Sabbath indicates Israel already knew about it.

After God delivered Israel from Egypt, God provided manna for them to eat.

When the Israelites woke up each morning, manna was on the ground.

The Israelites collected manna to feed their household for the day.

On the sixth day, the Israelites were to collect twice as much, because God provided no manna on the seventh day. 

Exodus 16:23 says, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.’” 

Now God commands Israel: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

The word “holy” means to set apart for the purposes of God.

In scripture, certain people, places, and things are called holy.

The Fourth Commandment teaches certain times are also holy.

The Sabbath was to be remembered so keep it holy. 

  • It is a call to worship.
  • It is a call to seta side time for God.
  • It is a call to schedule time for God’s sake.

Matthew Henry wrote, “The Sabbath was made a day of holy rest so that it might be a day of holy work.”

God works. The devil is busy. But the devil cannot out-busy God. 

  • God never takes a break.
  • God never calls in sick.
  • God never takes a vacation.
  • God is always at work.
  • God works the night shift.
  • God finishes the work he begins.

God is both a white-collar executive and a blue-collar laborer.

God speaks and it comes to pass.

God moves and things happen. Our God works. And God commands us to work. To be godly is to work. Arthur W. Pink wrote, “He who never works is unfit for worship. Work is to pave the way for worship, as worship is to fit us for work.”  

Exodus 20:9-10 “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.” 

This commandment is not restrictive.

In sovereign authority, infinite wisdom, and unchanging goodness, our heavenly Father commands us to rest.

It is a personal call to rest.

God knows you cannot make it without rest, refreshment, and rejuvenation.

So he gave us this human maintenance schedule. 

  • God calls those who will not work lazy. 
  • God calls those who will not rest disobedient. 

It is a communal call to rest.

Verse 10 says: “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” 

There are seven categories listed here.

This all-inclusive call to rest affirms equality and justice for all, the precious nature of creation, and the dignity of people from foreign lands. 

Our family, coworkers, and possessions belong to God.

Every person is a person of value created in the image of God.

The Lord affirmed this by calling the entire community – including cattle – to rest on the Sabbath. 

It is a spiritual call to rest. 

Exodus 20:11 explains: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.” 

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day.

God did not rest because he was tired. 

Isaiah 40:28 says, “He does not fair or grow weary.” 

God rested to set a pattern for us to follow.

The Lord blessed and sanctified the seventh day to remind us he alone is our  Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.

Our lives do not depend on our work.

It depends on God’s work. 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray …

Psalm 29 Amplified Bible

The Voice of the Lord in the Storm.

A Psalm of David.

29 [a]Ascribe to the Lord, O [b]sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty and majesty of His holiness [as the creator and source of holiness].

3 
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
4 
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion (Mount Hermon) like a young, wild ox.
7 
The voice of the Lord rakes flames of fire (lightning).
8 
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 
The voice of the Lord [c]makes the doe labor and give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple all are saying, “Glory!”

10 
The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
11 
The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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God’s name should be treated with highest reverence and not used in a casual or foolish, disrespectful way. Exodus 20:7

Exodus 20:7 Amplified Bible

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who [a]takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power].

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Third Commandment states: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7.”

God’s Name is special because it carries the personality of God.

The Name in Bible times was more than a personal identification.

It represented the whole person, with his personality, will, gifts, ideas, etc.

This is why some people had their names changed when they went to a transforming experience. The person changed, so the name changed.

Matthew 16:13-20 Amplified Bible

Peter’s Confession of Christ

13 Now when Jesus went into the [a]region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  16  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.”  17 Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say to you that you are [b]Peter, and on this [c]rock I will build My church; and the [d]gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. 19 I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth [e]will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth [f]will have [already] been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He gave the disciples strict orders to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

The Name of God here in the third commandment involves the whole Trinity, God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Let us see what this Commandment teaches us.

What if we were to take a poll asking people which of the Ten Commandments they regard as the least significant, I wonder if the “winner” would be the third.

When compared to false gods and graven images, the third command doesn’t seem like such a serious offense. But if the one who wrongly uses the name of God incurs guilt, then it must be important—and we need to understand why.

Scripture is crystal clear that God’s name is most precious and most powerful.

One place where we see this is in the encounters between God and Moses.

In Exodus 33, Moses asks God to reveal His glory.

His request invites a death sentence because it is not possible to see God’s glory and live.

But God graciously grants the request in a way that prevents Moses’ demise, for He demonstrates His glory not by a physical manifestation but by revealing His name:

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6; emphasis added).

His name reveals His character, which in turn reveals His glory.

Earlier, in Exodus 3, God had revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush.

Moses had been tasked with a weighty mission and wanted to know what to say when people asked who had sent him.

God told Moses to say, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).

By using a form of the verb to be to name Himself, God declared that He is self-existent, self-sufficient, and sovereign, depending on no one and nothing. Who else can claim such a name?

In declaring and disclosing Himself, God does not merely identify Himself; He reveals the wonder of who He is.

So to misuse God’s name is to misunderstand His greatness and glory.

Only when we grasp this can we understand why the third commandment is so significant.

In what ways, then, might we break this commandment?

For one, we break it every time we use God’s name to strengthen our vows and promises, bringing down the name of divinity in order to make ourselves sound more believable (James 5:12).

We also blaspheme God when we use His name in anger, in arrogance, or in defiance of who He is.

We misuse His name when we utter falsehoods and use it to back them up.

Perhaps closer to home, in every worship service we attend where we worship God with our lips only and not from our heart, we break the likewise third commandment.

Only when we see the glory of God’s name and when we use it in praise, love, prayer, obedience, and gratitude do we gain more insight, understand why our Lord Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9, KJV, emphasis added).

His name is to be forever hallowed because it proclaims who He is, reveals His character, and is a strong refuge for all who call on it (Proverbs 18:10).

And it is to be forever hallowed in the lives of His people—including in your life, as you bear the name of Christ and take it on your lips with reverence and love.

In the name of God, the father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray,

Psalm 20 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 20

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble;
the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 send thee help from the sanctuary,
and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 remember all thy offerings,
and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart,
and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation,
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners:
the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed;
he will hear him from his holy heaven
with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen:
but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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You shall have no other gods before Me But the hearts of men and women aren’t so easily instructed nowadays. Exodus 20:1–3

Exodus 20:1-3 Revised Standard Version

The Ten Commandments

20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Perhaps the most basic truth about the God of Scripture is He is the only one.

There is no other.

This truth ought to simplify things for us because it teaches us that there is only one who is the worthy object of our love, loyalty, and devotion. But the hearts of men and women are not so easily instructed.

And so it is necessary for God to give us the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.” The danger is not that there are actual other gods for us to worship but that we have a proclivity for making them.

On first glance, this first command is straightforward.

To live for a god other than the true God would be like taking a second spouse while your first spouse is still alive and still happy to be your spouse.

Worse, it would be like taking a second spouse who is in truth a figment of your imagination. It would be a breach of an exclusive relationship.

We must not kid ourselves that we are immune from the possibility of breaking this commandment.

Many of us read it and picture people bowing down before statues or going through elaborate rituals, and those mental images assure us that we’re not in danger of violating it.

Yet the commandments are not restricted to outward actions but also relate to the disposition of our minds and hearts.

From this perspective, we may not be as far from those mental images as we assume. We may not have statues to which we bow down, but maybe we have segments of our lives that we keep away from God, preserving them under the authority of some other little “deity”—ourselves, perhaps.

Ask yourself: “Do I joyfully acknowledge God’s comprehensive claim on my life? Is God in charge of my family, my work, my relationships, my money, my dating, my use of time?” Take a close and honest look to see if there are portions of life you try to keep from Him.

In addition to keeping things away from God, another form of danger is functionally replacing Him.

When we put our family, our job, our hobbies, or anything else in the place that is God’s alone, we violate the first commandment.

To the degree that we allow anyone or anything besides obedience to God to direct our course day to day, we defy His law.

So we are not so safe from the possibility of breaking this commandment as we may think!

While we must acknowledge the truth that there is one God, we must also beware our own ability to put things in His place.

If we do not daily submit ourselves to Him and entrust the entirety of our lives to Him, something will take His place.

We are made to worship.

The question is, are you going to worship the living God or are you going to pretend there is another?

In the name of God, the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray,

Psalm 23 Revised Standard Version

The Divine Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2     he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;[a]
3     he restores my soul.[b]
He leads me in paths of righteousness[c]
    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[d]
    I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
    thy rod and thy staff,
    they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil,
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely[e] goodness and mercy[f] shall follow me
    all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    for ever.[g]

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Is the Church Itself an Impassable Barrier? “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.” Luke 11:52-54

Luke 11:37-54 New King James Version

Woe to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of [a]greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But rather give alms of [b]such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the [c]best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you, [d]scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”

46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

53 [e]And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, [f]and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, [g]that they might accuse Him.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The religious leaders’ role was to explain the Scriptures to those with limited access and literacy.

However, they made Scripture difficult to understand and impossible to apply.

The Amplified Bible adds, “by your flawed interpretation of God’s word and your man-made tradition.”

The critical role of Clergy, Pastors and Teachers is to diligently study the Holy Scriptures, to make God’s Word easy to understand and apply without adding unnecessary traditions and using complex jargon that isn’t so widely known.

In our Gospel Narrative from Luke, Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping their people to draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, the leaders put up significant, erroneous barriers through their traditional legalistic, self-serving practices.

Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders, Seminaries have taken liberties with their interpretation, translation, instruction of the Word of God, and blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people.

End-Times and Woke Institutions

As we approach the end of the ages, we know from Scripture that faith will grow cold (Matthew. 24:2) and that there will also be an increasing number of false teachers saying what our itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy. 4:3).

In that regard, if we believe we are truly in the end-times, then logically one should be extra cautious about the latest views on Biblical Christian theology.

Are seminaries, like other educational institutions, becoming more radical and extreme in their views? Are some of the esoteric discussions centered around a culturally based reinterpretation of Scripture resulting in a weakening of its relevance or application in today’s deteriorating society? Are seminaries prone to the same “wokeness” that is infecting other institutions of higher learning? 

We often hear of such cases in the news today. Corrupt leaders put big cultural barriers instead of biblical bridges in front of people. As God’s people who make up the church today, we must stay diligent educated in the Word if God, teach and admonish and correct each other, repent of these errors and sins, being sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of reconciliation, prayer and healing unto people who have been hurt.

Know someone? Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders? If so, you may be big time hesitant to participate in the life of a church. That’s understandable.

What can you do?

Here are some suggestions:

2 Timothy 2:14-19 Amplified Bible

An Unashamed Workman

14 Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, and [upsets and undermines and] ruins [the faith of] those who listen. 15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. 16 But avoid all irreverent babble and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have deviated from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they undermine the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God [which He has laid] stands [sure and unshaken despite attacks], bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord stand apart from wickedness and withdraw from wrongdoing.”

(1) Keep your focus on God, Jesus Holy Spirit himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading.

(2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge.

(3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive.

(4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again.

(5) Study … Study …. Study …. Study ….

Unfortunately, some who are new to Christianity have the genuineness of their faith squelched, watered down by a group desire to be religiously superior.

Rather than encouraging, helping, and blessing those who are newer in the faith, these folks seeking superiority turn faith into legalism and corrupt the Good News message of Jesus. The way they live their religion on their college background drives away people who are seeking God and breaks the Good News message of those who are new to the faith or corrupts the faith of the matured.

Let’s always make sure that we don’t impose demands God doesn’t require.

Even more, when folks have areas where they need to grow in their obedience to God, let’s be there to help, not to criticize.

In the name of God, the father, and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray together …

Psalm 119:1-16 English Standard Version

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119 [a] Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn your righteous rules.[b]
8 I will keep your statutes;
    do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
    all the rules[c] of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Searched, Transformed By Truth: For is anything worth more than our own souls? Am I ashamed of the Gospel? Mark 8:34-38

Mark 8:34-38 New King James Version

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them,  “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In Mark 8:38, after sharply rebuking Peter, Jesus speaks directly about the cost of being ashamed of Him. He warns those in listening distance that if we deny Him, if we are embarrassed by Him in this life, we will face denial in eternity.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, knowing that he would be crucified there. And Peter had rebuked him, earning Jesus’ harsh reprimand: “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mark 8:31-33).

Now Jesus had gathered a crowd along with his disciples, and he challenged everyone to self-denial, to “take up their cross” and follow him.

For to have full life, he explained, we need to give our whole life to God. This means not simply letting go of all we’re tempted to hold on to, but also giving over 100% oneself cheerfully to others and for others in our gratitude to God.

I read about a French soldier who was so seriously wounded in World War I that his left arm had to be amputated. The surgeon was utterly grieved that this young man would have to go through the rest of his life maimed.

He wanted to break the news personally, so he made sure to be at the man’s bedside when he awoke.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor said, “but you’ve lost your arm.” The soldier’s response was startling: “I did not lose my arm, doctor; I gave it for France.”

A Bold Unashamed Faith in the Gospel – in a Broken World

Today, we are focusing on a powerful and, quite frankly, sobering verse in Mark’s gospel. Jesus speaks directly about the cost of being ashamed of Him.

He warns that if we deny Him in this life, we will face denial in eternity.

This is a call to live a life that’s bold, unwavering, and unashamed of our Savior.

Together, we will explore what it means to stand for Christ in a world that often stands against Him.

1. Understanding the Call:

Being Unashamed of Christ and His Message (Mark 8:38)

In Mark 8:38, Jesus says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The Greek word used here for “ashamed” (epaischynomai) means to experience a sense of shame or embarrassment.

https://biblehub.com/greek/1870.htm

Jesus places this warning in the context of the “adulterous and sinful” days—meaning times filled with rampant spiritual unfaithfulness and sin.

Jesus is calling us to a life that’s different from the world, one where we openly live our faith and share His truth without embarrassment or fear.

This is echoed in Romans 1:16 (NLT), where Paul boldly declares,

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.” Here, Paul reminds us that the gospel is mightily transformative; it’s not something to hide but something to proclaim.

Think of a tall lighthouse that stands tall against the crashing waves, its light shining for for miles around for all to see. Like that lighthouse, we are meant to brightly shine, not to be hidden or ashamed, regardless of the pressure we face.

“We are not called to blend in but to stand out for Christ. When we understand the power of the gospel, there is no room for embarrassment.” – Rev. Francis Chan

2. The Consequences of Denying Christ (Mark 8:38; Matthew 10:33)

The second part of Mark 8:38 is challenging: “…the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus is referring to His second coming, where He will return as Judge.

He warns that if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us on that day.

This parallels Matthew 10:33 (NLT), “But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”

The warning is crystal clear:

our relationship with Christ should be public and vocal and steadfast.

Mark 4:21-25 New King James Version

Light Under a Basket

21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

If we reject or hide Him now, we risk being separated from Him for eternity.

This is not a call to perfection but to commitment—to live as His followers, even when it’s challenging.

If there are areas in your life where you’ve been reluctant to share your faith or to live boldly for Christ, now is the time to seek courage.

Pray for strength to be a witness. Embrace every opportunity to reflect Christ in your actions and words.

Imagine standing before a crowd and being asked, “Are you with Him?”

In that moment, our answer reflects where our hearts truly lie—are we proud to stand with our Savior, or are we too ashamed, too fearful to proclaim His name?

“To deny Jesus with our words or actions is to deny the One who gave His life for us. We must choose daily to stand for Him.” – David Platt

3. Living Boldly in a World Opposed to Christ (Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:27)

Living unashamed means standing out. Romans 12:2 (NLT) reminds us, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

As believers, we’re called to be different—not conformed to the world but transformed by the Word.

Philippians 1:27 (NLT) tells us, “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”

Our citizenship is not of this world, and our lives should reflect our heavenly home.

As ambassadors for Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility of representing Him.

This boldness isn’t just about words; it’s about how we live.

It’s showing integrity when no one else is.

It’s choosing love when the world chooses hate.

Living unashamed of Christ is as much about actions as it is about proclamations.

Think about soldiers who represent their nation.

They stand tall and proud, bearing their country’s emblem with honour. As Christians, we bear the name of Christ—let’s wear it with courage and integrity.

“Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequence.” – Dr. John MacArthur

Conclusion: The Reward of a Life Lived Unashamed

Jesus doesn’t call us to a safe or easy faith but a courageous one. 

Mark 8:38 reminds us of the weight and beauty of this call—to live unashamed for Him, knowing that one day soon, we will stand before Him. The rewards of faithful obedience far outweigh any worldly consequence.

Call to Action:

Let’s commit to living boldly, embracing the gospel in every area of our lives. Let’s share it openly, love without fear, and live unashamed of our Savior.

Invitation:

If you haven’t yet placed your faith in Jesus, today is the day to start. He invites you into a relationship that is eternal and unbreakable.

Accept Him as your Lord and Savior, live a life marked by His courage and love.

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Let’s Pray,

Psalm 119:105-112 Authorized (King James) Version

נ  Nun

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it,
that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much:
quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,
and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hand:
yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me:
yet I erred not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever:
for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Breaking Bridges, Building Barriers; Envy, Mixed Up Motives, proclaiming Christ from those selfish ambitions. Philippians 1:15–18

Philippians 1:15-18 New Living Translation

15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The March of the Gospel

In this missionary letter to the Philippian church, Paul gets real. Though he shares encouraging news, the whole picture is not all rosy. The motivations some people had for sharing the gospel were downright bad—were driven not by good will so much as by rivalry and a desire to stir up trouble for the apostle.

The wrong motives of other people didn’t become the determining element in Paul’s attitude, however. Their selfishly motivated preaching did not keep him awake at night nor mar his true commitment to seeing the kingdom advance.

He passionately wanted the true gospel to be preached, so he wasn’t primarily concerned about the reasons others had for preaching, as long as they were still preaching Christ. His concern was for the Lord’s glory to be paramount, not for his own stature or even for his safety.

Perhaps we find ourselves relating to Paul, surrounded by those who share God’s Word, who share stories, their witness, their faith, out of false motives.

Then we will spend a ridiculous amount of time and effort and resources trying to debate, nit pick, critique, criticize whether or not their Christianity is valid.

But if we allow these failings to determine our own attitude or actions, we will risk spiritually crippling ourselves.

We will spend too much of our time and energy either constantly questioning the intentions of others or continually refuting, rebutting what they’re doing.

That would be to give the devil a great gain, in that we would then be distracted from our own covenant summons to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

It’s a huge temptation!

But Paul didn’t fall into that trap.

It is true that “where God sends reformation, Satan works deformation.”

What God builds, Satan seeks to destroy.

When God leads people forward in his grace, Satan tries to push them back into misery.

Yet this truth also remains: The forward march of the gospel cannot be stopped!

The assaults against the gospel are many.

For Paul, they included his imprisonment, and envy and rivalry among fellow missionaries, and the use of Jesus’ name for self-promotion.

For us, it may be the rejection of Christ as the only true Savior, or it may be a matter of giving in to the mixed-up moralities of our time.

But there is good news. The forward march of the gospel cannot be stopped!

Satan’s goal is to push us back into the cesspool of shame, the dungeon of guilt, the prison of fear.

But, to paraphrase a line from a Hollywood movie, that’s a “whole lot of ugly coming from a parade of stupid.”

The forward march of the gospel announces that Jesus bore our human shame, removed our guilt, and freed us from sin’s punishment.

He daily parades his love in order to nourish life.

Nothing can ultimately stop the forward march of the gospel.

There is great joy, then, for all who keep in step with Jesus.

Alternatively, you and I may wrestle with our own wrong motives for sharing the gospel.

One of the most significant challenges we all face is the potential for dreadful self-centeredness and pride.

Even in hard core, hot button, contentious matters of our faith, we will often wrongly want others to recognize us, and so we do the right thing but for all of the wrong motives, reasons (or, more usually, a mix of right, wrong reasons).

At the same time, we would find that envy prevents us from rejoicing in the fruitfulness of another’s life and ministry. But thanks be to God: He still uses broken vessels like us to carry forth the great gift of His Gospel message.

So, like Paul, fix your eyes on the goodness of Jesus and the advancement of His gospel, no matter the circumstances surrounding you or the flawed motives you suspect in others or see in yourself.

Seek to set aside your own pride and ambition so that your greatest concern will be the Lord’s glory—and as you do so, continue to share Him with those around you. What matters most is that Christ is preached, and in that we can all rejoice.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 119:105-112 The Message

105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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‘It feels like it has been an Eternity!’ Praying to better Trust God’s Timing during our LONG seasons of waiting. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 Complete Jewish Bible

11 He has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can’t fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them to do than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 Still, the fact that everyone can eat and drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work, is a gift of God.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There are so many profound truths throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, and Ecclesiastes 3:11 is a great reminder of God’s perfect timing. So often in life, we put a prayer in motion for exactly how we want and envision things to work out.

We think we’ve got things figured out, like we know what’s best for our future.

We pray and we pray!

We wait and we wait!

We are good and pious Christians and we believe we have a strong relationship, a strong connection to God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Except … How long are we actively, patiently, genuinely ‘waiting for the Lord’ before our prayers begin to sound like: “Lord, exactly how long is eternity?”

In our frail humanity, it’s easy to forget that God’s perfect timing for our lives can turn out to be completely different from what we imagine as being right.

In Isaiah 55:8-9, we’re told,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Our thoughts and ways are always vastly different from our Lord’s, aren’t they?

I also really like how Ecclesiastes 11:5 talks about the wonders of God: “Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

How many times have you and I been in a fluid situation, prayed and prayed, anticipated how circumstances would work out, as though we were in control?

How many times do you and I think that we are the one who’s in control, that we can climb any mountain with your own joy and our own strength, that we can persevere better and change someone’s heart through your own actions?

Faith Under Pressure

2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

9-11 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

13-15 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

16-18 So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures. (The Message)

The reality is, if we are 1% patient enough to accept that God is in control, it’s a real reality check for us that only through Him we accomplish anything at all!

In Matthew Henry’s commentary, he says the following about Ecclesiastes 3:11:

“Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God’s hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the true beauty of God’s works.”

When I find myself getting impatient or experiencing disappointment, or when things don’t work out as I think they should, it’s a great reminder to look at verses such as Ecclesiastes 3:11 about God’s promise of His perfect timing.

It may not make sense right now, but try praying, believing, God’s got a reason.

Our task, like Job, is to continue praising Him even when things don’t make sense, and to continue trusting Him and growing our Faith. “Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.” [Job 5:9]

Job experienced more echelons beyond hardcore testing circumstances and situations throughout his life, yet he never once questioned what God was doing. He knew God had a plan and would work every thing out in His timing.

Job 19:13-29 The Message

I Know That God Lives

13-20 “God alienated my family from me;
    everyone who knows me avoids me.
My relatives and friends have all left;
    houseguests forget I ever existed.
The servant girls treat me like a deadbeat off the street,
    look at me like they’ve never seen me before.
I call my attendant and he ignores me,
    ignores me even though I plead with him.
My wife can’t stand to be around me anymore.
    I’m repulsive to my family.
Even street urchins despise me;
    when I come out, they taunt and jeer.
Everyone I’ve ever been close to abhors me;
    my dearest loved ones reject me.
I’m nothing but a bag of bones;
    my life hangs by a thread.

21-22 “Oh, friends, dear friends, take pity on me.
    God has come down hard on me!
Do you have to be hard on me, too?
    Don’t you ever tire of abusing me?

23-27 “If only my words were written in a book—
    better yet, chiseled in stone!
Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life—
    and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth.
And I’ll see him—even though I get skinned alive!—
    see God myself, with my very own eyes.
    Oh, how I long for that day!

28-29 “If you’re thinking, ‘How can we get through to him,
    get him to see that his trouble is all his own fault?’
Forget it. Start worrying about yourselves.
    Worry about your own sins and God’s coming judgment,
    for judgment is most certainly on the way.”

Wherever you are today, however like Job you feel like, whether you’re waiting, wondering, or worrying, or anxious take heart. God’s perfect timing is worth the wait! God is in control, and He hath made every thing beautiful in His time.

Restoration will come to you …

An over and above abundance of Blessings will shower down upon your life … (Job 42:7-17)

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 27 New King James Version

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat[a] up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be [c]lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of [d]joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

14 Wait[e] on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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