Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Hearing the voice of God is something that everyone, Christian or not, wants to experience.
Although we all want to hear God, actually doing it, for most of us, is sort of a mysterious process.
We often don’t know how to hear God consistently, if at all.
Yet hearing and understanding what God is saying is critical for our spiritual development.
As we look at people in the Bible who heard from God, Samuel was one of the best.
The story of Samuel is found in 1 Samuel 3:1-10.
Samuel, who was just a boy, was living and serving the priest in the temple.
We are told that, “the word of the LORD was rare in those days” (v.1 ESV).
Not many people were hearing the voice of God.
Yet this rare young man was about to experience something people in the land of Israel had not seen nor had heard for quite some time; Samuel was about to clearly and succinctly hear his name called from the LORD three times.
As we look at this story about Samuel, we can discern there are six steps which can take some of the mystery out of clearly, succinctly hearing the voice of God:
1. Position Yourself Close to God
Samuel set his bed up in the temple, “where the ark of God was” (v.3 ESV).
Samuel had never heard God speak before.
Samuel did not know what to expect, but what he did know was that if he hung around the temple, God would eventually show up.
Through Bible Study, personal devotions, times of fellowship, and regular church attendance, are we now putting ourselves in a place where God is?
2. Find a Place of Regular Service to God
In v.1 it says, “Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli” (ESV).
If we want to hear the voice of God, we have to be doing the things of God.
If we’re not serving, don’t wonder why we are not hearing the voice of God.
3. Listen for God’s voice
Eli was “lying down in his usual place” (v.2 NIV), too set in his own ways, too set, too accepting in the past lack, the rarity of revelation, too preoccupied with his own, son’s interests, his own physical and spiritual limitations to hear God.
When God began speaking, he was not used to listening.
He too easily accepted the unchangeable; the precious rarity of God’s voice.
Status Quo was the Status Quo …
Who before him had taught and mentored him on how to listen for God?
Many times to hear what God is saying we have to slow down and take time to get close to God.
We have to put aside our interests and lean in to hear what God is saying.
How close was Eli to God?
How accepting was Eli that even at his current season and stage and condition of life, he could still get closer to God – “teaching an old soul new ‘God’ truths?
How accepting are we ourselves, in our current seasons, stages and conditions of life, that we too can still get closer to God – “teaching us new ‘God’ truths?
4. When God Calls, Respond Eagerly
When we hear our parents calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.
When we hear our spouses calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.
When we hear our children calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.
When Samuel first heard his name called, even in the middle of the night he got out of his bed, rushed to Eli’s bedside to inquire of Eli: “why have you called?”
This repeated itself three times until Eli finally realized it was truly God calling.
When Samuel heard, recognized the voice of the Lord he was immediately up and moving (v.4) and declaring – “Speak Lord, for Your Servant is Listening!”
If we want to hear the voice of God, we need to be not just ready to put ourselves into action eager to do what He tells us – we need to be obedient enough to do it!
James 1:17-22 English Standard Version
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a]18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Hearing and Doing the Word
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
5. When God Speaks, Obey Him
Starting in this passage and throughout the rest of his life, Samuel consistently obeyed the Lord.
No matter what God told him, Samuel did it.
From that point on, “the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19 ESV).
For us, probably the quickest way to turn off God’s voice is to disobey him.
6. Read and Study the Word of God
After God spoke to him in this passage, the Bible tells us,
“The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word”(1 Samuel 3:21 NIV).
If you want to hear from God, you have to know what the Bible says.
God is speaking.
God wonders to what extent we are genuinely listening.
God wonders to what extent we are genuinely hearing Him.
He wants to give you wisdom to lead your family, at your job, in your church, and in every area of life.
The questions we have to be asking ourselves is not whether God is speaking, but whether or not we are hearing Him, and whether or not we are listening?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Savior Jesus, Giver of boundless peace and wisdom, I so easily get distracted when I’m trying to focus and hear your Holy Spirit. Help me to quiet my mind in the middle of my busy life. Help me to pause and to make space to listen to the most important voice of all. Empower me to be a good listener to the gentle whispers of your Spirit. Help me follow the example of Jesus, who would slip away in the evening or the early morning to be alone with you. Teach me to listen, to hear and to abide in you. Amen.
3 Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the Lord [a]under the supervision of Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.
2 Yet it happened at that time, as Eli was lying down in his own place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well). 3 and the [oil] lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, 4 that the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the Lord, and the word of the Lord the third time. And he stood and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli understood that it was the Lord [who was] calling the boy. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
The Word of the Lord was TOO Rare in Those Days …
Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I wish God talked to us the way He spoke to His people in the Old Testament”?
Many times, Scripture describes God speaking to His people through a voice or an angel or through a dream. He even writes on a wall in one account (Daniel 5).
So it’s natural to want to hear God’s voice or see a big sign that will help you feel confident in God’s direction.
We all experience confusing circumstances.
Sometimes you may just want God to send you a text message to tell you what to do.
Maybe you feel far from God and want Him to reach out to reassure you He’s still there.
Maybe you’ve heard people say the God of the Bible is personal, but you have never interacted with God before and wonder how to begin.
He is the same God today that He was in the time of the Old Testament.
He still speaks to us today.
He made it possible for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him, which involves talking together every day.
He communicates with us.
1 Samuel 3:1 English Standard Version
The Lord Calls Samuel
3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
The Word of the Lord was “rare” in those most ancient days.
In the period of time between the words of the Prophet of Malachi to the New Testament Gospel Narratives and Apostolic writings of Paul and Peter, James, Jude and John, Hebrews, some 400 years had passed without a Word from God.
How frequently do we recall Jesus using the words: “He who has ears let them hear?” [Matthew 11:15, 13:9, 15, 16, 43, Mark 4:9, 23, 7:33, 35, 8:18, Luke 8:8, 9:44, 14:35]
I also recall this verse from Luke 1:44 when Elizabeth uttered the words to her cousin Mary: “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” and we preach it: “how miraculous was that?”
It begs the question, how rare is the Word of the Lord in contemporary times?
Could it be that one too many of us have just never learned how to recognize His voice, have we gotten confused or have we forgotten how we heard in the past?
The young Samuel was confused and unsure of who he was hearing calling him.
He “clearly” heard a voice and thought it was his mentor, Eli, calling for him.
He kept going to Eli’s room until even the aged, tired, and confused, and nearly blind Eli finally realized that the voice was God trying to get Samuel’s attention.
Hearing and listening for God, hearing and listening to God, is an important life skill for us to remember to give our full attention to for our God is never silent.
We live in a divisive noisy, politically correct “woke” culture that often speaks in ways which are considerably devastating and utterly contrary to God’s voice.
It can be difficult to hear God if we are more in tune with the voice of this world.
As we listen for God, we will be more in tune with his leading in our lives.
Listening, Samuel “Heard!”
1 Samuel 3:9-10 New American Standard Bible
9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Then the Lord came and stood, and called as at the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Hannah had named her son Samuel, which means “heard by God.”
When he was weaned, she brought him to Shiloh to present him to Eli the priest for uniquely specialized training as a spiritual leader of God’s people Israel.
God called on Samuel to listen to and bring the word of the Lord to his people.
God wanted Samuel to dedicate his life to this service.
Samuel became a prophet, and he led Israel in that role for sixty years as Israel moved from a loosely organized group of clans to a peaceful monarchy ruled by King David, an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
We live under the peaceful reign of the voice of one true, good, just King today.
“Peace on earth,” the angels sang to shepherds watching their flocks on the night that King Jesus was born (Luke 2:14).
Our Advent and Lenten peace is found in the birth of this child, who grew up to establish, by dying, the kingdom of peace over all on whom God’s favor rests.
Do you know this voice of peace?
Do you hear this voice of peace?
Are you listening for this voice of peace?
Are we paying any meaningful attention to this voice of peace?
Are we giving any meaningful thought towards this voice of peace?
Ask Jesus to rule in your heart and life, and He will welcome you into his kingdom of peace.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can rest in true peace because we know he is our King and in control of all that happens in the world and our lives.
This is a peace not “as the world gives” (John 14:27); it is God’s peace, “which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
Eli mentored Samuel by teaching him how to daily worship God, and how to respond to God’s voice: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”—in other words, “I am ready to hear what you have to say, and I am ready to obey!”
How Rare is the Word of God in These Days?
God speaks to us in many ways.
He speaks through creation, giving testimony to his faithfulness and creativity. [Psalm 19]
He speaks through his Word, where we come to understand his salvation and purpose for us.
He speaks through wise mentors in our lives.
He speaks through life situations, opening and closing doors.
God speaks by his Holy Spirit, equipping us with gifts and passions to use for service in his kingdom.
Are we listening?
Are we listening?
Do we even care if there is a voice of God speaking to us today?
Why should we care if there is a voice of God speaking to us today?
How are we listening, hearing, experiencing God’s leading in your life?
Are you and I numbed to hearing, listening attentively for God’s voice?
So in a world full of noise and distraction, should we care if God speaks?
Does it matter one iota whether or not God speaks to us if we take one long, view of the world versus God, to say: “how miraculous would that truly be?”
Do we actually desire, want or need “God’s miraculous voice” speaking to us?
So in a world full of noise and distraction, how does God actually speak to us?
So with many questions, how ought we to “miraculously” respond back to God?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 19 The Message
19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome! The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.
128 Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience], Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. 2 For you shall eat the fruit of [the labor of] your hands, You will be happy and blessed and it will be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within the innermost part of your house; Your children will be like olive plants Around your table. 4 Behold, for so shall the man be blessed and divinely favored Who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience].
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion [His holy mountain], And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life; 6 Indeed, may you see your [family perpetuated in your] children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Psalm 128 tells us, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord.”
And then it uses the picture of an ideal family to teach us about that blessing.
The ideal family in Psalm 128 is similar to the ideal man in Psalm 1, the ideal wife in Proverbs 31, and ideal love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.
We sometimes read these passages and are tempted to say, “Get real!
That’s not the way life is.”
Well, perhaps nowadays that is stating a more contemporary truth, it may not be the way life is, but these passages tell us it is the way life can be – with God!
In other words these passages of the ideal man, the ideal wife, the ideal family with the ideal children and with the ideal love are not meant to discourage us as being unachievable, unrealistic, but rather to inspire us to greater possibilities.
And so Psalm 128 paints the picture of a happy home and presents the home as the center of God’s blessing.
Who doesn’t want a happy home?
Happy and God-fearing, God Loving, God Serving, Neighbor Serving Homes and Serving communities too are, according to Psalm 128 an essential part of edifying, building up God’s kingdom right where we are, here on our earth.
So let’s get into the Psalm now.
Psalm 128 breaks into two main parts.
The first part is a statement of blessing.
The second part is a prayer of blessing.
I. Blessed are all who fear the Lord (1-4)
Psalm 128:1-4 English Standard Version
Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
Let’s take a look at the statement of blessing first in verses 1-4:
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 128:1)
The psalmist begins by stating the theme of the psalm: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord.”
To fear the Lord does not mean to be afraid of God so we run away from him.
Rather it means to be in awe of God’s majesty so that you approach him with great reverence and respect.
It means you take God seriously, and you put him first in your life.
After stating the theme, the psalmist then further defines it: those who fear the Lord are those who walk in God’s ways.
In other words a right attitude towards God leads to right actions in your life. Jesus said something similar in John 14:21:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21)
God has laid out his ways for us in his Word.
Do you and I want to understand how life works?
Then we read the instructions!
God has laid it all out for you in His Word.
John Phillips calls this the center and the circumference.
First put God at the center of our life.
That’s the fear of the Lord.
And then let God’s law mark the circumference of our life.
Let God’s Word mark the limits of what we will and will not do.
And if you do that, if you put God at the center of our life and make his law the circumference of our life, then God will take care of everything else in between.
You and I will be blessed by God in all that you and I do.
The word blessed means happy.
In fact in the Hebrew the word is in the plural, so you could even translate it, “Happy, happy!” True happiness, Real happiness in life is found only in those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
As Charles Spurgeon says: “We must reverence the ever-blessed God before we can be blessed ourselves.”
This blessing from God is not for everyone, but only for a certain subset of people: those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
However, although God’s blessing is not for everyone, it is for everyone within that subset.
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord.”
There are no exceptions here.
If you will fear God in your life and walk in his ways, you will be blessed.
Psalm 128 gives us the example of a father and husband in the following verses, but verse one tells us up front that this psalm applies to us all who fear the Lord.
So whether you are male or female, married or single, with or without children, know this blessed truth – blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
We find this truth confirmed for us in other Scriptures as well.
For example compare the opening verses of two other wisdom psalms:
Psalm 1 and Psalm 119.
Psalm 1 says: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”(Psalm 1:1-3)
Psalm 119 says: “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:1-2)
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways”
This is the foundation on which to build a family life that is blessed by God.
A. God will bless your work.
And then Psalm 128 goes on to share specific examples of the ways God will bless you as you fear him and walk in his ways.
First of all, God will bless your work and your service.
Look at verse 2:“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” (Psalm 128:2)
This does not necessarily mean we will become wealthy or rich, but rather we will find fulfillment in our work and that our work will provide for our needs.
God’s promise to bless our work is especially striking when we recall God put a curse upon human work and labor after Adam and Eve sinned back in Genesis.
Too often in life we work hard but we still don’t seem to be getting anywhere.
Is it because we are not fearing God and walking in his ways?
It is certainly something to consider.
The prophet Haggai in the Old Testament warned the Jews who returned to Jerusalem:
“Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:5-6)
The Jews were working hard but not getting anywhere.
That is the opposite of the blessing God offers to those who fear him and walk in his ways.
God wants you and me to enjoy the fruit of our work.
That was his plan from the start.
We read in Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”(Genesis 2:15)
Before Adam and Eve sinned they worked the garden and knew God’s blessing on their work.
It was good work with good rewards.
Psalm 127 English Standard Version
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children[a] of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]
Psalm 127, without God work becomes toil.
We will not find true blessing or satisfaction in your work apart from God.
As Ecclesiastes 2 says:“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
B. God will bless your marriage.
So first of all, God will bless your work.
Secondly, he will bless your marriage.
Look at verse 3:“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.” (Psalm 128:3a)
This speaks of both fruitfulness and faithfulness.
The vine is a picture of fruitfulness.
Remember God’s initial blessing on Adam and Eve when he first created them?
Genesis 1:28 says: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.’” (Genesis 1:28)
God’s blessing is related to productivity and fruitfulness.
And this doesn’t just mean bearing children, but it means having a full and productive life.
The picture here is of a beautiful vine that is thriving, flourishing, fruitful and productive.
And then there is faithfulness.
The fact that the vine is “within the house” speaks of faithfulness in marriage.
This is in contrast to the adulterous wife described in Proverbs 7 who is never at home: “She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.” (Proverbs 7:11-12)
What’s the sign of a happy marriage? Fruitfulness and faithfulness. Who could ask for anything more?
Marriage is one of God’s great blessings in life.
Proverbs 18:22 says: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
(Proverbs 18:22) We could also turn that around and say: “She who finds a husband also finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
Marriage is a blessing from God, but God also wants to bless your marriage.
Husbands and wives, how you live your life has a huge impact on whether you will know God’s blessing in your marriage.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
C. God will bless your family.
God will bless your work.
God will bless your marriage.
And then thirdly, God will bless your family.
Look at verse 3 again: “Your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.” (Psalm 128:3b)
The olive tree is a basic part of agriculture in Israel.
In the Bible it is also a picture of productivity and blessing.
For example we read in Isaiah 52:8: “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” (Isaiah 52:8)
Images of olive shoots around the table is the picture of a mature, established olive tree with young shoots springing up out of the soil all around it.
This was a common sight in Israel.
The olive shoots represent youth and energy and, above all, promise.
When you sit down to eat with your family, your children are the hope and promise of the future sitting around your table.
Psalm 144:12 offers a similar image when it says:
“Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.” (Psalm 144:12)
The olive is a slow growing tree.
It can take ten to fifteen years before it bears any fruit, but once established the olive tree needs little maintenance or supervision, and it will produce fruit for decades to come.
It’s the same way with your children.
It will take some time before they grow to independence and maturity.
As parents we need to be patient with our children as we raise them in the training and instruction of the Lord.
But all our discipline and training will pay off.
Proverbs 22:6 tells us: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
I love that Psalm 128uses the image of the table for the family.
The family table or mealtime is especially important for us as families.
It’s where the family gathers together and shares about their day, where stories and experiences and values are passed on.
It seems it’s getting harder and harder for families to get together even for a few meals a week these days.
I would encourage you, no matter what the age of your children, no matter what the makeup of your home, carve out the time in your schedules and make family mealtime a priority in your home.
This first section of Psalm 128 paints a beautiful picture for us.
A godly husband, a faithful wife and eager children full of promise – all this is a great sign of God’s blessing in the home.
Once again, what more can we ask than God’s blessing on us and those we love?
Notice this first section of Psalm 128 highlights God’s blessing on our work, our marriage and our family.
All three of these were God’s provision for us in creation.
All three of these were also cursed by God following our fall into sin.
But now here in Psalm 128 we see God reverse the curse and bring blessing in all three of these areas when you fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
These verses do not mean that God grants marriage and family to all, but rather this is one of ways he blesses the godly.
“Make [God] your home, and He will make your home a happy home.”
Psalm 128:4 says: “Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 128:4)
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
II. A prayer of blessing for those who fear the Lord (5-6a)
The first part of Psalm 128 is a statement of blessing for those who fear the Lord.
The second part is a prayer of blessing for those who fear the Lord.
Look at verses 5-6 with me now: “May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem. And may you live to see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.” (Psalm 128:5-6)
The first part of Psalm 128 presents God’s blessing as his reward for those who fear him, but this second part reminds us that God’s blessing is not automatic.
We do not earn it from our obedience.
Even God’s rewards are all gifts of his grace.
God’s blessing must be received as a gift from God.
And we receive things by asking for them in prayer.
A. May God bless you all the days of your life.
There are three parts to this prayer of blessing.
First of all, may God bless you all the days of your life.
Verse 5:“May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life.” (Psalm 128:5a)
This is a prayer of blessing not just for a time or a season, but for the duration of your life.
It picks up the language of Psalm 23 which says: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
God is the source of all blessing, and this prayer is a reminder that every blessing comes from God
Notice the psalmist prays for the Lord to bless you “from Zion.”
Once again Zion is the place where God dwells.
It is the place where God meets with his people.
Blessing in your life comes as you meet daily with the Lord in his presence.
Psalm 48:1 says: “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God [that is, Jerusalem], his holy mountain [that is, Mount Zion].” (Psalm 48:1)
It was a blessing for the Jews to be in Zion for the feasts, but Psalm 128 asks for God to bless you from Zion all the days of your life.
It’s a peek ahead to the very last psalm of triumph in the Psalms of Ascent –
Psalm 134 which says: “May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” (Psalm 134:3)
For God to bless you from Zion means that God’s blessing extends to you wherever you go.
This is fulfilled in the gift of the Holy Spirit for the believer today.
As Jesus said in John 14: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17)
God the Father and God the Son are present with you through God the Spirit at all times wherever you go.
B. May God bless you within the community of his people.
So first of all, may God bless you all the days of your life.
And then secondly, may God bless you within the community of his people.
We see this in the second half of verse 5: “May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem.” (Psalm 128:5b)
God is not only concerned with individuals.
He is concerned for all his people.
And therefore so should we.
One of the greatest blessings for the believer is to see all of God’s people prosper.
The church is bigger than you, and God’s blessing on the church is your blessing as well.
This part of the prayer looks back to Psalm 122 and its particular focus on the gathering of God’s people.
We read in Psalm 122:
Psalm 122:6-9 English Standard Version
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” 8 For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
This is not only a prayer for Israel and Jerusalem.
We need to be praying for Israel and Jerusalem, but it is also a prayer for all of God’s people – it’s a prayer for the well-being of God’s church.
Psalm 122 was the first of the psalms of triumph in the Psalms of Ascent.
Psalm 128 is the middle of the psalms of triumph.
We see how Psalm 128 looks ahead to Psalm 134 which is the last of the psalms of triumph.
And so this middle psalm of triumph looks back to the first psalm of triumph in Psalm 122 and also looks forward to the last psalm of triumph in Psalm 134.
C. May God bless you with a long and fulfilling life.
May God bless you all the days of your life.
May God bless you within the community of his people.
And then thirdly, may God bless you with a long and fulfilling life.
Look at verse 6 now which says: “. . . and may you live to see your children’s children.” (Psalm 128:6a)
In the fifth commandment God promised a long life and a good life to those who honor their mother and father.
Now here in Psalm 128 the blessings of the fifth commandment are applied to all those who fear the Lord.
These prayers of blessing for those who fear the Lord not only stretch outward to the community of God’s people but also onward towards future generations of children.
Verse 6 is a prayer both for long life and the continuation of your family.
This is part of God’s blessing or reward for those who fear him.
Proverbs 10:27 says: “The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” (Proverbs 10:27)
Proverbs 17:6 says: “Children’s children are a crown to the aged.” (Proverbs 17:6)
Many of you know the blessings of having grandchildren.
Psalm 128 reminds you that they are God’s blessing on your life!
So make sure you tell others not just “I love my grandchildren!” but also, “I thank God he has blessed me with my grandchildren.
I thank God that he has blessed me with length of life to see and know my children’s children.”
Also make sure that you pass on your faith to your children and grandchildren.
The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)
What a rich blessing you leave for your children and grandchildren when you live a godly life in fear of the Lord!
What a blessing to pass on a godly heritage to your children’s children!
Proverbs 22:4says: “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)
And so we find this beautiful prayer of blessing in Psalm 128 for those who fear the Lord.
May God bless you all the days of your life.
May God bless you within the community of his people.
May God bless you with a long and fulfilling life that you may live to see your children’s children.
In Conclusion … Our Actions Will Speak Louder Than Our Words
Psalm 128 is a beautiful psalm that speaks of God’s blessing on all those who fear the Lord, and it describes this blessing in terms of the ideal family.
You might be wondering this day or season, “That’s all well and good, but what if I don’t have an ideal family?”
Well, first of all, welcome to the club!
But secondly, in holding up the ideal family, the psalm points beyond our broken, sinful families here on earth to the beauty and perfection of God’s family in heaven.
None of us have a perfect family here on earth, but we will all experience the blessing of an ideal family in heaven.
God may or may not bless you with marriage or children in this life.
But either way the promise of this psalm remains.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord. God has promised to bless all those who fear him and walk in his ways.
When you long for the same things God longs for, you will see you desires fulfilled.
Psalm 128 teaches us that there is a direct relationship between your attitudes and actions and God’s blessing in your life.
God’s blessing is available to everyone.
You can choose to either welcome God’s blessing in your life or you can choose to chase it away – it all comes down to fearing the Lord and walking in His ways.
Psalm 128 teaches us that how you live your life matters, both for you and for so many other people in your life.
There is a ripple effect in each of our lives that flows outward.
Your attitude and actions have an impact not only on your personal life, but also on your family, on your community and on future generations.
Psalm 128 teaches us that the influence of the godly person is great, that God’s blessing flows outward from the individual, to your family, to your church, to the whole people of God.
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ became a curse for us, so that we might receive the blessing of God. (Galatians 3:13-14)
Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
He took the penalty that was due us.
He took the curse of God for sin upon his own flesh.
He paid it in full so that we could come and know God’s blessing.
So don’t miss out on God’s blessing!
Fear God and walk in his ways that you may know the fullness of God’s blessing in your life.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, You are my God and my Savior. Thank You for your free gift of grace, which I receive by faith. Thank you for my family. May we reverence Your name forever and walk in Your ways all the days of our lives. All our blessings are permanently rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus my Lord, in Whose name I pray.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and tribulation and all these things come on you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
“I can’t stand Sundays!”
The woman holding her newborn son shouted deep into the church angrily.
She rose from her pew and shared that on Sundays she often felt so lonely and empty because many of her friends were busy with families and ball games.
She was a single woman, new to the church saying she was not a member there.
She is unhappy about her situation and asked the congregation for prayer.
The congregation surrounded her, her young child and laid hands upon them.
Together, they prayed for a good fifteen minutes.
Following the service, she sat down, met privately with the Pastor and his wife.
She said she was separated, divorce papers had been filed with the courthouse.
The father of the child was caught being unfaithful.
she confessed that she felt her sense of intimacy had been badly betrayed.
She had tried dating in the past several weeks but didn’t find the “right” man.
She also went to a few churches but felt they weren’t “loving” enough either.
In their response to the woman,
the Pastor and his wife suggested perhaps she shouldn’t focus mainly on searching for the right man, or seeking even the right “loving” congregation.
The Bible teaches that everyone’s main concern should be about seeking the first love of the Lord first – cultivating and growing in their intimacy with God.
That’s the first step on our journey to a loving and secure peace and happiness.
In our passage from Deuteronomy for today we hear a call to earnestly seek the Lord with all of your heart and all of your soul.
This prophetic word was originally spoken to God’s people who would come to repeatedly betray the love of the Lord and be scattered in exile many years later.
The call is followed by a promise that those who are earnest in their search will find the Lord.
Please note that the act of earnestly seeking the intimate love of God is more than just taking a few or several first steps or a phase in our spiritual growth.
Rather, it is a lifelong quest.
The continued search for God, leading to the deepening experience of his love, is the foundation of securing our inner peace in the only One who never betrays.
Growing Intimacy in Your Relationships.
Psalm 63:1-3 Amplified Bible
The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.
A Psalm of David; when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; My [a]soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Intimacy is something that each of our souls deeply desires.
Intimacy is defined as close familiarity or friendship; closeness.
Intimacy in marriage includes physical acts of intimacy, but we yearn for intimacy in every close relationship we have in our lives.
Our longing for closeness is a part of our created design.
In Psalm 63it is articulated this way,
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
We long to be and remain close to God our Creator! [Psalm 139, Romans 8:35-39]
We long to be close to God, our Great Shepherd! [Psalm 23]
We long to be close to our Savior, the Resurrected Jesus! [John 21:15-17]
We were created by God for relationships.
Yet, we all know how difficult it is to create safe spaces for true intimacy in our lives.
Humans are imperfect, and we so easily hurt each other.
Hurt, disappointment, insecurity, and grief lead to walls going up in our hearts.
Only God is made of perfect love that we can trust with our whole hearts.
Nonetheless, we need each other and can’t give up on the work of tearing down the walls and trying again to build safe, long-lasting, and close relationships.
Intimacy requires a commitment to forgiveness.
Intimacy requires a radical commitment to forgiveness.
Please note that forgiveness does not mean you are called to remain present in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.
Forgiveness is a daily requirement to remain close to other very flawed humans.
Guess what, you need to be forgiven that much too because you bring just as much selfishness and brokenness to your home each day too!
It is so easy to see the ways one’s spouse lacks empathy, love, and kindness, but while we are worried about pointing out their failures, the question needs to be asked of ourselves: exactly what size plank am I missing that is in my own eye?
I have to lay down my right to be right if I want to feel close to this person who is my spouse, my life-long soulmate and embrace a life of radical forgiveness.
Unity is the foundation to an intimate relationship.
1 Corinthians 1:4-10 Amplified Bible
4 I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith]. 6 In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns]. 8 And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].
1 Corinthians 1:10 instructs, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
God communicates with us that we are to relate with, interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ with a whole and earnest heart and soul which seeks unity.
He likens us to a body, each of us different in our skills, gifts, and uses but we all work together towards one mission which is to keep the body alive!
We do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue in our relationships to live in unity, but we do have to be humble enough not to let divisions grow among us.
Intimacy with God and each other is built when we earnestly seek to spend much quality time together.
Psalm 24:5-7 Amplified Bible
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need, Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 27 Amplified Bible
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident.
4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me, O God of my salvation! 10 Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait]. 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence. 13 I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
Building intimacy requires time spent sharing the same space with open ears and having an open heart ready to connect.
One tip for time together is to commit to making some of this time screen-free time – time for family bible study, family devotions, family prayer sessions.
When we seriously want to really hear our spouse, friends, family members, or children’s hearts, we have to deliberately, intentionally, remove distractions such as our phones, video game boxes, our televisions, so we can fully engage.
We grow closer to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and in our personal relationships as, when we are intentional about being present with each other when we interact.
Intersecting Faith and Life.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Amplified Bible
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation! 19 The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility].
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
What connections, relationships do you feel covenanted and called upon by God to be a bit more considered and intentional about cultivating more intimacy in?
What is one way you can push yourself to be more present and available in this relationship in the coming weeks, as we move closer to celebrating our Easter?
Are there things that you need to release to the Lord and forgive before moving forward?
Carve out some family time, time with friends, write out a prayer of forgiveness and share them, allow God to start healing the broken relationships in your life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
139 1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distant sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!
7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, guide us and lead us, shepherd us to you in faith, obedience, and love. Guide us each day, teach us to be fully committed to you.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
12 Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage, 13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelite’s would not gaze at the end of the glory which was fading away. 14 But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Becoming Like Christ
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 Amplified Bible
15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit’s work in us is like the work of a master gardener, what is the Spirit growing in us?
The Spirit wants to reproduce Jesus’ character in us.
Our reading from 2 Corinthians today states that we “are being transformed into [Jesus’] image with ever-increasing glory.”
In other words, the Holy Spirit’s aim is to make us more and more like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit’s work is to nudge us, prod us, move us, transform us and shape us to think and act and be more like our Savior Jesus, for us to better mirror Jesus in our character, to increasingly help us love like Jesus in our daily life.
Of course, it’s not an overnight rush job.
The Spirit doesn’t guarantee delivery in full by 8:00 a.m. the next day—or even within a few days, months, years or decades.
This isn’t the work of a courier driver.
This is the work of the Master Gardener, the One with a master’s vision of the finished garden, the One who daily, gradually toils and works in our lives until the desired spiritual fruit eventually sprouts, blossoms, unto the glory of God.
There are times when the Holy Spirit’s work in us will be immediate, dramatic, and maybe even spectacular.
But usually the Spirit’s work in us is slow, subtle and gentle.
That’s the Holy Spirit’s trademark.
We are made in God’s image, in the image of God we are created, (Genesis 1:26-27) but that sacred image became spoiled and polluted in us because of sin.
So now God is slowly remaking that image in us—to be like our Savior Jesus!
Steps Towards Spiritual Freedom
Have we truly noticed that most of our unrest comes from ourselves?
We get stuck ruminating on the things we can’t change or control.
Un-forgiveness stops us from moving toward healing in our relationships.
Pervasive negativity prevents us from enjoying the moment.
Exhaustion keeps us functioning as only a shadow version of ourselves.
Repeated excuses keep us trying the same things over and over again that are no longer capable of working, are burning bridges and stop us from changing.
Fear, guilt and shame stop us cold from accepting God’s free gift of grace.
Our unhappiness lives in our souls and finding peace starts as a process of Holy Spirit-led self-discovery.
How many of us will spend our lives turning a blind eye to our own hangups?
In our own stubborn blindness, we refuse to consider that maybe the rhythm of frustration we are up against might be something we have the power to change.
It’s so much easier to render our judgments, and then blame our surroundings.
To point out the sliver in our neighbor’s eye, all while avoiding our own planks. (Matthew 7:1-5)
We so often live stuck in a giant sheet of bubble wrap we wrapped around us.
Thank God He is patient with us!
Thank God that God knows exactly what to do with bubble wrap – POP IT!
How, then, do we allow ourselves to be “popped by God” to get us past our blindness and grab onto the gracious freedom that God promises each of us?
1. Freedom comes when we abandon pride.
The path towards freedom begins with a surrendering of the pride we each hold that claims we have what we need to fix ourselves all on our own.
This pride tells us to be ashamed, embarrassed, fearful and humiliated when we don’t live up to our own internal standards.
It relies on rules and religion rather than grace and a relationship with Jesus.
Step one towards freedom and making peace with the people God created us to be is to abandon our pride.
The Bible teaches that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18), and the humble find wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).
2. God’s wisdom teaches us how to change.
Wisdom helps us change.
Only through God’s miraculous truth can we see the way past the same thought processes which keep us trapped, wrapped, in our own fears, shame, bitterness.
James 1:5prompts us to ask God for wisdom when we don’t have it.
He gives it freely when we have a humble heart.
When we read and study God’s Word, spend time in his church, seek Him and His Kingdom through prayer, we discover what godly wisdom looks like.
Proverbs 1:7instructs us that wisdom is found in the context of community.
We have to be willing to accept advice and instruction when we are stuck and looking for a new way forward.
Proverbs 3:7 tells us that wisdom turns away from evil.
If our own set patterns get us stuck in sin over and over, then God’s wisdom, and our Savior’s Cross, His Resurrection power moves us away from that evil temptation that keeps repeatedly keeps maliciously tugging at our souls.
3. Freedom points us towards others.
Interestingly God gives us the internal power through the Holy Spirit to find spiritual freedom, not so we can just enjoy ourselves better.
Even though a free you is a happier you and is a you that you can be confident in and enjoy.
The purpose of this Christ-purchased freedom is that we can serve others.
Isaiah 61:1tells us God’s spirit in our lives gives us the ability to bring good news to the poor, assist the brokenhearted, and set free those imprisoned in this world!
We are set free, so we can help others find that same freedom.
When we find ourselves stuck, wrapped in our own frustrations or even upset with others in our lives because their sin nature is making our lives harder, we are invited to draw on God’s spirit to see new ways to love and to serve others.
4. God’s spirit sets us free.
2 Corinthians 3:17says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
There is a mysterious element to spiritual freedom.
Freedom is an indescribable moment or journey that can take time where Heaven meets us here on Earth.
Areas I’ve sought freedom in has been anxiety over diabetes management.
For me, this freedom journey has taken years, but God has been my faithful teacher and sustainer through step forward and backward, each up and down.
Other times our freedom is like a dam breaking all at once.
The old life is washed away in an instant, and a new one is ready to begin.
Why does God work one way in my life and a different way in yours?
That is part of the mystery of the Spirit.
God is connectional and relational and not a rule-based God, which is why each of us has a singularly unique and diverse and vastly different spiritual journey.
One thing the Bible does tell us is that if we want to find freedom in our lives, we have to seek His Kingdom through His Holy Spirit.
Matthew 6:33 Amplified Bible
33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
John 8:36says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Jesus came to Earth, so we could not only escape death and join his family, but so we could experience freedom in our lives here on Earth.
I am so thankful that God has not left me as I was.
He is always renewing my mind and spirit.
May you, by God’s grace, take steps toward spiritual growth and freedom today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Jesus, my Savior, I have been listening to too many lies for far too long. I have been tricked one too many times by the enemy and I am frustrated. I need to be free from these lies. Jesus, I know that You are true and that the truth will set me free. Jesus, help me to rejoice in the truth. I need to believe the truth. I pray that it really would set me free. Help me with my unbelief, Jesus. Holy Spirit, You know my heart, and know that I need help believing. Thank You, Jesus, that You offer truth to Your children. Thank You for Your patience with me. In Your glorious name, I pray.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
13-16 So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Transformation of Any Kind Takes Effort
We often prize the wonders of ability.
We prize more highly the wonders of those abilities who exceed our own and are even more highly prized are those whose abilities go far beyond everyone else’s.
But if we don’t put our abilities to work, we won’t accomplish much.
If we want change, we have to be willing to work for it.
If we don’t put in enough effort, we won’t bring about any positive change.
Authors who have written a stack of books will tell you that the secret ingredient was the effort it took to get up earlier each day to write.
Great inventors will relate the measures and degrees of “maximum” effort and commitment and dedication it took to bring an idea unto its finished product.
Sports figures will tell you to practice, practice, practice.
The Christian life is 100 percent God’s work.
The resurrection of Christ runs through our veins.
But the Christian life is also 100 percent human effort.
Apostle Peter here urges us to first prepare our minds for action.
The Greek expression here literally means to pull up one’s robe and get ready for action.
Then Peter instructs us to persevere all the way to the end through self-control.
We have to continue to be obedient to our Savior through responsible effort.
The Christian life is definitely going to be hard work from beginning to end.
The pull of the world is unquestionably significant, and will never go away.
Greater is He who is in us than who is in the world, but the pull of the world sometimes seems to be too insurmountable and our balance of thought shifts.
Keeping up and Letting down our biblical guards becomes a great struggle.
Spiritual Transformation is quite the balance act between the Word of God and word of man, and takes all our mental power, our willpower, our muscle power.
But thankfully our balance is the very Cross of our Savior and is a gift of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Amplified Bible
The Wisdom of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written and forever remains written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers], And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”
20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [a]foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].
Three Keys to a Hope-Filled Spiritual Mindset.
1 Peter 1:13 English Standard Version
Called to Be Holy
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The words in 1 Peter resound with the sound of hope.
This verse provides a three-step plan for living hope-filled lives.
Peter walks with us through the definition of hope, its nature, and how to be determined in hope.
As a follower of Christ, we live future-minded.
We govern our present choices and actions by training our minds in three areas knowing we will see Jesus face to face someday.
First, we cultivate a disciplined mind.
Outlook influences outcome, and attitude determines action.
I have to keep a source of sugar nearby because my diabetes is in constant need of close and frequent personal monitoring, regular, steady, medical attention.
Sometimes walking through this life is a little like picking up dirt and debris along the way, and soon hope gets lost in the mess.
Centering the thoughts of our minds on the message and wisdom of the Cross, and the promised return of our Savior Jesus helps us to maintain our hope.
Second, we develop a sober mind.
This means to have a steady, calm, and controlled mind by guarding what we think about or expose ourselves to.
It’s listening and obeying God’s Word through the disappointments and discouragements we face.
When we have a sober mind, we stay aware of our range of thoughts, and when hopelessness creeps in, we remind ourselves of God’s faithful, steadfast nature.
Our hope is present and future-minded, so we can strengthen it when we meditate on God’s Word and worship him, which keeps our minds steady.
Third, we pursue an optimistic mind.
“High Energy Positive” comes easily for some people.
It’s like they ooze glitter, and they sparkle.
We can look at that type of person and wonder if they understand pain exists.
As a positive person, let me assure you: I am aware of pain.
Pain has stolen my breath and turned my world dark.
But I’m also aware that God’s heart is abundantly good and trustworthy.
When our hope seems lost, and our outlook is gloomy, look up.
Find something good to focus on.
Maybe it’s the sunrise or the sound of birds singing, the greening of the trees in the coming promise of a new Spring season or your perhaps your child’s smile.
When you see it, hold onto it, lock onto it, “Fort Knox” it, and thank God for it.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
A “God” disciplined, sober, and optimistic mind creates a hope-filled spiritual mindset that allows you to experience the hope of God in the day-to-day grind of life.
We have the blessed assurance of seeing Jesus face to face in the second coming, we can see evidence of him in all our today’s as we all fix your minds upon him.
Look up at the Cross of our Savior instead of down “at your grave site” when hope just leaks from your heart, and let God bring you through to fresh hope.
When Jesus came the first time, he came to reveal God (John 1:18).
As wonderful, powerful, and gracious as he was in his earthly ministry, he did not fully reveal all who he is.
Our hope is tied to his return.
When He comes this time, He won’t come to reveal God, but to reveal himself — the conquering Lord, the Rider on the white horse.
Every knee will bow.
We will get to see him as he really and fully is — Emmanuel in power and grace, triumphant in every way.
When we set our hope on Jesus’ grace when he returns, we can be confidently ready for active service to our king today.
We can live in His hope, under his leadership with obedience and praise today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
O Almighty God, You know exactly how much I long for the day when I get to see My Savior Jesus face to face coming with the angels in power. Until that time, fasten my heart and my thoughts in living hope to the glory Jesus will share with me on that day, and please empower me to live as one who knows that victory is mine in Jesus.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
As believers in Jesus, we should be loving other people.
Yes, even those that are unlovely.
Why?
Because God loves us and forgives us even when we don’t deserve it.
And out of that love that we have been given, we should be loving others and leading them closer to Jesus.
1 John 4:8 Amplified Bible
8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
Part of knowing God, and being His follower is developing love in your life.
And it might take a little effort on your part.
And it might take a substantial effort on your part.
And it might even take a miraculous effort on your part.
Somewhere there might a hurt so unconscionable, it is beyond redemption.
You might be holding onto a grudge whose origin is utterly lost to the ages.
You might be used to gossiping, maybe even spreading rumors about others.
If you are reading this and can find no of God, love for God and for others, love bears all things at all times and perseveres for as long as forever lasts for You.
The encouragement is to keep praying even when praying is too difficult and keep hoping even when hope is the furthest thing from your mind, your soul –
God will always wait.
God will always and forever come to you when you choose to come to Him.
Luke 15:17-24 English Standard Version
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[a]22 But the father said to his servants,[b] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
And God will forever feel compassion for, to embrace, to celebrate, your life.
Psalm 42:1-3 English Standard Version
Book Two
Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
To the choirmaster. A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah.
42 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?[b] 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
“Christ Loved Me – Yes, Even Me.”
The distinguishing mark of a Christian is their measure of confidence in their Savior Christ’s love for him and in the offering of his love to their Savior Christ.
First, faith sets her seal upon the person by enabling their heart and soul to say with the apostle John, “Christ loved me and gave himself for me.”
Then love gives the countersign and stamps upon the heart and soul gratitude and love to Jesus in return. “We love because he first loved us.”
In those grand old ages, which are the heroic period of the Christian religion, this double mark was clearly seen in all believers in Jesus.
They were men and women who knew the love of Christ and rested upon it as a man leans upon a staff whose trustworthiness Christ, the Shepherd has proved.
The love they felt toward the Lord was not a quiet emotion that they hid within themselves in the secret place of their souls and that they only spoke about in private or when they met on the first day of the week and sang hymns in honor of Christ Jesus the crucified.
It was a limitless passion with them of such a vehement and an all-consuming energy that it was visible in all their actions, evident in their conversation, and unmistakably seen in their eyes, even in their casual glances – Boy, what a Love.
Love for Jesus was a flame that fed upon the core and heart of their being and therefore by its own force burned its way into their demeanor and shone there.
Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians.
Because of their dependence upon Christ’s love they dared much, and because of their love for Christ they did much, and it is the same now.
The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love.
The love of Christ constrains them; they rejoice divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Savior with a pure and fervent heart.
My reader, do you love Him with that self same passion He first had for You?
Before you sleep, give your Savior an honest answer to that weighty question!
When you wake up again, then give unto your Savior an honest answer to this next weighty question –
For waking me up, how will I give all my Love to my Savior today?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Prayer to Love Others as God Loves Me
Heavenly Father, I am so utterly blessed to be Your child, and that I can call You “My Abba Father,” for You are my loving Daddy! My heart overflows with gratitude. You have made me a partaker of Your divine nature, and Your love for me is so wide, so deep – it is beyond my comprehension. May the truth of my identity in You sink deep into my psyche, and impact my relationship with others. Dear Loving Father, may I come to love others as You have first loved me, with compassion and care. Amen.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Psalm 139:14Authorized (King James) Version
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
The Infinite, Personal God
After God flung the galaxies into the vast universe; after He created the sun, earth, and moon, the sea, dry land, plants, and animals, God made humankind.
God made us like himself in many ways—in his image.
He gave us a soul/spirit and a physical body.
Each of us has a heart, a mind, a personality, and power to rule the earth and to make it fruitful and beautiful.
We each have inalienable dignity, something which cannot be taken from us, because we are made in the image of God – in His Image we are fearfully and most wonderfully made – and our hearts, souls ought to know this quite well.
God’s infinite, intimate and personal nature showed itself when the Creator nit just created us but He too, walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden.
It showed itself when God came to Abraham as a traveler, ate lunch with him.
God desires to be our friend because He is personal.
At the same time God is infinitely powerful, the Master of the universe who created it all by his word.
What an amazing God we serve!
So great, so mightily amazing—and yet He loves each one of us personally!
Wonderfully Made—and Remade
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. . . . Search me, God. . . See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. — Psalm 139:14, 23-24
These verses from Psalm 139 ought to remind each and every single one of us that while each one of us is a beautiful creation of the Lord, there are likewise offensive ways inside us that need to be dealt with.
After the fall into sin (Genesis 3), we human beings continue to live as precious works of the Creator while also needing to be redeemed from sin, brokenness.
So in his great and amazing love for us, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sin and to give us new life forever with him.
And now the Spirit of God lives in us, guiding us to become like Jesus.
He leads us “in the way everlasting.”
The apostle Paul describes it this way: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20), giving each and every single one of us, one of the very clearest statements in the Bible about dying to live.
The fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made—and remade—leads us to some of the most glorious announcements in Scripture, like this one:
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Question of the day: What Does it Mean to Be Fearfully and Wonderfully Made? Psalm 139:14
Psalm 139:14 says that God made all the delicate, inner parts of my body.
He knit me together within my mother’s womb.
I was made Infinitely, Intimately, Wonderfully complex.
God knew me as He was painstakingly designing me with much loving care.
I didn’t just evolve into what I am.
I was created and designed with a purpose.
And the blueprints of me are similar to other human beings but they’re not exactly the same.
I am unique—and so are you.
Our human body is a unique design of multiple systems that all work intricately together.
The cardiovascular system gives you the heart and lungs to pump our blood to carry oxygen through veins and arteries, throughout our whole body to move.
The muscular system gives you the ability to move, lift, and hold things.
The digestive system processes food into energy and discards waste.
The immune system keeps you healthy.
The DNA determines your gender.
The eyes cause you to see.
The nose lets you smell.
The tongue and mouth let you eat and taste.
The ears enable you to hear.
And your skin enables you to feel textures.
You have the ability to uniquely encounter an incredibly unique diverse world with an equally amazing diverse body!
Then you were also blessed with a brain so you can think, process, and create.
Isaac Asimov said the brain is “the most complex and orderly arrangement of matter in the universe.”
Your emotions help you to relate to other people and feel compassion.
All of these systems (plus many more) were uniquely designed to make you who you are.
God Created You and Me With Love On Purpose
You have the innate ability to discern right from wrong.
Although, that ability is hindered somewhat until we connect with your Creator.
He didn’t just design you to do your own thing.
He created you so you would desire an ongoing relationship with Him.
You were made with a hole in the center of your soul that only one thing fits.
Until you find that very specific something, you will never be fulfilled.
And that very specific something is God Himself.
You were designed with an intense need of your Creator, God.
Without a relationship with Him, you will always be searching for something to fill that void.
Drugs, alcohol, food, money, sex, material goods, occupations, hobbies, travel, success, fame—these are just some of the myriad of ways in which we try to fill that empty space inside.
But none of those things will ever, can ever fill it.
They are like round pegs in square holes.
The vacant areas at the edges will still leave you desiring more of something else.
Whatever we attempt to put in there will dissipate because it never completely fills the space.
Those things were never meant to fill the space; they never can.
Sadly, many continue to shove mismatched pegs into that hole.
A little of this, a little of that… hoping that one day they will feel complete.
They surmise that this thing over here didn’t work but maybe this other thing will do it.
They just have not found the one right thing yet but one day they hope they will.
One day…
I’ll have enough money to feel safe and secure.
I’ll find the perfect spouse that will complete me.
I’ll get my dream sports car and life will be grand.
I’ll be on television and people will know my name.
I’ll be the best in my field and people will scout me out.
“One day” will never come.
If you’re not happy with who you are today, right here and right now, you’ll never be.
You’ll never be happy with who you are today unless you begin to praise God for creating us just as we are – male, female, both fearfully and wonderfully made. [Genesis 1:27]
Stop Looking at Everyone Else, Look Only Unto God
Isaiah 64:7-8Authorized (King James) Version
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
When you do finally realize that without God you are unable to make the most of yourself, that’s when those things of old subtly, suddenly begin to change.
The clay cannot mold itself no matter how hard it tries.
However, God, the Potter, cannot only mold His clay but He also knows what His original design of you was.
He is both a Master Potter and a Master Architect with an Infinite Master Plan.
Sometimes in this fallen world, people are born with birth defects that disrupt one or more of the intricate systems of the body.
God foresaw even those defects and uses them for good when we look to Him.
Even our weaknesses are fearfully and wonderfully made. [2Corinthians 12:7-10]
A blind person can develop hearing beyond the normal capacity.
Conjoined twins can teach us about getting along with one another, for they have to do it 24/7.
Someone born without arms develops the ability to use their feet in wondrous ways.
Another born without legs develops the upper body strength to get around smoothly.
We all have weaknesses that sometimes make us feel like we are of no use.
But God’s grace is sufficient to cover our weaknesses.
More than that, God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses.
Weaknesses keep me humble and leaning on God’s strength which is much more sufficient than my own.
One More Question for Today: Should I always feel like I am “Fearfully and Wonderfully” made?
No. Sin and pride always want to drag me back into my own way of thinking.
The same thinking that kept me reaching for those mismatched pegs.
Those thoughts tell me that I can do whatever I want, by myself, without God.
They lie and they don’t even make sense.
They say I can do anything but then turn around and also say that I’m not good enough to do what I want to do.
Feelings can’t be trusted unless they line up with the Word of God.
And the Word of God tells me that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made for a specific purpose.
Therefore, with God’s help, I will love walking in that purpose as often as I can.
Whether I always feel it or not, I can trust God and His plans for my very life.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)
God doesn’t call us his children because we measure up to some standard of behavior.
God adopts us as his children because he has chosen us in love.
It’s that simple.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
In other words, God created us, fearfully, wonderfully, weaved us together.
God made us alive in Christ before there was any spiritual fruit in our lives!
We were as good as dead before God’s grace touched our lives, and dead trees certainly can’t bear any fruit.
Soil that has no nutrients isn’t any good for growing a crop.
It’s not the growth of fruit in our life that saves us; it’s simply the gracious favor of our Creator God shown to us in the life, resurrection of his Son, Jesus.
Our God is an Awesome God.
With Wisdom Power and Love,
He Reigns from Heaven Above,
With Wisdom, Power and Love,
Our God is an Awesome God.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Dear Lord, Thank You for fearfully and wonderfully creating each of us. Thank You for our uniqueness, thank You for giving us worth in Your eyes. Help us live as the one You uniquely intended us to be. Help us abide instead of strive, living peacefully, fully and joyfully as heirs to Your Kingdom and co-heirs with Christ. In Jesus’ Name.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of aged men, And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
What our Grand parents are to us …
“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. Most importantly, milk and cookies and plenty of Ice Cream.”
“A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.”—Anonymous
If nothing is going well, call your grandmother. —Italian Proverb
“When Grand Ma smiles, the lines in her face become epic narratives that trace the stories of generations that no book can replace.” Anonymous
To a small child, the perfect granddad is unafraid of big dogs and fierce storms but absolutely terrified of the word “boo.” Anonymous
I still remember the simple lessons taught to me by my grandmother Lou. She taught me how special I was simply by telling me what a coconut looked like.
The time she spent with me, and the things she passed on with her simple, yet gentle words, pats upon my head, are still invaluable treasures that I cherish.
Throughout history, grandparents have played a central role in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
There is even a Grandparents Day the first Sunday after Labor day, put into its place by President Carter in 1978, to genuinely celebrate how important the contribution and impact our grandparents make to families, communities.
Today, let’s give honor where honor is long overdue, to take a few moments to stop and reflect on the value of grandparents—past or present and future.
Let’s dive into a few Scriptures that offer beautiful words of affirmation about the aged—timely words that show just how important grandparents truly are.
Does the Bible say anything about Honoring Our Grandparents?
When most of the books of the Bible were written, parents and grandparents held positions of high honor in the life of the family and of the community.
Children were expected to revere their elders and learn from them.
When God introduced the Law to the Israelite nation, He even included a commandment to “honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12).
God also made it part of His Law that the younger person should stand in the presence of the elderly as a sign of respect (Leviticus 19:32).
Implied within this command is a multi-generational attitude of respect and honor toward a family and communities senior relatives.
As children observed their parents honoring the grandparents, they, in turn, at some point in life, would shoulder that responsibility when their time came.
Proverbs 17:6 says that “children’s children are the crown of old people.”
Every grandparent understands that comparison.
There is a special kind of bond between a grandparent and a grandchild that benefits both.
Someone has humorously stated that “grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your own children when they were teenagers.”
Humor aside, there is some truth to that.
Grandchildren, like children, are a reward—a blessing from the Lord and one way that He is good to us (Psalm 127:3).
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” – Proverbs 17:6
What a picture of God’s design for the good of families.
Think about it.
There’s three generations here.
You have got grandparents, parents, and children.
All of us fit into this spectrum in some sense.
We all are children with parents.
We all are grandchildren.
Some of us are parents or step parents of children who pray about being blessed with Grand Children, perhaps even Great Grand Children.
Some are grandparents with grandchildren.
This Proverb Calls Us to Honor Generations of Our Families
And the picture here is ABBA Father God has designed our lives to honor and respect our own parents and our grandparents.
God has designed our lives as parents and grandparents to be glorified in the way we love and raise our children, in the very way we love our grandchildren.
So, as we see these three generations, I just want to encourage you to think about life and think about how you can honor your parents, even just to thank God for them, to pray for them, and grand and great grand parents, as well.
How can you honor them?
How can you pray for them?
I think in my own life, none of my grandparents are living.
My mom and my dad have long gone to be the Lord.
So when it comes to these groups in my life, I think about my mom.
I thank God so much for my mom and my dad and their parents, and by God’s grace, for the legacy, blossoming revelation of faith, they’ve passed on to me.
I could go on and on and on far, far beyond the scope of this devotional just talking about God’s grace toward me.
God, I want to honor all generations of my parents, I’m so thankful for them.
Proverbs 17:6 Encourages Us to Glorify God in Our Families
And then I look the other way and think about my stepson.
I think about how precious he is, what a gift he is, and how much I pray for him.
I want to glorify God by loving him and caring for him well, and then I pray for his growing son.
So I pray for my grandson all the time.
I have no children of my own, but my sister does so I pray for her grandkids.
I pray that they would know God, they would love God, they would know God’s love for them and model God’s love for others.
So, just think about your life and where you are right now in the spectrum, whether you are single, married, a parent, or a grandparent, So I just pray.
1 Timothy 5:1-5 Common English Bible
Caring for God’s family
5 Don’t correct an older man, but encourage him like he’s your father; treat younger men like your brothers, 2 treat older women like your mother, and treat younger women like your sisters with appropriate respect.
3 Take care of widows who are truly needy. 4 But if a particular widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to respect their own family and repay their parents, because this pleases God. 5 A widow who is truly needy and all alone puts her hope in God and keeps on going with requests and prayers, night and day.
In the New Testament, the duty of an adult grandchild is made explicit:
“If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God wants them to do” (1 Timothy 5:4, CEB).
So the honor shown to a grandparent in need is more than mere respect; it is taking practical steps to support the grandparent and doing whatever it takes to meet his or her needs.
Doing so is a natural part of honoring and serving and giving glory to the Lord.
Grand Parent Responsibility Towards Grand Children
Proverbs 13:22 Christian Standard Bible
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[a] grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Just as grandchildren have sacred obligations to love, honor, and assist their grandparents, so do grandparents have responsibilities toward their children’s children.
Proverbs 13:22says that “a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
Righteous people live wisely and pass on their wisdom, their knowledge, and their material blessings to their grandchildren.
In our day, it has become common for grandparents to have full custody of their grandchildren from the parents’ inability [drugs, alcohol, mental illness, legal issues] or their unwillingness to rear their own children.
While this is sad, it also demonstrates the unique love grandparents have that creates a willingness to begin the task of bringing up a child just when child-rearing was supposed to be finished.
Few retirees would volunteer for the emotional, financial, and physical burden of rearing children again, but, because they are grandparents, they’ll set aside their own desires for the needs of a grandchild.
Honoring and Respecting All Grand Parents?
The Bible gives examples of grandparents, and some of those grandparents were wicked:
2 Kings 11 recounts the sad story of Athaliah, mother of King Ahaziah of Judah.
When Ahaziah died, the Queen Mother ordered the execution of all her royal family so that she could take the throne.
Unknown to her, one of Ahaziah’s sisters, Jehosheba, hid a baby grandson, Joash, in a bedroom so that he escaped his grandmother’s bloody rampage.
He and his nurse remained hidden in the temple for six years while his grandmother ruled Judah.
When Joash was seven years old, the high priest brought him out, anointed him, put the crown on his head, and proclaimed little Joash king of Judah.
When Athaliah saw this, she flew into a rage, but the godly high priest ordered her to be executed.
Thus, it was the murder of his entire family by his own grandmother that had ushered in the forty-year reign of King Joash of Judah.
Did Joash, at some point in his 4o year kingly reign privately or publicly forgive the scriptures do not say.
If there is some reason, legitimate or otherwise, and you are at severe odds with your grandparents, the matter of extending or not extending mercy, granting or not granting forgiveness is between Father God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and you.
Scripture repeatedly says mercy and forgiveness are always the right choices.
Matthew 5:7Christian Standard Bible
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 9:13 Christian Standard Bible
13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.[a] For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”[b]
Kinsman Redeemer
Leviticus 25:25-27 Christian Standard Bible
25 If your brother becomes destitute and sells part of his property, his nearest relative may come and redeem what his brother has sold. 26 If a man has no family redeemer, but he prospers[a] and obtains enough to redeem his land, 27 he may calculate the years since its sale, repay the balance to the man he sold it to, and return to his property.
Ruth 4:14-17 Christian Standard Bible
14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him. 17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
An unusual grandparenting relationship is found in the book of Ruth.
The story of Ruth is a beautiful tale of love and loyalty between a young widow and her bereaved mother-in-law, Naomi.
Although her husband is dead, Ruth chooses to stay with her mother-in-law to care for her.
She even leaves her own people, the Moabites, to follow Naomi back to Israel where she meets and marries Boaz.
When their first child is born, the townspeople congratulate Naomi, saying, “Naomi has a son!”(Ruth 4:14–17).
The child was no blood relation to Naomi, but, because of the great love and connection between her and Ruth, she adopted the baby as her own grandchild.
This reminds us that grandparenting can come in many forms.
In this day of broken and dysfunctional families, divorce, and step-parenting, godly men and women who will prayerfully step forward, adopt their children’s step-children as their own grandchildren are blessed, as Naomi was blessed.
Her adopted grandchild, Obed, became the grandfather of King David.
When God designed this world, He instituted the ministry of the family as His means of propagating the earth and teaching us about love and relationship.
He intended for the elder to teach the younger and for the younger to revere the elder.
Grandparents, Great Grandparents play a uniquely special role in this design.
Free from the responsibility to train and discipline a child, grandparents can offer open arms, acceptance, and a safe place for a child to run when things are not going well with Mom and Dad.
Grandparents can provide wisdom beyond that of the parents, since they have already walked this road many years before.
A wise grandparent, though, will never intrude upon a parental decision in front of the child.
A grandparent’s role is not to supersede the parent but to support, encourage, and counsel as needed.
When parents, grandparents, and children are living out their roles as God first designed, the entire family, entire generations of families, communities thrive.
If I could give gold crowns to each one of my wonderful grandparents, I would.
They have invested so much into my life, and made such an impact,
I believe they ought to be treated like royalty.
However, I pray, that the way in which I’ve lived my life, would be such an abundant blessing to them, it feels like a crown of honor.
Not only are grandchildren a crown to the aged, the aged are the pride of their family – What a truly excellent reminder of the importance of grandparents!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
ABBA Father, Every good and perfect gift comes from You. I thank you, Lord, for the joy and happiness, the moments of learning, and the guidance and care you have brought to us through our wonderful grandparents. I truly appreciate the kind of life, love, and nurturing they have given our parents, for through these, I was taught to depend on You by faith, and I was raised with the morals and values to respect others and be concerned for their welfare. Thank you, Lord, for our godly grandparents.
Gracious God, I pray also that each and every grandparent would be able to see their grandchildren as crowns of joy. I also ask that every child would be able to see their grandparents as people of steadfast faith they can look up to. Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful legacies they leave behind. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Honoring your father and your mother is the only commandment out of the Ten Commandments that is followed by a promise, Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16)
Exodus 20:12Amplified Bible
12 “Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Most Christians are very familiar with the verse “honor your father and mother”, but few actually know of it’s origin in the Bible.
The command to honor your father and mother actually comes from the Old Testament book of Exodus 20 in the story of the 10 Commandments.
However, it is also a command that is repeated several times in both the Old and New Testament.
Chapter 20 of the Book of Exodus serves as a powerful reminder of the intimate relationship God has with humankind.
This passage specifically reveals the intense care and concern that God shows toward His Children.
Today this chapter remains popular because of a very special occurrence – the Ten Commandments.
At eighty plus years old, after venturing up to Mount Sinai, Moses, a father, brought down the Ten Commandments, rules given Him directly from God.
The Ten Commandments described ten precepts for how God expected His people to behave.
This monumental moment follows after the Israelites fled Egypt.
Chapter 19 in the Book of Exodus details how the Israelites camped in the wilderness, now living a life outside of slavery for a few months.
God informs Moses that He desires to bless the nation of Israel.
However, He also wants them to keep a covenant with Him (Exodus 19:5-6).
The Ten Commandments serve as part of that covenant.
One of these commandments spoke to the relationship between a child and parent and is a guideline we as Christians still ought to be following today.
Exodus 20:12The Message
12 Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.
The reason this commandment in addition to the other nine is still relevant today is because Jesus indicated such to later believers (Matthew 5:17-20).
Jesus did not abolish the law, but rather came to fulfill it.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the followers at the church at Ephesus;
Ephesians 5:1-2 Amplified Bible
Be Imitators of God
5 Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
We are to do our part yet today in abiding in Jesus, by these commandments.
Today, I do not believe there is little to no controversy about whether or not the Ten Commandments are still relevant.
What has been up for rather contentious debate in the meaning of “honor” in the context of parents and children.
There are many instances of children being the victims of incest, abandonment, neglect, or other severe and seriously exploitive forms of ultra damaging abuse.
In these situations, how does a child honor a parent, when the parent lacks any concept or context of abiding in God, His Son Jesus and have honor for the child.
To understand this commandment, we have to examine the original context.
What Is the Original Meaning of Honor Your Father and Mother in Exodus 20?
The commandment to honor our father and mother is the fifth of the ten mentioned.
The commandment to precedes this one is honoring the Sabbath, followed by the commandment to not murder.
Scripture explains the reason why the commandment should be followed.
Exodus 20:12Amplified Bible
12 “Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.
The benefit of abiding by this commandment is longer life, specifically for the Israelites venturing on toward the Promised Land.
Dennis Prager [https://dennisprager.com/] emphasizes that though this could be viewed as a reward, this is also a reason.
And many of the other commandments are not given explicit reasons to be followed.
Prager suggests in a society where parents are honored by children, the society is bound to survive longer, than a society with a weaker family structure.
This commandment in Exodus is mentioned a number of other times in the Bible, each time as an admonishment to God’s people to better establish them.
Deuteronomy 5:16 tells us, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
Ephesians 6:2 states: “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise”
God blesses the people when their parents are honored, but the people are punished when they do not.
To honor is to hold someone in high regard or reverence.
The word honor does not mean agree with or even obey, but does suggest in this context a child should hold the highest utmost respect for both of their parents.
Now that we better understand the original context and interpretation of the commandment to honor thy mother and father, we can try to discern how this precept applies to modern-day life.
How Can Christians ‘Honor Your Father and Mother’ Today?
With an understanding of the word honor, there need not be a change in how parents are respected by children today.
However, with modern cultural shifts, this commandment for some has taken on a different interpretation.
We can perhaps better, more prayerfully understand the proper ways of honoring parents by first understanding how honoring should not appear.
As Dennis Prager discusses in his video analysis of the commandment, some parents yearn to be loved, rather than honored.
The visual example given in his video is that of a parent showering their child with gifts in order to receive affection.
This same parent when trying to discipline their child instead receives severe retaliation from them.
This is definitively not an example of a child honoring their parent because instead of respecting them as an “authority” figure, they are simply seeking what else, exactly how much more they can manipulate, gain from the parent.
Much like the Bible commands us to love others, the call to honor our parents is an outward action – something we do for others.
Honoring our parents is therefore not contingent upon what they give in return.
Within the Ten Commandments, verse 12 of Exodus 20 gives no clarification as to what parents are to be honored or even how.
We can conclude then that all parents are deserving of honor, and we can use the context of love within the Bible to discern appropriate ways to show honor.
We can even in some instances see how people have honored God as Father as an example.
Ways we can appropriately honor our parents include:
Expressing Gratitude Parents invest time and effort into raising children.
Those reasons alone are enough to show them gratitude for the sacrifices they make.
Parents provide shelter, food, clothing.
For every action they do in their support of their child is in itself a far more than sufficient reason for expressing their appreciation and gratitude.
Spending Time Together When physically possible, children can and should get together with their parents.
This acknowledges their existence and places a level of importance upon the relationship.
If being together physically is not an option, calling a parent on the phone for a check-in is also beneficial.
Dennis Prager shares with fellow believers he called his parents once a week.
Serve Another way for children to honor their parents is to find creative ways to serve their desires, wants and needs, much like parents perform on behalf of children.
To Honor or Not to Honor
It goes without saying and preaching to the choir that modern parenting is not equivalent to the parenting in ancient biblical Jewish culture.
Children today learn differently and have certain responsibilities such as owning a cell phone [I never did], which was not true for past generations.
No matter the time, parents should always be honored.
One concern followers, nonbelievers have with the commandment is the issue of bad parents, individuals who have abused their children by various means.
The Bible does not qualify which parents deserve honoring.
Additionally, Jesus mentions we are to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) and to bless those who persecute us (Romans 12:14).
We, therefore, know that even when seemingly impossible, we should all do our best to express love for our parents, our children as we express love for our God.
This fifth commandment, however, does not advocate for putting ourselves in danger with bad parents.
Applying this commandment for children who have been abused will look different in terms of how they show their honoring.
Spending time together may be an impossibility but talking on the phone or writing a letter could prayerfully be an option depending on the circumstance.
Sometimes we have to set boundaries in relationships, and whenever that is the case we have to pray unto our ABBA God for wisdom, so that we may honor His commandment and honor our parents while keeping ourselves safe (James 1:5).
There are no easy or set human answers how to be complete, perfect parents.
As Mom’s and Dad’s together …
The very best we can do is diligently consult the Word of God for His Children.
Study it …
Like Jesus did, intentionally plumb its depths, its ways, its truths and its life.
Pray without ceasing over every aspect of it, revelation from it …
Koinonia, Fellowship with our ABBA Father, His Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, other Parents …
Finally,
Be Still, Be Quiet, know only God is God, and can, should be, exalted as God.
Matthew 6:25-33New King James Version
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [a]cubit to his [b] stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [c]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for my parents and for giving me life. Thank You for the pleasant and harsh lessons I have learned and the good times and the bad we have shared together. Forgive me for the times when I have not sufficiently honored my father and mother as I ought – for I am now acutely aware that this is dishonoring to You. From this day forward, I pray that I should honour You in all my interactions with my own family and with my friends, and may my life be honoring to You.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
