Flawless Words

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:5

I wonder how much pain, agony & strife I have been spared because of God’s Word being a shield around me… protecting me from unseen and unknown evil. It has protected me from a lot that I have seen and known! It has protected me from the junk of my own heart as I’ve ‘reprogrammed’ my thoughts by it. God’s words are flawless and they are powerful in my life.

Thank you, Father, for Your powerful Word. I know You have protected me through the years and I am so glad! Please give me a hunger for Your Word that will never be satisfied so that I will pursue You with even greater intensity in the days to come. Give me opportunity to share Your flawless words with someone today… is my prayer in the Name of Jesus.

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Concern For The Poor

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

Proverbs 29:7

Concern for the poor distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. It’s a clear line of demarcation… a yes or no question. Do you care about the poor? The righteous care because God cares.

I could do more for the poor. I could be a champion for them more than I have been. I could be a louder voice for them. I could love them more. This is the heart of God. The poor are too easily taken advantage of. Injustice can come their way because they have no power; no voice. God would have His people speak for the benefit of those whom He so deeply loves! The Lord would have me speak up and love them.

Lord Jesus, would You enlarge my heart for those who are struggling in this life because of little or no resources? Help me to see with Your eyes and love with Your heart today. Lead me where You would have me go and prompt me to speak and act as Your representative… as Your disciple! And may many more of these whom You died for come to know and love You with their whole heart is my prayer.

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Oh, The Depth!

I couldn't stop this morning. The Life Journal reading is Romans 9 but I kept going... through chapters 10 and 11. Honestly, those three chapters are best read together! They also make the famous words in Romans 12:1-2 more significant. So I echo Paul in worship this morning:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:33-36

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A Word For This Pastor

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

Psalm 78:72

After several verses describing the ups and downs, successes and failures, the faithful and faithlessness of Israel, the psalmist brings us to his current day – God chose David to pastor His people and to lead them as their shepherd-king. God selected David, bringing him from the shepherd fields to lead sheep of another kind. And David through the integrity of his heart and the skillfulness of his hands was a man after God’s own heart who led the people well.

I often have the fear of pasturing in me. How do I shepherd these people? Who is possibly up to such a task? It’s reassuring, I guess, that most pastors are struck with the fear and the sense of inadequacy from time to time. The ones who don’t, well… you probably don’t want to be led by them. But back to the point: David also had feelings of inadequacy! We’ve read as much in his story recently. He relied on God with a humility of heart and was used mightily. Through these two things, the psalmist writes, he lead Israel:

1. Integrity of heart
2. Skillfulness of hands

Not perfectly, of course. There are examples from David’s life when he failed in both, but because of his humility, God continued to use him. And well!

God can use me too as my heart remains humble and I pursue Him with my whole heart. As I live by the integrity of my heart and as God has re-created me to be in Christ, I will be a good leader. As I continue to improve the various skills I need, God will use me to shepherd His people. I will still have feelings of inferiority, but that’s OK. God can do all things! (Phil. 4:13)

Father, make me more like Jesus today and use me to lead your people well.

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That's Good News

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 1:16-17

The gospel is powerful because of its ability to save people. Both Jews and Gentiles can believe the Good News and be saved! The message is that a righteousness from God is available through faith. No longer through the works of the Law will people strive for purification from sins and a righteous standing before God. Now through faith in Jesus people will be made righteous. Paul says this is from ‘first to last’ by faith, for the “Righteous will live by faith.”

I believe this Good News! Belief and trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross makes me righteous. Faith is seen in my walking in obedience to this truth – for the Righteous will live by faith. There is no religious exercise or work of the Law that brings righteousness – just the blood of Jesus shed on the cross brings my righteous standing before God.

There is still the tendency for me to be compelled to ‘do’ for God so that I may be considered righteous. The problem with that is when I am not ‘doing’ I can then not feel righteous before God. This, clearly, is not the gospel. I am righteous before God because of the cross and my faith in the One who died for me there. Any ‘doing’ comes from that place – that righteous standing before Him. I am righteous, so I serve Him. ‘I sing to Him forgiven!’ The righteousness of Jesus is on my life because of this gospel that I believe in.

Thank You for the power of the gospel in my life, Father. Thank You for making me righteous through Jesus! I live by faith today…

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It Takes Patience

A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:11

Overlooking an offense is evidence of a wise and noble person. It ‘is to his glory’ to do so. People will note the grace and patience required to overlook the offense and they will think highly of that person. They’ve seen Jesus in him!

Gaining in wisdom will be seen in an increase of patience – especially when others are being offensive! To have wisdom and see the larger picture to the point of being able to overlook the stupidity, that’s a lot like Jesus.

Lord, you are amazingly patient with me in my stupidity and have overlooked my offensiveness by your grace. Your patience means my salvation (2 Peter 3:15). May I be more like You! Like Solomon, I ask for more wisdom and the patience that comes with it - that I may bring you glory this day.

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Plan Kindness

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.

15 A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 14:8, 15, 21, 31

Two threads of thought here in Proverbs today… (for me, not King Solomon!)

• The prudent man gives thought to his steps
• Being kind to the needy honors God

I want to honor God with my life, so giving thought to how I live is important. How am I spending my life? Am I being kind to the needy? It’s not a waste... it honors God!

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Why Do This?

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Why would anyone do Kingdom work? It’s a difficult endeavor, the pay is horrible and there is opposition in the physical and spiritual realms. Why would you sign up for that?

Paul encourages the church significantly! Being remembered is treasure to the hearts of people. To hear that you are being prayed for is very encouraging! Paul then frames the motivation of their hearts for ministry – Faith, Love and Hope. Faith produces the work they’ve accomplished already. Love is the motivator and Hope gives them courage to continue, in spite of the opposition.

I certainly resonate and am encouraged by Paul’s words to the church. There is continual opposition in Kingdom work and you can question ‘why do this?’ all the time. Oh yeah, the Gospel of Jesus. I believe it is true! And if it is true it has the greatest ramifications for humanity. This Gospel has changed my life and God’s love has been poured into my heart (Romans 5:5). Love compels me to share this News (2 Corinthians 5:13-15). And when times are hard, it’s the hope of heaven that encourages me to continue (Romans 8:18).

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Help From Heaven

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your requests.

Psalm 20:1-5

I can imagine David writing this Psalm, this blessing, for one of his commanders or mighty men – like Joab. As Joab was leading others, extending the kingdom and engaging in battle against the king’s enemies, there would be times of distress. There would be moments of extreme stress when decisions would need to be made. David sings this prayer: ‘May the Lord answer you when you are in distress. May the God of Jacob protect you…’

The assumption is that those in the battle are praying. ‘May God hear those prayer and send help from the sanctuary.’ From the place of worship… from the location of God’s Presence help in on the way.

Is it possible that worship is the Command Center for the battle? It must be! Especially if the battle you are engaged in is God’s battle. If it’s conflict that He calls you to enter into for the sake of His Kingdom and His purposes, then from hearts of worship come the ability to strategically advance against God’s enemies. Yielding to Him is required! Thankfully He hears the prayers of His people and comes to lead and protect them. God is involved in the plans of men when He is worshipped and honored as God Most High.

David sings, ‘May god give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May the Lord grant all your requests… And we will shout for joy when you are victorious!’ What a great image of community - loving and rooting for each other!

I desire to see the Kingdom of Heaven advance more powerfully through me and my church family. I want there to be scores of people in heaven for all eternity because we were here in this place and time representing Jesus well. ‘Father, give me the desire of my heart and make all of our plans succeed!’

This is primarily a spiritual endeavor and we are wrestling with powers that cannot be seen. I have known distress, to be sure, and I need the God of Jacob to protect me. It has and will continue to be from this place of worship that God will bring strength and help to my heart. Daily worship, as well as corporate worship, are not luxurious options for me or any who want to successfully engage the battle

Worship is the Command Center where I hear the directives of the King. In His Presence help comes to me as my heart is encouraged and strengthened. It is here at His feet that I am reminded of God’s great love for me and that the battle is not mine but His! I am not ultimately responsible for victory – Jesus is! And guess what? He is already risen victoriously! I am simply His servant encouraging hearts and claiming the spoils of His victory over hell and the grave. It is in worship that I am reminded of this. It is in His Presence where I am given the help I need for this day. It is here that the desires of my heart or molded to what He desires.

Lord, give me the desires of my heart and make all of my plans succeed! Thank You for answering me when I am in distress and for protecting me from things I’ll never know. I trust in Your Name – Your awe-inspiring Name – this day.

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Victory For The Upright

For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 2:6-8

Wisdom comes from the Lord. Solomon says to pursue it! Seek wisdom like a treasure – it will pay! Knowledge, understanding, discretion, wisdom… it will all protect and save you. It will guard your life and spare you years of mistakes and the inevitable regret that comes with those mistakes. What’s more, wisdom will replace loss with victory!

There is a way that seems right to me but it leads to death. As I seek God and receive wisdom and insight from Him, there is victory. Knowledge and understanding from Him protects me from what seems right. I can know and do what is right because of the wisdom I receive from God.

Pretty cool!

Father, I seek You this morning. Teach me more of Your way. Give me the wisdom I need for this day and lead me victoriously! Thank You for the truth of Your Word. It is a blessing to be able to read Your thoughts everyday. I yield my mind and thinking to Your thoughts. May my thoughts reflect Your thoughts today, Father. Be glorified in my thinking and I know You’ll be glorified in my actions. You are awesome; the Almighty God. There is none like You. I worship You today.

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Some Weeks

Ever feel like this? There are some weeks...

(That's gotta hurt!)

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John Quincy Adams Quote

“I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once a year. My custom is to read four or five chapters every morning immediately after rising from my bed. It employs about an hour of my time, and seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day. In what light soever we regard the Bible, whether with reference to revelation, to history, or to morality, it is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.”

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Loving Children

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:5

Jesus had brought a little child into the middle of the disciples and told them that the greatest in His Kingdom would be like this child. In fact, unless they changed, humbled themselves and became like children, they would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven (amazing statement!). Jesus then adds verse 5! Welcome this child in my name (with my love, in my spirit, with the heart of God) and you are welcoming me.

Do I want to love Jesus in meaningful ways? Love children in His Name!

Thank You, Lord, for loving children. Thank You for loving me! Fill me with Your love today and allow me to love those little ones in my life, knowing that You are being loved through that. You are the King of the Universe, yet You love the little ones! How awesome and amazing You are!

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