Psalm 95
Today’s Psalm selection for this third week of Lent is one that is frequently used as a call to worship in morning prayers. The second part of the psalm corresponds directly with the Old Testament reading for this week in the Lectionary, which I wrote about in my previous meditation. These verses contain a strong warning, which we all should take heed of. Let’s look into this call to worship of the Lord God, and also the warning contained here.
Our Psalm opens with a broad invitation for God’s people to come worship, to sing songs of praise to Him. The goal of worship is to glorify God. It begins with our attitude. In order to truly worship the Lord we must come into His presence with a repentant and humble heart, a mind that is focused on Him, and a desire to lead an obedient life. Genuine worship requires a heart of faith, and obedience to God. We cannot properly worship without a joyful, thankful heart towards God.
We can be thankful to the Lord, for the Maker of heaven and earth has invited us to come boldly before His throne (Hebrews 4:16). In the days when royalty held more power, one always made sure that they were properly attired in their presence. Even today, if one were given the honor to dine with the Queen, most people would never think to come without giving special attention to their clothes. Similarly with God. Thanksgiving is the act of dressing properly to be in God’s court. We should never go into His presence without the garments of praise on.
God is our Rock, something strong, solid, and protective (vs. 1). The Rock here also refers to the rock in the wilderness that brought forth water for the people. That rock is a figure of the Lord Jesus, who brings us Living Water. God is also not like the made-up local gods, many of whom only “ruled” over a specific local area. He is the Creator of the universe, and the Ruler of the whole earth (vs. 4-5). God is our Creator. We are His creation, and thus we need to submit to Him. Christians today need to return to a position and posture of respect and worship with God, remembering just Who He is (vs. 6). He is the almighty, omnipotent God of all, not just some servant to come at our beck and call.
The second part of today’s psalm is a warning. This warning refers back to the account in Exodus where the Hebrew people were grumbling and complaining against God, demanding Him to provide them with what they desired (Exodus 17:1-7). They were hard-hearted and filled with unbelief. They had complained against God and His servant Moses from a few days after their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, and all through the wilderness wanderings. They were faithless and had contempt for God’s holiness and provisions. These verses (vs. 7b - 11) are here as a warning to us today. We need to be careful not to follow their example of unbelief. We need to hear His Voice, listen to it, and be careful to obey Him.
Hard ground is very difficult to plant a garden in. It takes hard work to get it in condition for planting, often needing special equipment to prepare it. Sometimes some areas of rock-hard ground aren’t even possible to get into condition for planting. A hard heart is even more difficult to work with (vs. 8). God is not pleased with a hard heart, one that is not tender to His Word and work. The Israelites hardened their hearts against God in the desert, and thus were left to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. They lost their faith, complained, and whined. It is very difficult for someone with a hardened heart to become soft again, and turn to God. These folks are stubbornly set in their ways. They have disregarded God and His will for so long. If one resists God long enough, He may toss them aside like a worthless, hardened clod of dirt. Thus the strong warning here to be careful not to get a hardened heart!
The final warning here is the danger of not entering into God’s rest (vs. 11). The “rest” initially referred to the Israelites entering into the Promised Land. In the New Testament it became analogous to refer to trusting God, both in salvation, and then throughout our Christian walk with Him. What keeps us from entering God’s rest? Having ungrateful hearts (vs. 2), not worshipping or submitting to God (vs. 6), hardening our heart (vs. 8), and testing God because of doubts (vs. 9). Let’s remember to do what one old-time hymn calls us to do - “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done!”
Monday, March 16, 2020
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Stop The Complaining!
Exodus 17:1-7
Have you ever been on a long road trip with others, and one or more in the group starts to complain and whine? They’re hot, they're tired, they’re hungry, thirsty, bored, etc., etc. Nothing seems to satisfy them, and the whining continues on. Very quickly the trip becomes burdensome and unpleasant. Hour after hour, day after day, the complaining goes on and on, and tempers start to flare. If you’re the leader of the group, if you’re in charge, the complaints are often leveled at you. Depending on who they are, it can even be threatening. As we read today’s Scripture, we see a scenario that is just like this, and the Lord God’s response.
Not that long after the Israelites left Mt. Sinai, and were traveling in the desert, the Lord led them to Rephidim. Here again, even though they were following where God led, following the pillar of cloud He provided to guide them, the people started complaining that there wasn’t water. They complained so strongly against Moses, that he actually started to fear for his safety and his life (vs. 4).
How short was the people’s memory! It had only been a few months earlier when Yahweh brought the ten plagues upon their Egyptian taskmasters. Those ten plagues were a fearsome wonder, and it would seem very hard for someone who had witnessed them to forget so quickly. Then there was their dramatic rescue from the Egyptians when the Lord God parted the waters of the Red Sea for them to cross on dry ground, and then closed them again over the Egyptians so they could not follow. How could they so quickly forget that? Did they not remember that Yahweh had provided for them from that first day until now? Now they had arrived at the location the Lord had led them to, and they suddenly forgot all He had done. When we face troubles, often we get spiritual amnesia, forgetting all that God has done for us. We need to reestablish a thankful heart, and remember His past provisions, remembering specific ways He has provided for us in the past.
Complaining only raises the level of stress one has (vs. 2 - 3). It doesn’t solve anything. Prayer to the Lord God will help to quiet our thoughts and emotions. It brings us into the presence of God. When we come upon trials or hardships in our life, what is our reaction? The people of Israel started complaining, but Moses turned to God in prayer (vs. 4).
Moses didn’t even pray for water. He came to God in concern and fear of the people, and how angry and violent they had become. Despite all of the complaining, whining, and unbelief of the people, God loved them, and came to the aid of Moses. He would provide the water they needed, provide it in a miraculous way, showing them that nothing is too hard for Him. God would bring water in the desert, where no natural source of water existed anywhere around. As the people looked around, there was nothing but dry dirt and rocks, and God used a rock to bring forth water. Moses obeyed the Lord, and struck the rock with his rod, and water poured forth (vs. 5 - 6). In spite of what would seem to be an impossibility, Moses had faith, believed God, and there was water coming out of the rock. There are two things needed for every fruitful work - willing workers, and the faithfulness of God. We do whatever God has asked, such as striking the rock. God’s work is to make the water flow. When we do our part, God will do His.
The name of this place was called Massah and Meribah, which means testing and contending (vs. 7). After all that God had done for them, this place and its name were to become a very poor testimony for the people. The question the people asked in verse 7, “Is the Lord among us or not?” casts doubt on His truthfulness, and is not one believers should ever have. God has promised to be with those who have placed their faith and trust in Him.
Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy our thirst for God. Many of the Israelites would not believe God, and had no faith (Hebrews 4:2). When, by faith, we believe the promise of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water, and grace for our daily needs.
Have you ever been on a long road trip with others, and one or more in the group starts to complain and whine? They’re hot, they're tired, they’re hungry, thirsty, bored, etc., etc. Nothing seems to satisfy them, and the whining continues on. Very quickly the trip becomes burdensome and unpleasant. Hour after hour, day after day, the complaining goes on and on, and tempers start to flare. If you’re the leader of the group, if you’re in charge, the complaints are often leveled at you. Depending on who they are, it can even be threatening. As we read today’s Scripture, we see a scenario that is just like this, and the Lord God’s response.
Not that long after the Israelites left Mt. Sinai, and were traveling in the desert, the Lord led them to Rephidim. Here again, even though they were following where God led, following the pillar of cloud He provided to guide them, the people started complaining that there wasn’t water. They complained so strongly against Moses, that he actually started to fear for his safety and his life (vs. 4).
How short was the people’s memory! It had only been a few months earlier when Yahweh brought the ten plagues upon their Egyptian taskmasters. Those ten plagues were a fearsome wonder, and it would seem very hard for someone who had witnessed them to forget so quickly. Then there was their dramatic rescue from the Egyptians when the Lord God parted the waters of the Red Sea for them to cross on dry ground, and then closed them again over the Egyptians so they could not follow. How could they so quickly forget that? Did they not remember that Yahweh had provided for them from that first day until now? Now they had arrived at the location the Lord had led them to, and they suddenly forgot all He had done. When we face troubles, often we get spiritual amnesia, forgetting all that God has done for us. We need to reestablish a thankful heart, and remember His past provisions, remembering specific ways He has provided for us in the past.
Complaining only raises the level of stress one has (vs. 2 - 3). It doesn’t solve anything. Prayer to the Lord God will help to quiet our thoughts and emotions. It brings us into the presence of God. When we come upon trials or hardships in our life, what is our reaction? The people of Israel started complaining, but Moses turned to God in prayer (vs. 4).
Moses didn’t even pray for water. He came to God in concern and fear of the people, and how angry and violent they had become. Despite all of the complaining, whining, and unbelief of the people, God loved them, and came to the aid of Moses. He would provide the water they needed, provide it in a miraculous way, showing them that nothing is too hard for Him. God would bring water in the desert, where no natural source of water existed anywhere around. As the people looked around, there was nothing but dry dirt and rocks, and God used a rock to bring forth water. Moses obeyed the Lord, and struck the rock with his rod, and water poured forth (vs. 5 - 6). In spite of what would seem to be an impossibility, Moses had faith, believed God, and there was water coming out of the rock. There are two things needed for every fruitful work - willing workers, and the faithfulness of God. We do whatever God has asked, such as striking the rock. God’s work is to make the water flow. When we do our part, God will do His.
The name of this place was called Massah and Meribah, which means testing and contending (vs. 7). After all that God had done for them, this place and its name were to become a very poor testimony for the people. The question the people asked in verse 7, “Is the Lord among us or not?” casts doubt on His truthfulness, and is not one believers should ever have. God has promised to be with those who have placed their faith and trust in Him.
Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy our thirst for God. Many of the Israelites would not believe God, and had no faith (Hebrews 4:2). When, by faith, we believe the promise of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water, and grace for our daily needs.
Friday, March 13, 2020
Look And Live!
John 3:1-17
Our Gospel reading this week in the Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer contains one of the most recognized and possibly most memorized verses, John 3:16. Let’s take a quick look and study the background of this most famous and favorite Bible verse.
One evening early in His ministry, Jesus had a visitor. A gentleman named Nicodemus came to talk to him (vs. 1-2). He came at night, possibly for several reasons. One was that he was a Pharisee, and also a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest governing body of the Jewish people. Jesus was already being questioned and under suspicion by the Pharisees, so Nicodemus might not have wanted others knowing he was interested in Him and His message. Also he possibly wanted a good amount of time to sit and talk to Jesus one-on-one, without being disturbed by the crowds, and night would be a good time to be alone with Him. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus was depending upon his good works, his keeping of the Old Testament Law and his religious rituals to earn him acceptance with God and a place in heaven. He was like the many religiously devout people we all know, ones we feel are really good people, and will certainly go to heaven. Yet Jesus immediately tells Nicodemus that all of the religious good works he does is not enough for salvation. It is not enough, and one must be born again (vs. 3).
We are all born sinners, with a sin nature, and no amount of goodness can erase or change a person’s nature. One needs a real relationship with God, which can only happen when one accepts Jesus as their personal Savior. We cannot get into heaven because of any good works or kind behavior. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again, to become a child of God through trust in the Name of the Incarnate Word, appropriated by an act of faith. The new birth is when the Holy Spirit leads a person to understand that Jesus Christ died on the cross to provide forgiveness for their sins. When we accept that Jesus Christ is the only one who can redeem us, and we confess Him as our Savior and Lord, we are born again. When we stand before God, only our relationship with Him will matter.
Belief is more than intellectual agreement. It means to put our trust and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, belief that He alone can save us. We must believe that Jesus is God’s only-begotten Son, and that He saves us by His sacrificial death on the cross. It is more than intellectual consent or head knowledge. One must believe in their heart that they cannot earn their salvation, and trust in the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
God paid dearly for our salvation with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that He had bought for us. This was the message that Jesus had for Nicodemus, and everyone He came to redeem, that we must be born again in order to enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus then points to the account of Moses in the wilderness (vs. 14). In Numbers 21:4-9, we read of how the Israelites continued to be faithless and complaining, so God sent poisonous serpents, whose bite would kill people. God instructed Moses to make a bronze image of a snake, and place it on a pole. The only thing that could save those bitten was not some medical treatment, but to look upon the image. Whoever looked at this image after being bitten would live. That would hardly seem to be a suitable cure, and many did not believe. Jesus said that we needed to look to Him and His sacrificial death on the cross, and we will have eternal life. Those who face the penalty of death and damnation (all of us), need to look to Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, and we will be saved. Many people think that is just as outlandish as looking at a bronze figure of a snake to be healed from the snakebite. However, that was the only cure from the poisonous snake, and is the only way one can receive eternal life, by looking to Jesus.
Our Gospel reading this week in the Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer contains one of the most recognized and possibly most memorized verses, John 3:16. Let’s take a quick look and study the background of this most famous and favorite Bible verse.
One evening early in His ministry, Jesus had a visitor. A gentleman named Nicodemus came to talk to him (vs. 1-2). He came at night, possibly for several reasons. One was that he was a Pharisee, and also a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest governing body of the Jewish people. Jesus was already being questioned and under suspicion by the Pharisees, so Nicodemus might not have wanted others knowing he was interested in Him and His message. Also he possibly wanted a good amount of time to sit and talk to Jesus one-on-one, without being disturbed by the crowds, and night would be a good time to be alone with Him. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus was depending upon his good works, his keeping of the Old Testament Law and his religious rituals to earn him acceptance with God and a place in heaven. He was like the many religiously devout people we all know, ones we feel are really good people, and will certainly go to heaven. Yet Jesus immediately tells Nicodemus that all of the religious good works he does is not enough for salvation. It is not enough, and one must be born again (vs. 3).
We are all born sinners, with a sin nature, and no amount of goodness can erase or change a person’s nature. One needs a real relationship with God, which can only happen when one accepts Jesus as their personal Savior. We cannot get into heaven because of any good works or kind behavior. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again, to become a child of God through trust in the Name of the Incarnate Word, appropriated by an act of faith. The new birth is when the Holy Spirit leads a person to understand that Jesus Christ died on the cross to provide forgiveness for their sins. When we accept that Jesus Christ is the only one who can redeem us, and we confess Him as our Savior and Lord, we are born again. When we stand before God, only our relationship with Him will matter.
Belief is more than intellectual agreement. It means to put our trust and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, belief that He alone can save us. We must believe that Jesus is God’s only-begotten Son, and that He saves us by His sacrificial death on the cross. It is more than intellectual consent or head knowledge. One must believe in their heart that they cannot earn their salvation, and trust in the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
God paid dearly for our salvation with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that He had bought for us. This was the message that Jesus had for Nicodemus, and everyone He came to redeem, that we must be born again in order to enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus then points to the account of Moses in the wilderness (vs. 14). In Numbers 21:4-9, we read of how the Israelites continued to be faithless and complaining, so God sent poisonous serpents, whose bite would kill people. God instructed Moses to make a bronze image of a snake, and place it on a pole. The only thing that could save those bitten was not some medical treatment, but to look upon the image. Whoever looked at this image after being bitten would live. That would hardly seem to be a suitable cure, and many did not believe. Jesus said that we needed to look to Him and His sacrificial death on the cross, and we will have eternal life. Those who face the penalty of death and damnation (all of us), need to look to Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, and we will be saved. Many people think that is just as outlandish as looking at a bronze figure of a snake to be healed from the snakebite. However, that was the only cure from the poisonous snake, and is the only way one can receive eternal life, by looking to Jesus.
In closing this passage, Jesus told us that God does not show favoritism (vs. 17), for His mercy extends throughout the globe. God’s love and mercy can reach anyone. He does not select some people to enter heaven, and others to go to hell. The good news of Jesus is offered to all humanity. We only need to accept it. As the old-time hymn says, “Look and live, my brother, live! Look to Jesus now and live; ‘Tis recorded in His Word, hallelujah! It is only that you look and live.”
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Earned Or A Gift
Romans 4:1-17
Put in a hard day’s work, and we hope to be paid for all of our efforts. That is what is to be expected. No one wants to work and not be rewarded for it. Our salary is what we rightly feel we’re due, after a day’s work. However, if one gets rewarded without having worked, that is special. Sometimes, especially around holidays, a boss might give a bonus check. Everyone is happy about that! In our Scripture passage today from the Book of Romans, Paul discusses working for something, and being given something as a free gift without having worked for it. He discusses whether salvation and justification is earned or a free gift. Let’s take a look at what the Word of God says about this.
In Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome, he was teaching them how we cannot earn our salvation or our way to heaven. This was a concern back then, and still is today, when so many people think that they will go to heaven based on their works and good deeds. In our passage Paul gives reasons why this is not so, using Abraham as an example. Abraham is the father of faith for believers, not because of good works he did, but rather because of his faith.
The Jewish people liked to believe that they were justified before God because they kept His law, particularly by being circumcised. They felt they were justified by doing all these works. They were also so very proud of being a descendant of Abraham. However, as Paul questioned, when was Abraham counted by God as being righteous? Was he counted righteous after he was circumcised, or before? Paul clearly points out that Abraham was justified, or counted righteous, many years before God gave the command to be circumcised, almost 25 years before. Religious rituals do not earn any rewards. Abraham was blessed by God many years before the circumcision ceremony was introduced (vs. 10-12).
The only way for any person to come into a right relationship with God is by grace through faith (vs. 3). We accept God’s gift of salvation by faith. We cannot earn it by good works. All of our best efforts won’t do. Our works don’t work. Our finest efforts mean nothing. The only thing that matters, is if we follow Abraham’s example, and accept God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus by faith. Abraham pleased God through his faith, alone, long before any rituals had been heard of (vs. 16). We are saved by faith, plus nothing.
If Abraham’s works had been the basis of his justification, he would have had every right to boast (vs. 2). If a person could earn right standing with God by doing good, it would no longer be a free gift (vs. 4). It would be an obligation, a payment that was due. If salvation were on the basis of one’s own effort, God would owe it as a debt. We would then feel we could go up to God and say that we had earned our right to be in heaven, that God owed it to us. In reality, though, we can never do enough good in a million lifetimes to earn the right to a minute in heaven. Our efforts are futile. All we can do is cast ourselves on God’s mercy and grace. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace to those who believe (vs 5).
The word “accounted” in verse 3 is a financial and legal term in Greek. It means to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to another’s account. It is a one-sided transaction. Abraham did nothing to earn salvation, nothing but believe God by faith. God took His own righteousness and credited it to Abraham, as if it was his.
Many people in Paul’s day like to believe that they were justified in God’s sight because they were physically descended from Abraham. Racially Abraham is the father of all the Jews, those who were counting on their circumcision to bring them to heaven. Abraham was not justified by circumcision or by keeping the Old Testament Law (vs. 13-15). Spiritually, Abraham is the father of all who believe - believing Jews and believing Gentiles, those who had never been circumcised (vs. 11-12).
Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ, and reaching out to accept His wonderful gift of salvation. I pray that all who read this will trust Jesus Christ for their salvation, if you haven’t already. It is a gift. You cannot ever do enough good works to ever earn your way to heaven. The only way to heaven is by accepting God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Put in a hard day’s work, and we hope to be paid for all of our efforts. That is what is to be expected. No one wants to work and not be rewarded for it. Our salary is what we rightly feel we’re due, after a day’s work. However, if one gets rewarded without having worked, that is special. Sometimes, especially around holidays, a boss might give a bonus check. Everyone is happy about that! In our Scripture passage today from the Book of Romans, Paul discusses working for something, and being given something as a free gift without having worked for it. He discusses whether salvation and justification is earned or a free gift. Let’s take a look at what the Word of God says about this.
In Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome, he was teaching them how we cannot earn our salvation or our way to heaven. This was a concern back then, and still is today, when so many people think that they will go to heaven based on their works and good deeds. In our passage Paul gives reasons why this is not so, using Abraham as an example. Abraham is the father of faith for believers, not because of good works he did, but rather because of his faith.
The Jewish people liked to believe that they were justified before God because they kept His law, particularly by being circumcised. They felt they were justified by doing all these works. They were also so very proud of being a descendant of Abraham. However, as Paul questioned, when was Abraham counted by God as being righteous? Was he counted righteous after he was circumcised, or before? Paul clearly points out that Abraham was justified, or counted righteous, many years before God gave the command to be circumcised, almost 25 years before. Religious rituals do not earn any rewards. Abraham was blessed by God many years before the circumcision ceremony was introduced (vs. 10-12).
The only way for any person to come into a right relationship with God is by grace through faith (vs. 3). We accept God’s gift of salvation by faith. We cannot earn it by good works. All of our best efforts won’t do. Our works don’t work. Our finest efforts mean nothing. The only thing that matters, is if we follow Abraham’s example, and accept God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus by faith. Abraham pleased God through his faith, alone, long before any rituals had been heard of (vs. 16). We are saved by faith, plus nothing.
If Abraham’s works had been the basis of his justification, he would have had every right to boast (vs. 2). If a person could earn right standing with God by doing good, it would no longer be a free gift (vs. 4). It would be an obligation, a payment that was due. If salvation were on the basis of one’s own effort, God would owe it as a debt. We would then feel we could go up to God and say that we had earned our right to be in heaven, that God owed it to us. In reality, though, we can never do enough good in a million lifetimes to earn the right to a minute in heaven. Our efforts are futile. All we can do is cast ourselves on God’s mercy and grace. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace to those who believe (vs 5).
The word “accounted” in verse 3 is a financial and legal term in Greek. It means to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to another’s account. It is a one-sided transaction. Abraham did nothing to earn salvation, nothing but believe God by faith. God took His own righteousness and credited it to Abraham, as if it was his.
Many people in Paul’s day like to believe that they were justified in God’s sight because they were physically descended from Abraham. Racially Abraham is the father of all the Jews, those who were counting on their circumcision to bring them to heaven. Abraham was not justified by circumcision or by keeping the Old Testament Law (vs. 13-15). Spiritually, Abraham is the father of all who believe - believing Jews and believing Gentiles, those who had never been circumcised (vs. 11-12).
Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ, and reaching out to accept His wonderful gift of salvation. I pray that all who read this will trust Jesus Christ for their salvation, if you haven’t already. It is a gift. You cannot ever do enough good works to ever earn your way to heaven. The only way to heaven is by accepting God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Monday, March 9, 2020
God's Words And Our Words
Psalm 33
A number of years ago there was a man I had to come in frequent contact with who was a chronic liar. He would lie about anything and everything, whether significant or insignificant. It didn’t matter what the topic, so much of what he would say were lies. That made dealing with the person difficult, as you could never tell whether to trust his word, and I usually ended up not believing anything that he said. He was certainly not a man of integrity, and his word came to mean nothing to most people who knew him. Our psalm for this week, from the Lectionary for this past Sunday, speaks of the words that the Lord speaks. Let’s look to see if they are one’s we can rely on.
If a person gets a reputation for being a liar, then his word will soon be held in very little esteem. No one can trust anything he says. Yahweh’s words, though, are ones we can trust and rely on (vs. 4). No one can point to any word that He has spoken, and say that it is untrue. Every man has been known to, at least at some point, tell a lie. However God is not a man, and He does not lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2).
Liars quickly lose all credibility. The same holds true for people who make promises, but who rarely follow through with keeping them. Very soon we learn that their word doesn’t mean a thing, and they cannot be counted on. The foundation of any relationship is trust. If there is no trust then the relationship is on shaky ground. However, our psalmist knew he could trust God’s Word. All of God’s words are right and true. He can be completely trusted. He does not lie. He does not forget. God does not change His word, or leave His promises unfulfilled. If we doubt God’s Word we are doubting God’s character, and we are agreeing with Satan, the father of lies. We can, at every time, trust the Bible.
God’s Word is also very powerful. Yahweh spoke and created a universe out of nothing (vs. 6, 9). A simple word may seem to be little and meaningless. Yet when God speaks a word, that thing of which He speaks leaps to life. He sustains all things by His powerful Word (Hebrews 1:3). His Word has resurrection power. Though our words cannot create anything out of nothing, like God’s Word can, they do have a type of power. When we speak positive, kind, and loving words to others, particularly to children, we can uplift them, build them up, and give them what they need to go on with hope in life. But if we speak harsh, hurtful, negative words to others, we can easily break their spirits and tear them down, sometimes even destroying them. We should be very careful with what we say, and how we say it.
God’s word is completely trustworthy. When He says something, it is something completely reliable and sure (vs. 11). His intentions never change (James 1:17). Sometimes we say something, and then go back on our word, or are inconsistent with what we say or promise, and then do. When God speaks a word, it is done, it can be depended on to happen. There is no inconsistency with Him. Man’s plans may not come to pass, but God’s are sovereign and sure. What He has planned for this world will stand forever, and we can find safety when we have a close walk with Him.
While we can see that God’s Word is trustworthy and reliable, what can we learn about our own word? Though, as mentioned above, our words do not have the same power as God’s Word does, how trustworthy and reliable is what we say? Do lies fall unchecked from our lips? Are our promises something that others can rely on? As His children, our word should be one that is truthful, honest, reliable, and uplifting to others.
A number of years ago there was a man I had to come in frequent contact with who was a chronic liar. He would lie about anything and everything, whether significant or insignificant. It didn’t matter what the topic, so much of what he would say were lies. That made dealing with the person difficult, as you could never tell whether to trust his word, and I usually ended up not believing anything that he said. He was certainly not a man of integrity, and his word came to mean nothing to most people who knew him. Our psalm for this week, from the Lectionary for this past Sunday, speaks of the words that the Lord speaks. Let’s look to see if they are one’s we can rely on.
If a person gets a reputation for being a liar, then his word will soon be held in very little esteem. No one can trust anything he says. Yahweh’s words, though, are ones we can trust and rely on (vs. 4). No one can point to any word that He has spoken, and say that it is untrue. Every man has been known to, at least at some point, tell a lie. However God is not a man, and He does not lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2).
Liars quickly lose all credibility. The same holds true for people who make promises, but who rarely follow through with keeping them. Very soon we learn that their word doesn’t mean a thing, and they cannot be counted on. The foundation of any relationship is trust. If there is no trust then the relationship is on shaky ground. However, our psalmist knew he could trust God’s Word. All of God’s words are right and true. He can be completely trusted. He does not lie. He does not forget. God does not change His word, or leave His promises unfulfilled. If we doubt God’s Word we are doubting God’s character, and we are agreeing with Satan, the father of lies. We can, at every time, trust the Bible.
God’s Word is also very powerful. Yahweh spoke and created a universe out of nothing (vs. 6, 9). A simple word may seem to be little and meaningless. Yet when God speaks a word, that thing of which He speaks leaps to life. He sustains all things by His powerful Word (Hebrews 1:3). His Word has resurrection power. Though our words cannot create anything out of nothing, like God’s Word can, they do have a type of power. When we speak positive, kind, and loving words to others, particularly to children, we can uplift them, build them up, and give them what they need to go on with hope in life. But if we speak harsh, hurtful, negative words to others, we can easily break their spirits and tear them down, sometimes even destroying them. We should be very careful with what we say, and how we say it.
God’s word is completely trustworthy. When He says something, it is something completely reliable and sure (vs. 11). His intentions never change (James 1:17). Sometimes we say something, and then go back on our word, or are inconsistent with what we say or promise, and then do. When God speaks a word, it is done, it can be depended on to happen. There is no inconsistency with Him. Man’s plans may not come to pass, but God’s are sovereign and sure. What He has planned for this world will stand forever, and we can find safety when we have a close walk with Him.
While we can see that God’s Word is trustworthy and reliable, what can we learn about our own word? Though, as mentioned above, our words do not have the same power as God’s Word does, how trustworthy and reliable is what we say? Do lies fall unchecked from our lips? Are our promises something that others can rely on? As His children, our word should be one that is truthful, honest, reliable, and uplifting to others.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Stepping Out In Faith
Genesis 12:1-8
How would you feel about packing up all of your belongings and moving far away from where your home was? Some may not like that, preferring to stay in a house and neighborhood they were familiar with. Others might not mind, if they knew a nice home and friendly faces waited for them where they would be going. How about if you would have no idea where you were going, wouldn’t know anyone when you got there and possibly not even the language, and didn’t know what kind of place or prospects awaited you? Not too many people like to head out with a big question mark hanging overhead. Fear of the unknown can be very strong. Yet if we have trust in someone who is guiding us, those fears can subside, especially if that One is the Lord God. In our Scripture today from the Book of Genesis we read of Abram (later known as Abraham) who was called to leave his home, relatives, and all he knew, to set out where God would lead him. Let’s look at his response to this challenge.
Abram was born, and spent a good part of his adult life in the city of Ur, which was near the convergence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, near the north end of the Persian Gulf. The city was a very pagan one, having long since given up any worship of the God of Noah, many generations earlier. Pagan worship of Nanna, the moon god, was rampant. After a number of years, Terah, Abram’s father, decided to move his whole clan further north up the Euphrates river over 575 miles to the city of Haran, in present day Turkey, near its border with Syria. It was here in Haran that Yahweh called Abram, and he forever turned his back on any pagan beliefs he may ever have had. Yahweh called Abram, telling him to take his wife and servants, and leave his father’s family, leave the city of Haran, everything he knew, and go to where He would show him.
This brings me to my initial thought of would you obey and leave everything you knew, following God’s command into the unknown? God requested Abram to leave everything he knew, and promised to bless him if he did (vs. 1-3). When God talks of blessing someone, it is a promise to intervene mightily in that person’s life. It could be with the family. It could be financially, with emotional security, or spiritually. Obedience always goes before blessings. If we want to have blessings, we must be obedient. There are two conditions for blessings, and they are obedience and faith.
Abram was a very wealthy man. It is quite probable that both in Ur and later in Haran that he had a nice house and a good career. To give this up and head out into an unknown future would be a big step. Many people would be tempted to tell God, “Sorry, I can’t do that.” Abram did not hesitate to obey (vs. 4-5). We should never let comfort or security keep us from obeying what God wants us to do.
Abram trusted God though he did not know where he was going. God did not provide him with a map or a plan for the rest of his life, but led him only one step at a time, which is how He usually leads us, as well. When a couple of people ride a tandem bike, only the person in the front steers the way. The person in the back can’t steer. His view of straight ahead is even limited. He must trust the driver. That’s the way it was with Abram, and should be with us, too. We must be like that person on the tandem bike, and put our trust in God to direct and lead our life.
Yahweh promised Abram that He would bless him, and that all families or people on earth would be blessed through him (vs. 3). It was through the Lord Jesus Christ, who through His mother, the Virgin Mary, was descended from Abram, that every person, every country has the opportunity to be blessed with a relationship with God. Anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior, whether they are physically descended from Abram or not, inherits all the blessings that God bestowed upon him (Galatians 3:6-9, 14). Abram trusted God, and that made him righteous. When we trust God, as Abram did, we become his spiritual descendants, and heirs to all that was promised him.
We can always trust God and the promises He makes. When He asks us to do something, we can trust Him in that. God always tells the truth. When He binds Himself to a promise, or swears an oath, He can be trusted to follow through. Abram trusted God, believing in His promise to him, and he is now the father of all who truly believe in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We, too, can safely trust in God, and obey His Word. Where He leads me, I will follow!
How would you feel about packing up all of your belongings and moving far away from where your home was? Some may not like that, preferring to stay in a house and neighborhood they were familiar with. Others might not mind, if they knew a nice home and friendly faces waited for them where they would be going. How about if you would have no idea where you were going, wouldn’t know anyone when you got there and possibly not even the language, and didn’t know what kind of place or prospects awaited you? Not too many people like to head out with a big question mark hanging overhead. Fear of the unknown can be very strong. Yet if we have trust in someone who is guiding us, those fears can subside, especially if that One is the Lord God. In our Scripture today from the Book of Genesis we read of Abram (later known as Abraham) who was called to leave his home, relatives, and all he knew, to set out where God would lead him. Let’s look at his response to this challenge.
Abram was born, and spent a good part of his adult life in the city of Ur, which was near the convergence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, near the north end of the Persian Gulf. The city was a very pagan one, having long since given up any worship of the God of Noah, many generations earlier. Pagan worship of Nanna, the moon god, was rampant. After a number of years, Terah, Abram’s father, decided to move his whole clan further north up the Euphrates river over 575 miles to the city of Haran, in present day Turkey, near its border with Syria. It was here in Haran that Yahweh called Abram, and he forever turned his back on any pagan beliefs he may ever have had. Yahweh called Abram, telling him to take his wife and servants, and leave his father’s family, leave the city of Haran, everything he knew, and go to where He would show him.
This brings me to my initial thought of would you obey and leave everything you knew, following God’s command into the unknown? God requested Abram to leave everything he knew, and promised to bless him if he did (vs. 1-3). When God talks of blessing someone, it is a promise to intervene mightily in that person’s life. It could be with the family. It could be financially, with emotional security, or spiritually. Obedience always goes before blessings. If we want to have blessings, we must be obedient. There are two conditions for blessings, and they are obedience and faith.
Abram was a very wealthy man. It is quite probable that both in Ur and later in Haran that he had a nice house and a good career. To give this up and head out into an unknown future would be a big step. Many people would be tempted to tell God, “Sorry, I can’t do that.” Abram did not hesitate to obey (vs. 4-5). We should never let comfort or security keep us from obeying what God wants us to do.
Abram trusted God though he did not know where he was going. God did not provide him with a map or a plan for the rest of his life, but led him only one step at a time, which is how He usually leads us, as well. When a couple of people ride a tandem bike, only the person in the front steers the way. The person in the back can’t steer. His view of straight ahead is even limited. He must trust the driver. That’s the way it was with Abram, and should be with us, too. We must be like that person on the tandem bike, and put our trust in God to direct and lead our life.
Yahweh promised Abram that He would bless him, and that all families or people on earth would be blessed through him (vs. 3). It was through the Lord Jesus Christ, who through His mother, the Virgin Mary, was descended from Abram, that every person, every country has the opportunity to be blessed with a relationship with God. Anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior, whether they are physically descended from Abram or not, inherits all the blessings that God bestowed upon him (Galatians 3:6-9, 14). Abram trusted God, and that made him righteous. When we trust God, as Abram did, we become his spiritual descendants, and heirs to all that was promised him.
We can always trust God and the promises He makes. When He asks us to do something, we can trust Him in that. God always tells the truth. When He binds Himself to a promise, or swears an oath, He can be trusted to follow through. Abram trusted God, believing in His promise to him, and he is now the father of all who truly believe in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We, too, can safely trust in God, and obey His Word. Where He leads me, I will follow!
Friday, March 6, 2020
Jesus' Example In Temptation
Matthew 4:1-11
When we are going through a particularly difficult or trying time it is often helpful to know that someone else has gone through a similar experience. Our Scripture passage today gives the account of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. There are some who hold to the belief that if there is a God who set creation in motion, he is not involved in our lives in any personal way, and that he certainly does not relate to anything we go through. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, become man and live among us, He was tempted in every way that we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He went through similar temptations and tests like we do, and He came through victorious. Let’s take a closer look at this account of our Lord’s temptations, and see what we can learn, so that we, too, can come through triumphantly.
After His baptism, Jesus went out into the wilderness for a period of intense prayer and fasting to prepare for His ministry. While there, Satan came to tempt Him into sin. God never tempts us (James 1:13). He does test us, to see if we really love Him, and will obey and follow the path He has for us. Yet it was Satan who tempted Jesus into sin, and will also come against us, tempting us into sin, as well. He tries to get us to doubt God’s Word and His promises. He wants us to believe that God cannot be trusted.
The first temptation that Satan brought against Jesus was to turn the stones which lay at His feet in the wilderness into bread (vs. 2-4). Jesus had been fasting, and naturally would have been quite hungry, with a natural, physical need for food. He tempted Jesus to use His divine power to satisfy His need for food. Jesus had given up the unlimited independent use of His divine power when He became man. Satan tried to get Jesus to question whether God would provide food and provide for His needs. He frequently tempts us in this way, as well. Jesus responded with the Word of God, by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. He would depend on God, and focus on His purpose. Jesus’ example shows that we should not try to satisfy a normal desire in a wrong way, or at the wrong time.
The second temptation that Satan brought to Jesus was by bringing Him to the pinnacle of the Temple, and for Jesus to dare God to rescue Him (vs. 5-7). We sometimes question whether God will protect and provide us with security, calling upon Him, saying “If you love me, You’ll do this or that”. Our best tactic against that is to know God’s Word, so we can rightly apply it. God is not our magician to perform miracles at our request. Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation by again quoting Scripture in Deuteronomy 6:16. We should never ask Him to do something to prove Himself for us. God wants us to live by faith, not by special signs. Don’t manipulate God by testing Him or asking for signs.
Satan also thought that he was smart by throwing some Scriptures back at Jesus, quoting Psalm 91:11-12. However, he was misapplying the verses he quoted. He twisted it and its meaning. It is a passage about trusting in God, yet Satan twisted it to justify testing God. Unbelievers who oppose Christianity will sometimes come against us, using God’s Word against us, always misusing it.
The third temptation that Satan used was to promise Jesus riches, power, and fame if He would bow to him (vs. 8-10). Satan has temporary control and free rein over the earth because of mankind’s fall into sin. He tried to distort Jesus’ perspective by having Him focus on worldly power, not God’s plan. Again, Jesus responded with the Word of God by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Satan tries to get us to desire quick power and easy solutions. He even tries to get man to try to prove equality with God, and entices us with materialism and power. We should never compromise with evil, and instead put our focus on God.
What can we learn from the temptations Jesus went through? As I John 2:16 says, we are tempted by the lust of the flesh (vs. 2-3), the lust of the eyes (vs. 8-9), and the pride of life (vs. 5-6). We must trust God to provide for us. Satan tempts us to crave physical gratification to the point we are preoccupied with it. He tempts us to acquire things to the point we bow down to the god of materialism, and lust more and more possessions.
Satan hates God’s Word. Yet that was the only weapon the Lord Jesus used against him. He was repelled by the Word of God when Jesus quoted it. That is the reason Satan tries to keep us from reading and studying the Bible. God’s Word is like the rain that comes down and waters plants. We need to drink in everything that God says, and eat every word He speaks. The Bible will nurture our spiritual needs which will benefit us for eternity.
When we are going through a particularly difficult or trying time it is often helpful to know that someone else has gone through a similar experience. Our Scripture passage today gives the account of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. There are some who hold to the belief that if there is a God who set creation in motion, he is not involved in our lives in any personal way, and that he certainly does not relate to anything we go through. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, become man and live among us, He was tempted in every way that we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He went through similar temptations and tests like we do, and He came through victorious. Let’s take a closer look at this account of our Lord’s temptations, and see what we can learn, so that we, too, can come through triumphantly.
After His baptism, Jesus went out into the wilderness for a period of intense prayer and fasting to prepare for His ministry. While there, Satan came to tempt Him into sin. God never tempts us (James 1:13). He does test us, to see if we really love Him, and will obey and follow the path He has for us. Yet it was Satan who tempted Jesus into sin, and will also come against us, tempting us into sin, as well. He tries to get us to doubt God’s Word and His promises. He wants us to believe that God cannot be trusted.
The first temptation that Satan brought against Jesus was to turn the stones which lay at His feet in the wilderness into bread (vs. 2-4). Jesus had been fasting, and naturally would have been quite hungry, with a natural, physical need for food. He tempted Jesus to use His divine power to satisfy His need for food. Jesus had given up the unlimited independent use of His divine power when He became man. Satan tried to get Jesus to question whether God would provide food and provide for His needs. He frequently tempts us in this way, as well. Jesus responded with the Word of God, by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. He would depend on God, and focus on His purpose. Jesus’ example shows that we should not try to satisfy a normal desire in a wrong way, or at the wrong time.
The second temptation that Satan brought to Jesus was by bringing Him to the pinnacle of the Temple, and for Jesus to dare God to rescue Him (vs. 5-7). We sometimes question whether God will protect and provide us with security, calling upon Him, saying “If you love me, You’ll do this or that”. Our best tactic against that is to know God’s Word, so we can rightly apply it. God is not our magician to perform miracles at our request. Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation by again quoting Scripture in Deuteronomy 6:16. We should never ask Him to do something to prove Himself for us. God wants us to live by faith, not by special signs. Don’t manipulate God by testing Him or asking for signs.
Satan also thought that he was smart by throwing some Scriptures back at Jesus, quoting Psalm 91:11-12. However, he was misapplying the verses he quoted. He twisted it and its meaning. It is a passage about trusting in God, yet Satan twisted it to justify testing God. Unbelievers who oppose Christianity will sometimes come against us, using God’s Word against us, always misusing it.
The third temptation that Satan used was to promise Jesus riches, power, and fame if He would bow to him (vs. 8-10). Satan has temporary control and free rein over the earth because of mankind’s fall into sin. He tried to distort Jesus’ perspective by having Him focus on worldly power, not God’s plan. Again, Jesus responded with the Word of God by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Satan tries to get us to desire quick power and easy solutions. He even tries to get man to try to prove equality with God, and entices us with materialism and power. We should never compromise with evil, and instead put our focus on God.
What can we learn from the temptations Jesus went through? As I John 2:16 says, we are tempted by the lust of the flesh (vs. 2-3), the lust of the eyes (vs. 8-9), and the pride of life (vs. 5-6). We must trust God to provide for us. Satan tempts us to crave physical gratification to the point we are preoccupied with it. He tempts us to acquire things to the point we bow down to the god of materialism, and lust more and more possessions.
Satan hates God’s Word. Yet that was the only weapon the Lord Jesus used against him. He was repelled by the Word of God when Jesus quoted it. That is the reason Satan tries to keep us from reading and studying the Bible. God’s Word is like the rain that comes down and waters plants. We need to drink in everything that God says, and eat every word He speaks. The Bible will nurture our spiritual needs which will benefit us for eternity.
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