Psalm 112
What is your response when bad news comes knocking at your door? For many that response is to panic, and sometimes even totally fall apart. That should not be the case for believers and followers of Jesus Christ. He is a shelter we can run to and a rock in which we can hide when the troubles come. Even when things are difficult, the Lord continues to bless those who follow Him. That is the theme and message from our psalm for today. Let’s look into the Scripture passage together.
God loves to bless those who are obedient to His Word, the Bible. When we obey His commands, delight in and fear the Lord, we can look for Him to bless us. Throughout our passage today the psalmist enumerates these blessings. Some blessings might be actual physical things, like financial blessings (vs. 3). Others are not physical blessings, but rather things like security (vs. 6) and freedom from fear (vs. 7-8). Many people mistakenly think that if only they had more money, then their problems would go away. They think that nothing would ever bring them worry or fear again, that bad news would either never come around, or else it wouldn’t bring them worries. Desiring and accumulating money can bring two problems. One is that it often leads to abusing others in order to get these riches. Also, when one gets riches they are often wrapped up in worry over losing that money. Instead, the Lord wants us to be generous to others with our money (vs. 5). This will help to eliminate financial fears, knowing that it is really God’s money and not ours.
When the bad news and troubles knock on our door we need to stand steadfast on the Lord and His Word, and be encouraged, relying on Him (vs. 6-8). As believers we don’t need to be in a panic then. The unsaved do, as they do not have God to turn to. However, we do. The lost turn to other means and false hopes to help them. Some succumb to drugs or alcohol. They seek fleeting comfort in all the wrong places. Don’t give in to fear when bad news comes. Instead, glorify God, and take courage (John 14:27).
A righteous and godly person will fear the Lord (vs. 1). Fearing the Lord means to respect and revere Him as Almighty God. When we fear Him, God’s dignity will be uplifted, and those faithful to Him will be honored. In total contrast, the wicked man lives a worthless existence without strength, and has nothing of any substance or help to turn to when bad news and problems appear.
When we trust in Jesus completely to take care of us, all of our fears will disappear. That doesn’t mean that all of our problems disappear, for we will have problems as long as we are on this earth. However, when we trust completely in His love and care, our worries and fear disappear. God is always ready and available to carry our burdens. He is never too tired. Our burdens are often too heavy for us to carry, so why don’t we give them over to the Lord.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Following The Wrong Crowd
Proverbs 1:10-19
It’s a sad story when we hear of a good and promising young man or woman, with so much potentially going for them, who somehow gets sucked into the wrong crowd and gets into some serious trouble. Maybe it is the teenaged son or daughter of a friend or acquaintance, or the child of someone we know through church or work. Or perhaps a youth in the neighborhood who we watched grow up from a young child. What went wrong? They were never the neighborhood troublemaker who, when we hear they landed in jail, we are not surprised. But now we hear that Johnny or Mary are in serious trouble, and we shake our heads, wondering what happened. So often the answer lies in who they started to associate with and listen to. How many times does it happen that a young man finds himself sitting in jail awaiting trial, and he says to himself, “If only I hadn’t listened to that person, if only I hadn’t gone along with their plan!” Now it is too late.
In our Scripture passage today, from among the opening words of the Book of Proverbs, we read a warning from a parent to a child that all should listen to. A large part of the Book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, and a portion of that came from lessons he learned from his father, King David. As our passage begins, Solomon is speaking to his son, giving him warnings, that if listened to and heeded, will help him avoid much trouble in life. The number one lesson here, that he wishes his son to learn, is to not follow or go along with the wrong bunch of people (vs. 10). Scriptures here label them as “sinners”, those who do not know the Lord God, and do not follow His Word. When they try to lure us to follow their path, one that does not line up with what God has told us in His Word, we need to refuse.
Years ago there was an anti-drug campaign which used as one of their slogans the phrase “Just Say No!” Some people laughed at that as being too simplistic, but in reality the thought is true, and comes straight from the Bible, “do not consent” (vs. 10). When we give in, we choose to act against God’s will. The path of sin leads to devastation. However, following the Lord leads to wisdom and life.
Sin is enticing. The lure that our troublemakers in this passage are using to entice this young man with is getting rich with stolen goods. As we read this passage they plan on committing robbery, attacking some innocent person, and possibly even committing bodily harm or murder, all with the hope of getting money and riches. The troublemakers think this is a quick route to prosperity, and our misguided young man is tempted to become one of the crowd. The sin entices him to go along with the others, and not listen to the truth (vs. 11). Peer pressure can be very strong, and godly parents need to take the time to instruct their children, starting at an early age, to be able to withstand that with God’s wisdom.
We all need to realize that sin is deadly. We cannot be friendly with sin and remain unaffected. Sin must be rejected at the first temptation. We must refuse even the slightest association with it, avoiding even the beginnings of sin. If our young man here followed the advice of his father, and told these others “no!” right from the start, he would not end up in jail facing charges of robbery, bodily assault, and possibly murder. God warns us all here to “not walk in the way with them” (vs. 15).
Who is behind all of this? On the surface it is those sinners who have turned away from God, those thieves, murderers, gang members, drug dealers, etc. Behind all of them is Satan. He is the one who is ultimately trying to lure all of our young people to follow his path, and not God’s. He is the one tempting this young man, and all of us, to go after some evil, making us feel we cannot live without some possession or more money (vs. 19). We need God’s wisdom to recognize these greedy desires before they destroy us, as they have many a young person.
As we read this passage, seeking to learn its lessons, both for ourselves and our young people, we need to be wary of the subtle traps that Satan sets for us all. When someone sets a trap, they don’t set it while the intended victim is watching us (vs. 17). They want to do it in secret, which is exactly what these sinners, and Satan behind them all, is doing. We need to warn our young people, and ourselves as well, to not be a fool and walk right into it. “When sinners entice you, do not consent!”
It’s a sad story when we hear of a good and promising young man or woman, with so much potentially going for them, who somehow gets sucked into the wrong crowd and gets into some serious trouble. Maybe it is the teenaged son or daughter of a friend or acquaintance, or the child of someone we know through church or work. Or perhaps a youth in the neighborhood who we watched grow up from a young child. What went wrong? They were never the neighborhood troublemaker who, when we hear they landed in jail, we are not surprised. But now we hear that Johnny or Mary are in serious trouble, and we shake our heads, wondering what happened. So often the answer lies in who they started to associate with and listen to. How many times does it happen that a young man finds himself sitting in jail awaiting trial, and he says to himself, “If only I hadn’t listened to that person, if only I hadn’t gone along with their plan!” Now it is too late.
In our Scripture passage today, from among the opening words of the Book of Proverbs, we read a warning from a parent to a child that all should listen to. A large part of the Book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, and a portion of that came from lessons he learned from his father, King David. As our passage begins, Solomon is speaking to his son, giving him warnings, that if listened to and heeded, will help him avoid much trouble in life. The number one lesson here, that he wishes his son to learn, is to not follow or go along with the wrong bunch of people (vs. 10). Scriptures here label them as “sinners”, those who do not know the Lord God, and do not follow His Word. When they try to lure us to follow their path, one that does not line up with what God has told us in His Word, we need to refuse.
Years ago there was an anti-drug campaign which used as one of their slogans the phrase “Just Say No!” Some people laughed at that as being too simplistic, but in reality the thought is true, and comes straight from the Bible, “do not consent” (vs. 10). When we give in, we choose to act against God’s will. The path of sin leads to devastation. However, following the Lord leads to wisdom and life.
Sin is enticing. The lure that our troublemakers in this passage are using to entice this young man with is getting rich with stolen goods. As we read this passage they plan on committing robbery, attacking some innocent person, and possibly even committing bodily harm or murder, all with the hope of getting money and riches. The troublemakers think this is a quick route to prosperity, and our misguided young man is tempted to become one of the crowd. The sin entices him to go along with the others, and not listen to the truth (vs. 11). Peer pressure can be very strong, and godly parents need to take the time to instruct their children, starting at an early age, to be able to withstand that with God’s wisdom.
We all need to realize that sin is deadly. We cannot be friendly with sin and remain unaffected. Sin must be rejected at the first temptation. We must refuse even the slightest association with it, avoiding even the beginnings of sin. If our young man here followed the advice of his father, and told these others “no!” right from the start, he would not end up in jail facing charges of robbery, bodily assault, and possibly murder. God warns us all here to “not walk in the way with them” (vs. 15).
Who is behind all of this? On the surface it is those sinners who have turned away from God, those thieves, murderers, gang members, drug dealers, etc. Behind all of them is Satan. He is the one who is ultimately trying to lure all of our young people to follow his path, and not God’s. He is the one tempting this young man, and all of us, to go after some evil, making us feel we cannot live without some possession or more money (vs. 19). We need God’s wisdom to recognize these greedy desires before they destroy us, as they have many a young person.
As we read this passage, seeking to learn its lessons, both for ourselves and our young people, we need to be wary of the subtle traps that Satan sets for us all. When someone sets a trap, they don’t set it while the intended victim is watching us (vs. 17). They want to do it in secret, which is exactly what these sinners, and Satan behind them all, is doing. We need to warn our young people, and ourselves as well, to not be a fool and walk right into it. “When sinners entice you, do not consent!”
Friday, August 30, 2019
Be Sure To Choose The Right Path
Luke 13:22-30
A number of years ago I was on vacation visiting a national park in the mountains of the west. One day while there I was looking over the guidebooks, deciding what to see next. One place I wanted to see was described as a hidden lake, crystal blue, surrounded by stately pines. The only way to reach this hidden lake was taking a path that branched off of a main hiking path. The path to the lake was more difficult to hike, as it was narrower, and over rougher and more challenging terrain. The main path was an easier one to walk. It was wider, well-worn, even with occasional benches to rest on. Many more people chose to just stay on that path, as it was easier to walk. But choosing to go off on the other, more difficult path, was well worth it, once you reached the lake.
In our Scripture reading today, Jesus describes a narrow gate, the gate that those who would be saved must enter through, in order to enter God’s eternal kingdom. Though many people show a casual, surface interest in Jesus, and things “spiritual”, true committed followers are not great in number. Jesus does not want half-hearted followers. He tells us here in this passage, and in Matthew 7:13-14, that the way is narrow, and few find it. This shows clearly that those who say that “all are saved”, and everyone will get to heaven, are mistaken.
Entering the narrow gate is difficult because of its cost in our human pride, our love for sin, and because of the world and Satan’s opposition to the truth (vs. 24). We cannot work to earn our way to heaven. Salvation is not by works, as so many Scriptures attest. However, one must put forth some effort to go in through the narrow gate. We must earnestly desire to know Jesus, and diligently strive to follow Him, whatever the cost.
Jesus continues on in His teaching, and says that come Judgment Day there will be many who will protest that they are not in Heaven. They will knock and pound on the door, seeking to enter, but God will tell them to depart, as He does not know them (vs. 25-27). They had no true salvation, no saving relationship with Jesus. Just being religious or going to church will not guarantee entrance. Neither is just knowing who He is. Many people know something about God, but only a few have acknowledged their sins and accepted His forgiveness. Just hearing a sermon is not enough. We must turn from our sin, and trust in God to save us. Some people we may have thought we’d see in heaven, some of the big “religious leaders”, and people who proclaimed to be so holy, will not be there. This passage again shows that not everyone gets into heaven, as is popularly believed.
Those who are true believers, though, come from all parts of the world (vs. 29). What matters to God is not a person’s earthly popularity, status, wealth, heritage, or power. Those things matter to so many here in today’s society, but not to God. Instead, what is important to Him is whether one has made a commitment to His only Son, Jesus.
Contrary to the popular saying, not all roads lead to heaven. Only one does, and that is through Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to draw all men to Himself (John 12:32). He offers salvation to everyone, and would never turn anyone away who truly puts their faith and trust in Him (Romans 10:9-13). However, Jesus is the only door, and the only way for us to come to God (John 10:7; John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12). Everyone does have the opportunity to come, but only a few choose to go down the correct path.
Everyone has the opportunity to choose the more difficult path in the national park to go to the hidden lake. Only a few ever do. Those who don’t miss out on something special. Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Have you chosen to enter in through the narrow gate, the only way to come to God? If not, I urge you to not hesitate another moment, as no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Enter that narrow gate, and be welcomed into God’s Kingdom.
A number of years ago I was on vacation visiting a national park in the mountains of the west. One day while there I was looking over the guidebooks, deciding what to see next. One place I wanted to see was described as a hidden lake, crystal blue, surrounded by stately pines. The only way to reach this hidden lake was taking a path that branched off of a main hiking path. The path to the lake was more difficult to hike, as it was narrower, and over rougher and more challenging terrain. The main path was an easier one to walk. It was wider, well-worn, even with occasional benches to rest on. Many more people chose to just stay on that path, as it was easier to walk. But choosing to go off on the other, more difficult path, was well worth it, once you reached the lake.
In our Scripture reading today, Jesus describes a narrow gate, the gate that those who would be saved must enter through, in order to enter God’s eternal kingdom. Though many people show a casual, surface interest in Jesus, and things “spiritual”, true committed followers are not great in number. Jesus does not want half-hearted followers. He tells us here in this passage, and in Matthew 7:13-14, that the way is narrow, and few find it. This shows clearly that those who say that “all are saved”, and everyone will get to heaven, are mistaken.
Entering the narrow gate is difficult because of its cost in our human pride, our love for sin, and because of the world and Satan’s opposition to the truth (vs. 24). We cannot work to earn our way to heaven. Salvation is not by works, as so many Scriptures attest. However, one must put forth some effort to go in through the narrow gate. We must earnestly desire to know Jesus, and diligently strive to follow Him, whatever the cost.
Jesus continues on in His teaching, and says that come Judgment Day there will be many who will protest that they are not in Heaven. They will knock and pound on the door, seeking to enter, but God will tell them to depart, as He does not know them (vs. 25-27). They had no true salvation, no saving relationship with Jesus. Just being religious or going to church will not guarantee entrance. Neither is just knowing who He is. Many people know something about God, but only a few have acknowledged their sins and accepted His forgiveness. Just hearing a sermon is not enough. We must turn from our sin, and trust in God to save us. Some people we may have thought we’d see in heaven, some of the big “religious leaders”, and people who proclaimed to be so holy, will not be there. This passage again shows that not everyone gets into heaven, as is popularly believed.
Those who are true believers, though, come from all parts of the world (vs. 29). What matters to God is not a person’s earthly popularity, status, wealth, heritage, or power. Those things matter to so many here in today’s society, but not to God. Instead, what is important to Him is whether one has made a commitment to His only Son, Jesus.
Contrary to the popular saying, not all roads lead to heaven. Only one does, and that is through Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to draw all men to Himself (John 12:32). He offers salvation to everyone, and would never turn anyone away who truly puts their faith and trust in Him (Romans 10:9-13). However, Jesus is the only door, and the only way for us to come to God (John 10:7; John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12). Everyone does have the opportunity to come, but only a few choose to go down the correct path.
Everyone has the opportunity to choose the more difficult path in the national park to go to the hidden lake. Only a few ever do. Those who don’t miss out on something special. Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Have you chosen to enter in through the narrow gate, the only way to come to God? If not, I urge you to not hesitate another moment, as no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Enter that narrow gate, and be welcomed into God’s Kingdom.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Mt. Sinai Or Mt. Zion?
Hebrews 12:18-29
Many of you might have seen the classic 1956 movie “The Ten Commandments”, with Charlton Heston, which doesn’t stray too far from the Biblical account of events in the Book of Exodus. Some of the more impressive and spectacular scenes in the movie are those on Mount Sinai, showing the clouds, lightning, and terrible majesty of God speaking to Moses. These are the Biblical scenes from Exodus 19-20 that our writer of Hebrews is referring to in our passage. Let’s take a look at what the Lord has to say to us out of His Word today.
When the Israelites left Egypt and came to Mount Sinai to receive the Law, the mountain was foreboding and terrifying to the people. They were strictly warned not to approach the mountain, or even touch it (vs. 18-21). Only Moses was allowed up the mountain to meet with God. In contrast Mount Zion (this not referring here to Jerusalem, but rather to God’s heavenly abode) is inviting and gracious. No one could please God on Mt. Sinai’s terms. To accomplish that one would have to keep the whole Old Testament Law. However, Mt. Zion is accessible to all who come to God through the Lord Jesus (vs 22). He is the Firstborn (vs. 23), and the Church is comprised of all believers, who are also fellow heirs with Him.
In the previous chapter our author had listed many heroes of faith, the first one being Abel. Abel’s offering, though pleasing and offered in faith and obedience, had no atoning power. Jesus’ Blood alone can cleanse our sins and bring salvation (vs 24). We find that Blood through Mt. Zion, not Mt. Sinai, through the Lord Jesus, not the Old Testament Law.
We are strongly warned of the dire consequences of refusing the sacrifice made through Jesus’ Blood (vs. 25). The apostates, those who refuse this sacrifice of Jesus’ Blood, will pay a terrible price. If the punishment was severe at Mt. Sinai, how much more severe will it be for those who turn away from Mt. Zion, and hold the Blood of Jesus lightly? The terror and judgment far exceeds that of Mt. Sinai. God shook the earth when He came to Mt. Sinai. From Mt. Zion He will shake the whole universe (vs. 26-27). Only things eternal will remain.
Everything on earth we rely on can be shaken. What can we count on in perilous times? What rock can we build our lives on? God wants us to stop trusting in earthly things, and turn completely in trust to Him. God is unwavering and immovable (vs. 28). Only His kingdom will endure. We need to build our lives on the foundation of God’s love, truth, and faithfulness. He will hold us steadfast. For those who accept Jesus as Savior, no matter what happens here on earth, our future is built on a solid foundation that cannot be destroyed. We should not put our confidence in what can be destroyed, but instead build our lives on Jesus and His unshakeable kingdom. Through Him we have a kingdom that cannot be moved, shaken, or fall apart. Instead of looking at what we can see, focus instead on what we can’t see.
The flame of a candle can easily be put out, but the raging blaze of wildfires often cannot be contained. God cannot be controlled, either (vs. 29). We cannot force Him to do anything. Yet He loves us and saved us from our sins. Everything that is worthless and sinful will be consumed by the fire of His wrath. God is loving, but He is also a consuming fire. He will not ever condone sin! Only those who come to God through Jesus Christ will be saved.
There was punishment for disobeying the Old Testament Law. It is far worse for rejecting salvation through God’s Son, Jesus. Have you come to the Father through the shed Blood of Jesus? He is waiting, right now, to accept you. As the old-time hymn says, “Come to the Savior, make no delay. See in His Word, He’s shown us the way.”
Many of you might have seen the classic 1956 movie “The Ten Commandments”, with Charlton Heston, which doesn’t stray too far from the Biblical account of events in the Book of Exodus. Some of the more impressive and spectacular scenes in the movie are those on Mount Sinai, showing the clouds, lightning, and terrible majesty of God speaking to Moses. These are the Biblical scenes from Exodus 19-20 that our writer of Hebrews is referring to in our passage. Let’s take a look at what the Lord has to say to us out of His Word today.
When the Israelites left Egypt and came to Mount Sinai to receive the Law, the mountain was foreboding and terrifying to the people. They were strictly warned not to approach the mountain, or even touch it (vs. 18-21). Only Moses was allowed up the mountain to meet with God. In contrast Mount Zion (this not referring here to Jerusalem, but rather to God’s heavenly abode) is inviting and gracious. No one could please God on Mt. Sinai’s terms. To accomplish that one would have to keep the whole Old Testament Law. However, Mt. Zion is accessible to all who come to God through the Lord Jesus (vs 22). He is the Firstborn (vs. 23), and the Church is comprised of all believers, who are also fellow heirs with Him.
In the previous chapter our author had listed many heroes of faith, the first one being Abel. Abel’s offering, though pleasing and offered in faith and obedience, had no atoning power. Jesus’ Blood alone can cleanse our sins and bring salvation (vs 24). We find that Blood through Mt. Zion, not Mt. Sinai, through the Lord Jesus, not the Old Testament Law.
We are strongly warned of the dire consequences of refusing the sacrifice made through Jesus’ Blood (vs. 25). The apostates, those who refuse this sacrifice of Jesus’ Blood, will pay a terrible price. If the punishment was severe at Mt. Sinai, how much more severe will it be for those who turn away from Mt. Zion, and hold the Blood of Jesus lightly? The terror and judgment far exceeds that of Mt. Sinai. God shook the earth when He came to Mt. Sinai. From Mt. Zion He will shake the whole universe (vs. 26-27). Only things eternal will remain.
Everything on earth we rely on can be shaken. What can we count on in perilous times? What rock can we build our lives on? God wants us to stop trusting in earthly things, and turn completely in trust to Him. God is unwavering and immovable (vs. 28). Only His kingdom will endure. We need to build our lives on the foundation of God’s love, truth, and faithfulness. He will hold us steadfast. For those who accept Jesus as Savior, no matter what happens here on earth, our future is built on a solid foundation that cannot be destroyed. We should not put our confidence in what can be destroyed, but instead build our lives on Jesus and His unshakeable kingdom. Through Him we have a kingdom that cannot be moved, shaken, or fall apart. Instead of looking at what we can see, focus instead on what we can’t see.
The flame of a candle can easily be put out, but the raging blaze of wildfires often cannot be contained. God cannot be controlled, either (vs. 29). We cannot force Him to do anything. Yet He loves us and saved us from our sins. Everything that is worthless and sinful will be consumed by the fire of His wrath. God is loving, but He is also a consuming fire. He will not ever condone sin! Only those who come to God through Jesus Christ will be saved.
There was punishment for disobeying the Old Testament Law. It is far worse for rejecting salvation through God’s Son, Jesus. Have you come to the Father through the shed Blood of Jesus? He is waiting, right now, to accept you. As the old-time hymn says, “Come to the Savior, make no delay. See in His Word, He’s shown us the way.”
Monday, August 26, 2019
Our Eternal Refuge
Psalm 46
Many of us have lived through at least one type of natural disaster or another. Some live in areas that are prone to hurricanes, others where earthquakes happen. Where I live tornadoes frequently occur, and blizzards in the winter. Any natural disaster can be scary to go through, especially since they often come without much or any warning, cause so much destruction, and can be deadly. Another scary thing to go through, one that comes from the hands of man, is war. I can only imagine the horror of having an all-out war in one’s own area, the fear of death and destruction at the hands of enemies. Today’s psalm speaks of both types of events. Let’s take a look, and see how our psalmist went through them.
We usually think of the earth as stable, and the mountains as strong and steadfast. However, when the earth starts to quake, buildings fall, roads split apart, and the fires that often follow start to burn everything, we begin to fear. Imagine seeing the once tall and majestic mountains come crashing down! That would be enough to scare the strongest of us! Our psalmist describes what appears to be a very strong earthquake, and possibly a tsunami which followed (vs. 2-3). However, he is not falling into a panic or becoming paralyzed with fear. Instead, he turns to the Lord, and puts his faith and trust in Him (vs. 1).
With God in our lives, we do not need to fear when what we once believed was stable becomes unstable, for He is immovable. The roaring floods cannot erode God’s power or protection (vs. 3). Instead of the destruction in the world’s floods, we can be refreshed from the waters of God’s river (vs. 4).
Another disaster our psalmist writes about is that of wars and attacks of enemies (vs. 6, 9). Wars were frequent occurrences in ancient days, with absolutely no concern for the civilian population or property. Enemy nations would come into an area, killing everybody they saw, including women, children, and the elderly. They would literally flatten the towns. Again, he tells us that we need have no fear, and the Lord is with us and is our refuge (vs. 7, 11). The personal presence of God secures the safety of His people. We are commanded not to panic, and to recognize God’s sovereignty. He is over all the nations and their rulers, no matter how big a ruckus they may make. God is completely adequate in delivering us from the treats of both nature and that of enemies. Wars and destruction will happen, but God will have the final victory. Everyone will stand quiet before Him.
Many of us will never go through a terrible, life-threatening natural disaster, nor go through a war right in our own neighborhood. However, we all go through various types of storms in our life, such as major illnesses, financial crises, family problems, etc. Sometimes they may feel like an earthquake or war! Our psalmist assures us that God is right there, as well. The LORD of hosts is with us! Through this psalm God is telling us to take our hands off our problems. Let Him deal with them. The outcome is in His hands. Go to Jesus with our problems. He invites us to rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30).
God wants us to cease striving and know that He is God. Let go and relax in Him. Be at peace and lean on Him. Sometimes God allows all of our earthly security to fail us so that we will learn to depend upon Him better. When chaos threatens, whether in our personal lives or in the world at large, remember to seek God. Only then will we have peace.
Life can be like a dark tunnel, and we don’t know what lies ahead. The future can be full of trouble. We need to put our confidence in God, trusting that with Him we are in good hands. From our knowledge, the situation may seem hopeless. However, God’s knowledge exceeds ours. He is our helper, and we can have peace and security. Even if the world ends, we do not need to fear. God is able to save us and take care of us. He is our refuge, even in the face of total destruction. He is our eternal refuge.
Many of us have lived through at least one type of natural disaster or another. Some live in areas that are prone to hurricanes, others where earthquakes happen. Where I live tornadoes frequently occur, and blizzards in the winter. Any natural disaster can be scary to go through, especially since they often come without much or any warning, cause so much destruction, and can be deadly. Another scary thing to go through, one that comes from the hands of man, is war. I can only imagine the horror of having an all-out war in one’s own area, the fear of death and destruction at the hands of enemies. Today’s psalm speaks of both types of events. Let’s take a look, and see how our psalmist went through them.
We usually think of the earth as stable, and the mountains as strong and steadfast. However, when the earth starts to quake, buildings fall, roads split apart, and the fires that often follow start to burn everything, we begin to fear. Imagine seeing the once tall and majestic mountains come crashing down! That would be enough to scare the strongest of us! Our psalmist describes what appears to be a very strong earthquake, and possibly a tsunami which followed (vs. 2-3). However, he is not falling into a panic or becoming paralyzed with fear. Instead, he turns to the Lord, and puts his faith and trust in Him (vs. 1).
With God in our lives, we do not need to fear when what we once believed was stable becomes unstable, for He is immovable. The roaring floods cannot erode God’s power or protection (vs. 3). Instead of the destruction in the world’s floods, we can be refreshed from the waters of God’s river (vs. 4).
Another disaster our psalmist writes about is that of wars and attacks of enemies (vs. 6, 9). Wars were frequent occurrences in ancient days, with absolutely no concern for the civilian population or property. Enemy nations would come into an area, killing everybody they saw, including women, children, and the elderly. They would literally flatten the towns. Again, he tells us that we need have no fear, and the Lord is with us and is our refuge (vs. 7, 11). The personal presence of God secures the safety of His people. We are commanded not to panic, and to recognize God’s sovereignty. He is over all the nations and their rulers, no matter how big a ruckus they may make. God is completely adequate in delivering us from the treats of both nature and that of enemies. Wars and destruction will happen, but God will have the final victory. Everyone will stand quiet before Him.
Many of us will never go through a terrible, life-threatening natural disaster, nor go through a war right in our own neighborhood. However, we all go through various types of storms in our life, such as major illnesses, financial crises, family problems, etc. Sometimes they may feel like an earthquake or war! Our psalmist assures us that God is right there, as well. The LORD of hosts is with us! Through this psalm God is telling us to take our hands off our problems. Let Him deal with them. The outcome is in His hands. Go to Jesus with our problems. He invites us to rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30).
God wants us to cease striving and know that He is God. Let go and relax in Him. Be at peace and lean on Him. Sometimes God allows all of our earthly security to fail us so that we will learn to depend upon Him better. When chaos threatens, whether in our personal lives or in the world at large, remember to seek God. Only then will we have peace.
Life can be like a dark tunnel, and we don’t know what lies ahead. The future can be full of trouble. We need to put our confidence in God, trusting that with Him we are in good hands. From our knowledge, the situation may seem hopeless. However, God’s knowledge exceeds ours. He is our helper, and we can have peace and security. Even if the world ends, we do not need to fear. God is able to save us and take care of us. He is our refuge, even in the face of total destruction. He is our eternal refuge.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Where Are You Building Your Foundation?
Isaiah 28:14-19
Architects and engineers will tell you that a good foundation is vital to ensure the stability and safety of any building. Building upon good, solid ground is important, as well. Without a good, sturdy foundation, and if the ground isn’t good and solid, the building can lean, and the whole structure will be unbalanced. It can be in danger of falling. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a good example of building on poor soil. Fortunately it hasn’t fallen. Many homes and buildings have fallen when landslides happen because of where they were built. One can watch news videos of some very expensive homes in California go crashing down the sides of cliffs! When a foundation isn’t laid properly, and it begins to crack and crumble, the building can be in danger of falling apart, too.
In our Scripture reading for today from the Prophet Isaiah, we read about having a sure foundation. Throughout the history of Israel and Judah, the people had wavered in their faithfulness to Yahweh, the Lord God. They frequently forsook the true worship of God and began worshipping the false gods and idols of the surrounding nations. The message of Yahweh given to the people from the days of Moses, and through the days of the prophets, was a solid foundation if the people would have accepted and followed it, applying it to their lives. Instead they turned to false idols, and worshipping them. They wanted to be like the other nations, accepting their way of life. However, that was a faulty foundation, one not laid upon good soil, one that would crumble and come crashing down upon them like the houses in a California landslide!
Another faulty foundation that the Prophet Isaiah warned the people about was their tendency to go running to other nations for help, instead of turning to the Lord God, and trusting in Him. In particular at the time of our passage, the nation of Judah was feeling threatened by the nation of Assyria who had been slowly attacking and conquering many surrounding countries, including their sister nation of Israel. Rather than returning to the Lord, getting rid of all idol worship, and trusting in Him for protection, they called upon other pagan nations for help, particularly the nation of Egypt. God called that a “covenant of death” (vs. 15), and it was a faulty, weak foundation. God wanted them to turn to Him, and trust in Him alone, a strong and sure foundation.
In verse 16 we read that God was going to lay a sure foundation, a precious cornerstone. The cornerstone is Jesus, the Messiah, the foundation on whom we build our faith and our lives. The Apostle Paul said that our faith is built upon the foundation of the teachings of the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), and that no one can lay any other sure spiritual foundation, other than in Jesus (I Corinthians 3:11).
A cornerstone is the basis of the foundation, forming the base of the building, joining the two main walls. Without a good, strong cornerstone, the foundation is out of joint, and the building’s safety is compromised. Jesus is that cornerstone. However the religious leaders of Israel rejected that Cornerstone, preferring instead their weak, crumbling, and unsure foundation (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42).
What kind of foundation are we laying in our life? Are we forsaking the Lord Jesus and turning instead to false religions and philosophies, or to things of this world, and building our life’s foundation on them? When a storm comes in our life, how well will that foundation stand? Will it hold up, or come crashing down? Jesus gave us the example of the wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand (Luke 6:47-49). If we build our life (house) upon the Lord Jesus, who is the Rock, the sure foundation, it will stand no matter how strong a storm comes. It will stand throughout eternity. If we build our foundation upon anything or anyone else, it will surely crumble and fall. Be sure your foundation is only in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Architects and engineers will tell you that a good foundation is vital to ensure the stability and safety of any building. Building upon good, solid ground is important, as well. Without a good, sturdy foundation, and if the ground isn’t good and solid, the building can lean, and the whole structure will be unbalanced. It can be in danger of falling. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a good example of building on poor soil. Fortunately it hasn’t fallen. Many homes and buildings have fallen when landslides happen because of where they were built. One can watch news videos of some very expensive homes in California go crashing down the sides of cliffs! When a foundation isn’t laid properly, and it begins to crack and crumble, the building can be in danger of falling apart, too.
In our Scripture reading for today from the Prophet Isaiah, we read about having a sure foundation. Throughout the history of Israel and Judah, the people had wavered in their faithfulness to Yahweh, the Lord God. They frequently forsook the true worship of God and began worshipping the false gods and idols of the surrounding nations. The message of Yahweh given to the people from the days of Moses, and through the days of the prophets, was a solid foundation if the people would have accepted and followed it, applying it to their lives. Instead they turned to false idols, and worshipping them. They wanted to be like the other nations, accepting their way of life. However, that was a faulty foundation, one not laid upon good soil, one that would crumble and come crashing down upon them like the houses in a California landslide!
Another faulty foundation that the Prophet Isaiah warned the people about was their tendency to go running to other nations for help, instead of turning to the Lord God, and trusting in Him. In particular at the time of our passage, the nation of Judah was feeling threatened by the nation of Assyria who had been slowly attacking and conquering many surrounding countries, including their sister nation of Israel. Rather than returning to the Lord, getting rid of all idol worship, and trusting in Him for protection, they called upon other pagan nations for help, particularly the nation of Egypt. God called that a “covenant of death” (vs. 15), and it was a faulty, weak foundation. God wanted them to turn to Him, and trust in Him alone, a strong and sure foundation.
In verse 16 we read that God was going to lay a sure foundation, a precious cornerstone. The cornerstone is Jesus, the Messiah, the foundation on whom we build our faith and our lives. The Apostle Paul said that our faith is built upon the foundation of the teachings of the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), and that no one can lay any other sure spiritual foundation, other than in Jesus (I Corinthians 3:11).
A cornerstone is the basis of the foundation, forming the base of the building, joining the two main walls. Without a good, strong cornerstone, the foundation is out of joint, and the building’s safety is compromised. Jesus is that cornerstone. However the religious leaders of Israel rejected that Cornerstone, preferring instead their weak, crumbling, and unsure foundation (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42).
What kind of foundation are we laying in our life? Are we forsaking the Lord Jesus and turning instead to false religions and philosophies, or to things of this world, and building our life’s foundation on them? When a storm comes in our life, how well will that foundation stand? Will it hold up, or come crashing down? Jesus gave us the example of the wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand (Luke 6:47-49). If we build our life (house) upon the Lord Jesus, who is the Rock, the sure foundation, it will stand no matter how strong a storm comes. It will stand throughout eternity. If we build our foundation upon anything or anyone else, it will surely crumble and fall. Be sure your foundation is only in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Friday, August 23, 2019
A Family Feud
Luke 12:49-56
“Family Feud” is the name of a fun game show in the United States. However, real fighting among family members is anything but a fun game. No one is happy when there is estrangement between parents and children, between siblings, between in-laws, and we will often try as much as possible to resolve such conflicts. In our Bible reading today from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives some rather surprising words about family conflicts. Let’s take a look at what our Savior said.
As our passage opens, Jesus is continuing to teach His disciples and followers spiritual lessons and truths. He begins this passage of Scripture by saying that He came to send fire on the earth (vs. 49). Fire symbolizes judgment. Most people picture Jesus in their minds as kindly and gentle, like the image of the Good Shepherd, gently holding a little lamb in His arms. He is that, but He is also our Warrior-King, who will come to bring judgment against sin. Jesus continues to speak of the baptism of suffering that He must go through (vs. 50). Jesus’ human nature was naturally distressed over the pain and horror of His coming scourging and crucifixion. Even worse than the physical pain was knowing that during those hours Jesus would be completely separated from the Father. That was because all of the sins of the world would be laid on Him. Yet Jesus knew that this was the work He came to do, and He set His face steadfastly towards accomplishing it.
In the next several verses we read some startling words from Jesus (vs. 51-53). Here He says that He came to bring division. What did Jesus mean here? We usually think that He came to bring peace, not division. Isn’t Jesus called the Prince of Peace? As we read further, He explains what He meant. Because of Jesus, households will be divided, family members will turn against each other. Accepting Jesus as Savior often brings conflict between families and friends. When one family member accepts Him and others don’t, there can be dissension, and sometimes even outright hostility. A father turns against his son when that young man accepts Jesus as Savior. A mother-in-law doesn’t accept her daughter-in-law because she is a Christian. Siblings or best friends stop talking to each other when one or the other follows Jesus. There is no middle ground with Jesus. Loyalties must be declared and commitments made. Sometimes that will severe a relationship. When that happens we have to decide - will we choose the family members or friends, or will we stand with the Lord Jesus?
Jesus closes up this passage by telling His followers that they need to be alert to the signs of the times (vs. 54-56). There will be signs to indicate that Jesus’ coming is near. When I was a child I learned the weather related poem “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” If the sky has a nice, red or orange sunset, the next day should be a nice one. If the sky is red or orange in the morning when the sun rises, there could be rain coming. We know when there are large, dark cumulonimbus clouds a thunderstorm is likely. A south wind will usually bring warmer temperatures, whereas a strong north wind will bring colder ones. We use other things of nature to be other weather related indicators. I eagerly await the first robins here in Chicago to signal the coming of spring. Another weather folklore is that the length of the red color on a woolly bear caterpillar will determine how harsh or mild a winter we will have.
Jesus warns us that if we are able to know all these weather forecasters, why do we, His followers, not know the signs of His return (vs. 56). We need to be alert and also reading and studying our Bibles, knowing exactly what it says about Jesus. The people of Jesus’ day should have known their Old Testament Scriptures well enough to realize that He was the Messiah, and realize the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies by Him. They should have been able to discern those times. Today we need to be just as diligent in studying the whole Bible so that we, too, can discern our time. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior? One day, possibly soon, He will return. No one should be caught that day without having asked Him into their heart, even if that decision might cause a rift in one’s family.
“Family Feud” is the name of a fun game show in the United States. However, real fighting among family members is anything but a fun game. No one is happy when there is estrangement between parents and children, between siblings, between in-laws, and we will often try as much as possible to resolve such conflicts. In our Bible reading today from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives some rather surprising words about family conflicts. Let’s take a look at what our Savior said.
As our passage opens, Jesus is continuing to teach His disciples and followers spiritual lessons and truths. He begins this passage of Scripture by saying that He came to send fire on the earth (vs. 49). Fire symbolizes judgment. Most people picture Jesus in their minds as kindly and gentle, like the image of the Good Shepherd, gently holding a little lamb in His arms. He is that, but He is also our Warrior-King, who will come to bring judgment against sin. Jesus continues to speak of the baptism of suffering that He must go through (vs. 50). Jesus’ human nature was naturally distressed over the pain and horror of His coming scourging and crucifixion. Even worse than the physical pain was knowing that during those hours Jesus would be completely separated from the Father. That was because all of the sins of the world would be laid on Him. Yet Jesus knew that this was the work He came to do, and He set His face steadfastly towards accomplishing it.
In the next several verses we read some startling words from Jesus (vs. 51-53). Here He says that He came to bring division. What did Jesus mean here? We usually think that He came to bring peace, not division. Isn’t Jesus called the Prince of Peace? As we read further, He explains what He meant. Because of Jesus, households will be divided, family members will turn against each other. Accepting Jesus as Savior often brings conflict between families and friends. When one family member accepts Him and others don’t, there can be dissension, and sometimes even outright hostility. A father turns against his son when that young man accepts Jesus as Savior. A mother-in-law doesn’t accept her daughter-in-law because she is a Christian. Siblings or best friends stop talking to each other when one or the other follows Jesus. There is no middle ground with Jesus. Loyalties must be declared and commitments made. Sometimes that will severe a relationship. When that happens we have to decide - will we choose the family members or friends, or will we stand with the Lord Jesus?
Jesus closes up this passage by telling His followers that they need to be alert to the signs of the times (vs. 54-56). There will be signs to indicate that Jesus’ coming is near. When I was a child I learned the weather related poem “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” If the sky has a nice, red or orange sunset, the next day should be a nice one. If the sky is red or orange in the morning when the sun rises, there could be rain coming. We know when there are large, dark cumulonimbus clouds a thunderstorm is likely. A south wind will usually bring warmer temperatures, whereas a strong north wind will bring colder ones. We use other things of nature to be other weather related indicators. I eagerly await the first robins here in Chicago to signal the coming of spring. Another weather folklore is that the length of the red color on a woolly bear caterpillar will determine how harsh or mild a winter we will have.
Jesus warns us that if we are able to know all these weather forecasters, why do we, His followers, not know the signs of His return (vs. 56). We need to be alert and also reading and studying our Bibles, knowing exactly what it says about Jesus. The people of Jesus’ day should have known their Old Testament Scriptures well enough to realize that He was the Messiah, and realize the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies by Him. They should have been able to discern those times. Today we need to be just as diligent in studying the whole Bible so that we, too, can discern our time. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior? One day, possibly soon, He will return. No one should be caught that day without having asked Him into their heart, even if that decision might cause a rift in one’s family.
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