Month: September 2017

A Light Burden

A Light Burden

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  (Mat 11:29-30)

The Lord Jesus is saying that He is meek, humble, and tender-hearted when He says He is gentle.  Lowly in heart can mean simple and unpretentious at heart.  And when Jesus states that His yoke is easy, He’s saying that union with Him is useful, pleasant, good, and suitable for us.

In contrast to the heavy, legal burden of Judaism, Jesus calls for an open, free and loyal relationship (My yoke).  This type of relationship enables, aids; or supports obedience to the law’s righteousness.  (My burden) 

When we accepted Christ as Savior, we accepted Jesus’ righteousness.  He completed His work—we are saved!  Therefore, our burden indeed is light, because He bore it on our behalf.  And now we are privileged to be yoked to Him in love, devotion, and thanksgiving forever.  

Open Up Before God

Open Up Before God

Open up before God, keep nothing back; He’ll do whatever needs to be done:  He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.  (Ps 37:5-6 MSG)

Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.  He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.  (Ps 37:5-6 NLT)

These are two versions of the same Bible verse.  They’re both encouraging and uplifting, and accurately describe the fact that God loves us ALWAYS and He fights on our behalf.  He will uncover anything that is hidden if it means exonerating one of His children.  Have a great day meditating on these truths!

God’s Word Shall Accomplish

God’s Word Shall Accomplish

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void.  But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  (Isa 55:11, emphasis added)

“It shall not return to Me void” means that God’s Word will not return to Him empty, or without producing fruit.

Hallelujah!  God’s Word is powerful and sure of fulfillment; it accomplishes its task. 

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.  (Isa 40:8)

Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country.  Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.  (Isa 46:10-11)

. . . but the word of the Lord endures forever.  (1 Pet 1:25)

The Lord says that when He has spoken something, it is a guarantee that HE WILL bring it to pass.  It’s not uncertain, but it is inevitable!  

The Treasure of Our Tongue

The Treasure of Our Tongue

There is a fairly well-known book titled The Treasure of Our Tongue authored by Lincoln Barnett, published in 1962.  This is the story of the English language from its obscure beginnings to its present eminence as the most widely spoken language, and it’s a very interesting book.

We, as believers, have another—even better—Treasure of Our Tongue: 

For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.  (Job 34:3, emphasis added)

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.  (Ps 35:28)

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.  (Ps 37:30)

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  (Ps 34:1)

He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.  (Ps 40:3)

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.  (Ps 54:2)

I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue.  (Ps 66:17)

My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits.  (Ps 71:15)

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.  (Pro 21:23)

The treasure of our tongue, from these verses in the Bible, is our ability to praise God daily, and to speak of His righteousness not only to other people, but to ourselves!  Test the words of your mouth and determine if they edify others or put them in a negative frame of mind.  Proverbs 21:23 reminds us that when we guard our words, we keep ourselves out of trouble!

We have been given a new song, a song of praise, since our rebirth into God’s family.  The author of Psalm 54:2 invites the Lord to pay attention to the words that he speaks!  You must be very sure of yourself before you invite the Lord to pay attention to your words. You words would be full of praise and would speak forth the wisdom of God.

Psalm 71:15 states that the psalmist does not know the limits of God’s righteousness or His salvation.  What a positive, faith-filled declaration!  Let us join with the psalmist in lifting our voices in praise to God, and in glorifying His righteousness and his salvation.  This is an honor and a treasure that we believers have been given, so let us exercise it.  

Declare God’s Mighty Acts

Declare God’s Mighty Acts

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.  I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.  Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness.  They shall utter [bubble forth] the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.  (Ps 145:4-7 NKJV)

I believe that this passage of the Bible reminds us to remember and to broadcast (declare) our exciting testimonies of what God has done for each and every one of us!  These blessings are also praiseworthy, so we should praise Him for them, and I don’t mean just once or twice.  Every remembrance of them should bring fresh praise and thanksgiving to our hearts and lips.  Meditate upon and declare the miracles that God has done for you.

We should share our testimonies with our children and our grandchildren—generation to generation. As Psalm 63:1-5 demonstrates, as we express our praises to God, we feel a spiritual gratification as if having dined on the richest of spiritual meals.  When pondering the good, merciful, miraculous, supernatural, and kind works of the Lord, it is a feast!

 

Peace! Be Still

Peace! Be Still

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”  41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”  (Mk 4:37-41)

In this Scriptural account, you’ll notice three things.

  1. Jesus was asleep in the boat, having been tired from His previous ministry to the people. This exhibits Jesus’ humanity.
  2. Jesus’ followers awoke Him out of fear for their safety. Despite their fear, they called upon Him to save them.  Their response—calling upon Jesus—was the best thing for them to do.
  3. Jesus reproached their small amount of faith, but then performed a miracle in order to increase their faith.  This reveals His power and authority.

Jesus’ disciples knew enough about Jesus to expect Him to save them from this perilous situation, but not enough to understand His authority.  After Jesus rebuked the wind, they became fearful, and wondered at His identity.  How perplexing it is to me that they were fearful, rather than joyously thankful . . .

We have the benefit of not needing to wonder about Jesus!  We know that He is the Savior of the world. (Jo 4:42)  Helping power, in any crisis, is both present and active in Jesus.  He will bring peace and calm to our every situation when we cry out to Him for help.

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.  (Mk 5:1)  This verse demonstrates that the boat arrived safety at its destination.

Jesus had authority over the elements of nature. He is King, not only of people, but over all of the forces of nature, as well.  This should strengthen our faith and confidence in Him and in His Word.  Trust Jesus to bring peace and calm to your circumstances.

God Fights on Behalf of His People

God Fights on Behalf of His People

. . . for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.  (Deut 20:4)

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.  The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes . . .  (Deut 29:29-30)

Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive against me; fight against those who fight against me.  (Ps 35:1)

For I will contend with him who contends with you.  (Isa 49:25c NKJV)

Our Father God is all-powerful.  He is willing and able to uphold His children in the challenging and frightful situations of life on earth.  He willingly steps between us and danger to protect us and to fight on our behalf.

God shows up and fights for His people, and for the hearts of His people.  His timing may not be what we want—but He is always in control.  No matter the nature of the attack—injustice, lack, ill health, broken relationships, or corruption—nothing is unknown to Him.

There are evil forces and evil spirits who will try to prevent God’s answer from reaching us, but as long as we hold on to God’s promises with perseverance and faith, nothing can prevent God’s salvation from reaching us.

Our confidence in every situation of life must always be placed IN CHRIST alone.  Jesus is our Savior, Redeemer, High Tower, Hiding Place, Refuge, Deliverer, etc., etc.  In union with that, it is wise to know God’s Word and to rely upon it in faith.  He and His Word are one; they cannot be separated.  Trust His Word, persevere through any delay, and see the salvation of our God come to pass for you.

He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?  (Rom 8:32 AMP)