Tuesday, 3/5/19 Psalm
73:1, Truly God is good to Israel, even
to such as are of a clean heart. This verse speaks of cause and effect. If
we’re wondering about or doubting His goodness to us, before we “charge God
foolishly,” we much check our hearts’ cleanliness. “Tain’t rocket science
folks...
Galatians 1:23-24, But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me. Paul didn’t shy away from his misdeeds. He told the story often, but not in a way that would glorify sin or his stupidity nor his “awesomeness” for turning “himself around.” He told what God did in his life and made as sure as he could that God got ALL the credit. So, use your sinful past to exalt the incredibly gracious Saviour Who still thought you worthy and usable. And remind people that the One Who was so patient and kind to you will be the same to them. As the old preacher said, pick up any crooked stick you can and beat the Devil with it.
- Wednesday, 3/6/19 Psalm 73:25, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. The first half is a statement of absolute certainty; but the second half is much less sure. That is an hour by hour treasure to be guarded. Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. God wants balanced Christianity. Here He says we’re not to do the positive towards Him before undoing the negatives with our brother. Likewise, doing good to people while being at odds with Him is unacceptable. So, in your life, how are things on the horizontal plane between you and others? How’re things on the vertical plane between you and Him? All us, if we wanted to, could find plenty of issues on both which need to be addressed.
- Thursday, 3/7/19 John 1:5, And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. The Light is still shining in the darkness (unless we veil it in our lives), and the darkness still isn’t comprehending it: shine on misunderstood one. Psalm 77:10, And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will... In the preceding verses, the psalmist focused on his grief and God’s “unfaithfulness.” Then...he finally fixed his eyes on the only thing over which he had control: himself and his sin. Do you focus first and primarily on the situation and others’ wrong (re)actions or do you focus first and primarily on your shortcomings and what you could do to improve things? ‘Ball’s in your court...
- Friday, 3/8/19 Proverbs 1:30, They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Not everything that God has to say to us today is wonderful and uplifting. Some things He speaks of are negative and condemning. Are you willing to listen to that? To have faults pointed out? (By Him or by others?) Psalm 138:3, In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Notice that there is no sure indication that his specific request was granted, but strength was given. God frequently won’t change our circumstances, but will, instead, give us the strength and wisdom to endure them. We focus on outer conditions (others’ actions, and life) while He focuses on our inner condition (our attitudes and sins.)
- Saturday, 3/9/19 Psalm 138:7a, Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Circumstances don’t have to improve for us to improve our walk with God. What’s holding you back? (Hint: it starts with a “P” and rhymes with “glide.”) Matthew 5:21-22, Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, ...but I say unto you... We must be honest with ourselves: do we live our Christian lives more by what others say (popular opinion, feelings, man’s interpretations, or by what we KNOW Him to have said? (To do the second requires the ability to refer to a specific passage. Can you point to a specific verse for this or that? I don’t mean that you have to have the entire Bible memorized, but could you find the verse or give a close paraphrase of it?) “Know what you know; know why it is so.”
- Sunday, 3/10/19 Proverbs 2:6, For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. We want God to give us stuff or change our circumstances. He wants to give us His way of thinking. Until we come around to that, we will be frustrated with Him. Psalm 139:16, Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Just a reminder: your nose is exactly the shape that it’s supposed to be. Your hairline is right on God’s schedule. That hair has just the right amount of curl (and gray) that God wants right now. We are as tall as He planned. Our weight...that’s on us, but our body frame is by His design. Even the health problems we face, the genetic predispositions to cancer or Alzheimer’s or whatever, are from Him. Proverbs 10:8, The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. Upon hearing a commandment that perhaps you were unaware of or upon being reminded of something perhaps you’ve forgotten or drifted away from, do we tend to ask, “How can I implement this today,” or, “Do I have to? Does that REALLY mean me? Is there any way around that? The preacher doesn’t do that perfectly so I don’t have to”?? The latter are foolish statements. Ouch...
- Monday, 3/11/19 John 6:67, Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Many disciples “quit church” after John 6. Jesus wondered about the 12. Question: what will it take (or what did it take!!) for you to change your doctrine? Do you believe like you did a decade ago? What caused the regression? The fall of a leader? Laziness? The sin of a loved one? You are responsible FOR YOU to Him...think about seeing Him...maybe today. Under the heading of “Things We Already Know, but Need to Be Reminded of Frequently” - Deuteronomy 9:6-7, Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. It’s never been true that we’re “good people” who “deserve a break.” We are, and always have been, Hell deserving sinners. That God is gracious to any of us is wonderful. Go, tell someone soon about this awesome God. Proverbs 10:21, The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. Who are you feeding, or, are you not righteous? Who has been trying to feed you and been rejected?
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