Month: April 2024

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God sees and hears all…

Psalm 41 How does one pray for the sick and bedridden? Do we pray that God takes them home or do we pray for their deliverance? It seems that there will always be those who are hypocritical in how they respond to us when we are set aside for a time. They come with words of mercy but their actions belie their true intentions. We see it in the encounters men had with our Lord. They said, we know you are from God for no one could do what you do but then after they leave His presence, they sought to kill him…but not at the Passover. 

There is a little song the children sing; be careful little eyes what you see for the Lord above is looking down in love, be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little tongue what you say, O be careful little tongue what you say,

For the Father up above Is looking down in love, So, be careful little tongue what you say.

This would be a good song/prayer to use when we act like these hypocrites. God sees all and hears all and will one day call to account. 

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Choosing wisely

How to have a peaceful home

Psalm 39 Have you ever said something and immediately regretted it? This seems to be the case for King David as he wrote this psalm. He, like us, needed some wisdom to know when to speak and what those words should be. Words can be piercing or they can be like a balm of Gilead.  Later he wrote: my tongue is a ready writer. [Ps 45:1] But, is it? We have a choice to use our tongue for good or for evil. Wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and he who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from trouble. [Proverbs 21:3] Paul writing to the Ephesian church said, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear.” [Eph 4:29] 

Maybe, or perhaps, that is why the psalmist wrote these words as a cautionary thought and practice for himself and now for us. “I will guard my way that I may not sin with my tongue, I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle.” [Ps 39:1] He specifically says that is a needed reminder when he is in the presence of the wicked. And who are the wicked but those who choose to not follow God and His precepts. The principle being: choose wisely when to speak and when to be silent. 

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Are you listening?

Are we listening

 2 Peter 3 Thunderstorms are scary! Their noise is unnerving and scary.  I hadn’t noticed before that when Jesus returns there will be a noise greater than any thunderstorm. He said that there will be a horrific noise heard round the world. He tells us that the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.

Because of that, Peter continues to speak to his loved ones about their lives. He wants to know if they are busy about the Master’s business or just busy. He reminds them that soon and very soon our Lord will return and when that event happens all of that which we see and understand about life will cease to be. So, are you looking and listening for His return?  

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Testing your discernment

Sheep need a shepherd

2 PETER 2 False prophets and false teachers were among the OT believers and they are among us today. Of all the apostles, Peter is the most vocal about those who speak with “forked tongue.” These are they who speak to you of heaven but are leading you to hell with their abominable ways. Be discerning! Know their traits so you can avoid them and not get caught in their web of deceit.  Listen carefully to what they preach and demand of you because as Peter wisely says: “And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words.” Listen carefully and observe their lifestyle. Listen carefully and ask, are they living a life that would mirror Christ and are they teaching His principles and truths? 

Because we live in a hi-tech society and have access to so many men who say they are preachers of the gospel but their lifestyles are a red flag. John Piper gives us 4 easy rules to follow:

  1. the test of the fruit of behavior
  2. the test of sound doctrine
  3. the test of submission to Scripture
  4. the test of teaching the pure gospel of justification by faith

Today are you a discerning believer? 

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Fruitful or Fruitless?

2 Peter 1 How is your life going today my friend? Are you experiencing fruit both in your own life and in the life of others? If you feel you are lagging, take heart and listen to Simon Peter who was witness of our Lord’s transfiguration on the mountain. It helps to listen to the wise and aged for their wisdom and so Peter tells his readers that they need to check if they are filled with the Fruit of the Spirit and are demonstrating those points to the lost. Just as Paul gave us his list of the Fruit of the Spirit, so Peter gives us his list that we may test our life. Peter reminds us that we need to have this checklist before us so we can measure how we are doing so he begins: add to your faith and then lists the practical points. 

Peter begins with the foundation: faith. Without faith we are lost and cannot produce fruit that will last the test of time. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Without faith,  you have no kernel of wheat to plant that it may germinate and grow. So what is this kernel of FAITH? It is being able to say Forgetting All I Trust Him who died and rose again so I may have life eternal. But, it doesn’t stop there, Peter reminds us to add to our faith several qualities that will be our fruit. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.” [2 Pet 1:6-8]

Where are you today friend? What are you lacking in the fruit department? 

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The past is past…leave it there.

forget the past

Psalm 38 The Past and the Future

Today many counselors want us to dredge up the past and relive our past sins but is this healthy? The psalmist has brought his past before God, not some other person. Is this the way to handle our sins? Well, yes and no. Sometimes we are to carry our burdens to one another and share them so that they can give us wise counsel. Other times we are to carry them only to God. The psalmist wrote that he knelt before God and laid his past before him and let God take care of this problem he has before him. “But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.” [Ps 38:15]

So where are you today? Are you reliving the past or are you putting the past behind you as Paul said he would do and move on to the future. We cannot change the past so why relive it? It is hidden in the deeps of the sea. Leave it there and move on!

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Be an example.

1 Peter 5 Suffering and Glory

Peter resonates with the elders in the churches that he has seen, participated in and walked in their shoes. He saw, witnessed, the sufferings of Christ, although he knew not what all of that meant at the time. Jesus came to him on the seashore and challenged him to feed his sheep, tend his flock, and feed his lambs. Peter took that charge and now speaks to those who are leading the house churches and mainline churches around the dispersion. He includes himself in this as a fellow elder and gives charge to them to lead with humility. 

As these men lead, they are to model Christ. As you look at the elders in your church, do you see their model of humility? Do you see them feeding the flock that attends? Do you see them loving one another as Christ loved them? These are the qualifications that you are to observe in those who are the leaders of your church. Pray for them, honor their position and learn from them. 

Consider yourself blessed to have seen, touched and learned from each elder who has the responsibility over you for as Hebrews says, Christ will hold them accountable. They may suffer as the early elders did but they did so looking forward to the day when their glory will be revealed. 

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Finally…

1 Peter 3 Peter has been stressing how the church should behave. First, he addresses the family unit, wives then husbands. But to be sure that no one is left out of this, he concludes with these words: “Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.” [1Peter3:8-9]

We are called to be a blessing to all men/women. Christ said to love one another  as He had loved them. Peter sums up how that should look. Each word in his mandate reflects the manner in which they were to behave in and out of church. As they live and move in the world, their lives should reflect the life of Christ. 

Where are we/I reflecting the life of Christ today? My mother had a hard life, and I can remember that one person she trusted did not keep a confidence. I am not sure what transpired but I do know this, as a Christian woman she lived both in church and out of church this life model. Even though her heart was hurt, she did not hold it against that person but she became discerning about what to share and what not to share but above all, she sought to live as Christ lived, not returning evil for evil. This is a challenge for me to do the same. 

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I know my redeemer lives….

Jesus is our Kinsman-redeemer

1 Peter 1 Even in his suffering, Job could exclaim: As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.[Job 19:25] Peter echoes that same thought in our reading today. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold,but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.” [1 Peter 1:18-19]

Peter also reminds and encourages the reader with these words. You may not have seen Christ, “in the flesh” but you love Him. This is a challenge to us. Do we love Christ whom we have not seen? Do recognize Him as our redeemer?Are you singing this hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus” today? Are you turning your eyes upon Jesus? 

Today a precious saint is singing those words in “heaven time,” as she entered the gates there last night at 12:05 a.m. and now she sees Him face to face. How about you? Are you ready? Do you know the Redeemer

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Why Worry?

Psalm37 God is in control and He alone knows the heart of both the righteous and the wicked. We look about and see the unrighteous and their sins and we are beside our selves wondering what is next. As it was then, so it will be now. There will always be those who reject God and live according to their own thoughts and actions. The psalmist says, yes there will be those who live according to the ways of the evil one, but you are protected by the loving hand of God. 

One verse jumps out of this psalm: Do not fret. That only leads to trouble.

We live in a community that has a website to share thoughts and seek help for many different things, but one thing is disturbing. People seem to share the troubles they face more often than the praises that come their way. They fret over things that are foolish and not worthy of their time. So this is a wise saying…do not fret! God is in control! 

Vs 25 is a key thought: I have never seen the godly abandoned. God knows who are His and He will not leave us or forsake us. He knows each hair on our heads and He has determined our day and our destiny. Today seek His way and you will be blessed. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. That which has come to you has been ordained in eternity past so DO NOT FRET! 

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