Ps 14:2 "The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God." NIV
God is looking down from heaven, searching for the man of understanding, the man who understands the value of seeking God! The Lord presents himself in this and many other passages as on a quest to find certain qualities within the hearts of men. He is passing by. He is examining every heart. What will he find when he looks upon your life today? Understanding is demonstrated by the fruit that it produces in our lives. If we truly have understanding it is seen in the pursuit of God that is pouring forth from our hearts.
Heb 11:6b declares of God that “he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” God is searching for those who spend their lives searching, living as pilgrims with an unquenchable thirst for the presence of God. The saints of old were praised because as Heb 11:13-16 says, “They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one.” These saints lived searching for something heavenly, recognizing that this life is only a passing shadow and that we were created for the heavenly realms of God. In the same way we are called in 1 Peter 1:17-18 to, “live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”
Friday
Psalm 13:6 - February 6, 2009
Ps 13:6 "I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me." NIV
Sing to the Lord! Lift up your voice and declare his praise! For the Lord has been good to you! You might be in the midst of blessing and you might be in the midst of a hard season but you have been blessed by his goodness. None of us can know the troubles that the Lord has protected us from. None of us can fathom the measure of evil that would have touched our lives had he not spread his protection over us. Ps. 91 tells us that he has given his angels command concerning us to guard us in all of our ways! What a promise that we are guarded by the protection of the Lord. The unseen hand of God is at work, moving life’s circumstances to order your steps into the path of his goodness.
Ro. 8:28 tell us that in all things God is working for the good of those who love him. He does not orchestrate the difficulties that come upon our lives through circumstances or the evil of men, but in each instance he promises us that He is at work bringing good into our situation and into our hearts. It is this knowledge, the knowledge that he is committed to working out all things for good that I can rest in joy and thanksgiving.
It is also this song of joy from a heart of faith that secures my emotions. Miriam declared, “I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously!” As we meditate on the triumph of God, and by faith stand on the victory of Christ on the cross as the means through which God is working out all things for our good, we can lift up a song of joy. When we praise we are building up our own spirit. We are strengthening our inner man and bringing pleasure to God. Many years ago, during a season where I was focusing intently on singing in tongues a lot in my personal prayer time, I had a dream where I was talking to the Lord about singing in tongues and he spoke to me saying, “I love it when you do that!”
Paul states in 1 Cor 14:15 “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” As we sing unto the Lord we take time to sing from the place of our intellect, and then we move into times of singing from our spirit man, songs in our heavenly language. This work builds up our spirit so that we can truly be like Paul describes in Eph 3:16 that God may, “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” So today, sing to the Lord songs of praise. Sing because of his goodness, sing because of his victory, sing because he is worthy of praise, and be strengthened with power for living!
Sing to the Lord! Lift up your voice and declare his praise! For the Lord has been good to you! You might be in the midst of blessing and you might be in the midst of a hard season but you have been blessed by his goodness. None of us can know the troubles that the Lord has protected us from. None of us can fathom the measure of evil that would have touched our lives had he not spread his protection over us. Ps. 91 tells us that he has given his angels command concerning us to guard us in all of our ways! What a promise that we are guarded by the protection of the Lord. The unseen hand of God is at work, moving life’s circumstances to order your steps into the path of his goodness.
Ro. 8:28 tell us that in all things God is working for the good of those who love him. He does not orchestrate the difficulties that come upon our lives through circumstances or the evil of men, but in each instance he promises us that He is at work bringing good into our situation and into our hearts. It is this knowledge, the knowledge that he is committed to working out all things for good that I can rest in joy and thanksgiving.
It is also this song of joy from a heart of faith that secures my emotions. Miriam declared, “I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously!” As we meditate on the triumph of God, and by faith stand on the victory of Christ on the cross as the means through which God is working out all things for our good, we can lift up a song of joy. When we praise we are building up our own spirit. We are strengthening our inner man and bringing pleasure to God. Many years ago, during a season where I was focusing intently on singing in tongues a lot in my personal prayer time, I had a dream where I was talking to the Lord about singing in tongues and he spoke to me saying, “I love it when you do that!”
Paul states in 1 Cor 14:15 “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” As we sing unto the Lord we take time to sing from the place of our intellect, and then we move into times of singing from our spirit man, songs in our heavenly language. This work builds up our spirit so that we can truly be like Paul describes in Eph 3:16 that God may, “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” So today, sing to the Lord songs of praise. Sing because of his goodness, sing because of his victory, sing because he is worthy of praise, and be strengthened with power for living!
Thursday
Psalm 12:6 - February 5, 2009
Ps 12:6 "And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times." NIV
Oh, the glory of the word of the Lord! Flawless, powerful, pure, living and active, how awesome are the words of the Lord! The image of highly refined sliver is such a stunning portrait of the magnitude of the word of God. This image of silver purified seven times reflects the absolute purity of God’s word. The refining process represented here results in an agitation of the silver as the dross is purged from it. The conclusion of this refining process is evidenced by the molten silver coming to a place of “perfect stillness”. What an image of the Word of God. It is so pure that it has come to the place of perfect stability, perfect stillness, no imperfections and in the same way it imparts this stillness and stability to those who partake of it.
Oh, how wonderful the Word of God. Paul encourages his disciple Timothy to be, “nourished in the words of the faith,” ASV 1 Tim 4:5. As we practice these words of Paul by practicing Col 3:16 that instructs us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” NIV The indwelling of a rich deposit of God’s Word will bring us to the place of stillness in the inner man that is like silver refined in the fire.
Heb 4:12 tells us that “the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” ASV. The Word of God is alive! This is the source of its transforming power, its impact upon the human heart. It is actively working to produce the image of Christ within the life of those who read it through the work of imparting faith into our soul and spirit. The above passage instructs us as to what our expectation should be concerning the Word of God. It is sharp, it is actively working to divide soul and spirit within us. This means that one of the primary works of the Word is to identify within the life of the believer those thoughts that come from the spirit and those impulses and impressions that are rooted in the soulish nature which is being crucified with Christ. Its purpose is to train us to discern the thoughts and intents of our own heart so that in all things we may choose that which reflects the image of the living God.
Oh, the glory of the word of the Lord! Flawless, powerful, pure, living and active, how awesome are the words of the Lord! The image of highly refined sliver is such a stunning portrait of the magnitude of the word of God. This image of silver purified seven times reflects the absolute purity of God’s word. The refining process represented here results in an agitation of the silver as the dross is purged from it. The conclusion of this refining process is evidenced by the molten silver coming to a place of “perfect stillness”. What an image of the Word of God. It is so pure that it has come to the place of perfect stability, perfect stillness, no imperfections and in the same way it imparts this stillness and stability to those who partake of it.
Oh, how wonderful the Word of God. Paul encourages his disciple Timothy to be, “nourished in the words of the faith,” ASV 1 Tim 4:5. As we practice these words of Paul by practicing Col 3:16 that instructs us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” NIV The indwelling of a rich deposit of God’s Word will bring us to the place of stillness in the inner man that is like silver refined in the fire.
Heb 4:12 tells us that “the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” ASV. The Word of God is alive! This is the source of its transforming power, its impact upon the human heart. It is actively working to produce the image of Christ within the life of those who read it through the work of imparting faith into our soul and spirit. The above passage instructs us as to what our expectation should be concerning the Word of God. It is sharp, it is actively working to divide soul and spirit within us. This means that one of the primary works of the Word is to identify within the life of the believer those thoughts that come from the spirit and those impulses and impressions that are rooted in the soulish nature which is being crucified with Christ. Its purpose is to train us to discern the thoughts and intents of our own heart so that in all things we may choose that which reflects the image of the living God.
Wednesday
Psalm 11:4-6 - February 4, 2009
Ps 11:4-6 “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. " NIV
This psalm introduces two significant themes: the abiding presence of the Lord with his people and his eternal dominion over all things in heaven and on earth. It is both a reflection of his identity as Immanuel, God with us, and the truth of God’s eternal sovereignty as reflected in
Col 1:15-17 which states of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Our God has the right to rule because all things are a mere reflection of his creative power but his infinite reality by far transcends all that he has created.
The very nature of the temple was to be a dwelling place for God, a house for his abiding presence. What a wonderful truth in the context of the words of Paul’s statement in
1 Cor 3:16 “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?” Through the work of Christ on the cross mankind is now the dwelling place for the Spirit of God. The living God inhabiting his people to direct, comfort and counsel us.
Every man who has offered his life to God and received eternal life has in this same act invited the living God to abide with and in him. John 14:20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” However, this psalm continues on from the place of God’s presence to establishing the Lord’s right to rule. His throne is eternal in the heavens as the Lord over all and it is from this vantage point that the Lord observes the sons of man, examining them with his eyes. The Lord sits enthroned as king over all that he has created, examining the hearts of man. For those who welcome his Lordship, his abiding presence empowers us to live a life that meets the requirements of his judgment through the mercy of Christ. This is the eternal vindication of the lovers of God and the eternal consequence of the wicked. It is with perfect justice, perfect wisdom and perfect mercy that God sits as judge over the nations and the heart of every man.
This psalm introduces two significant themes: the abiding presence of the Lord with his people and his eternal dominion over all things in heaven and on earth. It is both a reflection of his identity as Immanuel, God with us, and the truth of God’s eternal sovereignty as reflected in
Col 1:15-17 which states of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Our God has the right to rule because all things are a mere reflection of his creative power but his infinite reality by far transcends all that he has created.
The very nature of the temple was to be a dwelling place for God, a house for his abiding presence. What a wonderful truth in the context of the words of Paul’s statement in
1 Cor 3:16 “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?” Through the work of Christ on the cross mankind is now the dwelling place for the Spirit of God. The living God inhabiting his people to direct, comfort and counsel us.
Every man who has offered his life to God and received eternal life has in this same act invited the living God to abide with and in him. John 14:20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” However, this psalm continues on from the place of God’s presence to establishing the Lord’s right to rule. His throne is eternal in the heavens as the Lord over all and it is from this vantage point that the Lord observes the sons of man, examining them with his eyes. The Lord sits enthroned as king over all that he has created, examining the hearts of man. For those who welcome his Lordship, his abiding presence empowers us to live a life that meets the requirements of his judgment through the mercy of Christ. This is the eternal vindication of the lovers of God and the eternal consequence of the wicked. It is with perfect justice, perfect wisdom and perfect mercy that God sits as judge over the nations and the heart of every man.
Tuesday
Psalm 9:7-10 - February 3, 2009
Ps 9:7-10 “The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. 9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” NIV
As trust is the centerpiece of every healthy relationship, so the character of God is our foundation stone for a trusting relationship with him. God declares himself to be just, and full of wise judgment. Jesus declares in John 5:30 “I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Because God is not a biased judge but centers his dealings with man firmly on the principles of justice not a self-serving motivation we can live in confidence before him. Not only does our God judge justly but he judges with mercy and comforts us in Ja. 2:13 with the knowledge that mercy triumphs over judgment. What a wonderful truth that our God holds up a righteous standard and then provides the means for meeting the requirements of his justice through the merciful blood of Christ.
The nature of human justice is consistently tempered by personal agendas and limitations but God presents himself to us consistently in a different spirit. When James and John were ready to call down fire on the town that had rejected Jesus in Luke 9:55-56 his response to them was, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." God’s primary desire is the redemption of man not the destruction of the wicked and therefore his motive in bringing judgment is not centered driven by a need for revenge or some other human motivation in judgment.
True government was intended to protect and provide for the people and God establishes the fact that in him and through his government we have a place of refuge that we can run to. Because the motives of his rule are entirely pure we can run to him as a stronghold and not fear the abuse of power that comes when the corrupt nature of man is entrusted with too much power. In fact the scriptures present the reality that those who seek God will never be forsaken.
As trust is the centerpiece of every healthy relationship, so the character of God is our foundation stone for a trusting relationship with him. God declares himself to be just, and full of wise judgment. Jesus declares in John 5:30 “I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Because God is not a biased judge but centers his dealings with man firmly on the principles of justice not a self-serving motivation we can live in confidence before him. Not only does our God judge justly but he judges with mercy and comforts us in Ja. 2:13 with the knowledge that mercy triumphs over judgment. What a wonderful truth that our God holds up a righteous standard and then provides the means for meeting the requirements of his justice through the merciful blood of Christ.
The nature of human justice is consistently tempered by personal agendas and limitations but God presents himself to us consistently in a different spirit. When James and John were ready to call down fire on the town that had rejected Jesus in Luke 9:55-56 his response to them was, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." God’s primary desire is the redemption of man not the destruction of the wicked and therefore his motive in bringing judgment is not centered driven by a need for revenge or some other human motivation in judgment.
True government was intended to protect and provide for the people and God establishes the fact that in him and through his government we have a place of refuge that we can run to. Because the motives of his rule are entirely pure we can run to him as a stronghold and not fear the abuse of power that comes when the corrupt nature of man is entrusted with too much power. In fact the scriptures present the reality that those who seek God will never be forsaken.
Monday
Psalm 9:1-2 - February 2, 2009
Ps 9:1-2 “A psalm of David. I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” NIV
Are you living a life of whole hearted praise? David is declaring his determination to give his whole heart as a worshipper before the Lord. I believe that this is a key facet of a life of passion. David demonstrated this passion in II Sa. 6:14 as he danced before the Lord with all of his might. He was not self conscious as he gave himself to the Lord in the dance but was fully abandoned to God. His response to those who stood by and mocked his passion was, “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” David entered into a place where his acts of passionate worship were intended to be an act of humility and surrender in the eyes of God and man.
In this psalm David continues on to express his commitment to tell of the wonders of God, his commitment to be a voice for the king of kings. That is the powerful thing about such passionate living; it has to be expressed. In word and deed David was commitment to a life of wholehearted abandonment to the purpose and pleasure of God. Everything about him expressed a commitment to living the first commandment; “Deut 6:5-6 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Each one of us is created to live our life with a passion that flows from wholeheartedness towards God. A divided heart waters us down and takes the fire out of life. Make a decision today to burn for one thing and one thing only, a wholehearted response to every word from the mouth of God.
Are you living a life of whole hearted praise? David is declaring his determination to give his whole heart as a worshipper before the Lord. I believe that this is a key facet of a life of passion. David demonstrated this passion in II Sa. 6:14 as he danced before the Lord with all of his might. He was not self conscious as he gave himself to the Lord in the dance but was fully abandoned to God. His response to those who stood by and mocked his passion was, “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” David entered into a place where his acts of passionate worship were intended to be an act of humility and surrender in the eyes of God and man.
In this psalm David continues on to express his commitment to tell of the wonders of God, his commitment to be a voice for the king of kings. That is the powerful thing about such passionate living; it has to be expressed. In word and deed David was commitment to a life of wholehearted abandonment to the purpose and pleasure of God. Everything about him expressed a commitment to living the first commandment; “Deut 6:5-6 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Each one of us is created to live our life with a passion that flows from wholeheartedness towards God. A divided heart waters us down and takes the fire out of life. Make a decision today to burn for one thing and one thing only, a wholehearted response to every word from the mouth of God.
Sunday
Psalm 8 - February 1
Ps 8 “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” NIV
The majesty of God is shouting forth over all of the earth. Man stands in wonder at such beauty as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone park, the Swiss Alps, and Mount Everest, yet each one is but a tiny fragment of the majesty of the one who created them. Each one of these masterpieces of creation was but one small thought in the infinite mind of the creator God and yet each one leaves man staring in wonder. Do we truly understand the measure of God’s greatness? His is set above the highest heavens calling out to man night and day saying, “Who will acknowledge me? Who will confess that God is all and is over all?”
The psalmist declares that the praises of children are ordained by the Lord. It takes a child’s simplicity to freely acknowledge the depths of the wonder of God. The psalmist paints such a contrast between God and man through the revelation of God’s works. “When I consider the heavens, the works of your fingers… what is man that… you care for him… ?” Why would such a powerful creator have us on his mind? The answer is a simple one. He did it for love! The creator of all of the heavens and the earth is in love with you!
Crowned with glory and honor, ruler over the works of God’s hands, this is who we are to God. In all of his creation he has set his Spirit within man to mark him as the capstone of all of his works. No other part of creation has God’s breath, God’s very essence living in us. This is the ultimate statement about God’s majesty. He is so far above, so glorious that he could make man in his own image, entrust him with all of his creation knowing that man would abuse this trust, and yet be perfectly secure and loving in relationship to mankind that he has created, having already provided in his plan from the creation of the world for every man who is willing to return to him in voluntary affection. He could have demanded our allegiance and yet he gives each man freedom to choose him or to reject him. This is the ultimate statement of his glory and great power.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” NIV
The majesty of God is shouting forth over all of the earth. Man stands in wonder at such beauty as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone park, the Swiss Alps, and Mount Everest, yet each one is but a tiny fragment of the majesty of the one who created them. Each one of these masterpieces of creation was but one small thought in the infinite mind of the creator God and yet each one leaves man staring in wonder. Do we truly understand the measure of God’s greatness? His is set above the highest heavens calling out to man night and day saying, “Who will acknowledge me? Who will confess that God is all and is over all?”
The psalmist declares that the praises of children are ordained by the Lord. It takes a child’s simplicity to freely acknowledge the depths of the wonder of God. The psalmist paints such a contrast between God and man through the revelation of God’s works. “When I consider the heavens, the works of your fingers… what is man that… you care for him… ?” Why would such a powerful creator have us on his mind? The answer is a simple one. He did it for love! The creator of all of the heavens and the earth is in love with you!
Crowned with glory and honor, ruler over the works of God’s hands, this is who we are to God. In all of his creation he has set his Spirit within man to mark him as the capstone of all of his works. No other part of creation has God’s breath, God’s very essence living in us. This is the ultimate statement about God’s majesty. He is so far above, so glorious that he could make man in his own image, entrust him with all of his creation knowing that man would abuse this trust, and yet be perfectly secure and loving in relationship to mankind that he has created, having already provided in his plan from the creation of the world for every man who is willing to return to him in voluntary affection. He could have demanded our allegiance and yet he gives each man freedom to choose him or to reject him. This is the ultimate statement of his glory and great power.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)