Date:
Thursday,
June 11, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 29-23
Message Title: Following The Word Of God
Hello My Friend,
The Bible was given to us by God to show us how we can have a relationship with Him. While He could have chosen any nation to represent Him, He chose Israel first. They were like you and I, all sinners saved by grace, they all had times of discouragement, distress, and sorrow. Some of them were even murderers, adulterers, and idol worshipers before and after they accepted the Lord. Yes, they too had to accept the Lord, who they know as the Messiah. God did not chose perfection, He choose those who were imperfect to represent Him. Why? To show all, Jew and Gentile, that God is merciful and full of grace toward even the worst offender. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9-12.
The very first commands God gave were written with His own finger on two stone tablets, many more were penned by Moses, which is known as the Law of Moses. Many Jews today, still follow this law, the law was given in order for God's people to have some moral structure in their lives that actually showed the rest of the world that when you obey God, He blesses abundantly. David reflects on the law, pointing out that it is more valuable than gold. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” - Psalms 19:7-10,14.
When we allow the Holy Spirit in us to reveal His Word to us, something amazing happens, we develop a relationship with God, one that not only wants to know His Word, but live it as well. We become a testimony, a walking, talking, billboard proving that God made us who we are. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
This prayer for David is entitled a psalm of David, the king was preparing to go out to battle. Before starting he offers solemn sacrifices, and commits his cause to God, the sole Giver of their victory, reminding himself that even if he died, he would still be safe under the wings of God. “We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.” - Psalms 20:5-9.
Salvation does not exempt us from facing battles, and while God prepares His anointed for every battle, even if they die they are not defeated because they will be saved. Those who are trusting in their own strength or the strength of others to help them through their battles will fall, but those who trust in the Lord, will, in fact, stand up. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
Even during Old Testament times they had to put their lives in the hands of Christ, they knew He existed, but just like we cannot see Him today, they could not see back them. They too had to trust God's promise and have faith that the Messiah would come. To prove that the Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit directing them in the writing, we get a glimpse of Jesus Himself speaking through David concerning His crucifixion. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” - Psalms 22:1-3,16-19,30,31.
Still today, most Jews reject Christ as the Messiah, but David, a mere shepherd boy in the beginning of his life, considered himself a lost sheep who needed a shepherd, even as king. While he did complain a lot through his distress, he knew that Jesus was with Him and that is exactly what Psalm 23 reminds us of. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalm 23. Praise God!
Today's Prayer: God, As much as I understand that Your timing is everything and as long as I wait patiently You will give me what I need, it's not always easy to live by Your commands. I do thank You for bringing me this far, to imagine what mess I would be in if You weren't in my life would be frightening. I know You have more waiting for me as I patiently allow You to prepare me, strengthen me, and keep me depending on You. I ask You to give me Your power to wait on You, to not become discouraged, and to be strong even though there seems to be no end to my struggling. I trust that You will bring me to victory, my Lord, my strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Chapters: Psalms 29-23
Message Title: Following The Word Of God
Hello My Friend,
The Bible was given to us by God to show us how we can have a relationship with Him. While He could have chosen any nation to represent Him, He chose Israel first. They were like you and I, all sinners saved by grace, they all had times of discouragement, distress, and sorrow. Some of them were even murderers, adulterers, and idol worshipers before and after they accepted the Lord. Yes, they too had to accept the Lord, who they know as the Messiah. God did not chose perfection, He choose those who were imperfect to represent Him. Why? To show all, Jew and Gentile, that God is merciful and full of grace toward even the worst offender. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9-12.
The very first commands God gave were written with His own finger on two stone tablets, many more were penned by Moses, which is known as the Law of Moses. Many Jews today, still follow this law, the law was given in order for God's people to have some moral structure in their lives that actually showed the rest of the world that when you obey God, He blesses abundantly. David reflects on the law, pointing out that it is more valuable than gold. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” - Psalms 19:7-10,14.
When we allow the Holy Spirit in us to reveal His Word to us, something amazing happens, we develop a relationship with God, one that not only wants to know His Word, but live it as well. We become a testimony, a walking, talking, billboard proving that God made us who we are. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
This prayer for David is entitled a psalm of David, the king was preparing to go out to battle. Before starting he offers solemn sacrifices, and commits his cause to God, the sole Giver of their victory, reminding himself that even if he died, he would still be safe under the wings of God. “We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.” - Psalms 20:5-9.
Salvation does not exempt us from facing battles, and while God prepares His anointed for every battle, even if they die they are not defeated because they will be saved. Those who are trusting in their own strength or the strength of others to help them through their battles will fall, but those who trust in the Lord, will, in fact, stand up. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
Even during Old Testament times they had to put their lives in the hands of Christ, they knew He existed, but just like we cannot see Him today, they could not see back them. They too had to trust God's promise and have faith that the Messiah would come. To prove that the Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit directing them in the writing, we get a glimpse of Jesus Himself speaking through David concerning His crucifixion. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” - Psalms 22:1-3,16-19,30,31.
Still today, most Jews reject Christ as the Messiah, but David, a mere shepherd boy in the beginning of his life, considered himself a lost sheep who needed a shepherd, even as king. While he did complain a lot through his distress, he knew that Jesus was with Him and that is exactly what Psalm 23 reminds us of. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalm 23. Praise God!
Today's Prayer: God, As much as I understand that Your timing is everything and as long as I wait patiently You will give me what I need, it's not always easy to live by Your commands. I do thank You for bringing me this far, to imagine what mess I would be in if You weren't in my life would be frightening. I know You have more waiting for me as I patiently allow You to prepare me, strengthen me, and keep me depending on You. I ask You to give me Your power to wait on You, to not become discouraged, and to be strong even though there seems to be no end to my struggling. I trust that You will bring me to victory, my Lord, my strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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