Rejoicing in Obedience…

Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

I have pondered over our Verse of the Day; and I have asked myself if my heart feels the same way as the Psalmist expressed. Do I REJOICE in following the statues and commands of God? If someone were to just give you a billion dollars, would the excitement of receiving those “great riches” compare to how you should feel inside for obeying God? What a provocative metaphor the Psalmist has used to exhort our view of and response to scripture … the Word of God.

Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)⁹How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
¹⁰I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
¹²Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.
¹³With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
¹⁶I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

As we read this particular section of Psalm 119, notice the joy, the exuberance, and the delight of the inspired writer as he considers his inner desire to follow the laws, statutes, precepts, decrees, and commands found in the Word of God. He holds nothing back! But do we? Do we whole heartedly approach obedience with this level of zeal? Or do we begrudge having to exert our own wills to resist disobedience? I think believers certainly endeavor to obey the will of God, but have we ever thought that our attitude should be one of rejoicing like someone who won the Mega Millions Lottery? The question that comes to mind is: “Do we rejoice when we obey God and His Word? Does obedience bring joy to our lives?

I am reminded of this passage from Paul found in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 which reads: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Could it be, perhaps, that the way out is to “rejoice” in obedience? Think about it for a moment. The last time you were tempted, did you delight in His statutes and decrees? Do you meditate on the Word of God and hide it within your heart so that you might not sin against Him? Maybe we need to consider the joy that obedience will bring more than we entertain any thoughts of disobedience … which will only lead to guilt and shame. I think that if we would attain an attitude of delight in following after God, we would be less likely to inhibit fellowship with Him because of sin.

This meditation has challenged me to examine the attitude of my heart. I think the issue here is not so much what I might accomplish by following His statutes – although there are blessings for sure; rather, the focus should really be about my motivation to follow His commands. Do I approach obedience with a cheerful and glad heart? Is obedience something that I wholly and heartily pursue as I would the pursuit of “great riches”? To me the Psalmist is saying, “Obedience is not an afterthought; rather, following the commands of God should be a forethought … a planned strategy that one should take delight in … knowing God will be pleased with every act of obedience. Obedience is not something to begrudge; rather, we should view His perfect law … His royal law … as a source of joy and delight! If we want to experience more joy in our lives, obedience to the Word of God is a great path for us to attain it.

Again, a simple verse with tremendous impact. It has changed my perspective on the inner motivation of my heart and how I should view the will of God. I am reminded of Psalm 1:2 which affirms: “Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law both day and night. And King David wrote: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. (Cf. Psalm 112:1) Indeed, it is one thing to obey God out of a sense of moral duty, obligation, or respect. It is another to rejoice and delight in following His commands. It’s all about the motivation of our hearts. And I remember that Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commands.” (Cf. John 14:15) To me, that is the greatest reason to “rejoice” in following His statutes because I always want Jesus to know that I love Him….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ~ Isaiah 61:10

The Lord Delights in His People

Psalm 149:4 (NIV)

For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.

Our Verse of the Day comes from a Psalm focused on praise … as Verse 1 suggests. As usual, I thought to read the entire Psalm to review Verse 4 in context. As I read through Verse 5, I was identifying with the Psalmist and the ideas of how to praise the Lord. But as I read Verse 6 and the remainder of the Psalm, I was somewhat startled with the overtone of violence and how it had been connected with praise. I’ll let you read it, and contemplate it yourself for a moment.

Psalm 149

¹Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people.

²Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
³Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp.
⁴For the Lord takes delight in His people;He crowns the humble with victory.
⁵Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

⁶May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,
⁷to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
⁸to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron,

⁹to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all His faithful people. Praise the Lord.

I sought out some commentaries to provide some historical or cultural context to afford a better understanding of the meaning or even symbolism for the language that the Psalmist used. I have reprinted below what I believe is a thoughtful reflection on the passage for us, and I hope sharing it will present some light on otherwise seemingly dark imagery:

Commentary From Enduring Word on Verses 6-9

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand:

God’s people are pictured as ready for battle, equipped with two mighty weapons:

They bear the high praises of God; their worship indicates the allegiance and surrender to the God of every victory experienced in life. In 2 Chronicles 20:20-21 a great victory was won for the people of God as they entered the battle with praise.

They bear a two-edged sword in their hand, demonstrating both the use of practical weapons and means, and in a spiritual sense, their reliance upon the Word of God, which is described as a two-edged sword (Cf. Revelation 19:15); considered sharper than a one-edged sword (Cf. Hebrews 4:12); and metaphorically referenced as the sword of the Spirit (Cf. Ephesians 6:17).

i. In their mouth: “‘In their throat,’ per the Hebrew, for God’s saints sing deep down in their throats. There is a deeply rooted music when we praise God, which is altogether unlike the mere syllables of the lips that come from a hypocrite’s tongue.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “Their praise is not merely to be that of the chanting of words. It is also to be in the doing of His will. While the high praises of God are in their mouth, a two-edged sword is to be in their hand, with which they carry out His purposes among the peoples, the kings, and the nobles.” (Morgan)

iii. “In this state of mind, the Lord will grant victory to his people, as He did to Nehemiah and his men who worked with ‘sword and trowel’ while praying to the Lord (Cf. Nehemiah 4:9, 16–23), believing that ‘Our God will fight for us!’ (Cf. Nehemiah 4:20).” (Van Gemeren)

iv. A saying among Americans came from the Second World War: Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. Psalm 149:6 has something of that idea.

v. The combination of these two – the high praises of God and the two-edged sword spiritually speaks to every leader among God’s people. The gatherings of God’s people should excel in both praise and the preaching of God’s Word. We should always press to have excellent praises of God and a right, sharp handling of the sword of the Spirit.

vi. “The Word of God is all edge; whichever way we turn it, it strikes deadly blows at falsehood and wickedness. If we do not praise, we shall grow sad in our conflict; and if we do not fight, we shall become presumptuous in our song. The verse indicates a happy blending of the chorister and the crusader.” (Spurgeon)

vii. “If you had a sword of steel, you would fight with men; but that is no part of your business. You are not called to that cruel work; but, as you have the sword of the Spirit, which is two-edged, which is indeed all edge, for it cuts whichever way you turn it, go forth and praise God by the use of that two-edged sword which is the Word of God.” (Spurgeon)

To execute vengeance on the nations:

The power of praise and the Word of God will ultimately see God’s work accomplished among the nations. For those who persist in disobedience, it will be vengeance and punishments at the end of the age. Not even kings or nobles can escape this judgment to come.

i. “The stern close of the Psalm strikes a note which many ears feel to be discordant… [Yet] it is entirely free from any sentiment of personal vengeance.” (Maclaren)

ii. Execute vengeance: “For all their cruelties and injuries towards God’s people. This was literally accomplished by David upon the Philistines, Ammonites, Syrians, and other neighboring nations and princes, which were bitter enemies to God’s people.” (Poole)

iii. “Now, in terms of a holy war, such as those of Israel against the Canaanites, we sing of the retribution which will overtake the enemies of God. As a nation, Israel had been charged with executing this in literal fact at her entry into the promised land; and at the last day the angels, the armies of heaven, will accompany our Lord to judgment.” (Kidner)

iv. We see that in the immediate context of the Psalmist, in some way Israel was to be the agent to execute vengeance. This means that their joyful praise had to connect itself to radical obedience, even to God’s difficult and costly commands. As believers under a new covenant, we don’t battle flesh and blood enemies (Cf. Ephesians 6:12-18), yet we have the responsibility to be not only worshippers, but warriors in a spiritual warfare that at times will be difficult and costly. In a spiritual sense, we are to execute vengeance on everything that would oppose Jesus Christ and the work of His Kingdom in our life.

v. “Our equivalent of binding kings with chains (Verse 8) is to ‘take every thought captive to obey Christ’ (Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5).” (Kidner)

vi. To execute on them the judgment written: “It would be a sad thing for anyone to misuse this text: lest any warlike believer should be led to do so, we would remind him that the execution must not go beyond the sentence and warrant; and we have received no warrant of execution against our fellow men.” (Spurgeon)

vii. For the believer under the New Covenant, there is a judgment written against every spiritual enemy, and Jesus wrote it by His work on the cross (Cf. John 16:11; Colossians 2:14).

viii. To execute vengeance: “The history of this song is one of great sadness, due to grave misinterpretation, and grievous misapplication. Delitzsch has said: ‘By means of this Psalm, Kaspar Scioppius, in his Classicum Belli Sacri, inflamed the Roman Catholic princes to the Thirty Years’ Religious War. And, within the Protestant Church, Thomas Münzer, by means of this Psalm, stirred up the War of the Peasants.’” (Morgan)

ix. Especially in light of how this verse has been abused, it is important to remember what Morgan noted: “There is no reference in this Psalm to the Church of God. As it specifically indicates, it has to do with ‘Israel,’ and with ‘the children of Zion.’”

This honor have all His saints:

In some way beyond our present comprehension, God will use His people in the setting right the wrongs of this present age. Even if our participation is only as an audience to the righteous judgments of God, it will be an honor to all His saints. “They are redeemed from bondage that they may be God’s warriors. The honor and obligation are universal.” (Maclaren)

Praise the LORD! This sentence – one word in the Hebrew, hallelujah – is understood as either a declaration or an exhortation. Here especially it can be taken as an exhortation, and encouragement for all those who reject and resist God to praise Him instead, to be among His saints and not among the nations who will receive God’s vengeance.

My friends, I know this discussion has been rather lengthy, but I anticipated that many of you would have read the entire Psalm as I did; and I felt like the transition in Verse 6 going into the remainder of the Psalm was fairly intense. To be honest, it bothered me greatly until I read some of the commentaries which gave me a better perspective and reminded me that the Word of God is a metaphoric double-edged sword. Its work within our inner being, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, is to wage war against the rebellion and evil so prevalent within the world because it lies within the human heart. I believe this presents a more balanced application for born-again believers under the New Covenant.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. ~ Psalm 147:10-11

In That Day…

Isaiah 12:4 (NIV)

In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.

Our Verse of the Day has excited me – with its call to praise; to worship; to give the LORD the glory due His Name! All of these are the very fiber of what fellowship with our Creator means! His care and concern for us; our very lives; and all that He has done to give us fullness of life in Him is reason enough to exalt Him and to praise His Name!

Yet, I sense there is someone who feels that God has not done for you as you think or believe that He should. If God has disappointed you, and you do not feel He has answered your prayers or responded to your cause, I encourage you, even in your sense of despair, to consider what God has already done for you. Indeed, the Lord has done exceedingly, abundantly above all that you could ask or think! For God has granted you, according to the riches of His glory, that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith … and that you may know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge … and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God! (Cf. Ephesians 3:14-21) Hallelujah! It is for our salvation, first and foremost, that we should reverence God and worship Him….

I like the words of the Prophet Habakkuk because I think He captures this thought quite well:

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

Though the fig tree does not blossom and there are no grapes on the vines; though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will delight in the God of my salvation.

And, of course, the Apostle Paul affords us some wisdom and insight along these lines:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I delight in weaknesses and infirmities; in insults and reproaches; in needs and hardships; in threats and persecutions; in difficulties and distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

My friends, we need to understand that God is far above our circumstances and sovereign over every aspect of our lives. Indeed, it is our inadequacies and weaknesses that have drawn us to Him; and I believe that is what He desires most of all. The Father desires that we would come to Him in all situations and abide in Him. If we trust God for His gift of salvation, how can we not trust Him for all things in our lives? And worship is how we express our trust … our faith. Praise and worship communicate the deepest hope of our hearts … the desire to know God and to be known by Him.

Isaiah 12 (NIV)

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

I believe TODAY should be “THAT” Day! TODAY is the day to give praise to the LORD and to declare His Name; to make known what He has done … that He has granted us salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ! For the Father has exalted Him to the highest place and given Him the Name that is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Cf. Philippians 2:9-11) Let us praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Cf. Psalm 148:13) In doing so, I believe you will lighten the weight of disappointment and discouragement … and find delight in what the Lord has done! And I pray that you are encouraged daily to persevere in faith….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So, I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” (Citing Psalm 95:7-11) See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:7-15

A Father to the Fatherless…

Psalm 68:4-5 (NIV)

Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him—His name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.

Our Verse of the Day caught my eye. I had been reading Psalm 37 today, but as I read Psalm 68, a theme began to emerge that I believe is a word for us today: “The Protection and the Justice of God”.

Track along with me for a few verses:

Psalm 37:1-9 (NIV)

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Psalm 68:1-6 (NIV)

Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before Him. May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, praise Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him—His name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God makes a home for those who are lonely; He leads out those who are captive into prosperity; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land….

I encourage you to read both of these Psalms today … and let them speak to your heart. Let the Word of God assure you that Father God is still on the throne! Yes, and He will forever be the power and strength of His people … our Great Defender! God knows both the wicked and the righteous! He knows their end from the beginning! So, I encourage us to remember these following words and to trust our Heavenly Father:

Psalm 139:13-18 (NIV)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How amazing are your thoughts concerning me, God! How vast is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I awake, I am still with you.

My friends, God knows each one of us intimately … and He invites each one of us to know Him intimately. As we come to know our Heavenly Father, as we learn to trust Him in all things that concern us, anytime is a great time and opportunity to pause and give thanks to God. In these Psalms, we are afforded many reasons to worship Him. One of these is that He is a father to the fatherless. And although I did not experience fatherlessness growing up, I have observed how the absence of an earthly father in the life of a child brings challenges to their spiritual development and impacts their psychological health.

Despite any hardships you might have faced, God has affirmed in His Word that He is ever present and available to us! Though we might have never known our earthly father … though we might have been abandoned by our earthly father … though we might have been mistreated or abused by our earthly father; our Father in Heaven can be known. He has revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ! God is full of compassion; and you can rejoice because He will never leave you nor forsake you! Yes, He will ever comfort you and have compassion upon you no matter what you experience in this life! God the Father is all we need to be whole and to grow into the son or daughter He designed us to be. For, indeed, we are created in His image. We are ordained to be His image bearers. And so, He is worthy of all reverence and adoration….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. ~ Psalm 103:13-14

Being The Body of Christ…

Romans 12:15 (NIV)

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Our Verse of the Day is tucked in the middle of Romans 12. In this chapter, Paul addresses interpersonal relationships of believers. He begins with the foundation that all relationships should be rooted in mercy … because of the mercy each of us have received from God. Indeed, His mercy should inspire and empower us to live sacrificial lives for the benefit of others. Presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice for others is what conforms us to the image of Christ Jesus. (Cf. Romans 8:29) And Jesus commanded us: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Cf. John 13:34-35) Oh, my friends, we simply cannot ignore the significance of this instruction for our lives and relationships.

Romans 12 (NIV)

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. ³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I believe this is some of the greatest inspired, practical advice we will ever receive to govern ourselves and how we relate with others. Paul takes us through a myriad of possibilities to be an encouragement for others … to be supportive in their time of need. And we are urged to put the needs of others before our own. So, I pray each of us will be strengthened in our resolve to apply these thoughts to our hearts. I believe in doing so, we will fulfill the command to love as Jesus loved us … and we will give unto God our true, spiritual worship.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests alone, but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 2:1-5

Rejoicing Over You…

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Our Verse of the Day is quite an intriguing verse for us to ponder. And, of course, we should examine it within the surrounding context, so I encourage you to read the entire chapter.

In Zephaniah 3, the prophet is dealing with the “character” of the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants in general. Even more pointed, he calls out the princes, judges, prophets, and priests – leaders of the people and exposes their hardness, impenitence, and shamelessness. The prophet indicates that these people knew better (the Lord being among them); who taught them through His Word and warned them of judgment and punishment through His Prophet if repentance did not ensue. Yet despite His attempts at correction; Jerusalem remained unrepentant, and God declared a day of wrath would come upon them. Yet, the prophet reveals the heart of God is to preserve those who fear Him … the remnant who trust in the name of the Lord … who clothe themselves in righteousness. When God gathers and restores His people, we see how compassionate God is with those who love Him … the excitement He “feels” for them … the grace He lavishes upon them … and the restoration He will initiate for all that was lost!

To me, this chapter (and this verse in particular) is a reflection of how God longs for His people to seek and respond to Him. God delights in our obedience more than sacrifice. (Cf. 1 Samuel 15:22) His commandments are intended for wisdom and light. His discipline is for our understanding and correction. His presence is for our protection; and His power is for our salvation! Think about how awesome the love of God is that He will rejoice over you with singing! Now consider some related parables that Jesus taught:

Luke 15:1-7 (NIV) Parable of the Lost Sheep

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:8-10 (NIV) Parable of the Lost Coin

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 15:17-31 (NIV) Parable of the Prodigal Son

When he came to his senses, the son said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So, he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to rejoice.

Throughout His Word, God affords us insight into His nature and character. God is holy; and He has ordained for us to be holy. His commandments communicate how sincere love is the standard. Yet, God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness; and forgiving of the disobedience, rebellion, and sin committed against Him. God knows how we are formed and remembers that we are but dust. (Cf. Psalm 103:14) He knows we are imperfect, but His desire is that we would but turn our hearts toward Him and respond to correction. This is the message God has sent to His people through all generations; and in these last days, He offers this grace to those who will place their faith in Christ Jesus – His Son … the One whom He sent! Every prodigal … every wayward sheep … needs to know the Father will rejoice over them when they return to Him. Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost!” (Cf. Luke 19:10) And that purpose has not changed! The will of the Father has not changed. Jesus has commissioned His Church to be His Body upon the earth. He charges every disciple … every follower … to “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Cf. Matthew 28:19)

My friends, I pray that as we meditate upon the Word of God brought to us by the Prophet Zephaniah, we will see its relevance in historical terms and its application for us today. God rejoices over those who respond to His correction. He delights in those who repent and place their trust in the name of the Lord. Indeed, the Father is concerned for each lost soul He sent Jesus to find and save! In Zephaniah 3, I believe we can see a picture of Jesus – who has taken away our punishment and turned back our enemy. We can see that Jesus is for us; and we should no longer fear the surrounding armies or forces of darkness. Jesus is our light! He is our Savior … the Mighty Warrior who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Cf. Hebrews 12:2) In His love, the Father will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing when you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Selah.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ~ Romans 8:31-35

God’s Will For You…

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Our Verse of the Day is passionate; and it gives us a very focused look at the will of God. Any of us can struggle from time to time with ascertaining the will of God in a particular situation or circumstance. All the more reason for us to spend time in prayer to discover His work in us to develop and grow our faith. Likewise, we need to spend time reading the Word of God to discover the specific information it provides to KNOW the will of God for our lives. This passage is one of them:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~ New King James Version

Always be joyful.Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ~ New Living Translation

Be full of joy all the time. Never stop praying. In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus. ~ New Life Version

Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. ~ Good News Translation

Be happy in your faith at all times. Never stop praying. Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. If you follow this advice, you will be working out the will of God expressed to you in Jesus Christ. ~ Phillips New Testament

Celebrate always, pray constantly, and give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.) ~ The Voice

I thought it would be interesting, perhaps even helpful, to see additional translations of this verse. I like the nuances found in each one. And although there are variances in phrasing of the thoughts Paul expressed, I believe the meaning and its impact is unchanged. His three points are unmistakable:

1. Rejoice. Celebrate. Be full of joy at all times. Sing praise.

2. Never stop praying. Be in constant prayer. Do not cease to pray.

3. Be thankful regardless of the life circumstances in which you might find yourself.

Paul indicates that our situations or circumstances do not matter. It is the will of God that we take these three actions in all circumstances. And I believe if we would commit to these practices, our faith would grow by leaps and bounds! So, regardless of those things that trouble us … or challenge us … or give rise to anxiety or fear, we know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is greater than our circumstances. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Cf. Romans 8:28)

My friends, the Father invites us to take refuge in Jesus; to rejoice in Jesus; to abide in Jesus; and to have grateful hearts. Indeed, these are the spiritual disciplines of those who seek the will of God for their lives in Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that we always endeavor to fulfill His will in us.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:8-11

Love God … Hate Evil

Psalm 97:10 (NIV)

Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

I always love to bask in the spiritual emotion that King David shares through His inspired meditations and prayers. Our Verse of the Day comes from a Psalm that exalts God and His supremacy … that implores us to worship the sovereignty and majesty of God … that reminds us of the power of the Faithful One who protects our lives. God is to be exalted! I encourage you to read the entire Psalm (link here), and not just the verse or two presented for discussion and encouragement:

Psalm 97:9-12 (NIV)

For you, Lord, are the Most-High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown on the righteous (Cf. Psalm 112:4) and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name.

Here, David affirms the supremacy of a single Holy Being … Yahweh … who is the Most-High God. His Being and majesty are infinitely above anything that could even be titled a little god. David wanted the people to know and to understand WHO they worship and the purpose for which He is to be exalted. God is ultimately beyond our comprehension; and yet, He wants us to know Him and to love Him with the light that we have been given through His Spirit and His Word.

Love is the defining term of the relationship we are to embrace with our Most-High God. And there are qualities to love that we would do well to examine. We are commanded by God to love Him, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commandments, decrees, and laws as Moses exhorted. (Cf. Deuteronomy 30:11-20) Thus, to demonstrate love for God, we are to be obedient! David asserted that those who love the Lord will hate evil. Thus, to demonstrate love for God, we must abhor anything that is against what is good – as God has defined it for His creation. And love for God is manifested through faithfulness to Him. What we profess to God must align with what we do for God. The Apostle John made these very same points:

1 John 2:4-6 (NIV)

Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 5:2-3 (NIV)

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome….

Paul wrote in Romans 13:10, “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law.” And he instructed in 1 Corinthians 13:6, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Indeed, love hates evil in any form! (Cf. Romans 12:9) This is what we need to understand: those who love the Lord are protected by God – for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Faithful ones are those who love God and love others as He has commanded. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (Cf. 1 John 1:6) And as Jesus affirmed: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Cf. John 8:12)

This is why the righteous … those who love the Lord and hate evil … are able to rejoice in the Lord and to worship Him. It stems from the deep love of God for us so that our response to Him can be none other than love itself … a love expressed by worship in Spirit and in Truth … and demonstrated through love for one another. So, I pray that you will find something here that will resonate in your heart … to either challenge you, encourage you, or both.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. ~ 1 Peter 3:10-11

Come To Me and Rest…

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

As the New Year approaches … a year declared to be a time for deliverance and healing, I believe our Verse of the Day aligns our thoughts with this mission of the Church. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Cf. Matthew 11:28-30) Yes, what every soul needs the most is to rest in Jesus! He will lift the burdens of life from our shoulders. His yoke is easy; and Jesus will exert the greater strength when pulling that wearisome load with you. You do not have to carry the burdens of life alone…. He is Healer! He is Deliverer! He is Redemption! He is Salvation! He is Restoration! He is Peace! He is Resurrection! He is Rest! Indeed, the true compassion and love of God for you and I will not be found anywhere else other than Jesus!

Is this not the most perfect verse for the Church to summon those who have grown tired, burdened, and weary? Is that not the state of the unbeliever? Is that not the state of every prodigal? Herein lies the message of the Church to a lost world … the message we should declare to everyone who has wandered … to every lost and scattered sheep! Our Great Shepherd … the Good Shepherd … is calling His sheep to come home. Jesus says to each one: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest….

This brought to mind the Prophet Isaiah and his prophetic invitation to reconciliation with God:

Isaiah 55:1-4 (NIV)

¹“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. ²Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. ³Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. ⁴See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.

And this is the message Isaiah foretold us to take to the unbeliever, the lost, and the wayward:

Isaiah 55:6-11 (NIV)

⁶Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. ⁷Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. ⁸“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ⁹“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹so is My Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

This is the word that God has sent for us to declare to those who are burdened and wearied and captive to thoughts of futility … to thoughts of unworthiness … to overwhelming thoughts of guilt and shame. God declares that His thoughts are not those thoughts. God declares He will have mercy on them … and will freely pardon! God declares His ability to overcome our inability. And His Word will not return void of accomplishment. Behold, we ourselves are fruit of the Gospel! For Isaiah foretold this great hope of healing:

Isaiah 57:15-19 (NIV)

For this is what the high and exalted One says— He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. ¹⁶I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me— the very people I have created. ¹⁷I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways. ¹⁸I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, ¹⁹creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

God knows all. There is nothing hidden from His sight! God has seen their ways, but He will heal them. He saw us and healed us! The Lord abides with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit. He will revive! He will restore! Yes, He will heal the brokenness in each of us! He will remove the deception and disillusion of sin! He will provide salvation! He will give eternal life! All these benefits – all these blessings are found in Christ Jesus! (Cf. Psalm 103) These are the messages of hope we must speak to those who are lost, isolated, and in need of His unfailing love….

It all starts with an invitation! Jesus said, “Come!” He was sent to seek and to save that which was lost. That is you and me. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Cf. Romans 3:23) It is the open invitation God has ordained for us to share with the poor in spirit … the broken-hearted … the spiritually blind … and the weak in faith. We are commanded to go out into the streets, alleys, roads, and country lanes to find the wayward … the lost and scattered sheep who are weary and burdened and seeking rest for their souls. There is no rest apart from Jesus. There is no reconciliation except through Him. This is the appointed message we need to share. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (Cf. John 3:16-18)

So, I pray that we will be faithful in our resolve and relentless in our mission to bring hope to those who are without hope. I pray that as healing and deliverance become our focus for the coming year, we will discipline ourselves to be studying the Word of God … growing in the knowledge of His will. Indeed, His will is for us to rest in the finished work that Jesus accomplished on the cross for us. Oh, may we help others to experience the rest that we enjoy as believers…. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Come with Thanksgiving…

Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.

As we begin this week of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be nice to send out a verse of thanksgiving and gratitude each day….

Our Verse of the Day is a call to worship … a call to come before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to extol Him … to exalt Him … to lift up shouts of praise and thanksgiving to Him for our salvation! Hallelujah! Oh, indeed, let us come before Him singing … with music and song let us adore Him and rejoice! Let us enter His presence today with joy and gratitude!

Psalm 118:19-24

¹⁹Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. ²⁰This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. ²¹I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. ²²The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; ²³the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ²⁴The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad!

Father, we give you thanks today for your awesome deeds … for the wonders of your mercy and grace! With gratitude we humble ourselves before you and bless your name. Thank you for your lavish love! Thank you for your redemption of our souls! Thank you, Lord, for your deliverance from the valley of the shadow of death. You alone are worthy of our praise! In Jesus Name! Amen.