Worship…

Worship…

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. ~ Isaiah 29:13

The Prophet Isaiah, moved by the Spirit of God, brings to our attention the deeper issues of our worship of God. As he points out, our fear or reverence for God often comes through the commandment of men which has been taught to us. It takes on the form of traditions and rituals that are learned by repetition without any regard as to the meaning. These forms become memorized and cemented into our theological constructs. Indeed, human rules and doctrines often direct how we worship God, but such worship is in vain if our hearts are far from Him.

Throughout Scripture we see a Holy God revealing Himself to us … His created beings. He manifests Himself as a Father who is devoted to His children through a covenantal relationship rooted in His holiness and deep love. The desire of His heart is for us to respond to Him in genuine love and reverence. Such a responsive, reciprocal love can only come from our inner beings (i.e. our own hearts) in order to be authentic … real … sincere…. God commands us to love Him alone; and His command emanates from His intrinsic love…. (Exodus 20:1-17)

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2) Indeed, the Lord our God tests us to find out whether we love Him with all our hearts and with all our souls. (Deuteronomy 13:3) King David also prayed, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. (Psalm 26:2-3)

We are informed by Scripture that God initiates how we are to worship Him. We are to hallow His Name. (Exodus 20:7, Matthew 6:9) We are to obey His commands. (Numbers 15:39-40) We are not to worship any other god or idol. We are to offer the sacrifices of a humble and contrite spirit and tremble at His Word. (Isaiah 66:2) As King David prophesied: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened— burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

Worship is the will of God for His created ones. For by His will, we were created and have our being. Yes, and all the angels in heaven worship Him day and night without ceasing saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8-11) And let us consider the instruction of our Lord Jesus in this regard: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:23-24)

My friends, let us consider then how we worship YWHW through our beings. Is it heartfelt and intimate? Are we reverent of the holiness of God? Is our worship covenantal? Indeed, YWHW is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, Joshua 24:19) He will not permit us to worship another. And I pray that we will contemplate practices that will conform our hearts to the will of our Father. As Jesus affirmed: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) And Paul exhorted: “Therefore, 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. (Romans 12:1)

Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. ~ Revelation 15:3-4

Have a Blessed Day!

Sincere…

Sincere…

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~ Romans 12:8

Today I want us to consider the idea of being sincere. The word “sincere” means to be free of pretense or deceit; not dishonest or hypocritical; proceeding from pure, true, genuine feelings. To be sincere is to be wholehearted; heartfelt; and unfeigned. Does that describe your love for God? Is your love for one another sincere … as the Lord Jesus loves each of us?

When Jesus was tested by the religious rulers, He was questioned: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Quoting Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Quoting Leviticus 19:18) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Observe that Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God! Do you think the genuineness of your love is unknown to Him who created all things? Is He unable to discern the sincerity of your love for Him? Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) Was this a mere suggestion or recommendation? “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9) Consider the implication when Jesus replied to the religious leaders: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.” (John 8:42)

I believe each of us needs to revisit these words: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” (Isaiah 29:13) Jesus said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) And, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Reader, if you truly desire to be sincere in faith and in love, it will require some honest introspection. As Paul urged the believers in Corinth: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) And to the churches in Galatia he admonished, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps whatever he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8) It is my prayer that you and I will wholeheartedly love and serve the Lord Jesus – for He knows the truth! Therefore, let us rid ourselves of all deceit and hypocrisy.

Have a Blessed Day!

Fasting…

Fasting…

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

Fasting has been a spiritual discipline for people of faith for millennia. It was a common practice during the time when Jesus lived among the people of God; and when He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for a period of temptation, He fasted for forty days and nights. (Matthew 4:1-11) And I think this experience might have prompted His observation of those who made a ritual of fasting to demonstrate their religious piety rather than their sincere desire to draw closer to the Father in spirit and in truth….

We can read of instances in the New Testament where fasting and prayer were disciplines used before making important decisions for evangelism in the early church; but I think this stems as a continuation of the tradition well established in Old Testament during the life of the Prophet Samuel. Fasting continues to this day as a spiritual discipline to show submission to God and His sovereignty; however, I think we should consider what God spoke through the Prophet Isaiah:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to remove the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. (Isaiah 58:6-9)

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2:12-13)

My friends, I pray we will always desire to do those things that will draw our hearts ever closer to God. Let us always hold fast to Jesus – our first love! But let us be mindful of His heart and what Father God defines as true acts of fasting. Remember, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Cf. Matthew 25:31-40) Indeed, in view of God’s mercy, let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— for this is our true and proper worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1)

Have a Blessed Day!

Worthy…

Worthy…

You must revere the Lord your God and worship Him and hold fast to Him. Your oaths must be in His name alone. He alone is your God, the only One who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes. (Deuteronomy 10:20-21 NLT)

Worthy is a term meant to define great merit, character or value; and yet, I feel those descriptions are inadequate for the undefinable honor and glory due to our God and Creator. He is infinitely valuable! His worth has no limit! Indeed, the Lord our God is the only One who is worthy of our praise! There is no other!

I love the heartfelt worship that King David appointed for the Israelites in 1 Chronicles 16. Here is an excerpt for our meditation this evening:

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place. (23-27)

Indeed, it is right for us to offer the utmost honor, glory, and reverence due our God. As Paul declared: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17) But do we ever ponder what it means to be worthy of God? Do we consider what it means to live worthy of our Lord Jesus? In Matthew 10:37-39, Jesus provided some thought-provoking insight: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

My friends, I believe it is important for us to distinguish between “being worthy” and “living a worthy life”. Though as sinners we are not worthy of the mercy of God, His gracious love has deemed us worthy of the atonement and salvation provided through His Son. (Romans 5:6-10) Therefore, in view of His mercy, we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – for this is our true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

In some of his other epistles, Paul was prompted to pray for believers to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ … to please the Lord Jesus in every way … to live a life worthy of the calling they received in Jesus. I encourage you to read the following links for these references:

Ephesians 4:1-3 Philippians 1:27 Colossians 1:9-12 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Have a Blessed Day!

The Narrow Way…

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Our Verse of the Day is one that is often quoted and has been used in many sermons. But is it one that we deeply think about? Does its message strengthen your faith?

Tucked within the list of teachings that Jesus delivered in what has been called His Sermon on the Mount (Cf. Matthew 5-7), Jesus inserts this statement that should make us all pause for a moment to consider the magnitude of what He said. “Enter through the narrow gate,” He cried out. Enter into what? He answers, “The road or path that leads to LIFE … eternal life in heaven.” And He comments, or perhaps laments, only a FEW find it…. What a poignant statement for anyone seeking God to ponder…. And if you look further at Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus clarifies: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” It is one thing for a person to know about Jesus … it is quite another to know Him and for Him to know you. Indeed, the wide, open road of religion will not lead anyone to heaven. Jesus is telling the world: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (Cf. John 14:6-7)

Luke 13:22-30 (NIV)

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

My friends, if anyone wants to have true life … eternal life … then he or she must know Jesus and He must know them. What does this imply? Well, to begin a relationship, you must introduce yourself to Him. You must call upon His Name. You must come to Him in faith; for without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Cf. Hebrews 11:6) Yes, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Cf. Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 14:11) And if you know Jesus as Lord, then you are His servant. If you know Him, you will hear and listen to His voice. You will desire a genuine, intimate relationship with Jesus through reciprocation of His love. You cannot be intimate if you never spend time with Jesus or talk with Him or seek Him in prayer. Indeed, if you want Jesus to know you, then become His disciple; and know that whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Him. (Cf. Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)

Here are some additional scriptures for your study today:

John 10:7-10; 14-16 (NIV)

Therefore, Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

1 John 5:12-13 (NIV)

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.

Revelation 3:19-21 (NIV)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore, once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish and the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” ~ Isaiah 29:13-14

Everything Belongs To You…

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words to express how deeply you love God? Our Verse of the Day comes along to confirm how important it is to simply praise the Father with all of your heart and soul – giving everything within your being to Him! This is what King David did as he gathered all of the resources (offerings) needed to build a magnificent temple for the Holy Name of God; and to prepare for the transfer of kingship to his son, Solomon. I have reprinted the entire oration of praise for you here:

1 Chronicles 29:10-20 (NIV)

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying: “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.” Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So, they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.

The volume of gold, silver, bronze, iron, building materials, etc. that was given to construct the temple is absolutely staggering! King David was determined that God would be offered and honored with the BEST that could be amassed! God was not offered leftovers or afterthoughts. David was consumed with displaying the splendor and glory that God is due and is worthy to receive from His people. What an example for each of us to follow! We are to give God the first fruits of all we do … our first and best of ourselves!

Oh, that we would embrace this mindset in our generation! I see an application to be applied to our own hearts as we endeavor to build the true tabernacle … the Body of Christ. As Paul instructed, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you together are that temple.” (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17) For we are the temple of the living God. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16) Indeed, we as individual believers form the temple of God; and this is affirmed in most of the epistles written by Paul. As he wrote to the church in Ephesus:

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him (Jesus) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

1 Peter 2:4-6 (NIV)

As you come to Him (Jesus), the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house (a temple of the Spirit) to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture, it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” (Citing Isaiah 28:16) Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” (Citing Psalm 118:22) and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” (Citing Isaiah 8:14)

I join with King David to ask: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?” Perhaps the more relevant question is: “Do we recognize and affirm within our souls that all things come from God, and we simply return to Him that which is His own?” I believe the most significant point (in light of our knowledge of God) is our “willingness” to give of ourselves … just as David did … just as Jesus gave of Himself. As Paul urged, “In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1)

My friends, I ask us to consider these questions: “Are you truly zealous for giving God your utmost and highest praise? Are you willingly giving God your entire being for His glory? Are you willing to consecrate yourself to the Lord?” I challenge each of us to consider how the giving of our time, treasure, and talents to the temple of God … to the Body of Christ … demonstrates our faith. Do you want to be bold and courageous? Ask yourself, “Is the generosity of what I offer to the temple of God – praiseworthy?” Does not giving reflect the integrity of our hearts and the genuineness of our faith? King David was a man who pursued the heart of God, and he kept Him in the forefront of his life. We are called in Christ Jesus to do the same. Yes, let us follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus – building the Body of Christ for His Glory! Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” ~ Revelation 5:11-13

Keep His Covenant…

Psalm 103:17-18 (NIV)

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

Psalm 103 is a beautiful meditation of David. In its 22 verses, he explores the foundations and depths upon which intimacy with God is established. Here we find David speaking to his own soul … addressing his inner being with truths about the nature and character of God that can only be understood and appreciated by the soul. As God is Spirit, our relationship with Him must be in the spirit realm … in a transparent form where nothing is hidden and truth abides. Psalm 103 invites us to think deeply and introspectively about the God who created us and His relationship with us:

¹Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
²Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—
³Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
⁴Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever;
¹⁰He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him;
¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

¹³As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
¹⁴For He knows how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust.
¹⁵The life of mortals is like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶The wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷But from everlasting to everlastingthe Lord’s love is with those who fear Him,and His righteousness with their children’s children—
¹⁸With those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

¹⁹The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

²⁰Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word.
²¹Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will.
²²Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.

(Verses 1-6)

I’m really glad that David began this Psalm with praise for the nature of God. He tells his soul, “Praise the Lord.” In my view, David “commands” his soul to praise God as he unfolds the “reasons” for doing so. He says to himself, “Do not forget all the benefits that the Father has bestowed your life.” God forgives ALL your sins and heals ALL your diseases. He redeems your life from the pit … the dark abyss of sin. He crowns you and intentionally places His love and compassion upon you. His favor promotes good things to bless your life. He works righteousness and justice for those who have been oppressed by others…. And that is just the beginning of how God acts on our behalf.

(Verses 7-13)

David now continues to explore how God manifests His character. God revealed His ways to Moses and displayed His works among His covenant people. From what has been reveal and demonstrated, David concludes that the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. David observes the kindness of God in that He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. David senses in his soul that the love of God … the forgiveness of God … the compassion of God surpasses our ability to comprehend.

(Verses 13-18)

David shares that what He experiences in His relationship with God is special. The intimacy he has come to know with the Creator … the benefits of fellowship with God the Father … is for those who fear Him! Indeed, His great love is for those who fear Him. (Verse 11). The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him (Verse 13). Yes, His love is with those who fear Him … with those who keep His covenant … with those who remember to obey His precepts. (Verses 17-18) As David wrote in another Psalm: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge (trusts) in Him.Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” (Cf. Psalm 34:8-10) To fear the Lord is to exalt and reverence Him. Indeed, there are no benefits nor rewards in life except for those who fear the Lord … for those who keep His covenant and obey His command.

(Verses 19-22)

David concludes this meditation within his soul with a declaration of the sovereignty of God. His throne is established in heaven! His Kingdom is the only authority throughout the universe He created. And this conviction ignites praise and worship within David again. David sees that ALL creation is subjected to the Lord God. ALL are commanded to obedience … ALL are enjoined to worship the Almighty God! His Word … His Will … His Works have been revealed to ALL creation. So, David commands his soul, “Praise the Lord!” For the soul of every living being WILL bow before Him; and every tongue will acknowledge Him. (Cf. Isaiah 45:22-24; Romans 14:10-12; Philippians 2:9-11)

Here is the application I have found. I cannot know the blessings or rewards of God apart from an intimate relationship with Him – a covenant relationship that He initiated and conferred upon me through His Son, Christ Jesus. The Apostle John explains, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (Cf. 1 John 4:10) And Paul wrote: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-9) Indeed, there is nothing I have done to earn it or deserve it … but I am compelled in my innermost being to respond to His irresistible grace and love with great reverence. For I am convinced that His desire for relationship with me is knowable, and the thought of such love overwhelms me!

David said the love of God is everlasting with those who fear Him. His compassion is on those who fear Him. So, we need to understand this “fear” … this “reverence” … for God our Creator. To show reverence is an intentional act; and it encompasses how I regard God with the highest honor and deepest respect. Shall we not humble ourselves, and repent, and submit to Him in faith? Shall we not observe His commandments which reveal His will? God said, “Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord.” (Cf. Leviticus 22:31) Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (Cf. John 14:15, 14:21; 15:10) Shall we not worship (love) in the manner that God has ordained? Obedience demonstrates our love. Obedience reveals truth. And obedience is better than sacrifice. (Cf. 1 Samuel 15:22)

My friends, I hope that something said here will resonate with your soul. What King David imparted in his Psalms is prophetic of the intimate relationship God desires with us in Christ Jesus. Indeed, the grace of God we know and experience in Christ Jesus should elicit an overwhelming desire within us to love and adore Him … which is manifested in truth through obedience. Reverence IS obedience … because the New Covenant has not been written on tablets of stone; rather, it has been written on our hearts.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

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

Give Praise to the Lord…

1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV)

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.

Inherent with giving thanks to God is the offering of praise to Him as the expression of our gratitude! And we can do so in two ways: vertically and horizontally. While I think, for the most part, we are comfortable to express our praise directly to God during individual prayer time, or perhaps, during corporate worship; I believe where we might not feel so “bold” is sharing our thanks and praise in front of other people outside of family or church. Our Verse of the Day encourages us to “proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” This level of exaltation goes beyond our homes and our local assembly. We are to declare the life of God within His people to everyone … everywhere. Let’s look at this verse in the immediate context when David brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tent (Tabernacle); offered sacrifices; and appointed congregational worship leaders:

1 Chronicles 16:7-36 (NIV)

⁷That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:

⁸Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done. ⁹Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. ¹⁰Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ¹¹Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. ¹²Remember the wonders He has done,His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced, ¹³you His servants, the descendants of Israel, His chosen ones, the children of Jacob. ¹⁴He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. ¹⁵He remembers His covenant forever, the promise He made, for a thousand generations, ¹⁶the covenant He made with Abraham, the oath He swore to Isaac. ¹⁷He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ¹⁸“To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” ¹⁹When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, ²⁰they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. ²¹He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake He rebuked kings: ²²“Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” ²³Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. ²⁴Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. ²⁵For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. ²⁶For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. ²⁷Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place. ²⁸Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. ²⁹Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. ³⁰Tremble before Him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. ³¹Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” ³²Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! ³³Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. ³⁴Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. ³⁵Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” ³⁶Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

I know this was a lengthy passage of Scripture, but I find it so expressive and powerful! I believe it truly captures the heart of thanksgiving and describes its foundations for worship. Yes, and note in Verse 7 how David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner! This is our blueprint for praise and worship! So, I pray these thoughtful, inspired instructions of David will encourage us to find liberty of expression not only during times of congregational worship … but will fill us with courage and boldness to express the praises of God with others who cross our paths. Indeed, we need to get out of our comfort zones and tell everyone what HE has done … declaring His faithfulness not only in the lives of His people before us, but in our own lives as well!

Yes, give praise to the Lord and proclaim His Name! His Name is a strong and mighty tower … a shelter like no other … and it alone has the power to save! As the Prophet Joel foretold, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Cf. Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13) And as Peter declared: “There is no other name under heaven given among mankind by which we must be saved.” (Cf. Acts 4:12) Indeed, what a beautiful, wonderful, powerful name … is the name of Jesus! Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Thankful For His Kingdom…

Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…

Our Verse of the Day affords us another perspective with regard to the expression of our thankfulness – to worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. The inspired writer connects these expressions of thanksgiving and praise to our Sovereign Lord who has given us an inheritance … an enduring Kingdom! Let’s review our verse in its context:

Hebrews 12:22 (NIV)

²²But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴to Jesus the mediator of a New Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

²⁵See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him (Moses) who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him (God) who warns us from heaven? ²⁶At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (Citing Haggai 2:6) ²⁷The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Citing Deuteronomy 4:24)

My friends, we definitely have so much to be thankful for in our lives! As our Verse of the Day declares, let us be thankful for the Kingdom of God we have received in our hearts through Christ Jesus … a Kingdom that cannot be shaken or moved … a Kingdom wherein peace, righteousness, truth, and love abides in us. For Jesus said, “The Father has been pleased to give us the Kingdom!” (Cf. Luke 12:32) So, let us worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth … with deepest reverence and holiness! Yes, let us ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name! (Cf. Psalm 29:2; 96:7-9) Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Jesus responded to Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.” ~ John 3:3

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ~ John 3:5