Wait On the Lord!

Psalms 27:13-14 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!

The one thing many of us do not do well is waiting. We get impatient, begin to stress, and that inevitably leads us down the path of planning and scheming about how to resolve our problems, using our own wisdom. It becomes a recipe for disaster. Sadly, we often use the excuse, "The Lord is leading me to do it this way." Yet, if we were to step back and take an honest look at what we were about to do, we would have to admit that the choice we were about to make did not line up with what the Lord would really have us do. It is during troubling times, when it seems like everyone, everything, and life itself, is against us, that we run the greatest danger of failing to wait on the Lord. King David was confident in the Lord's protection. He recognized that the Lord was his strength. Because he had faith in that truth, he did not fear man. Today, we should be able to proclaim the same truth. Hebrews 13:5-6 is a wonderful reminder of God's continuous presence, and the fact that He is our Helper; therefore, we need not fear what man can do to us. Having faith, and confidence, in that truth should give us the courage we need to wait on the Lord, even through the toughest of circumstances. So I repeat the exhortation today, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!"

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

What Would Be Found?

Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O Lord , and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.

How many of us would be ready for the Lord to show us what is in our hearts and minds? I am willing to bet that many of us would not like what would be revealed. King David could write with confidence, that he walked in his integrity and did not keep corrupt company. He did his best to live a holy life, but we know he did not live a perfect life. So it is with us. We are called to live a life of separation from the unrighteous, and the wicked. We are not to be like the unsaved, or keep company with the unsaved. We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This does not mean that we not associate with them at all, as we are supposed to win them to Christ; but we are not to become, or live, like them. My simple question to all of us today is, "What would be found, if God showed us what was in our hearts and minds?" Would we find that the Lord could say, "Here is a man/woman after My own heart", or would He show us that we are in need of a serious spiritual overhaul? Praise the Lord that it is Jesus' righteousness that makes us acceptable before our Heavenly Father, who declares us "not guilty" by the Blood of our Savior.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Are We Truly Seeking?

Psalms 25:8-9 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.

Once again, King David was seeking the Lord's protection from his enemies, forgiveness for his sins, as well as seeking to learn, and be guided by, God's ways. Is that the desire of our hearts today? In Christ, we find, and have, forgiveness for all our sins. Jesus paid that price on Calvary. In Him, we have continued forgiveness, when we turn to Him, in repentance, confessing our sins, and seeking His guidance. In times of trouble, He is the One we need to run to. He is the One who is our Shelter, in every storm. However, in order to truly enjoy that kind of intimacy with the Lord, we must diligently seek Him. As the Psalmist wrote, God is good and upright, and willing to teach us His ways. He desires that we seek Him, and approach Him, with humility, for He will not forsake the humble. On the contrary, He resists the proud. The Lord, in Christ Jesus, has opened His Throne Room to us, that we may approach Him boldly, with humility, when we need Him. However, we must not be fair-weather Christians. We must be followers of Jesus who obey His commands, and make prayer, the reading and study of His Word, a priority in our lives. We must make Jesus the focus of our walk here on earth, and be diligent to apply His Word, daily, so that we are doers of the Word, and not just hearers. Only then will we be able to honestly go before Him to make the request that He teach us, and lead us, in His ways, in Christ, and by the Holy Spirit.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

It All Belongs to Him

Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord ’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

Why do we hold on to that which will perish? Why do we go after, and grasp at, things that are so elusive? Why do we refuse to let go of the material things, when God prompts us to give? Today, as is every day, is a good day to be reminded that there is nothing we currently own, or anything we will gain in this world, that does not belong to God. Everything we have, whether little or much, we have by the grace of God. We, especially right now, are heading for difficult times. Many of are in danger of losing a lot of the material things we own. Many jobs are unstable because of what is happening in our country, and around the world. In the blink of an eye our homes, bank accounts, and all we have, can be gone, if God allows it. Yet, in the midst of all of this, God is the One who will provide what we need; and He is able, because all of the earth, and everything in it, including us, belongs to Him. He is the Creator of all things, big and small. He is the Author of life, and therefore has also determined the length of our days. So, I ask again, why do we hold on so tightly to the things that, at the end of our lives, will be worth nothing? Today, let us view all the things we have as belonging to God, because they do, and commit to using those things, including our own lives, to serve God, as He leads. Remember, it does not matter how little we think we have to offer, God takes the little that we have and makes much of it. All we have to do is read the Bible's account of how Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish to feed a multitude of people to be reminded of this wonderful fact. We must let go of the earthly, which belongs to the Lord, so that He can use us in a way that will allow us to gain heavenly rewards, which also belongs to Him; but that He wants to freely give to those who faithfully serve Him.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

In Him We Lack Nothing

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Today's Psalm is a very familiar one. It is typically read at funerals. However, this Psalm is very much for the living. The very first verse reminds us that our Savior provides us with everything we need. If we have Jesus, we will want for nothing, in this life, or the next, for in Him we have it all. In Him, and no one else, we have life eternal. King David paints a wonderful picture of rest and care, under the watchful eye of the Lord, in verses 2 and 3. Then it appears to take a turn, as life typically does; and we find ourselves in "the valley of the shadow of death". Yet, even being in this dark, dangerous valley, we still have all that is promised in the first three verses, as we are told that the Lord is with us, in this verse, while we pass through the dark times of life. There is never a time when we find ourselves alone in the dark valleys of life. Jesus is still the Shepherd who guides us, protects us, continues to provide for us, and gives us the peace and confidence we need, in order to continue marching forward. One of the greatest blessings of walking through dark times is the opportunity that exists for Jesus to use the valley as an occasion to use His rod of discipline, in order to draw us closer to Himself. He will use the dark times to teach us that His ways are better than our ways. He will teach us to trust Him in the face of danger, and the attacks of our enemies. In the end, He leads through the valley, right before the eyes of those who seek to do us harm. He blesses us and frustrates the plans of the wicked. Today, let us not view this Psalm as one reserved for the dead, and a time of mourning. Instead, let us read it as a celebration of life; a life of companionship, intimacy, and fellowship with the Shepherd, who watches over, protects, provides, and cares for His sheep, like no one else can or will do. Praise be to our Shepherd, in Whom we lack nothing at all.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Forsaken for Our Sake

Psalms 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

King David penned the words our Savior would repeat, while suffering unimaginable pain, and making the ultimate sacrifice for you, me, and the entire world. Let that sink in for a moment. The Perfect Son of God, God Himself, in the flesh, hanging on the Cross, and for the first time ever, being forsaken by the Father for our sake. Do we ever just stop and ponder that fact? Do we only seriously consider this tremendous act of love once a year, during Crucifixion Friday, or Resurrection Sunday? Maybe we remember it in passing, during the Lord's Supper; because we do it so often that it just becomes another Christian ritual. Well, the Lord's suffering was real. No one else has ever suffered, as He did, for those who would later reject Him, and spit on His sacrifice. Yes, spit on it, and trample it. That is exactly what we do when we return to our old ways. That is what we do when we choose to live life in a manner we think best, and ignore how we should be living for God's glory. Today, I would like us to consider how we are living for the One who sacrificed Himself for us. Are we taking up our cross daily and following Him? Are we crucifying our flesh, and its sinful desires, in order to be doers of God's Word, and not just hearers? Are we laying our lives on the altar, to be living sacrifices unto the Lord; dead to the world, but alive in Christ, and serving Him sacrificially? Note that I did not just say "serving Him"; I said "sacrificially". In other words, have we been willing to get out of our comfort zones? Have we been willing to sacrifice time, and resources, in order to serve Him and others, and not give Him our leftovers? If not, why would we give Him anything less than our best, when He gave us His best, and more than we deserve? I will leave you with these words from Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

The Joy of God's Salvation

Psalms 21:4-6 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him— Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.

Today's Psalm is one of joy. King David wrote it in celebration of God's salvation. Have we allowed everything that is going on in the world today rob us of the joy we have in God's salvation? Have we allowed the cares of this world to overshadow the joy we have in Jesus? Think about this for a moment. Before we called upon the Name of the Lord, we were lost, on our way to Hell, then the Lake of Fire. The devils were gloating at the fact that we were on our way to an eternity separated from God. Like the Psalmist, we called on the Lord to save us, and in that very moment, when we put our complete faith, and trust, in Jesus and what He did on Calvary, we were instantly born again, indwelt by the Spirit, and sealed forevermore! Now no one has the power to take our salvation from us, as we are kept by the Lord Himself. Immediately, the devils were defeated, because Satan and his demons no longer have a hold on us. We were set free from the bondage of sin. The price we could never pay, was paid by Jesus' Blood. We were instantly declared "not guilty" by the righteousness of our Savior! We were adopted into God's family, and set apart for His service, and His glory. The world no longer owns us. The world is no longer our home, for our home address has been eternally change to Heaven! Knowing that we are so completely saved, is there any reason we should not be filled with joy and celebrating our salvation today? Regardless of how bad circumstances get, or how bad this world gets, we have hope in Jesus. If we should die, we will be with the Lord. If these end times intensify, we know Jesus is soon coming for us. No matter what the devils, or those with earthly authority, throw at us, they cannot take our salvation from us; and the only way they can take our joy is if we voluntarily hand it over. So today, let us choose to have joy in the salvation of the Lord, and rest in the promise that the day is coming when Jesus will judge all that is wrong, wicked, and evil. Those who are enjoying their season of prosperity and power, by their wicked behavior, will soon give account, and pay the price for the evil ways.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

They Will Fall and We Will Stand

Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

In these troubling days, who or what are we trusting in? In a day, and age, when we are being bombarded with all kinds of information, much of which cannot be trusted, what are we relying on to survive from day to day? I have seen too many of God's people running scared, buying into the propaganda, as if God suddenly lost control of the universe. Too many of us are relying on what we have, who we know, and what our own abilities are to plot, plan, and succeed. All that we have can be gone in the blink of an eye. All that we can do can come to an abrupt halt, if we become ill or incapacitated in some form or another; and the people we rely on, at best, are imperfect, unreliable sinners, just like us. It is no wonder that so many of us are acting no different than the unsaved, panicked, worried, and giving the world a false impression of who our God is, and what He is capable of. Those who rely on the world, its ways, and the things of the world, will come to ruin. We, who are called by His Name, ought to be the most secure people on this earth. For even if we lose all our earthly possessions, and still have Him, we still have everything we need. We need to take a break from the propaganda. We need to stop focusing on, and relying upon, the earthly things that are temporary, and focus on Jesus and the eternal. When the world tries to instill fear in us, we need to stand and remember that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. King David reminds us, in this Psalm, that those who put their trust in the earthly things, and earthly power, will collapse and fall, but we who put our trust in the Lord will rise up and stand firm (v. 8).

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Nothing Else Compares

Psalms 19:9-11 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

Today, we are reminded that of all the things we possess, here on earth, in Christ Jesus, the most valuable is the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 clearly tells us how valuable God's Word is to each of us, as it is God breathed (inspired), and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. His Word completely equips us for every good work. King David reminds us that God's judgments, or decisions, are faithful, true, and trustworthy. As He guides us, by the leading of His Spirit, and His Word, regardless of what He allows and how He directs, based on His Word, His ways are always right and just. However, our acceptance of God's ways begins with our fear of the Lord. King David told us that the fear of the Lord, our reverence for Him, is clean. In other words, it is, and should be, morally pure. The evidence of whether we truly believe this, will be evident in how much true effort we put into being an obedient doer of the Word, and how we respond to what the Lord does, and allows, in our lives. The bottom line is, that we need to value God's Word as the most valuable treasure we possess; because living according to its truths will not only make us more like Jesus, and bring Him the most glory, but will also yield to us the greatest heavenly reward. Nothing else on earth can compare to that.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our Shelter in the Storms

Psalms 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The Word of the Lord is proven; He is a Shield to all who trust in Him.

Psalm 18 is a wonderful song of praise David sang to the Lord, when God delivered him from his enemies, and the hands of King Saul. What a testimony we can proclaim when we put our complete trust in God, in times of trouble. Our God is perfect, and His ways are perfect. We do not always understand why He allows what He allows, or why He does what He does; but His ways are just, and right. Proverbs 3:5-7 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and not lean on our own understanding. In all our ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct our paths. We are not to be wise in our own eyes, but fear the Lord, and depart from evil. God is the Rock, and the Foundation, we need to build our life upon. David told us that God's Word was proven, it is trustworthy, because it is true. His Word never fails us. It is where we find truth, comfort, correction, and direction. The Holy Spirit uses it to mold us and shape us, so that when we apply it, truly apply it, people will begin to see more of Jesus, and less of us. Finally, David reminds us today, that when we put our trust in the Lord, He is our Protector. No one, including Satan, dares cross the boundaries God sets (Job 1-2). Therefore, regardless of what God allows, He will be with us, and will keep us. He will walk with us, and will deliver us, in His time; which is ALWAYS perfect. Praise be to the One who is our Shelter in the time of storms.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

He is True to His Word

Psalms 17:1-2 Hear a just cause, O Lord , Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

We live in a world where offenses, persecutions, false accusations, and more, will come our way. As followers of Jesus, how will we respond? Will we offend when we are offended? Will we seek to cause pain, when pain is inflicted upon us? Will we respond like the unsaved, and seek to return evil for evil, or will we "go against the flow" and do what we are called to do, in response to such challenges? The evidence that we truly believe that God will come to our defense, and that He is the One who will vindicate us, in any given situation, will be seen in how we respond to those who offend us, or trouble us. Our God is not asleep. He is fully aware of everything we say and do, as well as what everyone says or does to us. He promised that one day He will make right all that has been done wrongly, and wickedly. However, my words mean nothing to those who are currently struggling how to respond properly toward someone who has offended, mistreated, or abused them. So, the best thing I can do is leave you with God's own Word, from Romans 12:17-21, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." We need to hold on to these words, love our enemies, pray for them, and trust God to be true to His Word, because He is.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

What Will It Profit?

Psalms 16:1-2 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O  my  soul, you have said to the Lord , “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”

What are we trusting in today? Are we feeling secure in our own ability to deal with life? Are we trusting in what we possess? Are we relying on the material riches we have accumulated thus far? Let us say, for the moment, that we have status, wealth, and all we can ask for to make us comfortable and happy. Let us say that we are living each day comfortably, and life is just going along great. We have not a care in the world, and the outlook for tomorrow looks promising. What if, tomorrow, the bottom falls out, and we find ourselves in the same place Job found himself, when he lost everything? How would we respond to life? More importantly, if something like that happened, what would we be left with? Would we be able to say that we have Jesus? If so, would we be satisfied? Would we be content? I ask, "What profit is it if we have all the world has to offer, but we do not have Jesus?" What profit is there in gaining the world's riches, and losing out on heavenly reward? More importantly, what profit is there in gaining the world, and being condemned for eternity? The bottom line is that without Jesus, no matter how much we acquire on earth, how famous we become, or how successful we are, if we do not have Jesus, we have absolutely nothing. The only way the things of this world truly mean something is when what we have is used to serve God, and others, for His glory. Today, we need to stop and consider who, or what, we are trusting in, and what we are building our life upon. If it is on anything, or anyone, short of Jesus, then we profit nothing at all, and in the end, without Jesus, we perish.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Had It Not Been

Psalms 15:1 Lord , who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

Today's verse should cause us not only to think, but also cause us to be grateful, and give praise to the Lord Jesus. For the truth of the matter is that there is none who has lived, is living, or will live, who is worthy to abide in the Lord's Tabernacle. There is not one of us who is worthy of Heaven. We have all, like sheep, gone astray. There is none who is righteous, or seeks after God. We were all born with a sin nature, separated from God, and doomed to eternal condemnation. Praise be to Jesus, the sinless, perfect, and only begotten Son of God, who came, died for us, and paid the price for our salvation. It is because of His righteousness that we are now found "not guilty" before our Heavenly Father; and it is because of the Blood of Jesus that we are made clean, only when we trust in His finished work on Calvary. One of my favorite Southern Gospel songs goes like this, "Had it not been for a place called Mt. Calvary. Had it not been for the Old Rugged Cross. Had it not been for a Man called Jesus. Then forever my soul would be lost." Today, let us give God the praise for the salvation we have in Jesus. Let us show our gratitude by telling someone about it, and do our utmost to live a life obedient to God's Word, for His glory.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Don't Be A Fool

Psalms 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “ There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

The word "fool" means "stupid" or "vile". The stupid, vile, person has said in his/her heart, "There is no God." When we look around at God's creation, to include man, how can we deny God's existence? The fool can readily deny Him, because if they do, in their own corrupt thinking, they are accountable to no one but themselves. However, that cannot be further from the truth, for all of creation is accountable to God, and will, one day soon, give account to the Lord. With that said, "Are we living our Christian life as one who will give an account to God?" Are we proclaiming the Lord with our lips, but denying His existence by the way we are living? We must take great care, as followers of Jesus, to live the kind of life that announces to the world that God not only exists, but that He is also to be feared (revered). The fool who believes that there is no God demonstrates his/her belief by their lack of godly fear in their living and lifestyle. Just as the unbeliever can be easily identified by the way they live, can we also be easily identified as a born again, God fearing, followers of Jesus, or are we living like a fool? We must stand apart from unbelievers, and stand out, as people who are called to be holy, separated unto God, for His purposes (2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 1 Peter 2:9-12).

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

He Never Forgets About Us

Psalms 13:1-2 How long, O Lord ? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Has God forgotten about us? Has He gotten so busy dealing with today's world's event that He has completely forgotten about His church, and His people? God forbid! Our God never forgets! It is obvious that King David felt that way when he penned this Psalm. I can only imagine that Noah must have felt that way while floating in the ark. I love that King David always expressed himself with balance. He expressed the pain, and despair, he felt, but always expressed his faith, in that what he was feeling was not what was true about the Lord. He knew God was faithful, and far better to him than he deserved. In the case of Noah, Genesis 8:1 tells us that "God remembered Noah". The truth is that God never, ever, forgets His children. On the contrary, He promised He would never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). He told us on Isaiah 43:2 that He will be with us when we pass through the waters, the rivers, and the fire. We will not be overwhelmed, we will not be burned, we will not be consumed. There is verse after verse that tells us of the Lord's care and faithfulness; especially during our most trying times. Our God is not a fair-weather God who only shows up to be praised and thanked. No, He is a God who is with us, and is faithful to us, even when we are faithless. When we stumble in our faith, when we are no longer certain that He is with us, when we think He has forgotten us; He is near. If you doubt that, I will leave you with these verses, Ephesians 2:13, "But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the Blood of Jesus." 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." Jesus is near, He cares, and He never forgets about us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our Words Matter

Psalms 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.

The wickedness that resides in man's heart does not only reveal itself in man's action, but his words also. We live in a society, even amongst Christians, where lying to one another has become acceptable, and in many cases, overlooked. It is okay to tell a "little white lie", if we can come up with a seemingly reasonable excuse for telling it. We use our words to deceive, flatter, and to manipulate situations for our benefit. We speak proud words that puff us up, and make us feel more important than the next person. We speak with offensive words, and laugh at offensive jokes, even if they mock God and Christianity. We speak as if God will overlook our words simply because times have changed, and because it is now acceptable with the rest of this ungodly society. I have to ask, "Do we give it a second thought, before we speak?" Have we allowed cussing and vile speaking to become an acceptable part of our vocabulary? I am not referring to the times we are in fellowship with other believers. We usually do well concealing it during those periods of time. I am referring to those times when we are around unsaved family, friends, and coworkers, and want to "fit in". Today's verse is a reminder that our words need to be pure and holy. As followers of Jesus, can our words be trusted? Do we have reputations as ones who are set apart, simply because we do not speak as the world speaks? The Lord's words are purified seven times over, containing no dross, or impurities. He commands us to speak truth, and avoid lying and evil speaking (Ephesians 4:29). We may think that our words do not matter, but the Lord tells us that we will account for every word we speak (Matthew 12:36). The bottom line is that our words are supposed to exalt and honor God, not be vile, and encourage others (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6); because in the end, when we stand before the Lord, we will find out that our words really did, and do, matter.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Persecution Will Come

Psalms 11:1-2 In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

May I ask a question today? Were we promised no persecution when we accepted Jesus as Savior & Lord? I know I was not. On the contrary, Jesus stated very clearly that if they hated Him, they will hate us. He not only warned that we would suffer persecution, for His sake, and for our faith, but He also told us that we are to love and pray for those who persecute us. That is a bit different than running and hiding when our persecutors show themselves. As God's church, we are called to stand our ground, preach the Word, and proclaim the Name of Jesus, even if it costs us our lives. That is a small price to pay compared to the price Jesus paid for us. It is true that God tells Israel to flee to the mountains when they see the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the Prophet Daniel (Matthew 24:15-17). However, let us not mistake this as a command to the church. We have no reason to run, regardless of how bad things get here on earth. We have a duty, and responsibility, before God, to continue proclaiming the Good News of what Jesus did for us and the world. Yes, they will try to silence our voice, but we must not be silent. We must proclaim the Name of Jesus from the rooftops, mountain tops, and from wherever the Lord places us to proclaim it! We must proclaim it with humility; not only with our words, but also by our actions, attitudes, and deeds. King David wrote that God tests the righteous, and hates the wicked (v. 5). In verse 6 he wrote, "Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup." So stand strong my brothers and sisters. We must focus our attention on what God has called us to do, while we are here; for our time here is short, and God is still in control. Persecution is coming, but so is Jesus!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our God NEVER Hides

Psalms 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord ? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

Have any of us ever felt this way? I can honestly answer this question, and say, "Yes." There are certainly those times when it seems that the wicked get away with everything, with no real consequences. Well, that is what the devils want us to believe. They want us to think that God has lost control, does not care about us; and that God has decided that He will just abandon us in our time of greatest need, or time of most severe persecution. I will say this once, so pay close attention. "THAT IS A LIE!!" Our God is a faithful God, who hides from no one. He is well aware of every single thing nations and individuals do. The Psalmist cried out, as he saw how much injustice was taking place. The wicked carried on as if God could not see their actions, with no fear of God's wrath. Sound familiar? The wicked are arrogant, greedy, and oppress the poor, the helpless, and the innocent. They care nothing about the things of God, and He is not in their thoughts at all. They are their own gods. Their money and riches are their gods. However, be encouraged today. The truth is that nothing, absolutely nothing, escapes our God. The Psalmist finishes this Psalm reminding us that God always triumphs over evil. He will repay the wicked, by His hand, and He is the Helper of the fatherless (v. 14). He, the Lord, is King forever, and has heard the desire of those who are humble. The Lord will do justice to the oppressed, so that we will be oppressed no more. Let us never forget that Jesus came the first time as the Lamb of God, humble, and meek, in order to give His life, a ransom for our lives. He purchased our salvation with His Blood, and has redeemed us to Himself. However, when He returns, He will return as the Lion of Judah, Judge, King of kings, and Lord of lords! He will judge the wicked with righteousness and the fierceness of One who cannot, and will not, be stopped. He will avenge all the wrongs that have been committed against Him, and His people, both Israel and the church. Remember, our God NEVER hides!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

It Will Not Be This Way Forever

Psalms 9:17-18 The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

There is absolutely no denying that there is much suffering in this world. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Those who have money and power oppress the poor. The poor and needy seem to always lack, but this will not be the case forever. The fact of the matter is that those who are enjoying the riches and benefits of having power, right now, who take advantage of the poor and the needy, will one day give account for what they have done, and are doing. Those who mock our faith, and say there is no God, and show no fear, will one day bow their knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Those who are poor and needy, who have, and are, suffering, will one day enjoy the riches and rewards of being a child of God; if they have called upon and accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. We may not have the riches of this world, but if we have Jesus, we are far richer than the wealthiest person on earth. We may not have much now, but Jesus is coming back, and in Him we have far more than we deserve. So hang on, because our time is coming soon!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13). 

Who Are We Telling?

Psalms 8:3-4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Stop and consider God's creation. In spite of all the ugliness that exists in this world, because of sin, and the wickedness of man, we must admit that there is great beauty in God's creation. We can never imagine how breathtaking the earth must have been when God first created it, or how beautiful the new heaven and new earth will be. Yet, in all that God created, it still amazes me that the one thing that has corrupted itself beyond repair (humanly speaking) is the one thing God gave all for, in order to redeem and save it. Yes, I am speaking of you and me. Who are we that the Lord is mindful of us? Who are we that God Himself would come, dwell with us, and die for us? Who are we that the Son of God would save us, and keep us, when what we deserve is eternal separation from Him? Who are we that we have been indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit? It is incredible that in spite of the fact that God entrusted man with His creation, as you can read in this Psalm, and man proved to be untrustworthy, He has now entrusted us with an even greater treasure...the Gospel. Who are we that God has trusted us with bringing the message of salvation, in Christ Jesus alone, to the world, when we have a proven track record of being so unfaithful? This, my brothers and sisters, is the wonderful love of God toward us. He gave us His only begotten Son, His Spirit, His Word, an irrevocable salvation in Him, and all that goes with it. He has given us far more, and been far better to us, than we deserve. My question for us today is, "What are we doing with all of this to demonstrate our gratitude and love for Jesus, for paying a debt that we could never pay for ourselves?" More importantly, who are we telling?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Trapping Themselves

Psalms 7:14-16 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

Today's Scripture is both a warning, and an encouragement. There is no doubt regarding the truth that man's heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). The warning goes out to those of us who would plot to deceive others, or put an evil scheme into action against another. We would think that this warning was not necessary toward another brother or sister in Christ, but lest we forget, we are sinners saved by grace. That means that we are all imperfect and can certainly be tempted, and even stumble at times. With that said, let us be forewarned that God sees all, and when we set a trap for our neighbor, we may well find ourselves entangled in our own trap. This can also easily happen when we allow covetousness to infect our walk. Many of us Christians have been shipwrecked in our walk with the Lord, because we sought after riches, more than we sought after Jesus; and ended up trapped in debt, anxiety, depression, and everything that comes with the results of untamed greed. On the flip side of this coin, it is encouraging to know that those who set traps against us, as we walk wisely with, and serve, Jesus, will eventually be caught in their own deceitful traps. God is a Defender of His children. He protects those of us who make a genuine effort to walk in His ways. There may be moments when it seems like we are losing the battle, but in Christ we are always victorious, and our enemies are doomed to destroy themselves by their own doing.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Faith in the Midst of Suffering

Psalms 6:6-7 I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies.

One of the things that can discourage a new Christian is the fact that being a born again believer does not exempt us from suffering. We do the new believer, and ourselves, a disservice when we claim that life will be better, or problem free, when we accept Jesus as our Savior. If anything, becoming a follower of Jesus puts a bull's-eye on our chest, so that our new enemies have a place to shoot their fiery darts! However, the best part about this is that we no longer walk through suffering alone, and all the suffering that God allows in our life, as believers, is for our ultimate good. That makes life, as a persecuted believer, worth living. We may not see the good, or enjoy our walk with Jesus, while we are going through the fire; but in the end, it will mature us spiritually, and draw us closer to Him. The Psalmist does not reveal why he is suffering, but offers a plea of faith, trusting that God hears his cry, and sees his tears. This is a good reminder that it is not wrong to show our emotions during sad, and trying times. A display of emotions is not an indication of a weak faith. God created us in His image, which means that He created us to be creatures who not only think and reason, but also show emotion. Even though King David expressed deep emotion, he also expressed faith. He knew that his suffering was temporary, and that God would eventually take vengeance on his enemies. In verses 8 and 9, King David expresses his faith, in the midst of his suffering, by saying, "For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer." Those are words of faith, penned with great confidence. Whatever we may be suffering now, or suffer in the future, we can know that God hears our cries, our supplications, and our prayers. Best of all, He will answer, and will always be with us, as we walk through life's trying times.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Rejoice and Trust Him

Psalms 5:4-6 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

In times like these, we need to find comfort in the fact that God is not blind to what is happening in our world. As a matter of fact, God warned us that these days were coming. So I say to us, as the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:12-13, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." It is no secret that the world wants to muzzle the church. We have one of two choices; we can go along with the world, and let it silence us, or we can speak louder, proclaiming the Name of Jesus, and continuing to serve Him, and live for Him. Which ever way we choose, know this, that God will not spare the wicked. All those who think they are getting away with their evil plotting, and shaking their fist at God and His people, are in for a very unpleasant surprise. Our God is not weak. He has not lost control; and a day is coming soon when the wicked will be wiped away from the earth. They will perish, and not even a memory of them will be left. The words of King David are a reminder that God will bring justice and judgment to those who are plotting and carrying out all the wicked acts that are being paraded, so proudly, before our eyes. God is faithful to His Word, and His promises. I will leave us with the last words King David penned in this Psalm, verses 11 and 12, "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord , will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield."

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Theirs Does Not Compare

Psalms 4:7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

What does the world have, that we are willing to trade, for what we have in Jesus? Stop and think about that, just for a moment. I am sure that many of us would immediately proclaim that there is NOTHING this world has to offer that we would be willing to trade, in exchange, for what we have gained in Jesus. Would we trade our salvation, God's grace, His mercy, or His forgiveness? This may sound like a "no-brainer", and even kind of silly, but far too often our lives, as Christians, look no different than the unbeliever's. We live each day seeking what is most important to the world; status, material gain, and pleasures that are appealing to the flesh. Yet, when challenged, we claim that our first love is Jesus. Today's verse is a reminder that with everything the world has to offer, one day of trouble while walking with Jesus is far better than a lifetime of having this world's riches. King David found comfort in the fact that God heard his prayers, and answered them. He was certain that God had separated unto Himself His own people, and would always keep him safe, even while his enemies pursued him. What a blessing to have a God who is so personal, that He is concerned with every single tiny detail of our lives. He knows who is His own. He walks with us, watches over us, provides for us exactly what we need, and even chooses to sometimes give us above and beyond what we need. He is always far better to us than we deserve. Yet, we often betray His faithfulness by going after the world and its worthless offerings. Today, let us truly count our blessings in the Lord, and realize that we have a joy, and a gladness, in our hearts, that is more than the season of the world's increase (which will perish with wicked some day soon). Let us not envy their gain; for it does not even compare to what we have in Jesus on our worst day here on earth.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).