November 26 – A Life of Waiting

“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” - Psalm 25:5 (NASB)

 Are we not all in need of guidance through life? With many crucial decisions to make the wise one looks to God for help in making the best choices. Much like traveling in a region or city that we are not familiar with, we need directions and we get that from many sources. We all have many things to learn from the Lord. Even though we may have been following the Lord for many years and even though we may have been learning from Him many things, He still has very much to teach us. And how will God have an opportunity to teach us what we need to learn? We have that opportunity by recognizing and waiting on God. By constantly being ready and expecting God to teach us His ways and His paths. It is through an attitude of expectation that we wait with hope for God to teach us what He wants us to know. “Lead me in Your truth and teach me” is what David wrote. We too can be at all times looking expectantly to God for Him to show us and teach us and lead us.

 

192

 

July 10 – Wanting and Waiting For More

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” -  Psalm 25:5 (NASB)

When we believers have begun with trembling feet to walk in the way of the Lord, we can still ask to be led forward like a little child upheld by a parent’s helping hand. David knew much, but he felt his ignorance and desired to be still in the Lord’s school: four times over in two verses he applies for a scholarship in the college of grace. It would be better for many of us if instead of following our own devices and creating new paths of insight, we would inquire for the good old ways of God’s own truth and beseech the Holy Spirit to give us sanctified understandings and teachable spirits.  “For you are the God of my salvation.” Our God is the Author and Perfecter of salvation to His people. If we believe this, we may use this as an argument for obtaining further blessings; if the Lord has ordained to save you, surely He will not refuse to instruct you in His ways. It is a happy thing when we can address the Lord with the confidence that David displays here; it gives us great power in prayer and comfort in trial.

196

June 17 – Best Prepared

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;
        whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
        of whom shall I be afraid?”  - Psalm 27:1 (ESV)

Among in the promises we find in today’s verse are three that we of have from the LORD as our light, our salvation, and our stronghold. This word translated ‘stronghold’ in the original Hebrew text is used int the Old Testament for many different kinds of defensive places provided for us from God. The original meanings include:  refuge, fortress, sanctuary, fortified, secure position, high point, mountain stronghold, and even ramparts. We reflect on how the psalmist declares God as not merely giving us light but that He is light within us, light around us, light reflected from us, and light to be revealed to us. The psalmist does not just say that the Lord gives light but that He is light. Neither does this passage just say God give us salvation but that He is salvation. By faith given to us from God, we have believed and receive all these blessings as our possessions. Romans 8:31 reflects on the words in this psalm, “Whom shall I fear?” For our future and present, “If God is for us, who can be against us.”  We are prepared by God for anything either now, or in the time to come.

197

May 19 – – He Has Been Good to Us

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? … But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”  - Psalm 13:1, 5-6 (ESV)

The trial and testing faith believers in Jesus encounter are brought into our lives in order that we may know with certainty the faithfulness of our God. David had learned that God's love never failed. He had gone through many different and difficult circumstances and consequently had come to know he could always sense that no matter what happened God always loved him and was always with him.  Because of turmoil, many who believe in Jesus are fearful of what’s next. Evildoers seem to be taking over our world. And like David, we can know that God's love for us is unfailing His promises are true. No matter what happens in our lives,  our world, God still loves us. We can depend on it and we can trust in His love as David did. He'll bring into our lives experiences which will be for our good. Then our hearts will rejoice as David's heart did and like him we'll sing to God. We have the same reason; we have the same promise of unfailing love and we can rest in the knowledge that God has promised and has been good to us just as He was to David. 

198

May 1 –Lifting Up Our Cups

“What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? I shall lift up the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the Lord.” – Psalm 116:12-13 (NASB)

The benefits we faith believers receive from the LORD are more numerous than what we can count or list. They are poured out upon His children because He is a merciful God, loving and without change. God needs nothing and puts no price on His free mercy and grace. Although many believe and strive to “be good enough” to earn God’s approval, such acts do nothing to secure their salvation.  The psalmist says something interesting “I shall lift up the cup of salvation.” This is the only place in the Old Testament where this exact phrase is used. It might have the meaning of ‘the cup’ in Psalms 16:5; 23:5; which speak of the circumstances God provides to the redeemed. In contrast may be Psalm 75:8  and the cup of God’s wrath. Drink offerings were part of thank offerings in:  Exodus 29:40-41.  More likely it refers to that part of the sacrifice included with his thank offerings. Both grain and drink both expressed thanks for having received salvation – which delivered them death. The cup is lifted up in praise to the LORD of Hosts.  Others hearing are edified, which is one of the purposes of public praise. 

197

March 16 –His Right Hand

“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.” - Psalm 18:35 (NASB)

What is the shield that protects us from the evil forces? References to the ‘right hand’ in Scripture often refer literally in the way we use the term about one’s dominant hand. The term is also used as a metaphor to prominence and strength. In our verse today is David describes God’s power and gentleness that is employed for our benefit and His glory. The psalm, written “in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” Throughout the 50 verses David gives praise and acknowledges the LORD as his deliverer. “Right hand” is also used when God speaks of holding our right hand or giving our right-hand strength. We also find the right hand of God as a symbol of protection, presence, and saving power. We can rejoice that God promises to both hold us  up by His right hand and to hold onto us by our right hand. Besides the use of God’s right hand as a source of His power in our lives we also have a shield He has given to us. That shield is His salvation promised and given to us. 

198

December 5 – Knowing God is Great

“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”” Psalm 40:16 (ESV)

 

“The Greatest of All Time” or “The Great _______,” fill the blank. Being great at anything seems to be a driving passion of many people. Not all who are declared to be Great or the Greatest actually are.  But there is one who is truly Great and is worthy of calling him Magnificent. So we are called, if we seek God and love the salvation God has provided for us we should shout, “The LORD be magnified!”  God wants all of us who follow Him to find real joy in doing so and real joy in living for Him. He wants the Christian life to be a life full of true joy. He wants us to be satisfied in Him so much that we are also satisfied in our life. Our verse also reminds us when we are happy in living for the Lord, it results in much praise to God. When we enjoy the Christian life we will want to exalt the Lord. We will want that His name receives much glory and praise. Today, let's seek Him and rejoice and be glad in Him.  Let's also say with the Psalmist, “GREAT IS THE LORD!”

 

196

November 4 – Properly Outfitted

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6:16–17 (ESV)

Depending on your counting, the Apostle Paul lists six or seven means of preparation faith believers need to have ready. We wear these pieces for defensive and offensive action. Here two are defensive and one offensive armor pieces. These three are taken up when we are susceptible to an outbreak of lies? The Holy Spirit, through Paul gave us these instructions because He knew what we need in the battle. Everyday is a battle if we are walking obediently in the Spirit doing what Christ calls us to do. We are instructed to use our faith as a shield against the lies of Satan. They come at us from every angle and even from sources we may have trusted. Putting our faith in God’s promises is how we use our shied and stop those lies from getting to us. Our enemy tries to feed doubts into our thoughts and cause us to question our own salvation. The saved elect wear the helmet of salvation as a protection against such psychological attacks. And our knowledge of God’s word and putting it to practice is sharper than a double edge sword. Let’s stand firm therefore prepared for action defensively and offensively.  

199

September 24 – More Tender Mercies

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…” -  Luke 1:76-79 (NASB)

More on the tender mercies of our Lord. The passage is excerpted from the prophecy Zacharias offered at the birth of his son John the Baptizer. Zachariah is a common name found in the Bible. This one is not the prophet who wrote the Book of Zechariah many years before. As a priest, Zacharias served his turn in the temple. The Bible tells us that he was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense. Because of the large number of priests, most would never be chosen for such a duty, and no one was permitted to serve in this capacity twice. Zacharias regarded this as the supreme moment in a lifetime of priestly service. It was then that the angel appeared to him as he was alone in the Holy Place. He was foretold that a son would be born to him and his name was to be John. When John is born, Zacharias offers a pray with this prophecy. The words, would be familiar to Zacharias because they are part of prophecies by Old Testament prophets*. The Father of the Baptizer confirms what was said by the prophets regarding his son. 

*Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 9:2 and Jeremiah 31:34.

195

September 3 – He Provides Our Answer

“May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD,
     Your salvation according to Your word;
So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
      For I trust in Your word.” – Psalm 119:41-42 (NASB)

There is an increase in the resistance of our world to the Word of God. There is also a significant decrease in the number who hold the Bible to be absolute truth. Within this battle, those who oppose the teachings in the Bible are becoming more active in demonstrating their hostility. The psalmist called on God to deliver him through His love and His Word and He will for us based on the promise God has given to us. He sought and trusted that he would have an answer for his enemy. He prayed and affirmed that the Word would continue to be his pattern of life. That is the way God has prepared for us to enjoy victory over the obstructions they set to the spreading of His Word. When opposition comes we frequently take it very personally but here we can know that it is God that the non-believer is rejecting and fighting against. We can like this passage teaches learn to delight in God’s commandments grow to love them for they are life to our soul. Next time we meet resistance, lets remember, God’s Word has an answer for us to give in return. 

197   

August 26 – Pause to Reflect

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. ⸺ Selah ” – Psalm 68:19 (NASB)

We have a word in today’s verse which has never been fully understood. It occurs 74 times in 74 verses in the Psalms. Selah, is thought to be a musical or liturgical term. A common attempted understanding is that it means “Pause a moment.” Maybe an extended rest in music. As in today’s verse it is placed after declaration that manifests God’s power, sovereignty, majesty, and promise to protect against our enemies. In today’s promise we sing out blessings to the Lord because he bears our burden every day. That means no matter what is put upon us today, tomorrow, and every tomorrow after that, God is with us to bear our burden. What is our burden? Well it may be our duties in obeying the precepts and commandments God has given to us. He will not give us instructions on life and then leave us alone without His help. No, in Isaiah 41:10, 13 God promises to help us and to uphold us with His righteous right hand. Let’s PAUSE a moment and let that sink in so that we don’t gloss over this wonderful promise and pay not attention to it. ⸺ Selah. 

194

August 13 – The Real No Fear

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” – Isaiah 12:2 (NASB)

Yesterday we learned from God's Word through His prophet Isaiah that perfect peace is available to those whose mind is steadfast and unwavering in their trust in God. Today’s promise gives us the attitude of fearlessness. The idea of ‘No Fear’ is presented to us in many different ways: the No FEAR Act of 2002; as a brand for lifestyle clothing; and even as a translation of old English literature such as Shakespeare into modern English. God knows we all are tempted to be afraid and desire to have no fear. He has given us this guide – the Bible – which promises what He will do for us in these times. We can affirm that God is our salvation. When we can confirm that our salvation from the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) is ours by faith in God, we can trust Him without fear. Isaiah confirms his own standing – he trusts because the Lord God provides strength to do so. It is a strength that calms our spirit and gives us a song of praise. We have this promise: when we trust in God, He becomes our salvation and we abide in Him for the rest of time and beyond.

200

June 23 – Rest and Trust

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,,,”  Isaiah 30:15  (ESV)

Our verse is part of a prophecy God sent to His people Israel through Isaiah His prophet. Isaiah delivered this important message to His people. It is a promise for all but in this instance it was a promise that the people rejected and were unwilling to submit to it. By not accepting the promise Israel missed the blessing of it. God wanted to them to learn this truth, and it is still effective even today. You and I will do well to listen to this promise. God wants us today to know the secret to salvation and strength. Rest, or relax, and trust in Him. If we have been trying to live right by our own effort, we need to realize that God offers to help us to live right and also to accomplish lasting results. The kind of rest promised comes from trusting the words of God. We can rest by believing and following God’s instructions. Let's believe His words and quit trying in our own strength. Let's remember these words, “In quietness and trust is your strength.” It's a promise and a blessing for us if we will have it.

193

May 13 – Eyes Opened Through Faith

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NASB)

Peter, the disciple of Jesus, became one of the foremost apostles who helped spread the news of the early Christian Church. He also was used by the Holy Spirit to write some of the books in the New Testament. Peter walked with Jesus and heard him teach and watched him do miracles and heal all who came to Him with physical or spiritual need. Many times Peter ate meals with Jesus and talked with him face to face while breaking bread together. Peter wrote these words in his first letter to believers in the new Church. In the same way we have never seen Jesus as Peter did but we love Him and we believe in Him. These words are also given to us and can be applied to us personally. We can experience the “inexpressible joy and be filled with glory” because we have believed in Jesus the Christ – even though we have never seen Him.  Our faith has opened the eyes of our hearts and minds to believe in Him as our Savior and Lord.  It is hard to express sometimes but in our hearts we know He is true. It’s a joy to have that assurance.

199

April 19 – Penetrating Question

“Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.” -  Habakkuk 3:18-19 (NASB)

Our verse comes from the book of Habakkuk. We find promises that are apropos to our times. On today’s social media, we may encounter a good deal of complaining about how “things aren’t how they used to be or should be.” And the appeal of many is “How do we get back to the way it was?” This was the prophet Habakkuk’s complaint. Sin was abounding (just as today) and God seemed both indifferent and idle to Habakkuk. He questions if it was God who was to blame? “Why do You make me look at injustice?” (Habakkuk 1:3 NASB) He doubles down with an even greater question for God: “Why do You tolerate wrong?” (Habakkuk 1:13 NASB) Does this sound like the cry of many modern Christians?. “Why is God allowing the destruction of our country?” Mostly we blame the other side of the political divide. Habakkuk describes dire circumstances (v.16-17) for himself and Israel.  But he doesn’t state that he would merely endure this distress. He sets our example and said he would rejoice in the Lord and be joyful. God is the inexhaustible source and infinite supply of joy. God my Savior is literally, “the God of my salvation.”

196

March 7 – The Seal of the Spirit

 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” - Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) 

God never promises the absence of distress or a journey without challenges to meet and obstacles to overcome. What He promises is His presence as the Holy Spirit. The presence of God’s Spirit assures us that we have Him and in Him, is God our paraclete*, alongside as our guide and comforter. We also have the guarantee that our inheritance is reserved for us and kept for us; we cannot and will not lose it. There is no one who can barge into our lives and overwhelm us with anything that will cause us to separate from God.  Like a ship or boat, small or massive, The Holy Spirit invisibly, yet indispensably, is the rudder for the ship of our soul. He keeps us from crashing on the rocks, keeps us afloat and going the right direction. The Holy Spirit is also our pilot. We are not alone on our journey. We’re sealed in Christ. Once upon a time, red wax with an identifying stamp in the wax was used seal the ownership of a letter or document. Sealing declared ownership and secured contents. It is the Holy Spirit as God’s seal that protects us. His word of promise is our seal.

195

* The Holy Spirit as Paraclete:  The term Paraclete (παράκλητος, paraklētos) appears four times in John’s Gospel in reference to the Holy Spirit in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 and once in 1 John 2:1 in reference to Jesus. English bibles translate the Greek word as Helper, Advocate, Comforter, Counselor. 

February 12 – No Cause, No One to Fear

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear?  The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread?”  Psalm 27:1 (NASB)

 

What would you be willing to do or give up to be completely free of fear, dread, and worry in your life?  There are so many things that we fear. Physical conditions, financial situations, civil and political influences, and we could go on and on.  We would not run out of items to put on such a list. But we have a promise that we find in this Psalm of David and it is a promise that we can have fearless trust in God our Lord and Savior. Fear does not come from God although we are instructed to “fear God” because He is the only one and our fear of God is due to His awesome power and sovereignty over all things. But because we belong to God we need not fear anything else. The Lord shows us the way and we have been saved by the Son of God who sacrificed and gave himself up for us. Truly, there is nothing or no one left with power to frighten us.  God is our defense, we have no one left to dread. Let’s be aware that worry is how we exhibit dread in our life.  

195

 

February 9 – One in Creation. One in Salvation

“Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.” - Psalm 106:8. (ESV)

Jesus Christ is our Savior; but not more so than God the Father, or God the Holy Spirit. Some perceive God the Father as being a great being full of wrath, and anger, and justice, they think of God the Spirit perhaps as an influence proceeding from the Father and the Son. Nothing can be more incorrect than such opinions. The Son redeems me; The Father gave the Son to die for me, chose me in his everlasting grace. The Father blots out my sin; He accepts me, and adopts me into his family through Christ. The Son could not save without the Father any more than the Father without the Son. It is God the Holy Spirit that regenerates us. It is He that makes us new creatures in Christ, who purifies our soul, who sanctifies our spirit, and who, at last, presents us spotless and faultless before the throne of the Most High, accepted in the beloved. When we say, “Savior,” remember there is a Trinity in that word—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As they are one in creation, so are they one in salvation, working together as one God for our salvation.

199

• The Son redeems us - Ephesians 1:7-12
• The Father blots out our sin - Isaiah 43:25
• The Father adopts us into His family - Romans 8:12-17
• Holy Spirit that regenerates - Titus 3:5
• He makes us new creatures in Christ - Galatians 6:15 

Drawn in part from: C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 1998), 39.

February 8 – The Earnest of Heaven

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” -  Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

Do you remember when you first learned the doctrines of grace?  When we were first converted, we did not know much about them, we did not know whether God had converted us, or we had converted ourselves; but we heard a discourse one day in which some sentences were used, which gave us the clue to the whole system, and we began at once to see how God the Father planned, and God the Son carried out, and God the Holy Spirit applied, and we found ourselves suddenly brought into the midst of a system of truths, which we might perhaps have believed before, but which we could not have clearly stated, and did not understand. Well, the joy of that advance in knowledge was exceeding great. I had made progress in Scriptural knowledge, from having got a hold once and for all of the clue to the truth of God. In that moment God the Holy Spirit increased your knowledge, and opened the eyes of your understanding, you had the earnest, that you shall one day see, not through a glass darkly, but face to face, and then you shall know the whole truth, even as you are known.

200

C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 1998), 41.

January 8 – A Sure Thing

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation..” Isaiah 12:2  (KJV)

Looking for a good reason to trust a sure thing? So much has been uncertain. Maybe our lives have been turned upside down because of the turmoil that rolled over us and flattened us but not the curve. There is One who we can trust and cling to the promises He has given to us. Yes, there is. We can trust without fear because our strength comes to us from our LORD JEHOVAH. This means the LORD our God is our strength where we have none. And it is true we have no strength of our own that will carry us through the year ahead so if we do not trust in the strength we have from God, we have no strength at all. We will end up on a heap of depression, despondency, and dread. We will be lost in the woods and sinking in the sea. Who will save us? The LORD JEHOVAH will. If we step out in faith, and put our trust in His word and guidance, we will not fear but we will stand up on a high place singing our song of salvation and praise to the LORD OUR LORD. It’s a sure thing.

198

Understanding the use of JEHOVAH as the name of our LORD God.