“Simple but True”

Scripture:

Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple. (NKJ)

Observation:

As soon as God’s words find their way into the soul the light of His Truth begins to shine through the darkness of any troubled heart, bringing both hope and understanding. It is often out of deep desperation that many a lost soul opens the Bible in search of something that will comfort their soul and give them hope, but if the person does not allow these enlightening words to seep deep into their soul, its light will dimly flicker and they will surely lose their way, only to remain in the darkness that holds them captive (v. 105).

Application:

When we allow the true words of God to penetrate the hardness of our hearts (that living in this difficult world brings) it will open up our minds to its life-saving instructions, which are clear and easily understood, for in God’s providence and grace He will shine His eternal Light upon its pages for you to absorb (2 Peter 1:19). One cannot merely see or hear the words of God and experience the transforming power it brings, for unless they shine brightly in both the heart and the soul, these words will remain foreign and impossible to understand. Mankind has proven over and over again, throughout the ages, that when we are disconnected from our Creator, we are oblivious to His words of truth, leaving ourselves unprotected and in the hands of Satan and this dark and evil world he reigns in, causing much chaos and destruction in its wake. Without God’s Word and the Holy Spirit dwelling in your heart this life becomes a very lonely and hopeless place, and the longer you live the more proof you have that God is faithful and longs for your salvation. See it, touch it, read it, and feel the power of its Truth, my friends, for the Light that it shines will surely, as the dawns coming light, subdue any darkness in your life, so that you will be able to see the Way that leads to Life (1 John 1: 1-2).

Prayer:

Thank You O LORD, for the Light of Life that gives us the hope we need to face this dying world and the lies it hangs on to. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for the Word that comforts our souls and brings us peace. There is none as mighty and upright as You, O Lord our God. For only through You do we find salvation for our soul.

Amen

“Joy in Obeying”

Scripture:

Psalm 119:7-8
When I learn Your righteous laws,
I will thank You by living as I should.
I will obey Your principles.
Please don’t give up on me. (NLT)

Observation:

For most people, especially those who have lived the majority of their lives obeying only the laws of the land, it is much more difficult to follow the simple laws of our Creator than it is to comply with the multitudes of complex manmade laws in which the average person cannot even understand. It is not because God’s laws are more numerous and difficult to understand, but it is because we are all born with a rebellious nature that loves to sin (Romans 8:7) even though it causes us much guilt and shame.

Application:

One of the best used lies of the Enemy is that living God’s way takes the fun out of life; that we cannot enjoy this life when we are bogged down with righteous rules that we cannot bend. How far from the truth this is, my friends. For what I have discovered in my new life-journey with Christ is that by living under God’s powerful protection and knowledge is when a person finds the true meaning of their existence and with this simple truth, by itself, is what gives us the desire to obey God’s Law, which in return, brings us life and everlasting joy. The Lord has created many earthly things that bring us joy, but we, in our fallen state, take the very things God gave us to enjoy and make them our very reason for living. And so many people, in spite of the possible consequences, will end up doing almost anything to get them, often ignoring what is good and what is not. The first command that our God has given us is to love Him above all else. This is not an easy task when you live apart from Him. But when He teaches you about Himself and how you should live our life, it becomes your first nature to love Him and live your life in ways that bring Him honor and glory. For God’s Word will teach us the best way of living, the honorable way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying. When we truly know the Lord, loving and praising Him becomes our highest goal and the reason we live. It is humanly impossible for us to live a sin free life while we occupy these weak and fallen bodies and it is for this reason that we must depend on the mercy and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. For when He forgives our sins they are completely washed away and forever forgotten by Jehovah, the LORD God Almighty (Jeremiah 31:34). The Lord knows first hand how weak we are, and as long as we have the breath of life in these mortal bodies He will never give up trying to draw His children closer to Himself in order to protect their precious lives from destruction. Knowing His Grace, dear friends, will keep you on the straight and narrow with a smile that shines and a heart filled with joy.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for the opportunity to know You so that I and all of those who believe in You can one day stand in Your Presence. Thank You for showing us the path that leads to life.

Amen

“Rescued by Grace”

Scripture:

Galatians 1:3-5
May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. (NLT)

Observation:

Every breath we take should be breathed in thanksgiving, because without the grace of God, which was poured out in His blood, there would be absolutely no hope nor joy for any human being, because without Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross every living soul would face an eternity of darkness, forever separated from God’s Light; the only Light that gives us life (John 8:12).

Application:

The free will of mankind was given because the LORD did not want puppets for children—people that He could control into obedience and love. God graciously gave everyone the ability to freely choose either to live in obedience that would honor Him or to live in disobedience that would eventually bring them into destruction (Genesis 2:15-17). And like God’s created angels who had this same free will, we, too, make the fatal error of disobedience, thinking we can please our sinful nature and get away with it. But unlike the fallen angels, our gracious God has given every man, woman, and child the opportunity for redemption; for God so loved His created children that He provided the Way that we could regain our righteous standing before Him. But again, He gives us the freedom to make that choice—to choose His forgiveness and salvation or remain the way we are and suffer the dire consequences of eternal darkness. This life or death choice is one we must all make; God will not make it for us. There is no time to waste, dear friend, for your life could end at any moment and this decision must be made before it ends. This life is the only chance anyone has to make this eternal decision, and although most will choose the path of the world that leads into darkness, the LORD our God will keep His promise and honor His Word to those who choose to trust in His grace for their salvation. It is never too late while you breathe the breath of life to choose the eternal gift of God’s grace—the grace that saves—the grace that brings us peace (Ephesians 2:8).

Prayer:

My dear Lord, how can we thank You enough for the gift of our salvation that none of us deserves. What joy it can bring to any troubled heart just knowing that there is hope—that there is a future that ends good. Help us spread this Good News to those who are hopeless and lost, for without Your mercy and grace and the gift of salvation, the future without You as Lord is bleak, indeed.

Amen

“Days in Wisdom”

Scripture:

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom. (NKJ)

Observation:

As finite human beings living in a fallen world with an easily sinful nature we are more inclined to put our energies into finding ways that we can selfishly enjoy this life while we can rather than dwelling on the reality of our days end and the possibilities thereafter. Because of our limited ability to look beyond this life we need God to teach us the true value of the short time He has given us here on this earth (Psalm 103:15-16). We need the Lord’s infinite wisdom to teach us the truth about who He is and who we are, because it is only by understanding God’s purpose in creation that we can joyfully number our days and gladly look forward to the rewards of salvation, which He has so graciously provided.

Application:

If your heart truly desires godly wisdom from the Creator, then ask Him; believing He will answer you with everything you need to know (James 1:5-6). God calls His people to reflect deeply on the brevity of time, for by doing so we are more apt to pay closer attention to the eternal consequences of life, rather than seeking only the temporal desires, which if gone unchecked, will walk us straight into the eternal pits of Hell. It can be a very humbling experience to look into the grave that will one day hold your body, because the earthly things our bodies lust for tend to lose there grip in the presence of mortality. So be of wise mind, my dear friend, and ask the Spirit of God to fill your living heart, which will one day cease its beating, with the wisdom of eternity. Every moment of this very short life should be wisely spent discerning the eternal from the temporal, for we know not the number of days we have left. There is not enough time to justify misuse or idleness, nor is it wise to procrastinate thinking there is always tomorrow. Living with the wisdom that God has so graciously offered you is much more satisfying and rewarding than the foolishness that comes from the deceitful heart of man, who knows (in his own mind) that he is wise (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Prayer:

Reveal and teach us, O LORD, Your true wisdom, for by knowing Your Truth we are assured the kind of peace that will bring comfort to our troubled lives. Help us be wise of heart so that we can discern what is good and what is not. Help us look beyond the grave so that we can know what lies ahead in eternity. Teach us to not only fear Your Mighty Name, but to also stand in awe of Your Holy and Sovereign Providence, for you are our God; full of lovingkindness and mercy and grace. There is no other living God; none as wonderful as You LORD. You hold each and every life in the palm of Your hand and the Savior of our souls.

Amen

“Justice Reigns”

Scripture:

Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation
of Your throne.
Mercy and truth go before Your face. (NKJ)

Observation:

As God’s created people it only makes sense that we would belong to Him. And for all of those who believe in this, we are able rejoice in the fact that He is not only a righteous and just Lord, but He is also filled with mercy and truth as well. Since the Lord our God is both Holy and Sovereign we can trust in His divine governorship, for He is far too holy to have any unrighteousness in Him and far too wise to make any mistakes (Deuteronomy 32:4). What better reason is there for believers to be filled with the kind of peace that brings comfort and joy to our grieving souls, whatever the appearance of His providence may be? The Lord foreshadows the message of who He is and how He deals with us—His guilty and sinful people.

Application:

The LORD makes His perfect attributes known through His Son, Jesus Christ, and it is in Christ Jesus that all repentant guilty sinners can stand blameless in the presence of the Almighty, Holy, and Righteous LORD. There are those unfortunate souls who believe there is no place as hell, nor any punishment from God for the disobedience and evil done in this life. But Scripture tells a different story, my friends. The Word tells us in truth; that there will be terrible consequences in Hell for the unrepentant sinner and glorious rewards in Heaven for those who seek forgiveness and repentance (Jeremiah 23:5). Everyone borne of this world is sinful in nature and no person can ever work hard enough or be good enough to stand blameless before God. And so it can be said; that on our own accord we all deserve God’s final wrath. But because we have been created by a righteous and just and mercy filled God who chose to share His Truth with us, only those who refuse His Truth and His righteous redemptive plan will justly end up were they belong.

Prayer:

How great You are, O God; how merciful and just You are. Even though we deserve Your condemnation, You have shown Your mercy and truth by shinning Your Face upon those who repent of their sins and put their trust in You. What greater God is there; One who is both righteous and just? Your goodness, O God, is beyond all our knowledge and Your blessings are out of this world.

Amen

“A Saving Face”

Scripture:

Psalm 80:3
Restore us, O God;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved! (NKJ)

Observation:

Only our Shepherd is able to heal the brokenness and restore our sin filled lifestyles in ways that will make us both acceptable and blameless before the LORD our God. All is well when we are well, for the most important area in His restoration is to our character, not our circumstances, for when the Lord restores the person; their circumstances will surely follow suit.

Application:

This divine restoration and conversion can only come from One Source, my friends, and this powerful Source is our Creator Savior, Christ Jesus. And it is during His restoration that His face will shine favorably upon you, blessing your life in ways you could never have imagined without Him. The Lord’s favor is what brings all people to salvation (Psalm 30:5) no matter how fierce the Enemy fights for your soul, or how far you have fallen from God’s plan for your life. God’s shinning face ensures both victory and liberty from the snares the world sets for you. Satan wants to trap you in your sin so you will believe that God will never forgive you. Do not be fooled by this soul killer. He has been and always will be a murdering liar (John 8: 44) and in order for us to defeat Satan’s sin and death we must rely on the Truth that sets us free. Aside from the Holy Spirit Himself, God’s Word is the most powerful and life changing tool we have if we are to learn how and why we need God’s favor shinning upon us. God’s Word is like nothing else in this troubled world and has the incredible wisdom and power to transform any life (Hebrew 4:12) no matter who you are or what you have done or what you may believe in. When you have the face of Jesus shinning His favor upon your life it will be one life-saving experience you will never regret.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for Your Word and the Truth it proclaims, for without You and Your Word this world and its people would have no Hope. You give us Hope when we need it the most, and You give us joy in our times of grief. Thank You for the restoration You offer us, and the redemption plan that shines in the Glory of who You are.

Amen

“Our Guiding Light”

Scripture:

Psalm 73:22-24
I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You.
Yet I still belong to You; You are holding my right hand.
You will keep on guiding me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. (NLT)

Observation:

Prior to my new life in Christ Jesus I lived much like the animals do—driven by my fallen nature and desperately trying to satisfy my hungry needs in order to survive. Even though I had (as everyone has) the God given sense of right and wrong and good and bad (Genesis 1:26), the difference was confusing at best, for much of what the world saw as right and good was in fact, in God’s sight, both wrong and bad. And the longer I lived my life abiding in the world’s ways, the more confused and hopeless I became. Finally, after many years of groping in confusion, I gave up trying to understand the purpose of this cruel and unfair life. And in my hopelessness and self-pity, I set my sights on death and whatever came after that, for I believed there were no other options for me. What I find so amazing about our God and Savior is that He never gave up on me, no matter how far I strayed from His Truth. Because of His incredible and incomprehensible mercy and grace He never fully stopped trying to draw me out of the darkness of this dying world and into His life-giving Light. And once the Lord had my full attention and I humbly and gratefully surrender my broken life to His will.

Application:

When we give up our sin filled life for one of righteousness, the Lord will never stop guiding our journey Home (Psalm 48:14) where we will live with Him; forever freed from sin and suffering. Whatever it may be that is keeping you from trading your guilt and shame for His forgiveness, let it go and surrender your brokenness to the LORD. Do not be duped into believing there is no hell, because the enemy of your soul wants to take as many of us as He can into the Lake of Fire when Jesus descends from Heaven to sit on the Great White Throne to judge all those who have refused to follow and obey Him (Revelation 20:11,15). There is no time to waste, my friends, for the last day is quickly approaching. We know neither the day nor the hour, but God’s warnings are clear and concise with many signs that have already come and gone throughout the ages.

Prayer:
I pray in Your Glorious Name, O Lord, that You continue to give us both Your wisdom and strength to hold steadfast in the Truth of Your Word. Comfort us in the coming days that You have so graciously warned us about. Help us rely on You for all that is good in a world gone bad.

Amen