DUTY – DILIGENCE – INTGEGRITY!

 

Saturday, September 30, 2023

 

DUTY – DILIGENCE – INTGEGRITY!

 

2 Peter 1:10

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

          Can a believer forget that he has been saved? Can the redemption of their poor soul by the blood of the everlasting Sacrifice simply slip their mind? Can they become so distracted by the world and their own flesh that they develop spiritual amnesia? This was the condition Peter described in 2 Peter 1:9.

 

          Peter recommends “diligence” which is from the Greek spoudazo which means “to use speed, i.e., to make effort, be prompt or earnest.” For some reason I get a picture of Sgt. Carter walking along a smiling Pvt. Gomer Pile. Gomer is slow, out of step, and could care less.

 

          The kind of integrity that God saw in Job 2:3 is from the Hebrew word tummah which means innocence. Our dictionary says that integrity is the state of being honest and having moral principles. It also means to be whole and undivided. The words goodness and firmness come to mind.

 

          Harry Ironside asks the question: “If the God who created me and redeemed me does not consider it beneath His notice to instruct me concerning my behavior in the family, my place in society, and my methods in business. All are under His eye; and if I act in accordance with the book of Proverbs, I shall “behave myself wisely, in a perfect way,” in every relationship of life.”

 

Prov 1:7&10

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

 

Dear Lord, today let me do my duty with both diligence and integrity. AMEN

 

PART OF IRON AND PART OF CLAY!

 

Friday, September 29, 2023

 

PART OF IRON AND PART OF CLAY!

 

Dan 2:31-34

31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

 

Dan 2:42-43

42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

 

          We need not be confused by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He saw a huge image which represented all the kingdoms of the earth. We are living in the time of the feet and toes. We are losing our national distinction due to unwise border management, and we are losing many of our fundamental laws. We do not cleave to one another because there is no common bond. One cannot mold iron and one cannot weld clay! Even now our nation is deeply divided, and each side thinks the other side a bit crazy. Both are right. Neither political party can hope to unify the country. At best they will satisfy only one half.

 

          God is in control of history! Even the most wicked ruler is restrained by the hand of the One who gave him authority. We also have observed that human governments decline over time. The gold becomes silver and then bronze and finally iron and clay.

 

          The good news for Christians is that this present period of geo-political rule will soon be replaced because the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. His kingdom will break in pieces the weak structure of clay and iron and consume them. Jesus is coming soon!

 

Rev 21:2-4

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

King Jesus, look down upon us who live between the toes of the image. Give us grace to do right and patience to wait upon your coming kingdom. Even so, come quickly! AMEN

A BIT OF ELIPHAZ IN THE MORNING!

 

Thursday, September 28, 2023

 

I hope you enjoy this “Classic.”

 

A BIT OF ELIPHAZ IN THE MORNING!

 

Who or what is Eliphaz? Well, Eliphaz was one of Job’s “cruddy buddies” who came to watch him suffer all his mysterious troubles. All of Job’s friends came to evaluate why Job was having so many disasters in his life. Each one gave his opinion. It seems that if a man talks long enough, he may say something of value. Let’s see the wonderful advice of Eliphaz.

 

Job 5:8-9

8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number:

 

With his chin in his hand and a scowl on his face, Eliphaz says that when all is said and done the best course of action is to commit your cause to God. If you have sinned, God will surely let you know about it and you then have a chance to repent and receive forgiveness and restoration. If you haven’t then you can sue for understanding or relief. God does some mighty fine things. His works are “unsearchable” which means you can’t figure them out. God does some things that absolutely are contrary to the natural laws that He himself has set up! Yes sir! I would make my appeal to God.

 

There are FOUR THINGS that demonstrate the trustworthiness of God.

 

I. GOD’S LOVE

 

God is love! Love is an essential element of His very nature. He is love and all love proceeds from him. It naturally follows that His responses to my petitions will be based upon that love.

 

1 John 4:16

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

 

 

II. GOD’S TRUTH

 

A lie is told to deceive and that is simply NOT how God does business. Fear does not prompt Him to lie to protect himself as lying often serves us. Ambition does not prompt Him to lie to so that he might gain something He could not get otherwise. God cannot lie because of His nature and DOES NOT lie because there is no need to do so. We can trust Him. He will not deceive us.

 

Titus 1:2

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

 

III. GOD’S ABILITY

 

We can’t even begin a discussion about the capacity of God. His rich supply exists outside any container made for it. He is able to do exceeding and abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. (Eph. 3:20)

 

IV. GOD’S CONSTANCY

 

God does not change. He promised never to leave us or to forsake us. Over and over, He promised to be with us always. Like the air – He is always there! Look at the following verses.

 

Ps 139:7-10

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

So Eliphaz was right when he said that the best course of action was to simply “seek unto God” and make your appeal to Him.

 

Dear Lord, whatever this day may hold for me is already in your mighty hands. I submit my cause and my course unto Thee. AMEN

 

THE CHALLENGE OF HOLINESS!

 

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

 

THE CHALLENGE OF HOLINESS!

 

Ex 15:11

11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

1 Peter 1:15-16

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

          The word “Holiness” is found 43 times in the Authorized Version. It means “sacred.” In First Peter the word “Holy” is hagios which means “an awful thing, sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, sanctified.”

 

          Holiness is quite a challenge for the Hell bent! Isaiah saw himself as “a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips.” Then an angel touched his lips with a coal from off the altar. (Isaiah 6) I understand holiness as a gift and not a product and yet we are commanded to be holy.

 

          Being holy requires a conscious recognition of and discrimination between right and wrong. Those lines are horribly blurred in our culture today, but we are required to make right choices. We see moral absolutes in few places outside of Scripture.  “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:9)

 

1 Thess 3:12-13

12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 

Dear Lord, the pressure of lustful urges and the longing for purity battle within us daily. Help us to be holy! AMEN

STICKY BURDENS!

 

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

 

STICKY BURDENS!

 

Ps 55:22

22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

          Releasing our burdens to the care and workings of God is not easy even for the experienced believer. Maybe we think we have it figured out and do not “need” God right now. Maybe the situation seems impossible, and we doubt God. Of course, we would never admit that we doubt God. Our focus is on the size of our problem instead of the size of our God.

 

          The Old Testament form of “cast” is the Hebrew shalak which literally means “to throw out, down, or away”. It is physical. The New Testament is from the Greek epirrhipto which means “to throw upon.” Both urge us to release our burdens to One much more capable of handling them.

 

          The word “burden” in the Old Testament is yehab and it means “what is given.” Nobody likes to think of a burden as a gift but there it is. The New Testament word for “care” is merimna and has the idea of a distraction. It is that which causes us to lose focus. It keeps us from accomplishing our goals. It invades all our thoughts.

 

          My burdens and cares seem to be coated with a peculiar sticky substance that keeps me from completely releasing it. For that there is the oil of the Holy Spirit.

 

Matt 6:33-34

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

Dear Lord, I awoke with the burdens of yesterday and I know there will be new issues today. Help me not to add the possibilities of tomorrow. Give me the grace to cast them away. Amen

IT’S HARD TO WAIT!

 

Monday, September 25, 2023

 

IT’S HARD TO WAIT!

 

Ps 27:13-14

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

 

          The phrase “wait, I say” is found only once in the Authorized Version. It is emphatic and sounds like a mother scolding a toddler! I’m not a good waiter. I’m a fixer! I have learned, however, that my primary tool is a monkey-wrench. Waiting gives God time to not only apply the right tools but to actually DO the work for you.

 

          It’s hard to wait for a gift. Like an anxious child at Christmas, many of our youth find it hard to wait for the benefits of married life because those benefits are wrapped in responsibility. They rip and tear at the wrapping so that they can satisfy themselves on the benefit. All too often the gift is tossed aside so another can be ripped apart. “Wait, I say.”

 

          It’s hard to wait for a solution to a problem. Because God has graciously gifted most of us with a bit of intellect, we push ahead to solve a problem that only God can solve. The result is often more problems. “Wait, I say.”

 

Heb 10:36

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

 

Dear Lord, I’m not a good waiter! My desire to act is more than equal to my need to wait. Waiting is emotionally, almost physically, painful. Help me to wait patiently for you. AMEN

SIN NO MORE!

 

Sunday, September 24, 2023

 

SIN NO MORE!

 

Jer 31:33-34

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

 

          The phrase, “sin no more” can be found in the Authorized Version only three times but each time it is significant. First, in our text above, God proposes a new covenant with Israel to replace the old covenant built around the structure of the Mosaic Law. The law restricted their conduct but did nothing to change their character! God, through Messiah, is going to “put his law in their inward parts.”

 

          Warren Wiersbe accurately said: “Any plan for the betterment of human society that ignores the sin problem is destined to failure.” Religion may manipulate conduct through intimidation, shame, and punishment but real change comes from within.

 

           Jesus tells forgiven sinners to “go and sin no more.” In John 5:14 Jesus said to a healed cripple to “sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee.” The cure for hitting your thumb with a hammer is NOT to hit it again repeatedly!

 

          Lastly, in John 8:11, Jesus says to the woman “taken in adultery – in the very act” to go and sin no more. The shame of being caught and the near fatal condemnation had convinced this woman to change her habits. Day after day she would remember the words of Jesus “neither do I condemn thee.”

 

1 John 2:1

2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

Dear Lord, thank you for forgiveness that is abundantly available for the asking. Let us not forget that the cost of providing it was your cross. Help me to “sin no more.”

A FAILURE TO ASSIMILATE

 

Saturday, September 23, 2023

 

A FAILURE TO ASSIMILATE

 

Est 9:23-25

23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. KJV

 

          The Jews did not and do not assimilate. In every culture where they are dispersed, they remain Jews and maintain their customs and culture. This often creates tension between cultures. The underlying purpose for Haman’s desire to kill all the Jews was demonic. Just as it was when Pharoah decreed that all the Jewish boys would be killed at birth. The same unspeakable wickedness killed all the boy babies in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. As you go through life, do not become so absorbed by WHAT is happening that you miss WHY it is happening.

 

          The strange little word, PUR, means a “lot” or a broken piece of pottery or stone that is cast with others to foretell the future or decide a plan of action. Haman cast lots to decide the best time to kill all the Jews. The lot fell on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month Adar which usually takes place in our month of March.

 

          The dual meaning of PUR, a lot and broken things, forms the plot for the book of Esther. The unbroken decree to kill the Jews was broken by another unbroken decree. The King could not reverse the condemnation of the Jews, but he directed the Jews to fight for their lives. The victory won by the Jews was celebrated by the days of PURIM.

 

Prov 16:31

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

 

Blessed art thou Lord, who frustrates evil and reverses decrees against your children. Let us be so like our Savior that we are never swallowed up by the world. It will be uncomfortable for both us and them, but let it be so. AMEN

A GOD SO BIG!

 

Friday, September 22, 2023

 

A GOD SO BIG!

 

          Job is an interesting book! So many times, we turn to it trying to make some sense of the misery of man but instead we find the majesty of God!

 

Job 37:23

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

 

Elihu, one of Job’s “friends” had come to watch Job suffer and to try and make some sense of it all. It simply did not make any sense! Job, by all observation was a fastidious and righteous man and yet he was suffering as if he had awakened the wrath of God. Job’s sin, if there was a sin, could not be determined although measured by the actions of God it must be huge and horrible.

 

Job had steadfastly proclaimed his innocence and had complained that God was acting in a way that seemed contrary to His nature. Did not God punish sin and reward righteousness? Why, then, was Job suffering if he was guiltless? Neither Job nor his friends could have imagined the conflict in Heaven or of God’s grand purposes.

 

Adam Clarke’s commentary says of the phrase [He will not afflict.] Lo' yªaneh, he will not ANSWER. He will give account of none of his matters to us. We cannot comprehend his motives, nor the ends he has in view. When we try to force God to be thoroughly understood by our minds, we make Him so small that he can’t act as He must. Majesty is lost and glory fades in our shrinking of God to our own human size.

 

Rom 11:33

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

 

1 Tim 6:16

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

Dear Lord, when we contemplate your majesty, we agree with the Psalmist who said, “what is man that thou art mindful of him.” Yet you bend low to attend to us and you condescend to care for us. Thank you, God! AMEN

MY EXPECTATION!

 

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

 

MY EXPECTATION!

 

Ps 62:5

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

 

          The word which is translated “expectation” is literally “a cord or attachment.” This gives meaning to the often-used advice: “When you find yourself at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on!” In David’s present circumstance, he felt that his only hope was in God.

 

          Note the increase in confidence as he moves from “I shall not be greatly moved” (v.2) to “I shall not be moved” (v.6) As he waited on God, his spirit went from “it won’t be too bad” to “it’s going to be alright.” We think he will soon burst into praise as he sings “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” (v.8) There is an old Gospel song that should be an encouragement today.

 

Be not dismayed whate’re betide.

God will take care of you.

Beneath His wings of love abide,

God will take care of you!

 

God will take care of you,

Through every day o’re all the way.

He will take care of you;

God will take care of you!

 

Dear Lord, some of my dear friends are facing great challenges. Others are at the end of their rope. Their only hope is in YOU. What an encouraging thought! Thank you for being my best hope and not just my last straw. AMEN

HORRIBLE CONSCIENCE!

 

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

 

HORRIBLE CONSCIENCE!

 

Ps 51:1-3

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 

          The word “conscience” has its origin in Middle English (and means  ‘inner thoughts or knowledge’): also from Old French and Latin conscientia, from conscient- ‘being privy to,’ from the verb conscire, from con- ‘with’ + scire ‘know.’ Literally the word means “with knowledge.”

 

          David’s sin haunted him night and day! It was ever before him. He interpreted everything through the filter of this sin. Every conversation was scanned for clues that he had been found out. Every event, whether good or bad, was measured by his own personal and persistent knowledge of his sin. He understood the proverb which says: “The wicked flee when no man pursueth” Proverbs 28:1.

 

          Lady Macbeth imagined blood on her hands which she could not wash away. She had convinced her husband to kill King Duncan so she could become queen of Scotland. This blood, seen only to her, prompted her to wash her hands obsessively and to utter the famous soliloquy: “Out, damned spot!”

 

Jer 2:22

22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, [mineral potash effervescing with acid] and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

 

          David knew what was required to wash away his sin and to cleanse his mind. He asked that his transgression be blotted out – that his iniquity might be washed – that his sin might be cleansed! In verse 7 he mentions being purged with hyssop which is a reference to the Passover custom of dipping hyssop, a bitter herb, in sacrificial blood and striking the lentil and the doorpost to protect against the avenger. Oh, the blood of Jesus, it washes white as snow!

 

Nothing But The Blood

Words and Music: Robert Lowry

 

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

Refrain

Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

Dear Lord, wash my conscience in Thy blood and let me cease from being chased by the ghosts of past sins! AMEN