GOD IS FAITHFUL!

 

Thursday, October 31, 2024

 

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

 

1 Cor 1:9

9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1 Cor 10:13

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

The phrase “God is faithful” is found only twice in the King James Version of the Bible and both times it is found in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. Each time the word faithful means “trustworthy!” I’m glad I have a God who is trustworthy.

 

          In the First instance – the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit has “romanced” us to God and betrothed us to the Son in a trustworthy relationship. Through the courtship of the Spirit, we became aware of our sins and the horrible nature of them. We ultimately agreed with God regarding our sins and resolved to rid ourselves of them but discovered that we were unable. God offered His own remedy in the sacrifice of His Son, and we readily received it.

 

This wonderful relationship is founded upon the faithfulness of Christ, His divine trustworthiness. He will never leave us for one more lovely. He will never abuse us. He will never neglect us due to some selfish pursuit. He will never fail to provide for us for he is faithful!

 

The trustworthiness of God can only be comprehended as it is set against unfaithfulness. The marvel of His constancy is set against the infidelity of man where it shines like a diamond against a black cloth.

 

In the Second instance – He is trustworthy in keeping us through temptation by providing an escape. He will always make a way to flee youthful lusts and to avoid the snare that is set for us. In trouble, He will provide the strength to carry the load because He knows the limits of our endurance. God is faithful both in the calling and in the completion.

 

1 Thess 5:24

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

 

Be Still, My Soul

Words: Katharina A. von Schlegel; translated to English by Jane L. Borthwick

Music: "Unde et Memores" by Willian H. Monk

 

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. AMEN

 

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

 

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Ps 71:5

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

 

          Hope looks back! The Psalmist was now an old man. Twice he mentions it (See Psalm 71: 9 and 18). When you are discouraged and worried, look back and count your blessings. Remind yourself of the faithfulness of the Lord.

 

          Hope sings! Verses 22 and 23 indicate that singing is done in spite of the “great and sore troubles” mentioned in verse 20. I am reminded of Paul and Silas singing in the dark dungeon while their hands and feet were fastened on the stocks. What power that produced! Acts 16 tells us that their hands and feet were loosed and there was a great earthquake that opened the prison doors. Ah! Let’s sing!

 

          Hope looks to the future! The psalmist looked to the future and moved from "You are my hope" (v. 8) to "I will hope continually" (v. 14; see Ps 36:5; 47:10 ). The future is secure when Jesus is your Lord. The word translated "hope" in verse 14 means a long and patient waiting in spite of delays and disappointments. If we trust God, then the trials of life will work for us and not against us.

 

         A. W. Tozer once said: “We can look backward in time until the dim past vanishes, then turn and look into the future until thought and imagination collapse from exhaustion and God is at both points, unaffected by either.”

   

Ps 20:7

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

 

Dear Lord, we have seen your mighty hand in the past and we are given hope for the future. Let us now look up and see your righteousness reaching to the heavens. AMEN

 

WHAT IS HIS NAME?

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

 

WHAT IS HIS NAME?

 

Ex 3:13-15

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

 

          Moses was having a conversation with a burning bush which commissioned him to rescue Israel from slavery in Egypt. Moses thought ahead to when he would announce that “God” had sent him and someone would surely ask: “What is His name?” It wasn’t God who was having an identity crisis but Moses. Moses was still struggling with whether he was a prince or a shepherd.

 

          There are no less than twelve names of God in the Old Testament but here the Lord offered a name that answered Moses’ question. If someone asked the name of God, Moses was to answer simply I AM. The Hebrew word translated I AM is the word hayah which simply means “to exist or to be.” Verse 15 offers a more detailed answer when God says: “this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” The word “ever” is translated from a word that means “time out of mind.”

 

          When God said his name was I AM, He was not simply saying that He exists from now on till infinity. He was saying that He exists from infinity to infinity. He exists from before the beginning till after the end. Such a concept, even when thoroughly explained, is hard for a time-dweller to grasp.

 

          There is continuity, consistency, stability, and singleness of purpose in a God who has neither beginning nor end. With God there are no yesterdays or tomorrows. When He confronts us, He is as He always was. (Malachi 3:6) There is comfort in such a God.

 

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!

 

Dear Lord, you are the same God who listened to my childhood prayers and calmed my childhood fears. You are the same God who heard my confession and saved my soul. You have led me until today and will see me through tomorrow. Your thoughts toward me have not changed. Your plans for me are sealed and fully determined. My destiny is sure because you do not change. Thank you, Lord. AMEN

 

THE FRONT SIDE

 

Monday, October 28, 2024

 

THE FRONT SIDE

Eph 5:28-30

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

 

          Many of you know that these devotionals began as a blog called
The Backside of the Pulpit. The idea is and was that the view toward the pew was much different than the view from the pew.

 

          Well, as a retired pastor, I can take my place in the pew along side my wife. I consider it a great gift to listen to my shepherd and to hold hands with my wife. My big Bible is left at home because in my right hand is a cane and in my left hand is the hand of my wife. We support one another. My Bible is a digital one, on my phone. I mean no disrespect.

 

          The truth is that she is the strong one. Believing in me when I doubted myself and encouraging me in my orthodox and un-orthodox ventures. She knew the hurt I never spoke. Now I am trying to be the man that Ephesians five says I should be. I am making some small progress.

 

Eph 5:33

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

 

Thank you, Lord for my helper and my mate. AMEN

 

BOTH FAITHFUL AND JUST

 

Sunday, October 27, 2024

 

BOTH FAITHFUL AND JUST

 

1 John 1:1

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

          This precious thought was my last thought before I went to sleep last night and my first thought this morning. In my occasional sin, He is faithful and in my prolonged seasons of sin, He is also faithful and just.

 

          The word, faithful, is from the Greek pistos which means trustworthy. It means that God is a promise keeper and is not deterred by frustration or anger with me. What He said He would do, He will do. It is a part of His very nature.

 

          The word, just, is dikaios, which means not only equitable but right regarding His decisions. While God’s holiness required the punishment for my sin, His mercy required my release because Jesus paid the last full measure of my punishment on the cross!

 

Heb 4:16

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and grace. AMEN

 

I VOTED

 

Saturday, October 26, 2024

 

I VOTED

 

Ex 18:25-26

25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

 

          Moses was either a control freak or so busy that he had not thought of an efficient way to rule and judge. His father-in-law suspected that he would exhaust himself and thus present the possibility of impaired judgment. His plan would be easier and better.

 

          The separation of powers is one of the founding principles of our nation. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches conduct themselves both independently and cooperatively. Each branch provides part of a triad of checks and balances. Our burgeoning governmental system needs the aid of individual citizens. Each citizen has both a gift and a duty to select “able men” to rule and judge.

 

          The duty of voting, I have already performed. A full half of my country disagrees with my choices. However, elections, troublesome though they may be, provide an opportunity to either confirm good leadership or correct bad leadership. Without elections, bad leadership will bring the country to ruin. Voting should, therefore, be done prayerfully.

 

          George Washington, the only president to have actually gone into battle while serving as president, is purported to have rightly said, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”

 

          Unless Jesus is on the ballot, everyone will select the lesser of two evils.

 

Isa 9:6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

Dear Lord, I have cast my lot. Please cast Yours. AMEN

 

GOD NEVER PANICS!

 

Friday, October 25, 2024

 

GOD NEVER PANICS!

(a CLASSIC devotional from 2010)

 

Ps 91:1-2

91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 

Panic is the result of challenges that are greater than our store of resources. We come up against a force too strong to deal with and we run away. This happens often with men but never with God. He has an unlimited supply of options at His disposal. His strength is unmatched.

 

Secret Place! The idea from the Hebrew word is simply a “cover,” hiding place or disguise. The idea of a “secret” place suggests an inner circle of those initiated into a choice brotherhood. It is a place for insiders, for those who are intimately acquainted with “the Most High.” It is a place of acceptance no matter how diverse the individual members of this secret society may be. They have status. They are granted entrance and protection.

 

Shadow of the Almighty! The Hebrew is Shadday (shad-dah'-ee) and springs from one of the names of God, El Shaddai. Shaddai itself occurs forty-eight times in the Old Testament and is translated "almighty." The other word so like it, and from which we believe it to be derived, occurs twenty-four times and is translated "breast." As connected with the word breast, the title Shaddai signifies one who nourishes, supplies, satisfies. The Egyptian goddess Isis was clustered over with breasts because all things are sustained or nourished by the earth or nature." The same was true of the idol of the Ephesian goddess Diana in Acts 19, for Diana signified nature and the world with all its products.

(From Names of God, Copyright 1944 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)

 

Perhaps that is too much information for this early in the morning, but the idea is that God is quite capable of satisfying the needs of His people! The Almighty is all-mighty.

 

When I first became pastor of my latest church the secretary had a small item on top of her file cabinet which read simply “God Never Panics!” I will never forget misreading it for the very first time as “God Never PUNTS!” When you think about it, it still makes good sense. If God had a football team there would be no punts!

 

Dear Lord, I know I can hide in your secret place today. I am a member of a beloved band and have access to the “hideout.” I know also that I have no need that can’t be more than adequately met by your rich supply. Let there be no panic today. AMEN

 

BE VERY COURAGEOUS!

 

Thursday, October 24, 2024

 

BE VERY COURAGEOUS!

 

Josh 1:6-8

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

          Only twice do we find the word “courageous” in Scripture. Both times it is God speaking to Joshua! Now, we usually think of Joshua as a mighty warrior, but God saw his fear and urged him to be a man of courage.

 

          The Hebrew word for “courage” is ‘amats and means to “be alert, physically or mentally.” It means “to confirm, establish, fortify, harden and prevail.” It means to do all that you can to win even if the outcome is uncertain. Even greater courage is needed when the outcome is impossible like the circumstance of the three Hebrew children facing the fiery furnace.

 

Dan 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

 

          Charles Haddon Spurgeon said that our cowardice has often subjected the gospel to contempt. His opinion makes perfect sense when you remember that we testify that our God is the Great God and able to do anything. He is a loving God and cares for his children. He has promised to be with us even through the valley of the shadow of death. His resources are without limit and His strength knows no measure. When he bears His arm for combat all his foes fall down. How could we not find courage when standing behind this Champion?

 

          Satan is a bully, and most bullies will relent when challenged. Today you will meet your own bully. He will tell you that you are stupid and weak. He will intimidate you every time you turn toward righteousness. But, like the Hebrew children, stand up to his bullying and declare your faith in an invincible God. Let the Devil know that he may win the skirmish, but he will ultimately lose the war. Let him know that you may be a casualty, but he will ultimately be vanquished. Only be thou strong and very courageous!

 

Dear Lord, today the bully will threaten us with the fiery furnace. Let us face it unafraid. AMEN

 

ENCOURAGMENT!

 

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

 

ENCOURAGMENT!

 

Heb 12:12-13

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

 

          The word “encouraged” or “encourage” is found in the Old Testament about nine times and each time it is translated from the word chazaq which means, among other things, “to strengthen, cure, help, repair, and to fortify.” It also means “to seize” like a parent grabbing a child who is falling.

 

          Oddly, the word “encourage” or encouragement does not occur in the New Testament at all. However, the sense of encouragement or discouragement is everywhere. In our text in Hebrews, the apostle refers to Isa 35:3-4 “Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” The words are an address to persons almost worn out with sickness and fatigue, whose hands hang down, whose knees shake, and who are totally discouraged.

 

          I am a people-person. People encourage me! I am often amazed and lifted up by their love, concern and genuine help especially those who are connected by a mutual faith in God. The Psalmist comments on the encouragement of Christian fellowship in the following.

 

Ps 133

133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

 

Dear Lord, let me be an encouragement to those who are worn out. AMEN

 

IN THE GAP!

 

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

 

IN THE GAP!

 

Ezek 22:29-30

29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

 

          Our nation, in just a few days, will be faced with the most significant decision in decades. The fact that many do not see it as such only serves to confirm that it is so. Warren Wiersbe’s comments on our text above is so good and so clear that I offer them to you unedited.

 

“God searched among His people for one person in authority who would stand in the gap so that the enemy wouldn't penetrate the wall and invade the city, but He found none. Of course, the Prophet Jeremiah was in Jerusalem, but he was a man with no authority who was rejected by the politicians, priests, and false prophets. Jeremiah himself had scoured the city, looking for a godly man (Jer 5:1-6), but his quest was a failure. The Prophet Isaiah failed in a similar search (Isa 51:18; 59:16). The Lord promised to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if He found ten righteous men in the city (Gen 18:23-33), and He would have spared Jerusalem for one righteous man.”

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

 

Dear Lord, let me be that one righteous person standing in the gap. AMEN