CAPTURED BY HIS LOVE AND MERCY!

 

Friday, November 21, 2025

 

CAPTURED BY HIS LOVE AND MERCY!

 

Ps 139:1-5

139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

 

          This is a powerful image! In fact, my mind pictures a laboratory rat caught in a maze. He is led inescapably to a destination known only by his captor. In this case, however, the captor is not a tormentor but a benevolent guard and guide. He is the Lord of Glory! He is the Creator and sustainer of the universe. His ways are above our ways. As the 6^th verse says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

 

          I have often struggled to find a way out of His will because I think it to be in error. Surely, He can’t want me to endure what I am currently enduring! Problems press in on the left and troubles join upon my right hand. I can’t go back, and I can’t climb up. The only way left to me is forward to the fearful unknown. I do not perceive his love and mercy until I reach the appointed place of peace. It is then I see His handiwork and understand His protection and provision.

 

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

By Fanny Crosby

 

All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my Guide?

Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate'er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know, whate'er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

 

Dear Lord, forgive my struggle against your efforts to lead me. I am ignorant of what is best for me and too foolish to submit. I have learned that your way is best but learning that has not been easy nor is it easy yet. Thank you for trapping me in your love and mercy. AMEN

 

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Thursday, November 20, 2025

 

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 indicates 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

 

TARES AMONG THE WHEAT!

 

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

 

TARES AMONG THE WHEAT!

 

Matt 13:24-25

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

 

          The parable of the tares is found in Matthew 13:25-40. The wheat represents true believers, and the tares represents pretenders. It is most difficult to tell them apart. Their appearance is very similar, but the proof is in the eating.

 

          Dr. Albert Barnes explains: By "tares" is probably meant a degenerate kind of wheat, or the darnel-grass growing in Palestine. In its growth and form it has a strong resemblance to genuine wheat; but it either produces no grain, or that of a very inferior and hurtful kind. Probably it comes near to what we mean by "chess." It was extremely difficult to separate it from the genuine wheat, on account of its similarity while growing.

         

The "taste" is bitter, and when eaten separately, or even when diffused in ordinary bread, it causes dizziness, and often acts as a violent emetic. Barn-door fowls also become dizzy from eating it. In short, it is a strong soporific (a sedative)  poison, and must be carefully winnowed, and picked out of the wheat grain by grain, before grinding, or the flour is not healthy.

 

Grain by grain! That’s how it is with our daily lives, isn’t it? We sow good things into our mind, heart, and lives but later we find things that are bitter and sickening. Where did those things come from? The enemy has sowed tares among our wheat.

 

Sift your life and carefully pluck away those things that are bitter. Better yet, ask God to sift your life and purify it.

 

Luke 22:31-32

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

Dear Lord, within the good wheat of my life grows tares. Despite my best efforts, I find within me things that must make you sick. Pluck them from me grain by grain. Purify me, I pray. AMEN

 

NOT OF THIS WORLD!

 

Monday, November 17, 2025

 

NOT OF THIS WORLD!

 

John 15:17-19

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

 

          Christianity began as an insignificant baker’s dozen plodding the streets of Jerusalem. As far as the world was concerned, this little band was hardly worth a second glance. Their leader was a poor carpenter of questionable birth who had a strange personal magnetism. He attracted a handful of societal misfits who wandered the streets and generally made themselves a nuisance. The world hated them. Their leader was eventually crucified, one follower committed suicide, and one-by-one the rest were dispatched in order.

 

          The spread of Christianity can only be described as “otherworldly.” Its growth doesn’t make much sense and what was once an obscure cult is now a worldwide force. But the bonding of Christianity and American culture is an uncomfortable alliance where both sides question whether it is appropriate to be part of the other. As long as Christianity doesn’t demand culture to radically change, the alliance is friendly, but when Christianity proves itself to be truly Christian the relationship is strained. The world still hates us!  John Gambold said: "The laws of Christ condemn a vicious world and goad it to revenge!"

 

          Settle it in your heart that the world will continue to resist true Christianity. You will constantly be required to choose between pleasing the world or pleasing God. You will never find a comfortable middle ground. Stop trying to compromise with the culture because the world can offer you nothing beyond this life. Only Jesus can do that.

 

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

Dear Lord, the world is a disappointing place because I am not from here. I don’t belong here, and I’m not staying here! The discomfort that I feel is due to my being displaced from my true home. Come quickly and take me to be with you. AMEN

 

A COMFORT TO ME!

 

Sunday, November 16, 2025

 

A COMFORT TO ME!

 

Col 4:11

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

 

          The word comfort as used here is not the same word as is used when Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit. Here the Greek word as well as the English word is paregoric! I suppose you must be of a certain vintage to remember your mother giving you a dose of paregoric. I remember it as a cloudy clear liquid that she mixed with water and had me drink it. It settled the stomach and, I suppose, settled the child. You can’t buy it anymore without a prescription because it is a narcotic. My childhood survived many such things that are now considered dangerous.

 

Jesus Justus was a Jewish believer who served with Paul, but we know nothing about him. The name Jesus (Joshua) was a popular Jewish name, and it was not unusual for Jewish people to have a Roman name as well (Justus). He represents all those faithful believers who serve God but receive little recognition. These were Paul’s paregoric! They eased his pain and settled him down. Oh! How very important are these unsung faithful ones!

 

You may not realize it, but your acts of kindness and cooperation may ease someone’s pain and settle their nerves. You also may be totally unaware that you are the source of someone’s comfort. God bless you for your steadfast faithfulness for it is a great comfort to me and to others.

 

Dear Jesus, thank you for the many unheralded servants that provide soothing and comfort. May I learn to be one of them. AMEN

 

WHAT’S KEEPING HIM?

 

Saturday, November 15, 2025

 

WHAT’S KEEPING HIM?

 

2 Peter 3:3-4

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

 

          If we are honest, we have all had those days when we have secretly asked ourselves if Jesus is ever going to return. We don’t see or understand the signals that should alert us that something is brewing besides the coffee! All the warning signs are here and yet He waits.

 

          The world, our friends, our enemies, our churches, and ourselves are in a terrible mess. Why won’t he come back and fix this?

 

          Well, God doesn’t mark time like we do, and He is infinitely more patient. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and so he waits for us to come to our senses and repent. Some will but too many simply won’t.

 

Heb 10:36-37

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

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

 

Dear Lord, you have told us that your coming will be on a day very similar to this day. Let me be prepared and help me to prepare others. AMEN

 

HAVING DONE ALL – STAND!

 

Friday, November 14, 2025

 

HAVING DONE ALL – STAND!

 

Eph 6:12-13

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

          Today you may find yourself wrestling! It is important to know who the real enemy is. It is also important to understand that God’s agenda is more important than your own agenda. If our cause is just, our human enemies may be under the influence of the Devil and even they may not know this. Be careful but tender in the way you treat them for the tide may change and you don’t want to make the rift in your relationship permanent.

 

          You should also be aware that spiritual wickedness is very subtle and that you, yourself may be under Satan’s influence. If it is possible with your adversary then it is certainly possible for you as well. Satan’s cackling laughter can be heard over the din of friend fighting friend. Oh, how he loves that.

 

          All the armor needed to win is available through the Spirit. The girdle of truth – is your view of the situation correct? The breastplate of doping the right thing and the helmet of Salvation which covers our mind are all needed. Don’t leave anything out.

 

          Having done all, simply stand! Thoroughly investigate your own position then stand. The word “stand” is the Greek histemi which means “to abide or to stanch.” The word stanch refers to restricting the flow of blood. Having done all -- stop the bloodletting.

 

Dear Lord, help me to find, assemble, and put on the whole armor of God available to me. Help me to scrutinize my own position and make sure it agrees with you. Then let me stand. AMEN

 

PRESSING ON!

 

Thursday, November 13, 2025

 

PRESSING ON!

 

Phil 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

          The little word “press” can be found in our Authorized version only nine times. Only twice in the Old Testament where the Hebrew refers to the wine press. There are three Greek words used in the New Testament which are translated “press.” Five times it is the Greek ochlos which basically means a riot of people or a crowd. It is helpful to remember the word sounds like “Oh! Close!” Once more, in Luke chapter 8 the word means to squeeze in from every side.

 

          However, the word in our text this morning is the Greek word dioko and it means “to pursue or to chase after to obtain.” That is my focus, and I recommend it to you as well.

 

          Spiritually, there are hindrances and distractions which must be discarded in order to press ahead. Let us first identify them in our lives. We must see them for what they are and cast them aside.

 

          Warren Wiersbe offers this comment: “Self-evaluation can be a dangerous thing, because we can err in two directions: (1) making ourselves better than we are, or (2) making ourselves worse than we really are. Paul had no illusions about himself; he still had to keep "pressing forward" in order to "lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold" of him. A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress.”

 

Dear Lord, let me not linger too long with the distractions along the way. Let me run with patience the race set before me. AMEN

 

QUALITIES OF STRONG DISCIPLES!

 

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

 

QUALITIES OF STRONG DISCIPLES!

 

Luke 6:12-13

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.

 

          From those Jesus “called” he also “chose” twelve whom he named apostles. What did he see in the twelve that he did not see in the others? Let me suggest a few things.

 

1.       THEY WERE FAITHFUL!

 

1 Cor 4:2

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 

Here the word “faithful” means “trustworthy!” We assign important tasks to the faithful.

 

2.       THEY WERE AVAILABLE!

 

Availability might best be described by its antonym. The very best tool is the one nearby. Shoes were never designed to be hammers but many a heel has driven a nail because it was available.

 

3.       THEY WERE TEACHABLE!

 

Prov 1:7-9

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

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

 

Those who despise instruction will never do well. Are you faithful, available, and teachable? God wants to use you today.

 

Dear Lord, please find in me today the qualities you require that I might be usable and useful to you. AMEN