Tuesday, February 27, 2018

All Things Are Thine

"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee."  I Chronicles 29:14.  We are to give unto God of the blessings that He has given to us.  Our offerings to God are to be given with a willing heart and a generous spirit.  We do not give what is our own for we have nothing.  What we possess is of God.  Without His generosity, we would have nothing.  All that is in the heaven and the earth belongs to God.  We only return to God what is His.  God has given to us so that we might use those gifts for His glory.  We are to be good stewards of God's blessings.  We can give to God because He has given to us.  We serve God because He allows us to serve Him.  Our heart is rich with His praise because of His goodness bestowed upon us.  Because God has shared with us, we can share with Him.  Let us never begrudge gifts and service given to God for all is His which He has given to us.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

The Things Concerning Him

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."  Luke 24:27.  Jesus has risen from the dead.  Once again, He seeks to confirm the truthfulness of Himself that He is the Son of God.  That proof is established by Moses and the prophets.  Herein is the great profit of the Old Testament.  This word of inspiration pointed to the coming of a Redeemer.  Through Moses and all the prophets, Jesus was announced as the coming Messiah.  They proclaimed that Jesus would be a prophet that would deliver the people from the bondage of sin.  Through Jesus, God would establish a new covenant with those who would become the people of God from every nation.  Through Jesus, the house of God, the church, would be established.  Renewal, restoration, and revival would be the blessings that Jesus would bring.  The voice of Moses and the prophets was a call to repentance and belief in a Savior that would come into the world by a divine birth by a virgin.  Jesus would come to be the Christ, the Savior of humanity.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

God Is Our Help

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 124:8.  The Psalmist sees certain perils.  The Psalmist understands the threat that these perils have against us.  Were it not for the Lord, we would be overwhelmed.  The storms seek to engulf us.  Evil men rail against us.  Dangers flow over us.  We stand because of our help.  We are insufficient, and oftentimes, powerless.  But, we have help.  We must not despair.  We must never give up.  We have a refuge that will not fail us.  The Lord, the Creator, is our stay.  Could we have a greater companion that the Lord who has made the heaven and earth?  The answer sounds through time. No.  A thousand times, No.  The Lord spoke and it came to pass.  What power has the Lord.  The Lord cannot be overthrown.  Those whom He seeks to help cannot be defeated.  The perils of this life have no power against the Creator of heaven and earth.  We cannot be swallowed up.  The snare of our enemies is broken.  We escape, and the Lord is blessed.  Blessed be the Creator, our help.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Live By Faith

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."  Romans 1:17.  The Old Testament had declared that "The just shall live by faith."  Now, the gospel confirms that "The just shall live by faith."  God's people are people of faith.  Faith believes God.  Faith establishes His word in our heart.  Faith knows that God is real, and that His word is law.  Faith leads us to walk in God's way.  By faith, we obey His will.  Faith accepts God as the Creator and the Eternal One.  Faith convinces us that nothing is impossible unto Him, but that He is the Almighty One.  As we live by faith, we surrender ourselves to the unseen. We live with an expectation of glory. All is right with our soul.  Our hope is stedfast and sure. Faith provides us with stability in storm and calm in chaos.  By faith, we know peace and security.  We are assured that God is able to deliver us and preserve us.  Faith is our light that shines in darkness and our anchor that holds in turmoil.   

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Faith Is The Victory

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  I John 5:4.  They who choose to be born of God must separate from the world.  The world is a harsh enemy.  They who are born of God are strangers and pilgrims in this world.  Our birth into the family of God is by faith.  Faith is a powerful force.  Faith believes in God, trusts in God, and commits to God.  Faith unites our heart with the heart of God.  Faith hears and obeys the word of God.  Through faith we surrender our lives to the will of God.  Faith enables us and empowers us so that we travel in this world knowing victory.  We know victory over sin for our faith links us to the cleansing power of Christ's blood.  We know victory over trial for our faith provides us with hope and comfort.  We know victory over death for our faith unlocks for us the power of Christ's conquest over death.  Faith is the Christian victory that conquers the world.  Faith prevents us from being cast down and overcome.  We endure the cruel elements of this world by a living faith in a living God and a risen Lord.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Ye Are Not Of God

"He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."  John 8:47.  The Pharisees had a hardened disrespect for Jesus.  Jesus declared without hesitation that He was the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.  This infuriated the Pharisees.  People sometimes become angry when they hear the truth, especially if they have no respect for the truth.    These Pharisees claimed to be the followers of God.  Jesus explained that if one is of God, he will hear God's words.  The Pharisees refused to hear.  Therefore, they were not of God.  Here is a divine standard delivered by Jesus.  Those who hear God are of God.  Those who truly seek God will find Him in His word.  The word of God leads us into godliness.  The word of God purifies our soul making us fit for union with God.  The word of God brings us peace and comfort.  The word of God brings us into a nearer relationship with God.  As we hear the words of God, we seek after God and desire to be of God.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Until These Calamities Pass

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."  Psalm 53:1.  Here is a plea for God's mercy in a time of need.  Mercy can be a request when there is trust.  Trust believes that God is capable of mercy and willing to be merciful.  A cry for mercy from God brings us to the realization that we cannot help ourselves.  Trust means that we are dependent upon God.  We need His help.  We admit that He alone can help.  We must have refuge from the calamities that threaten to overcome us.  That refuge is the wings of the Almighty One.  God covers us, and so, protects us.  We cannot escape from the calamities of life.  We must have a place of refuge.  We need a safe place where we can take shelter. We run to the wings of God so that we are protected and guarded.  Help us, O God, lest we be overtaken by life's woes and cares.  Guard us from life's calamities lest we be overthrown.  Let thy mercy sustain and keep us.