 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.(Proverb 11:18)
The garment of life seems to be woven with two threads; wicked persons and righteous ones. Jesus said, "You shall know them by their fruits." When the word deceitful is employed, many props and disguises are the supply to wicked works. How often have you looked into the face of such an employee? Yet, when a sower of righteousness enters the stage of life; hearts seem to become expectant. The dialogue of one's thoughts becomes hopeful, victorious and decorated with faith in God! Such work should certainly be rewarded. How could it the otherwise? Praise the Lord!
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 What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul, shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.(Psalm 25:12 & 13)
What was it like to sit at the feet of an actual physical Jesus? How did he teach? Here is a poem I acquired several years ago titled, "The Teacher." He never taught a lesson in a classroom. He had no tools to work with; such as blackboards, maps or charts. He used no subject outlines, no records, gave no grades and his only text was ancient and well worn. His students were poor, the lame, the deaf, the blind, the outcasts and his method was the same with all who came to hear and learn. He opened eyes with faith. He opened ears with simple truth. He opened hearts with love, a love born of forgiveness. A gentle man, a humble man; he asked and won no honors, no gold awards of tribute to his expertise or wisdom. Yet this quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee has fed the needs, fulfilled the hopes and changed the lives of many billions. For what he taught brought heaven to earth and revealed God's heart to mankind. Praise the Lord!  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness (Psalm 17:15)
When I first read this Scripture, some years ago, it gripped my heart with riveting emotion. I thought, "with thy likeness." Overwhelmed, as floods of thoughts cascaded through my mind, I wanted to absorb all its meaning. Once again, I found myself at the threshold of revelation, only to knock. When Jesus walked on earth, several times he was confronted with persons who were deceased. Jesus would simply say, "they are asleep." (John 11:11) How could this be? Certainly a challenge to the natural mind. So in order to determine stability of the whole event, a close look at the preceding verse in Psalm 17 must be afforded. In verse 14, we can read about the reward or blessings given to the disobedient; wicked men of the world. A wide range of goodies are afforded them, which have their portion in this life. Then what happens to God's faithful? All who have forsaken what the world offers and have followed Jesus and the Gospel. What could possibly satisfy such a loyal follower? Could it be that when they awake out of sleep, that long journey over, their likeness will be the same as the Lords', when he rose from the dead? You be the judge. Praise the Lord!  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
How marvelous are thy ways oh Lord! As we navigate through the waters of this life, you are not alone. In these instructions that Father God gives to us, it is not a me or an I; but a we and an us. Take another look at this verse, teach us and that we may apply. Your brothers and sisters that are gathered in God's house this morning echo, "you are not alone." Eternally purposed, the family of God gives strength one to another. Our goal in this life is to strive and please God our Father, in every aspect of our existence. Our destiny is eternal. Our destination is paradise, the new Jerusalem and a new creation of heavens and earth. There will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more questions and much, much more, all enveloped in God's love. How could it be any other way? Praise the Lord!  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18)
As the journey to Bethlehem is once again reenacted in the hearts of God's faithful, at this holiday season, it seems as though two celebrations are taking place under the same banner. The hopeful that await eternal life, are truly thanking their heavenly Father for his gift of love to the whole world. The holy Child Jesus to them is a King, Lord, master, the great physician, Messiah, the holy one of Israel and life incarnate. As God's children we find it a most reasonable vocation to love and serve him daily. On the other hand many are void of this understanding. It's no wonder Jesus instructed us to be the light unto this world. Can you think of a better time to turn up the glow? After all, man has coined this phrase, "He is the reason for the season." Praise the Lord!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:2)
As the holiday Christmas approaches and we prepare to praise the beautiful name of Jesus, my heart is filled with warmth. My soul is running over with adoration for him. The thoughts of eternal habitation in the new heavens and new earth, overwhelms all of this life's burdens. Just think for a moment; no more pain, no more sorrows, all tears will be wiped from our eyes by none other than the hand of God himself! There is still more. We are advise to not forget all his benefits. With this expression of love, Father God reveals that he intends to fully give us the kingdom; not only on that day, but in this world! The words, "only believe," will ignite the path and secure the blessings. Praise the Lord!  Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come. (Psalm 71:18)
Can you imagine that? Our Heavenly Father has encouraged us; no, he has declared to us, that age and other circumstances can never void out his existence of character. I see so many people winding down their lives; trapped in their own limitations. Not so with the true believer. In this Scripture, we see Almighty God not limiting himself to our limitations. At any age; one's natural abilities or inabilities are the springboard into the world of faith and God's love. Since the beginning of time, it's been the same pattern; birth, life and then death. When we are born again (1 Peter 1:23), a new format of eternal life prevails. All the effects of aging, sickness, intellectual abilities and so on, must give way to Father God's strength and power. Moses started his spiritual career at the ripe age of 80 years old. The Scriptures also record's that at 120 years of age, his natural force was not abated. (Deuteronomy 34:7). This is hard to imagine and not so easy to comprehend. Had the natural process been left up to Moses or for that matter anyone else, it would have been different. Beloved, it is God's power that makes the difference. And Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Only believe! Praise the Lord!  I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1)
As the years go by, I have come to realize that God and God alone is our best bet. Many a life that I have had a relationship with shouts volumes that this is true! It is more than a privilege to have an association with God as our Father. Here in the house of the Lord, is where that relationship will blossom. This is a time of joy unspeakable for those who love, serve and are loved by Jesus. Here today there will be a symphony of adoration, fellowship and a filling of the spirit of God. Unlike the marketplaces of this world, here in God's house, his resources are inexhaustible. The true believer will never be disappointed and their soul will experience an oasis of living waters! Praise the Lord!  Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 150:6)
Have you ever heard the saying, "knowledge is power?" It's not so much the knowing of how something is done or how it successfully functions, but the settling in one's mind that this is simply the way it's done! Take for instance the Psalm in which this verse appears. First of all, there are six verses in this Psalm; yes only six. These express our creators' existence. In each verse,, the word "praise" appears twice. Joseph in the book of Genesis, gives us this insight; that when Father God doubles or shows something twice, it is established by Him and He will shortly bring it to pass. (Genesis 41:32) Just what is the psalmist saying? What will come to pass as we praise God? His power, his mighty acts and his excellent greatness become reality! Can you imagine that? All simply because Almighty God doubled a word. Praise the Lord!  Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (Psalm 63:3&4)
"Thy loving kindness is better than life!" What a most powerful statement from the psalmist David to have recorded fully knowing that you and I would be reading the Scriptures as God's word today. Paramount to say the least, David wrote this Psalm while he was in the wilderness. He concluded that there is something better than our life; God's lovingkindness! Not only does David confirm that he experienced it's existence, but also affirms how to navigate to its origin; praise, blessing his great name and the lifting up of hands. Can you imagine that! You and I only have one life to live.It is most valuable to say the least. This life of our's is being spent one day at a time. How quickly they add up to years and then a lifetime. However, along life's journey, a continual flow of living waters can be had. In Hebrew, the word lovingkindness means favor, merciful, pity, reproof on occasions or better put in one word Jesus! Beloved we have a lot to thank Father God for at this Thanksgiving holiday; especially his lovingkindness. We pray a most blessed Thanksgiving to all this holiday season. |
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January 2019
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