Writing On Eagles Wings

This month, my blogs will focus on the prophecies of the coming Messiah, the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, and a few specific individuals and the roles they played in this first advent. After the fall of man, God intervened with His redemptive plan. Genesis 3:15 states, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This is the first time the promise of a Saviour is mentioned in the Scriptures.

Scripture: “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.” – Isaiah 9:6

Observation: Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet who lived approximately 700 years before Jesus was born. In his book, Isaiah writes a prophecy regarding the coming Messiah during a time when the nation of Israel was struggling spiritually. During the Assyrian threat, Isaiah urged the kings under whom he served to trust God for victory, but they did not. Israel is nearly spiritually bankrupt, choosing to continue to worship and serve idols. Isaiah is trying to turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord. He has already given a prophecy regarding the miraculous birth of the coming Messiah in 7:14. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” However, like the kings, the people remain unfaithful to the Lord.

Application: While Isaiah is writing to the nation of Israel, Jesus came into our world for everyone. John 3:16 records, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” You and I are the “whosoever” in this verse. 1 John 1:14 states, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” God sent His Son for all of humanity to reconcile us to Himself.

One amazing thing I noticed when reflecting on today’s verse is that this “son” that was given is described by Isaiah in three ways. His use of names includes all three persons of the Godhead in his description:

• Wonderful, Counsellor – Holy Spirit
• Mighty God, everlasting Father – God the Father
• Prince of Peace – Jesus Christ

There are other names for Jesus throughout the Bible such as the Emmanuel, the Good Shepherd, the Alpha and Omega… the list goes on and on. For me, my favorite name for Jesus is Saviour! He died on the cross that I might have life! O, what a wonderful Saviour is my Jesus! Truly, He is the best Christmas gift ever!

Prayer: Dearest heavenly Father, thank You so much for sending us Your precious Son, Jesus, to be our Redeemer and Saviour. How great is Your love for us! I am so glad that You’ve adopted me into Your family, and I am a “joint-heir” with Jesus! Thank You so much for the realization that every prophecy regarding Jesus’ birth was fulfilled. Your Word is truth! Keep my heart, soul, and mind focused on Jesus and the reason why He left the glory of heaven to come to this sinful world… to save me from my sins and give me a home in heaven. Thank You so much! In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of ev'ry nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end.
By His life He brings us gladness, Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall; 
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.

Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.

(from “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley)

**********

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” – Matthew 1:23

Scripture: “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” – (30:5)

Observation: In this psalm, we read about the mercy of God. David writes about crying out to the Lord, and how He responds with His favour.

Application: Life is never easy. There are always difficult challenges, unexpected tragedies, and tough roads to walk. Sometimes it seems as though the good times will never again visit our lives, especially if we are knee-deep in “bad times”. And truly, when we are fighting hard battles in life, it often feels as though it will never end. This is not so for those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus.

God cares for each one of us and desires to help us in our times of need. He asks us to come to Him with every need. As Christians, we should always be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus taught that we would have tribulation in this world, but He was still the One in control and would give us His peace. “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.” (John 16:33).

Additionally, our key verse states that God will bring us joy when we experience hard times. His mercies toward His children are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:23). Remember, God cares for each one of us, and He longs to give us the desires of our hearts when we “delight” in Him. (Psalm 37:4). How does one delight in the Lord? The answers are in the same psalm.

• Trust in the Lord – “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” (Psalm 37:3)
  • Learning to trust God includes reading and studying His Word, then choosing to believe it as absolute truth, and using its godly wisdom to guide you through all aspect of life.
• Commit your ways to the Lord – “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5)
  • When you choose to do something, you do it in alignment with God’s perfect will. You take His Word for what it says, and make a concerted effort to bring your will into agreement with His will. Your actions reflect the commitment to God’s ways.
• Rest in the Lord – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37:7)
  • Depend on God to bring your through the tribulations you face. He is molding and making you more like Jesus as you go through these challenges. While depending on God for a good outcome is not the easiest thing to do in the midst of a trial, remember God is faithful to make ALL things work to the good (Romans 8:28). This is hard to hear when you’re suffering, but nevertheless, it is a very important truth of Scripture, and requires our trust and commitment to God.

God never lies; He is ever faithful, and He keeps every promise He’s ever made. Thus, if the Lord says “joy cometh in the morning”, you can know that joy truly will come.

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for always being with me. There is so much comfort I have when facing tough situations in knowing that You are with me. You promised to walk with me through those valleys of the shadow of death… those hard times… and then You would give me joy in “the morning”. I know that Your timing is perfect, and I am learning to trust You more and more. Thank You for the truth of Your Word that helps me learn more about You and how to trust You more each day. Strengthen me through Your Word and help me stand strong in my faith when I face adversity. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

I will sing hal­le­lu­jah, for there’s joy in the Lord,
And He fills my heart with rap­ture as I rest on His word;
I will trust in His pro­mise, I will shout “I am free”;
In my bless­èd lov­ing Sav­ior I have sweet vic­to­ry.

There is joy in the Lord, there is joy in the Lord;
Hallelujah, glo­ry, glo­ry, there is joy in the Lord.
There is joy in the Lord, there is joy in the Lord;
Hallelujah, glo­ry, glo­ry, there is joy in the Lord.

(from “There is Joy in the Lord” by Barney Elliott Warren)

**********

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” – Psalm 30:11

Scripture: “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”  – (29:7)

Observation: David states that we should give God the glory He deserves. He goes on to explain the power that is solely from the voice of God alone! This is the strength that the Lord bestows upon His people.

Application: We live in a scary world. Whether it’s on social media, television, news outlets, or casual conversation, we are bombarded with the truth that violence, crimes, dangers and more are ever-present in our lives. It is so easy to be terrified by the “what-ifs” our minds conceive after we are saturated with the evil around us. Peace is elusive; fear becomes invasive. What can we do?

In today’s psalm, David reminds us that God is so powerful, it is only His voice that commands all of His creation. It is the Lord who sits as King on an eternal throne. There is none to compare with God. He is the majestic One. Then, he culminates this psalm by proclaiming that it is His people to whom the Lord will give His strength. And, through His strength (not our own), God will give His children peace.

Now that is something to give thanks for!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for Your peace. It truly passes all understanding. You are so good to Your people. We are weak, yet You are our strength, so we can stand strong in You. Thank You for the assurance of Your power. I give You all glory and praise for Your majesty and holiness. In Your sweet name, I pray. Amen.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.

(from “To God Be the Glory” by Fanny Crosby)

**********

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1

Scripture: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” – (28:7)

Observation: In this psalm, David is asking God not to put him into the same category as the wicked. He then goes on to praise the Lord for his protection, strength, and help.

Application: In olden days, a champion was one who fought on behalf of another. In today’s world, God is our champion! He protects and defends us because we belong to Him. We’ve been bought with the precious blood of His Son, and for all eternity, those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will never be put in the same category as the wicked.

Because we do trust in God, we have the best reason to rejoice and praise Him! Our champion, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the declared winner in the ultimate battle between God and Satan. Revelation 12:10 states, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Praise the Lord, we are on the winning side!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how I praise Your holy name! You are the almighty God, and there is none stronger than You! I do rejoice that You are my protector, helper, and my Saviour! You have given me Your joy, and I am so very blessed! Thank You, O God, for Your goodness to me! Your mercies endure forever! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home:

Under the shadow of your throne Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.

(from “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts)

**********

“Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.” – Psalm 28:9

Scripture: “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” – (27:4)

Observation: David writes about the Lord being his salvation. Whether he is facing the enemy or whether he is being rejected by his family, he knows his security is found only in God.

Application: Being able to attend church was always something I took for granted until March 2020. It was then that the pandemic known as “Covid” caused churches all across this country to close their doors as a result of a mandate from the government. I thought it would only be a Sunday or two, but I was stunned and saddened to see it go on and on.

Fortunately, my church had a livestream program, so my pastor would present his messages live on the internet, and my family and I could watch from home. I was even able to make video lessons for my Sunday school class and put them on our church’s website. But something was missing.

As grateful as I was for the technology that allowed me to teach my little ones and listen to sermons, I missed the fellowship with my church family. I missed the hugs, the chats, the smiles, the singing… I missed seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ, and that resulted in a feeling of spiritual isolation.

I hope I never see a time when our churches close their doors again, but if they do, I know I’ll have ways to be fed from God’s Word beyond my own personal Bible studies. However, nothing can replace the personal interactions that occur within a body of believers. Like David, I desire to dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, it is a good thing to worship You in Your house with Your followers. Nothing can replace the love and joy that comes from singing hymns with other believers, hearing messages from men of God, and being able to serve You in Your church. I pray we never have to go through another time when our doors will be closed. May Your church always be open to anyone seeking to know You more. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

You may sing of the beauty of mountain and dale,
Of the silvery stream-let and flowers of the vale,
But the place most delightful this earth can afford
Is the place of devotion, the house of the Lord.

You may value the friendship of youth and of age,
And select for your comrades the noble and sage,
But the friends that most cheer me on life's rugged road
Are the friends of my Master, the children of God.

(from “The House of the Lord” by William Hunter)

**********

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25

Scripture: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” – 1 John 4:9

Observation: John writes a great deal about the love of God in this book of the Bible, but in reality, God’s love is written all throughout the Scriptures. In truth, the Bible is God’s love letter to us.

Application: If someone asked you, “How do you know God loves you?”, how would you answer? Most likely, the answer would be “The Bible says so.” That is true, but the answer goes deeper than that, and as always, the answer is found in the Scriptures.

In Genesis 1, the story of creation is recorded for us. Almost everything that God created, He spoke into existence. Night and day, earth and seas, celestial objects, birds, fish, and land animals. Everything was created by God’s words, except one: Man.

Genesis 2:7 details the creative process for Adam, the first man. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” He was not spoken into being. Instead, God was physically involved in the creation of man. His hands fashioned man from the dust. Adam’s lungs were filled with the breath of God, which gave him life.

God did the same when He created the first woman. He didn’t simply speak and she appeared. Instead, Eve was the second hands-on creation. Genesis 2:21-22 states, “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”

God was intricately involved in the making of mankind. We are more than words; we are the image of God Himself. The Lord invested so much of Himself into our making. Why? Because He loves us. He wanted us to be more than just something He had spoken into being.

The same goes for you and me. Every person who has ever been born was intentional. The Bible records God’s statement in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…” We were not a random conception. Initially, we were conceived in the mind of God, and HE then chose to bring US into existence because He wanted us to be physically born to have a relationship with Him!

Psalm 139:13-16 explains much of this creative process, and culminates with verse 17, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”

God loves each of us so much, He sacrificed Himself to guarantee a way for us to always find our way back to Him when we sin. Romans 5:8 confirms this, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  

If you think you have nothing for which to be thankful today, reflect on how much God loves you. Not for anything you have done or will do; not for anything you have to offer Him. He loves you simply because you are you.

May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving as you give thanks to God for His great love.

Prayer: Dearest heavenly Father, today when I focus on my blessings, I am most thankful for You! I began as a thought in Your mind, and then You brought me into being because You loved me! And then, as a sinner, You continued to love me, and gave Yourself as a sacrifice to pay my sin-debt, again, because You loved me. Now, You are preparing a place for me in heaven to live with You forever! I am so grateful for Your love! Thank You so much! You are my love now and forever! In Jesus’ name, with eternal thanksgiving, I pray. Amen.

Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,
To keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills of this world in the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven
The one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

(from “Now Thank We All Our God” by Martin Rinkart)

**********

“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.” – 1 John 4:16

Scripture: “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” – (26:7)

Observation: In this psalm, David is sharing his testimony. He is writing of how he strives to avoid the company of the ungodly. He chooses to follow God and His ways, and will not hesitate to proclaim the goodness of God.

Application: In this season of thanksgiving, it is easy to be thankful, but in truth, we should have that “attitude of gratitude” all year-round. Complaining and grumbling really doesn’t accomplish much. In fact, even 30 minutes of negativity on a regular basis can have potentially harmful physical and mental manifestations!

1. The Impact of Chronic Complaining

The Body: Studies show that constant complaining causes cortisol levels to rise resulting in elevated blood pressure and stressing the cardiovascular system. Additionally, the immune system actually can weaken with all the negative thinking. Headaches, insomnia, and even weight gain can occur with all the grumbling! The brain develops alterations in how the nerves travel, weakening their pathways and the ability to think clearly lessens.

The Mind: With continued complaining, stress levels increase. Anxiety goes up and up! Memory issues and cognitive functioning are dulled. Relationships suffer as complaining can cause others to avoid being around you. This can lead to feelings of isolation and even depression.

On the other hand, replacing the habit of complaining with a thankful mindset can be extremely beneficial to body, mind, and soul!

2. The Impact of Cultivating Thankfulness

The Body: Being grateful enables a person to better handle the stresses in life and lessens the release of adrenalin (the fight or flight hormone), which then leads to a calmer nervous system and helps the cardiovascular system function better. Sleep improves. Thinking becomes clearer. Two brain hormones, dopamine and serotonin, are released when having a thankful attitude and these result in feelings of happiness and joy.

The Mind: Thankfulness produces a greater satisfaction with life which causes anxiety levels to drop and depression is reduced. Along with these changes, the mindset shifts to where an individual begins to see the positive side of life in general generating contentment and peace within oneself.

So, now that we understand the benefits of gratitude, what is there to be thankful for in this chaotic world in which we live? David answered this question in today’s verse. He was thankful for the works of the Lord. Here’s a very short list to help get you started:

Give thanks to God for:

• His everlasting love for you
  • “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…” – Jeremiah 31:3
• His creation
  • “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” – Revelation 4:11
• His gift of salvation
  • “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – Ephesians 2:8
• His gift of eternal life
  • “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
• His help in times of need
  • “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
• His peace
  • “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
• His mercy and forgiveness
  • “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” – Micah 7:18

Before you get out of bed each morning, take a moment to thank God for something. Some people keep a “gratitude journal” at their bedside, so they can jot down the things they are thankful for every morning! It only takes a moment, but it will start your day off right with an “attitude of gratitude” and a focus on the One who deserves to be thanked more than anyone else!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all You are! You are my Father, my Saviour, my Comforter. You are my God, and my heart rejoices in You! Thank You for Your many blessings, first and foremost, my salvation. You forgave my sins and gave me everlasting life! I am so undeserving, yet so blessed! Thank You! Instill in me a heart of gratitude, and help me to see Your hand… Your wonderous works… in everything and everywhere I go! In Jesus’ precious name and with great thanksgiving in my heart, I pray. Amen!

Some thank the Lord for friends and home, for mercies sure and sweet;
But I would praise Him for His grace — in prayer I would repeat:

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul, thank You, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me thy great salvation so rich and free.

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow, some for the stars that shine;
My heart is filled with joy and praise because I know He’s mine.

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul, thank You, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me thy great salvation so rich and free.

(from “Thank You Lord for Saving My Soul” by Bessie Sykes)

**********

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” – Psalm 92:1-2

Scripture: “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” – (25:11)

Observation: David writes about God’s forgiveness, mercies, and teachings in this psalm. His burdens are great, but he turns to God for leadership, trusting the Lord to forgive and restore, then lead according to the His perfect will.

Application: Lately, I’ve been thinking about the reasons that God does things. In this psalm, David speaks about God forgiving sin. That’s the first step taken toward the restoration of a relationship with the Lord that was broken in Eden. It is all up to God to do; we cannot do anything ourselves to eradicate the sin in our lives and reconnect ourselves to God. So, what compels the Lord to forgive us?

What do I have to offer God that has persuaded Him to save me from sin and abide with Him forever? What can I do for Him that He cannot do Himself? What accolades can I bestow upon Him to deserve His forgiveness? What act of service or penance can I perform to earn everlasting life in heaven? The Bible specifically states in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

The reality is there is absolutely NOTHING I can offer God to merit His forgiveness. So WHY did He choose to sacrifice Himself on a cross to pay my sin-debt? WHY did He allow Himself to be beaten, tortured, mocked, degraded, and murdered slowly and endure unimaginable agony for me?

The answer is almost unbelievable. God became sin for me because HE LOVES ME! That’s it. The reality is that without His intervention, I am useless to God, but He loves me anyway. I am so unworthy, but He loves me despite that. God knew even after I was saved that I would sin against Him, that I would choose myself over Him time and time again, but He still chose to save me because He loves me unconditionally! In fact, God chose to love me when when He knew everything I would do in my life… the good and the bad… the times I would hurt Him, reject Him, ignore Him… yet He STILL chose to love me. Jeremiah 31:3 is a verse I use often in my blogs because it is a verse that continually amazes me because I know how great a sinner I am. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

GOD LOVES ME WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE! I have no words to express what is in my heart…

He did for me what I’d never be able to do for myself. He redeemed me… because He loves me. When the Lord looks at me, He doesn’t see the heinous sins I have committed both before and after salvation. He only sees that I chose to place my faith and trust in Jesus, His beloved Son, for my forgiveness, my salvation, my life. The blood of Christ washed away every filthy stain of sin in my life because… He loves me. The Bible says in 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” God chose me BEFORE I put my faith in Christ.

My desire is to serve Him, and I want Galatians 2:20 to be me. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Offering myself to Him is not an extraordinary act, it’s “reasonable” according to this verse. I have a long way to go, but it’s the least I can do for the One who did ALL for me.

Prayer: My sweet Father in heaven, there are no words that I can say that express the depth of gratitude in my heart. Why you reached down and pulled me from the miry clay of despair and hopelessness to a life of abundant joy, peace, and hope is beyond my comprehension, but I am so very thankful You did. Thank You for paying the price with Your precious blood for my sins. Thank You for saving me from an eternity without You. I know I have Your promise that one day You will come for me, and I will be with You forever in heaven. My heart and soul rejoices in God my Saviour. Thank You is not nearly enough… but it truly is all I have to offer You. I love You and desire to serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul. Empty me of myself and make me a vessel of honor through Jesus that You can use. Empower me with a boldness to tell others about Jesus and His precious gift of salvation and eternal life. In His name, I pray and with eternal gratitude, amen.

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure: the saints’ and angels’ song!

(from “The Love of God” by Frederick M. Lehman)

**********

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

Scripture: “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” – (24:1)

Observation: Here David writes about God as King and Conqueror. He is the One who deserves the glory; He controls all, and only those who are deemed worthy can come into His presence. He writes that everything created belongs to God.

Application: Everything that has ever been or will be was created by God, and as such, belongs to Him. It’s easy to say that the mountains are His; the stars are His, the animals are His, but it isn’t as easy to say that we belong to Him. That requires submission, and that is often difficult to do. However, as Creator, the creation belongs to Him as well, and as part of His creation, that includes us!

The Bible clearly states that we are God’s.

• Psalm 100:3 – “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
• Isaiah 43:1 – “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
• Romans 14:3 – “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

God is our maker, but He doesn’t force a relationship with Him upon us. He gives us free will to choose Him. Even before we do so, He loves us. Even when we choose sin over godliness, He loves us. Even when we fail to please Him, He loves us. The prophet Jeremiah validated God’s love for us when he wrote, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Why wouldn’t we choose God? He loved us before we loved Him (1 John 4:19). He sacrificed Himself to have an everlasting relationship with us (Romans 5:8). He promises all things good to us (James 1:17). As Joshua said in the book that bears his name (24:15), “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

It is a good thing to belong to God and to be loved by Him. As for me, I choose Jesus!

Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You so much for loving me, dying for me, living for me, and giving me the promise of eternal life with You! I am truly blessed. I know I am unworthy in and of myself, but through Jesus and His finished work on the cross, I have been saved and adopted into Your family! Thank You so much! There has never been a day, O God, when I have regretted making You my choice! Your goodness to me is overwhelming; Your love for me is unimaginable. I am so grateful for You. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul, now I belong to Him

Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity

Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood He gave to redeem, now I belong to Him

Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity

(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)

**********

“My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.” – Song of Solomon 2:16

Scripture: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – (23:1)

Observation: This is probably the most familiar of David’s psalms. David was a shepherd boy, whose faith in God delivered him from formidable opponents. In this psalm, he writes about God being his shepherd and how the Lord cares for him as he would care for his own sheep.

Application: It is a misnomer to think that sheep are “dumb” animals. Sheep are actually very intelligent. Sheep are able to recognize human faces and voices, retaining that recognition for up to two years! When sheep are ill, they often find plants that can alleviated their sickness. Studies show that sheep even have good memories and learning abilities!

However, sheep do have areas in which they are greatly lacking. Thus, they depend upon a shepherd for several very important things.

1) The shepherd protects the sheep.

• Sheep have no natural defenses. They are unable to frighten a predator that is approaching. Their “baas” don’t really strike fear into the heart of an approaching predator. Additionally, they aren’t the best runners, so fleeing from a predator doesn’t end well for the sheep. Lastly, a sheep can’t fight its enemy. It has no innate weaponry of which to avail itself. No claws, no sharp teeth, no poisonous spines. Therefore, sheep are completely dependent upon the shepherd for protection.

2) The shepherd leads the sheep.

• Sheep also have no internal GPS systems, and they tend to wander off. Their sense of direction leaves much to be desired, and they tend to move in flocks. If you think of how a sheepdog easily herds sheep, you can see that they lack directional skills. Therefore, sheep are dependent upon the shepherd to guide them to where they need to be. While they are often good at navigating through mazes, sheep tend to have a “mob mentality”. If one sheep trots off a cliff, there’s a good chance, others will follow. They depend upon a shepherd to keep them on the right path.

3) The shepherd provides for the sheep.

• Sheep are grazing animals, and they will overgraze an area, depleting it of all resources if left to fend for themselves in an area. The shepherd guides the flock to many different areas providing the sheep with fresh grass and water, Additionally, the shepherd will take the sheep to areas with quiet water for drinking, as the movement of water often frightens the sheep. The sheep depend upon the shepherd for food and water.

The Bible often speaks of God’s people as sheep. Like sheep, we have similar dependencies.   

• We need to be guided to and kept on the right path of life.
  • “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6
  • “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:3
• We need to be fed in God’s pasture.
  • “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” – Psalm 100:3
    • God feeds us from His Word; He protects us from the “junk food” of the world’s sinfulness.
• We need to be protected from sin.
  • “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” – John 10:11
    • Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world and to give us eternal life through His gift of salvation.

Like sheep, we also have good qualities. Here are three positive characteristics between ourselves and sheep.

• We know our Shepherd’s voice.
  • “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” – John 10:27
• We have the capability to learn.
  • “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” – Psalm 119:11
• We know to whom to go to find the cure for our sin-sick souls
  • “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” – 1 John 3:5

With Jesus as our Shepherd, there is nothing else we need; we have no want or desire for anything of this world. Jesus has promised to meet all our needs “…according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19). It is good to be a sheep in God’s pasture!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Good Shepherd. I rest secure in Your love and care. You are my Saviour and Lord; I am Your little lamb, safe and protected in Your hands. I am blessed! In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd; I'll walk with him always.
He leads me by still waters; I'll walk with him always.
Always, always, I'll walk with him always.
Always, always, I'll walk with him always.

(from “The Lord is My Shepherd” by unknown)

**********

“And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.” – Ezekiel 34:31