Writing On Eagles Wings

Scripture: “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:” (3:3)

Observation: Solomon writes about following the laws of God and the wonderful things that happen to those who do. He also mentions that even the chastening of the Lord is a good thing because that happens when God loves the person (v. 11-12). Lastly, Solomon cautions about God’s actions against the wicked.

Application: Keeping mercy and truth in one’s heart comes from repeatedly studying the Word of God. As I get older, I find memorization of Scripture more difficult than I thought it would be, but not impossible! Perhaps I just got out of practice, so I am challenging myself with memorizing short sections of the Bible. My first two attempts have been very encouraging… Psalm 23 and 100. It’s taking quite a bit of time to commit these passages to memory, but hopefully by exercising my brain, I’ll get better at it.

Why is this so important to me? According to Proverbs 3:3, I need to commit Scripture to memory and “let thine heart keep my commandments…” (3:1). If I don’t know the Scriptures, I can’t keep them in my heart. It is vital for me to read the Bible for remembrance… not as simply a daily chore to check off my “to do” list. One of the benefits of memorizing verses is that it will help me refrain from sinning against God as stated in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” It doesn’t make me less of a sinner, but it helps me recognize sin when it rears its ugly head and empowers me to fight against it.

This chapter also reminds me that God’s ways are infinitely higher than mine, and He knows what is good and right. Keeping God’s precepts is the application of godly wisdom in my life, and it comes with amazing benefits! It helps me recognize and avoid sin (v. 7), maintain a healthier lifestyle (v. 8), and receive the blessings of God (v. 10, 33-35). Lastly, when I think of the infinite mercy and grace God gives to me, my heart is filled to overflowing with unspeakable joy and eternal gratitude! Thank You, Jesus!!

Prayer: Dearest Lord, how great Thou art! How wonderful to have Your Word available to me for teaching, correction, and most importantly, introducing me to my precious Saviour, Jesus! Help me to never take the Bible for granted. It is so precious to me! Help me to memorize more and more of it, hiding it in my heart, and helping me to become more aligned with that which is good and right in Your sight. Thank You for Philippians 4:13 that tells me that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by P.P. Bliss)

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“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” – Psalm 12:6

Scripture: “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” (2:11)

Observation: Solomon is writing here about the benefits of having wisdom. He reiterates that wisdom and knowledge come from God, and then goes on to describe the rewards of one who has sound godly wisdom and lives accordingly.

Application: As I read through this chapter, I noticed the benefits of having God’s wisdom as a compass in my life’s journey.

1. God protects those who “walk uprightly”. (v. 7)
2. God preserves the way of His children. (v. 8)
3. I will understand every good path: righteousness, judgment and equity. (v. 9)
4. I will have discretion, which will preserve me. (v. 11)
5. I will be delivered from evil distortions of the truth. (v. 12)
6. I will not be deceived by the world. (v. 16)
7. I will be led in the way of good men and keep the paths of the righteous. (v. 20)
8. I will dwell in the place God has prepared for me. (v. 21)

What a wonderful list of benefits that come from embracing godly wisdom! Even the smallest steps in the acquisition of biblical knowledge will lead to amazing rewards! The journey for me is not the easiest, but I am not walking alone. Jesus is always with me!

Prayer: O gracious God in heaven! How great is Your love for me and I rejoice in it! Jeremiah says You love me with an everlasting love! O how my heart sings Your praises and exalts Your holy name! Thank You for loving me and desiring a relationship with me enough to die for me and then forgive me of all my sins. I am so sorry to have failed You so many times, even after being saved, but I am so grateful that Your forgiveness is unlimited. I pray for more of Your divine wisdom that I may walk uprightly and on the paths of righteousness to Your glory! Give me understanding as I read each verse in Your Word and the ability to apply them to my life to honor and serve You better. In Jesus’ precious and most name, I pray. Amen.

All that I am I owe to Thee, thy wis­dom, Lord, has fa­shioned me;
I give my mak­er thank­ful praise, whose won­drous works my soul am­aze.
Search me, O God, my heart dis­cern, try me, my in­most thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray, to choose the ev­er­last­ing way.

(from "All That I am I owe to Thee" by Henry K. Oliver)

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“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” - Ephesians 5:15

Scripture: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:7)

Observation: King Solomon is the main author of the book of Proverbs, and he writes his sayings, along with the other authors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 1 begins with a personification of wisdom and the need for it in our lives.

Application: As a nursing student learning about medicine and the human body, I took classes taught by those who knew the content material well, so I could gain as much knowledge as possible in patient care. As a Christian seeking to know God and His ways, I must again seek out the One who has the authority to best teach it – God Himself! To learn of God, I must begin with a deep reverential understanding of who He is, and that happens through a relationship with Him. That relationship begins at the cross of Christ. Accepting Jesus’s forgiveness of my sins and choosing Him to be my Lord and Saviour is the first step in my quest for godly knowledge. Why? Because at the moment of my salvation, God’s Holy Spirit comes to dwell within me and begins to teach me godly precepts through His Word.

Learning anything new takes time, and learning about God is no exception. It is a lifelong quest for godly knowledge. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” As a new Christian, the Spirit of God begins to teach immediately through the truth of God’s Word, continuing this process until God takes me home to heaven. I am truly a “work in progress”.

Fortunately, the Spirit teaches me wisely… in small increments… bite-sized pieces of Scripture that I can comprehend, apply to my life, and cause my faith to grow. As my faith is cultivated, my ability to understand deeper things of the Bible are revealed to me. Sometimes, the process of gaining a particular understanding of a biblical concept takes years due to my level of faith, but God is faithful and promises to continue the work in me. A deep respect for God is the beginning of wisdom because it drives me to worship Him for who He is, regardless of circumstances or feelings. To “fear the Lord” is to honor Him, respect Him, and acknowledge Him as the author of all wisdom and the best teacher I could have. God is the foundation to ALL knowledge as Colossians 2:3 states, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” If I desire wisdom and knowledge, I simply need to sit down, pray for guidance, open my Bible, read it, and listen as the greatest Teacher speaks to my heart.

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word and the wisdom it contains. Help me to desire Your wisdom and seek it by spending quality time with You every day. Give me understanding as You speak to my heart, and empower me to apply Your precepts to my life. Thank You for Your promise – that You will continue the work You began in me when You saved me. In Your precious name and with thanksgiving, I pray. Amen.

O bound­less Wis­dom, God most high, O Mak­er of the earth and sky,
Who bid’st the part­ed wa­ters flow in Heav­en ab­ove, on earth be­low.

O Fa­ther, that we ask be done, through Je­sus Christ, Thine on­ly Son;
Who, with the Ho­ly Ghost and Thee, doth live and reign eter­nal­ly.

(from "O Boundless Wisom, God Most High" - author unknown)

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“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” - Colossians 4:5

“Why hasn’t God answered my prayer yet?”

This is a common lament I’ve said over the years especially when I’ve wanted an immediate response from the Lord. I’ve had times when I’ve tried to bargain with God to get my prayer answered in my way or rationalize with Him as to why He should answer me right away! To say I’ve struggled with prayer is a huge understatement, but God, in His great mercy, has forgiven me for my presumptive nature, and He has been teaching me a great deal about prayer.

As I learn more about God and how He desires to communicate with me, I am gaining a better understanding about prayer. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 5:14-15, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” I have learned that there are specific requirements to remember about prayer if I want them answered.

First and foremost, answered prayers are those that align with the will of God. How do I know if my prayer is in agreement with God’s desires? His will is all throughout the Bible. For example, I know that God wants people to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” and John affirms that salvation is for everyone in 1 John 4:14, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

Another example in Scripture that I know is God’s will is that I am to love others.  John 15:12 records Jesus saying, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I know without a doubt that loving family, friends, and even those “hard-to-love” folks is something God wants me to do.

One last example of knowing God’s will is in Matthew 28:19, when Jesus gives us what has come to be known as the “great commission”: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” I know it is the will of God that I share Christ with others whenever I have the opportunity to do so.

When I know the will of God and pray according to it, I can approach His throne boldly with my requests, and have the assurance that He will pay attention to my prayer and answer it in His time.

But what if I don’t know His will? How do I pray then? Sometimes we don’t know the will of God regarding a specific issue, but we are still to pray. The Bible tells us that we are to bring all of our burdens, cares, worries to Him, and He will take care of them. Philippians 4:6 instructs me, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” My responsibility is to share my heart with God, and then trust Him for the outcome. I am not to pray and tell God what to do. I am not the omniscient One; He is. Psalm 62:8 states, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Giving my burdens, cares, troubles to God, and then trusting Him to provide the answers for me requires me to “let go and let God” as the old saying goes. As a “control freak”, this is not easy for me, but when I choose to trust Him to work in the best interest for me and those for whom I pray, He gives me peace… His wonderful peace that truly passes all understanding… as I wait for Him to answer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells me to “Pray without ceasing.”  I am not promised that I will understand how God works all the time, or that His answer will be what I wanted, but I am promised that when I trust Him, He will work all things to my good (Romans 8:28), and that’s what brings my heart peace in the midst of a life that’s not always so peaceful.

Pray on, pray on, believing ones, God’s promised word is sure,
That they shall overcome by faith who to the end endure;
Pray on, pray on, O weary not; the cross with patience bear,
And tho’ its burden weigh us down, the Lord will answer prayer.

His eye foresees our greatest good, while we at best are weak,
And thus in wisdom He withholds the boon that oft we seek;
And yet His all-sufficient grace, He bids us freely share,
And in a way we little know the Lord will answer prayer.

With anxious thoughts for those we love, how oft our hearts are filled,
But soon the clouds are rolled away, the troubles waves are stilled;
Then murmur not, but trust in Him, Who knows our every care,
And better for than we can ask, the Lord will answer prayer.

(from “The Lord Will Answer Prayer” by Fanny Crosby)

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” – Colossians 4:2

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Never forget what James 5:16 states: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” – Psalm 40:2

Today, when I went out to fill my bird bath with water, I noticed that sitting on the fountain mechanism was a swallowtail butterfly. Its wing tips were in the water, and it wasn’t moving. I thought that perhaps its life cycle had been completed, and it had landed there to die. However, since I wasn’t too sure, I gently reached under it and lifted it up. Its tiny little feet moved slightly, so I knew it was still living. Its wings were too wet for flight, so  I carried it to my butterfly plant and set it upon one of the blooms. After a few moments, it adjusted itself slightly, but seemed unsteady on the plant. I left it there, hoping it would regain some strength.

A few minutes later, to be sure it didn’t fall off due to its weakness, I quietly returned to see if the butterfly was still on the bloom. It was, but it had positioned itself differently, spreading its wings, perhaps to avail itself of the sun’s warmth. After another few minutes, I returned once again and saw that it was now feeding from one of the tiny blossoms on the large bloom! I was elated and gave thanks to the Lord for allowing me to help one of His creatures!

This whole event reminded me that when I accepted the gift of salvation that God’s precious Son, Jesus, provided for me when He died on the cross, God lifted me from the miry clay of sin that threatened to destroy my life. Then, like the butterfly who was renewed after feeding off the bloom, after I accepted Christ as my Saviour, I was fed from His Word which gave me new life in Him! Now I can spread my spiritual wings and fly for Him, sharing the gospel… the good news of God’s plan for mankind’s redemption… whenever He provides an opportunity for me to do so!

My heart was distressed ’neath Jehovah’s dread frown,
And low in the pit where my sins dragged me down;
I cried to the Lord from the deep miry clay,
Who tenderly brought me out to golden day.
He brought me out of the miry clay,
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, hallelujah!

(from “He Brought Me Out” by Henry J. Zelley and H.L. Gilmour)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

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Oh, to be a butterfly in the hand of God! What joy divine!

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” – Hebrews 13:15

To “worship” means to show feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for someone or something. Some people worship nature, their ancestors or material things, while others worship power, fame, or money. However, the Bible tell us our worship belongs only to GOD, and it also tells us why only God deserves our worship.

Revelation 4:11 states, “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.”

2 Samuel 22:4 gives us David’s words, “I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

Revelation 5:12 records the voices of thousands of angels as they proclaim, “…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

Simply put, we need no other reason to worship God other than the fact that He is God. However, the Bible provides us with insight into the character of God, which explain why He alone should be the object of our worship. Here are just a few of those reasons.

W –

• Wisdom – the right use of knowledge, discernment – “Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.” (Job 36:5)

• Wonderful Counselor – One who strengthens and supports; “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)

• The Way – road, passing area for men, direction; “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

O –

• Omnipotent – all-powerful; “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”  (Jeremiah 32:17)

• Omniscient – all-knowing; “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”  (Psalm 147:5)

• Omnipresent – everywhere; “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

R –

• Refuge – shelter or protection from danger; “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)

• Righteous –  just, holy in heart, according to the divine law; “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” (Psalm 11:7)

• Rock – immovable foundation; “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

• Redeemer – restores rights and/or position by paying a ransom; “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

S –

• Son of God – “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

• Saviour – One who saves from any form of evil; “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

• Shepherd of the sheep – “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) 

• Spirit of God – “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;” (Isaiah 11:2

• Sustainer – One who upholds; “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

H –

• Holy – sinless, pure; “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.” (Psalm 99:9)

• Heart – seat of one’s affections and passions; “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)

• Hope – Having the belief in that something is obtainable; “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalm 71:5)

I –

• Intercessor – One who pleads on behalf of another; “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25))

• Immanuel – God with us; “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) “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)

P –

• Pardoner – One who forgives or absolves an offender; “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)

• Protector – A defender or guardian; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

• Peace – a state of quiet and tranquility, absence of conflict; “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

This not an exhaustive list of why God deserves our worship, but it gives us a glimpse as to why He alone is the One worthy  of it.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

(from “How Great Thou Art” by Stuart K. Hine)

“Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.” – Psalm 99:5

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Take a moment to reflect on who God is, why He alone is worthy of our worship, and then lift your voice in praise to Him!

(photo courtesy of Samantha Campbell)

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” – Hebrews 2:16-18

Sometimes when I am studying a specific passage in the Bible, the Spirit of God opens my eyes to new meaning, and it totally amazes me. Today, as I focused on Hebrews 2, I was drawn to the last 3 verses.

Jesus chose to leave heaven and become flesh (John 1:14) to experience everything that humanity would face, things that He would not experience as God. For example, the temptation to sin is not in God’s nature. God is sinless; He is perfect; He is holy. He makes no mistakes. It is not a hard decision for Him to do what is right, but He wanted to understand everything that we would go through so He could be empathetic with us as He interceded for us to God the Father.

Often, we focus only on the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary. He suffered horrific agony and an unimaginable death as He took our sin upon Himself, and that truly was the greatest sacrifice He made, but it was not the first sacrifice He made for us. Jesus’ sacrifices began before He ever went to the cross.

When Jesus willingly left heaven, He sacrificed perfection for imperfection. He sacrificed a sinless, temptation-free environment of peace and harmony and adoration for God to come to one that was sinful and temptation-laden, filled with evil and wickedness, unrest and violence, and a hatred for God and all things holy. Why did He make this sacrifice? To provide redemption for us and to intercede for us. According to Hebrews 2:17, He did this “… that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Jesus did this to become our Saviour.

There is nothing Jesus would not have done to reconcile us to Him. He sacrificed everything – His home, His riches, His glory, His life. Everything!

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room for Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word ghat should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.

(from “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” by E. S. Elliot)

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38

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Jesus truly sacrificed everything for you and me. What are we willing to sacrifice for Him?

In a few days, it will be July 4th, the birthday of our country. There will be parades, family picnics, and of course, fireworks. Some of the freedoms we cherish today are freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to vote for elected officials, freedom to a fair trial, and freedom to gather together. These physical freedoms were gained through the sacrifices of those we now call our founding fathers and the colonists who followed them into the War for Independence in 1774.

The American colonists lived in oppression from the British monarchy. They were taxed unfairly, exploited economically, and prohibited from governing themselves. The British crown imposed many intolerable acts on the colonies which contributed to the growing desire for independence. It was only when the “founding fathers” took action that the 13 colonies banded together to eventually become the United States of America.

Once Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stepped up to sign their names on behalf of their respective colonies. Some of the more famous signers included John Hancock (MA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), and of course, Thomas Jefferson (VA).

Each of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were risking everything when they signed their names to this document as it was considered an act of treason against Great Britain. Here are the possible consequences faced by the signers:

• loss of property – forced displacements (abandoning their homes and lands) to avoid capture
• economic hardships – many were wealthy landowners who died penniless
• arrest and imprisonment – taken into captivity, mistreated, and tortured
• labeled as a traitor – immediate execution by hanging

It is clear that the founding fathers sacrificed everything to obtain the freedoms that we enjoy today. It is due to their dedication to and determination for freedom that we are able to celebrate the birthday of America on the 4th of July!

The American colonists secured our independence from Great Britain, enabling us to live in a free country today. However, the freedom promised in the Declaration – that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – is not the only freedom we can enjoy in our lives. While the Declaration of Independence ultimately resulted in religious freedom in America, it cannot procure spiritual freedom for any individual.

Spiritual freedom is freedom from sin and its consequences. The greatest consequence of sin is that it creates a barrier between us and God because with sin comes guilt, shame, and fear. It corrupts our way of thinking, making it impossible to please God, and there isn’t any way we can remedy this for ourselves. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God loved us so much that He chose to have His beloved Son, Jesus, take the punishment for our sins on the cross (Romans 5:8).

Jesus is a lot like our founding fathers in that He made similar sacrifices to ensure we could have spiritual freedom. Like them, He experienced the following:

• Loss of property – “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38
  • Jesus left the glory of heaven with all its beauty, joy, peace, adoration and praise to come to dwell among men (John 1:14), but unlike the founding fathers, He willingly gave up heaven to become our Saviour.
• Economic hardships – “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” -2 Corinthians 8:9
  • As the Creator of the universe, everything belongs to God, but Jesus gave up everything and lived here without a home (Luke 9:58), frequently depending upon the charity of others for His needs during His 3 years of ministry on earth. Again, He endured this willingly.
• Arrest and Imprisonment – “And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” – Matthew 27:2
  • Jesus was falsely accused, unjustly arrested, and given a mock trial (Luke 22:63). Although He could have called thousands of angels to free Him, He chose not to do so (Matthew 26:53).
• Labeled as a Traitor – “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” – Luke 23:2
  • The religious leaders accused Jesus as proclaiming Himself as King and being a political threat to the emperor (Matthew 27:11-12).

Unlike America’s Declaration of Independence, our spiritual declaration of independence was only signed by one individual, and it was signed in His precious blood that He shed for you and me on the cross of Calvary. Jesus was crucified to take our punishment upon Himself. He was then buried and rose from the grave three days later to prove He was who He claimed to be… the Son of God. Jesus conquered sin and death, and He is the only One qualified to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14)!

There is only one way to have spiritual freedom, and that is by repenting of your sins (being sorry for them) and asking Jesus to forgive you and save you from the bondage of those sins! You’ll be immediately forgiven, and your name will be written down in God’s Book of Life, guaranteeing you a home in heaven one day.

As Americans, on July 4th we’ll be celebrating the freedoms we received when America was first born.

As a Christian, every day you can celebrate the spiritual freedom you receive from Jesus when you are born again!

Long ago in a far-away place,
Rough rugged timbers were raised to the sky
There hung a man suspended in space,
And though He was blameless, they left Him to die
Just to think of the cross moves me now
The nails in His hands, His bleeding brow
To think of the cross moves me now
It should have been me, It should have been me,
Instead I am free, I am free!

(from “When I Think of the Cross” by Ralph Carmichael)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 5:1

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Are you free from the burden of your sins? If not, today can be your independence day! Just call on Jesus to save you, and He will!

When I was a young girl, my friends and I often played a game called “Telephone”. We’d line up, and the first person would whisper a phrase into the ear of the person next to him or her. Then that person would repeat that same phrase into the ear of the next person in line, and so forth, until finally, the last person would receive the whispered phrase, and then repeat it aloud to the group. The end results were often hysterical as many times the recite phrases were nothing like the originals! Fortunately, the original phrase was always written down to compare the last person’s response to the original.

While studying Titus 1 today, I was reminded of this game when I read verse 9: “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” I need to remember what I have learned from the Bible, and use that as my standard by which to compare teachings that are presented to me by others.

There are many different “Interpretations” of the Bible, even when adhering to one version of the Bible. We get those interpretations via the messages presented in sermons, Sunday school classes, Bible college lectures, devotional study books, Bible commentaries, religious podcasts, even blogs like this one! This is not to say that those presenting the messages are deliberately trying to deceive, but we must all recognize that we are human and have our own unique experiences that influence what we share in the teachings of God’s Word as well as our own way of mentally interpreting what we hear!

This is not a new phenomenon. In Acts 17, Luke wrote about the Bereans. These individuals had the right idea. Verse 11 states, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The Bereans compared what they heard preached to them with the Scriptures to know whether or not the message was of God or men. They were considered “more noble” and verse 12 tells us that “many of them believed”. They accepted their personal responsibility to take what they heard and ascertain whether or not it was aligned with the Word of God.

Many of us hold to the erroneous belief that if someone is standing in the front of the room teaching, i.e., pastor, teacher, author, etc., that the individual is absolutely correct in what they say. We must remember that only God is 100% correct in what He says. Humanity is tainted by sin… even those of us who are saved! We are still in fleshly tabernacles, influenced by our carnality in every area of our lives. Therefore, it is critical that each student, each listener… each person… compare what they are being taught to the Scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to verify the validity of the messages.  

Never assume that a person who seems to be knowledgeable in God’s Word and is sharing from their heart is 100% correct. Be like the Bereans! Search the Scriptures yourself and compare the spoken words of man to the written words of God. If they are in agreement, you will know that God’s Word has been appropriately shared. If they are misaligned, you can respectfully and privately ask the presenter to help you understand. You may have misunderstood something or there may have been an error in the presentation. Pray and ask the Lord to show you His truth. He will always answer that prayer!

We must determine to stand firm on the actual Word of God, not a facsimile or a vague representation. There is too much at stake to settle for a “good replica” of the Bible. It is only by referring to the genuine article that we can glean the truth that God has provided for us!

The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me,
I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.

The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me,
I rest my soul on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.

(from “The B-I-B-L-E” - author unknown)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15

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Jesus said it is the Holy Ghost who brings His words to our remembrance. If we never put those words into our hearts, the Spirit doesn’t have much with which to work. Take time today to read the Bible. Become a modern day Berean!

If you’re like me, there are certain things in life that present themselves as a “thorn in the flesh” as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Some are temporary, but others are long-lasting. Like Paul, I have prayed repeatedly for deliverance from these types of problems, but sometimes God doesn’t answer as quickly as I’d like or in the manner I desire. These “thorns” are not to be taken lightly; our faith can be shaken by them, but God never allows these “thorns” to continue without a divine purpose. No matter what your “thorn” may be, hold on to the hope that when you are on the other side of the trial, like Job, you “… shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

David is an example of someone who had many “thorns” with which to deal in his life. Psalm 31 is a renewal of David’s commitment to God, and his words are an encouragement to believers today who find themselves weary in on-going spiritual battles from those nasty “thorns”.

Verses 1-3

• David knows that God is the One who delivers. God is the One who protects, and in whom we can complete trust without hesitation. David seeks God’s guidance and protection.
• It is important to remember that God is ALMIGHTY. His power is without equal. He can protect and guide you through any adversity that comes into your life, whether it is something that quickly comes and goes or becomes a long-lasting “thorn”.

Verses 4-5

• David was often given bad advice from those around him, and those lies cost him greatly when he omitted God from his decisions. Here, David cried out to God and fully trusted Him, calling Him the “Lord God of truth”. David trust God and expected Him to provide redemption from the enemy.
• Sometimes the enemy that is the most difficult to overcome is the one within us. Our own heart is not to be trusted. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that our heart… our flesh… is “… deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” Whether from within or without, it is God who saves us from the temptations and troubles of life.

Verses 6-13

• Sometimes the enemy is Satan. Many of the troubles we have in life are a result of existing in a sinful world that tempts us to follow its ungodly ways. Satan knows how to make sin look attractive and innocent, but 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that the devil is “… as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Satan’s only desire is to take us away from God, destroying us for his own evil wicked ways. However, God in His infinite mercy, is faithful to remain with us and protect us from the hand of our adversary (v8).  
• God will never abandon us. This truth is a manifestation of His great mercy. We deserve to be left alone in our sin, but Jesus reminds us in Matthew 28:20, “…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Even though we may be fighting a “thorn in the flesh”, we are not alone. No matter what the issue, God reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Not only do we have His mercy, we have His grace and His strength!

Verses 13-16

• Again, David expresses his trust in God. He doesn’t depend upon his advisors or acquaintances. He turns to the Lord and seeks deliverance from Him only.
• While we may have those we seek out for advice when the “going gets tough”, we must never forget that man’s wisdom is nothing compared to God’s wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:25 tells us, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” We have a God who yearns for us to come to Him with all of our cares (1 Peter 5:7). Let prayer and the study of God’s Word be your first “go-to” when seeking deliverance because God’s guidance is never going to lead you astray.

Verses 17-18

• God has no regard for those who are against the righteous… His children. David knows this and calls upon God to pass judgment upon those individuals.
• God hates sin, and one day His judgment will come upon this sinful world in which we live. For those who have trusted in Christ as Saviour, that judgment and subsequent wrath is something we will never experience. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 states, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”. However, for those who have rejected God and chosen to follow the ways of sin and unrighteousness, they will face the consequences of their wickedness when they stand before the Lord God Almighty one future day.

Verses 19-21

• Here the Psalmist recounts how God is faithful to deliver, and David rejoices in that.
• God’s goodness is available to all who call upon Him for salvation. As sinners, we need a Saviour. The Bible tells us who that Saviour is when John writes, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14).
• If you have never trusted Jesus and His forgiveness of sins, you can call upon Him at this moment. As a sinner, if you believe in Jesus died in your place on the cross, was buried and rose from the grave 3 days later to become the Saviour of the world as John wrote, simply bow your head in prayer, and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life as Lord and Saviour! You’ll never have to experience the judgment or wrath of God!

Verses 22-24

• David reminds those who trust and hope in God that the Lord hears them when they cry to Him, and that God will strengthen the hearts of those facing difficult times. He is the One who preserves and rewards His children.
• God has never broken one promise in His Word. Because of this, we have the assurance that He will always be faithful to what He has said in the Bible. David knew one day he would receive his reward from the Lord. As Christians, we also know that one day, we will stand before our Lord in heaven, having received everlasting life and a forever future in the presence of our sweet Saviour!  

My Hope is in the Lord, who gave Himself for me
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
For me He died; For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

His grace has planned it all, 'Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.
For me He died; For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

(from “My Hope Is In the Lord” by Norman J. Clayton)

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans 15:13

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Don’t let God be your last hope; make Him your first and only hope!