When Grief Appears: Got Word?

"My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your word." (Psalm 119:28, NASB)

My dear friend in Jesus Christ: You need not be afraid today; you need not weep with no hope of relief, deliverance, and strength to go on.  He is here, Jesus, Lord of Sabaoth, King of kings, Lord of lords, Ruler, Sustainer of the Universe.  Yes, this is Jesus; this is, "The Word of God," the One Who has always, "strengthen[ed] me according to [His] Word."  His Word promises so much which you and I simply cannot fathom.  Our journey together through this most strengthening of literature may at times seem laborious to some, "but to us who are being saved, it (the Cross, He, His Word) is the very power of God."

Do not ignore today That and He Who is the only Strength when, "My soul weeps because of grief."  Take a moment, during that lunch break, while waiting for an appointment or someone, to experience, "strengthen me according to Your word."  There is no one and nothing like, "Your word," never has been, never will be, "world without end."  We can say with the song writer that Jesus is "a friend," the One Who alone can, "all our sins and griefs to bear."  And, I can say with the writer, "Oh the peace we often forfeit, Oh, the needless pain we bear," not only because "we do not carry everything to God in prayer," but because we do not allow Him to, "strengthen me according to Your word."  Do not let forfeited peace and "needless pain" allow grief to triumph in your life.  If I can promise anything to anyone today, it is that Jesus Christ will indeed, "strengthen me (you) according to Your (His) word." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, You have done our text in me so wonderfully, powerfully, consistently, eternally.  Thank You.  Amen.

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You may find this difficult to believe: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

 
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Psalm 119, A Portrait of Our Savior, Jesus

"Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes." (Psalm 119:23)

Neither, "Princes," nor anyone, nor any situation can dissuade a Follower of Jesus Christ, because, "Your servant meditates on Your statutes."  If I don't live by our text, then anything and anyone can get to me, i.e., produce anger, reaction, vindication, bitterness, despair.

We can also say, however, that if, "princes (do not) sit and speak against me," then I am probably not living for Jesus Christ, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).  I am not saying that everyone who "has a problem with" us is unspiritual.  I recently had another request to be removed from our mailing list.  When I get such requests, the reasons are just code for, "I really don't like what you are doing."  This is not an "I'm-better-than" issue.  "Against me," happens to all of us from time to time, some justified perhaps, some not.  But my course needs to be the same as the psalmist, "But Your servant meditates on Your statues," not on who's right and who's wrong or "woe is me."

After yesterday's devotional on, "I am a stranger in the earth," I found myself doing, "Your servant meditates on Your statutes," in Hebrews 11.  In fact, I based last evening's video devotional on that passage.  It was a blessing.  "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."  Just look at what people miss when they allow, "Princes...sit and speak against me," to keep them from, "Your statutes."  May I paraphrase Hebrew 12, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,..lay aside every ['speak against me'],.. looking unto Jesus," especially in, "Your statutes."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I love the contrast of our text.  Help me to be on right side of it.  Amen.

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ATTENTION: I guarantee you that you will hear the best commentary on America, Israel, and the turmoil in the Middle East if you go to:  www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com

Follow the directions to the location on the video, and be patient.  Allow the beginning to play for a minute or so, then go to the 41 minute section to get Carolyn Glick's penetrating commentary on the present US Administration and Israel.  Pass it on.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"APF VIDEO DEVOTIONAL"

We are on a journey to a "city." APF VIDEO DEVOTIONAL WE ARE HEADING SOMEWHERE

Where Is "Home?"

"I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me." (Psalm 119:19)

The word translated, "stranger," in our text means, "alien, sojourner."  Over the years, can you not admit with me that the "closer" you got to Jesus Christ, the more "alien" you felt?  What about those old reunions, the office parties, the family holiday gatherings, the music, the movies, sports, Olympics, etc., etc.?  When in these environments, don't you feel at times "out of it," that you have little to nothing in common, like a, "stranger (alien, sojourner) in the earth?"  I tell you, my Fellow Disciple of Jesus Christ, if we don't, something is probably wrong with our spirituality.

An old song says, 

"This world is not my home, I'm just passing through."  

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

....If Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?"

It has an old "country, Southern Gospel" twang to it, which is not my cup of tea, but there is truth in it.  The Bible clearly teaches that "this world is not [our] home."  Religionists can put on it whatever spin they wish, but Paul said, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."  I'm just "spitballing" here, as the saying goes, but I wonder if the history of God's People would have been different if they had not gone from a sojourning-Tabernacle to a fixed-Temple culture.  I'm sure this would preach.

Notice again the course-correcting place of the, "Words of God," in the psalmist's life, "Do not hide Your commandments from me."  Jesus, "The Word of God," the Bible, His Words, is our "Compass" in this sojourn as, "a stranger in the earth."   No one can navigate the dangerous, even deadly waters of the deceivers in life, be they media, government leaders, educators, entertainers, fellow workers, family, etc., without, "Your commandments," i.e., "Your Words."  

So today, if there are those moments of, "What am I doing here?  Why do I feel so alone?"------- don't worry.  Remember, "This world is not my home; I'm just passing through."  And in this "passing through," in this life as a, "stranger, "alien, sojourner," The Word of God, my friend, Christ's "Compass," says to us, "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness."  That is, "dwell in [His] land, and feed on," not the television or the religion of this world, but rather, "on His Faithfulness," or, as our text declares, "Your commandments."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are My Home.  Amen.

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* Please continue to pray for the provision and plans for the "David's Tent" gathering in Washington, DC.  If you are planning to come to the gathering between September 25 through October 1, let me know.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2