The Key To "Enduring Forever"

"The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring ('stand') forever."  (Psalm 19:9, NIV)

The truth is, there is very little, "fear of the Lord," in the earth today.  Man fears so much, but fear of the One Whom the Bible commands us to fear is the only, "fear," which, "is pure, enduring forever."  Other fear destroys.  "The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever"; therefore, as I live in, "the fear of the Lord," I will be, "pure, enduring forever."

It has always been interesting to me that many Bible translators and so very many church-goers are quick to put us all straight, including the unbeliever, concerning the word, "fear," in the Bible.  They are very quick to coddle us with the assurance that there is nothing to fear about God.  The real meaning is "awe," or, "respect," or, "reverence," so they say.  The word, "fear," in our text and throughout Scripture, however, means, "fear." My examinations of this have revealed that most translators seem to use various words to translate, "fear," at their pleasure, preference, which is code for, "go to our happy place."   This approach further adds to the disrespect, the life of casual obedience, as in, obey what one wants to obey, and don't obey what one doesn't want to obey.  Yet the Bible clearly states, "Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him." 

The Book of Psalms uses the word, "fear," at least 75 times, more than any other book in the Bible.  Jesus teaches us in the Book, "Serve the Lord with fear....In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple....Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men....The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant....Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!  There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him."

As before, I remind us all that there is only One Lord in the Bible, not an Old Testament "Lord" and a New Testament "Lord."  As Paul states, "....yet for us there is one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and through Whom we live."  We say to ourselves and to the world what the Bible says, "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for the power, healing, comfort of Your Words.  May I never attempt to "rewrite" them.  Amen.    

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Read of the culture-changing developments in Europe and America at:   jhs58.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

"Happy Are The People Whose God is the Lord" Jesus Christ

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves...against the Lord and against His Anointed...He Who sits in the heavens shall laugh...." (Psalm 2:1, 4a)

I wish you and I could have the same "laughing" attitude about life.  The enemies of Jesus rage, but He and His purposes never change.  I say to the, "kings of the earth," You might as well rage on; you don't have much time left.  As for those of us who are Followers of Jesus, in the midst of intercession and concern for the lost of the world, there should be the "Divine Laughter."

I have always felt that there is a little of the Dad and child here, as in the child thinking he can do so much more than he is capable of, and a loving father's chuckle at the effort.  But there is also a taunt here.  Maybe some think this is not nice of the Living Triune God, but when men continue to refuse the reign of, "the Lord and of His Christ," there is nothing more to do than laugh at its futility.  You have heard the phrase, "That is laughable."

You and I serve Father and, "His Anointed," His Christ, Son Jesus.  There should be in us a joy-laughter, yes, even in the midst of great sorrow and the world descending more and more into The Abyss.  The kids Mom's funeral was this morning; it was indeed a sad affair.  I understand the "better place," and the "suffering is now over," etc.  But the sadness of the lost remains.  Yet as contradictory as it seems to those who know not Jesus, we laugh with the heart of those the Bible describes as, "Happy are the people whose God is the Lord Jesus Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that, "Happy are the people whose God is the Lord."  Amen.
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*    There are a couple of new articles at:    jhs58.blogspot.com
*    Please continue to pray about a possible date change for my participation in David's Tent       in DC.

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

We Give To Be Faithful

"If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless..., if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments,...if I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security, the fortune my hands had gained',...then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high."  (Job 31, NIV)

Notice, when we give we are not, "unfaithful to God on high."  Rather, we are, "[]faithful to God on high."  We give, not to "get," but to be faithful.

America is increasingly becoming, more and more, a selfish nation simply because Americans, "....trust in gold and said to pure gold, 'You are my security'...."  Most want; few give.  If your trust is in your possessions, then you have to protect them, because you believe it is your possessions which guarantee your security.  This is the reason so many are flocking to Trump.  I don't support him, but many do, especially of the "middle class," because they are fed up with politicians promising everything and producing nothing for them, while those who refuse to work just seem to get more and more.  There was an article I saw today which I posted to Facebook that reveals just how sick is the American culture.   This give-it-all-to-me-but-I-do-absolutely-nothing-for-it-and-couldn't-care-less-what-others-have attitude is pure evil.  Job knew it, and wanted to be no part of it.

Jesus commands us, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."  You and I as Followers of Jesus need to look at our giving, not just to the Church and Missions, but to those who are as Job described, and not through some 5013c to get a tax credit, but for the above reason Jesus gives us.  The last part of our text struck me today as a check for our giving.  Giving is just as much a mark of my faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ as is writing this devotional, going on missions, preaching and sharing Jesus with the lost, worshipping and praying.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want to be thus faithful.  Amen.

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Please remember our Shelly in your prayer.  Recovery is not what she was expecting; hence, very frustrating at this time.

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