"Moreover...In Keeping Them There Is Great Reward"

"Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward." (Psalm 19:11)

The thought occurred to me as I read our text this morning: What do I consider as my, "....great reward"?  Can I ask: What do you consider as, "....great reward"? 

It is interesting that money did not come to my mind.  The first thing that I thought of was the affect (yes, the verb, "affect") which Jesus' sustaining, empowering Words, aka, the Bible, has been having on my recovery.  This is in the most literal sense my, "great reward."

I realize again today that there have been many people who gave up, quit, experienced divorce, succumbed to bitterness and despair after the loss of a child.  While the pain of loss has never ceased, while "sorrows like sea billows [can still] roar," I can say today that my, "great reward," is Jesus' Words, or what Psalm 19 refers to as, "the Law of the Lord.., the Testimony of the Lord.., the Statutes of the Lord.., the Commandment of the Lord.., the Fear of the Lord.., the Judgments of the Lord....'----- THE BIBLE.  It is in the faithful submission to, and reading of, and, "in keeping," Jesus' Words, which produces that wonderful, "great reward"? 

First, it really came to me today that my, "great reward," is exactly in what the psalmist said, "Moreover by them," Jesus' Words, "Your servant is warned...."  I am, "warned," that there is nothing but blackness, darkness, an empty void awaiting me, if for one moment I forget that in Jesus' Words was/is my salvation, "born again," yes, and including the moment by moment sustaining I need in Jesus' Words for the remainder of this life's sojourn.

Second, there is the, "....In keeping them...."  Neither you nor I are, "In keeping them," flawlessly all the time.  But there is one thing we can do.  If you and I really believe, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb", then we will give ourselves daily to the reading, even the hearing of, "the Words of God" (and always remember His great promise, "the entrance of [His] Word gives light.")  The, "More to be desired..," is key.  I consider myself an intravenous user, on literal continual "Life Support," Jesus' Life, Jesus' Support, Jesus' Words.  This, my friend, is my absolutely, marvelous, glorious, "....great reward."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that for too long I thought wrongly about, "great reward."  Thank You for Your Word-Revelation today.  Amen.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Here's Some "Victory Stuff"

"For sin shall not have dominion over you...."  (Romans 6:14a)

Most have probably never thought of it this way, but perhaps the most powerful sin in the Enemy's arsenal is to get you and me to give up in life.

I read Job 3 this morning and it appears in that chapter that Job was ready to "throw in the towel."  But we know he didn't.  I have known, however, those who have.  The so-called "sins of the flesh" we battle every day.  I think that sometimes the Enemy of our souls knows that religious people focus on the "obvious" sins in life, you know, the ones which most everyone would call sin.

Ah, but my dear friend, there are those sins of self-pity, discouragement, feelings of insecurity, and again, the most destructive, just give up, quit.  Yet many would look at a person enslaved to the self-centered sins and feel sorry for them, put their arms around them, tell them, "There, there."  I have shared with you before what our Lord Jesus said to me one afternoon in the summer of 1970, "You can sit here the rest of your life and pity yourself.  Or, you can get up and follow Me."  I did not need coddled.  I needed the promise that this, "....Sin shall not have the dominion over [you]."  That was a deliverance from the above mentioned sins.

"For sin shall not have the dominion over you...."  Stand on/in this, "God-Breathed," declaration, "....SIN SHALL NOT HAVE THE DOMINION OVER [ME]."  Bitterness, despair, anger, discouragement, self-pity, "....shall not have the dominion over you...."  Too many look at and call "sin" as what the other guy has.  We need to look at, "....the sin which so easily besets us," square in the "face" and say to it, "[You] shall not have dominion over [me]." 

We can walk in the reality of our text, not because of our determination, but because of, "the blood of His Cross", Jesus' Blood, Jesus' Death, Jesus' Resurrection.  There's a lot of talk in these days of "declaration."  We need more of the declaration, "For sin shall NOT have the dominion over you...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, too many times I just seem to accept "sin."  You said I don't have to.  Thank You that Your Truth is, "....Sin shall not have the dominion over you."  Amen.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Beware The Word "Disillusion"!

"Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment." (Psalm 7:14, NIV)

Everyone must be very careful in speaking the word, "disillusion."  Our text takes it right back to the "speaker."  Notice the progression: "evil," followed by, "trouble," followed by, "disillusionment."

I have read this passage many times in the NIV, but today I saw something which I don't believe I have seen before.  From further study, I get the sense in our text that any, "disillusionment," on the part of the disillusioned is the result of the, "evil," in the said disillusioned.  In other words, "disillusionment," results from, "evil," not from the person, organization, etc., which the accuser names.  Why is this so?

The root of, "disillusionment," is one's expectations.  I go to a local church with one expectation; I get married with one expectation; I prepare for a vocation, and get a job with one expectation.  Then, behold; it just "did not work out."  Why?-- mostly because of self-centered, self-assertion expectations.  I wanted it this way, and it became that way, which really means, I wanted it my way, and "they" got their way.  How many times have you heard the phrase, "I gave myself in that relationship (church, marriage, job, friendship), but they..............  "They" what?  Beware the evil which leads to, "disillusionment."

How does one "protect" him/herself from, "disillusionment"?  Okay, here's a controversial reply: Don't expect anything.  The moment expectations rule, which are usually selfish, the, "evil," of that selfishness, "....conceives trouble."  The only "child" which can come from that is, "disillusionment." 

When Jesus Christ and His Word live and reign in you and me, however, there can be no, "disillusionment."  Everything Jesus tells us, everything Jesus promises is true, because He Himself is Truth.  The cure for, "disillusionment," is to live our lives, "Looking unto Jesus."  Get our eyes (expectations) off humanity and anything "connected" with humanity.  Or, "....Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin (expectation) that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (not looking to our expectations, but rather) fixing our eyes on Jesus...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are my Only Expectation.  Amen.
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Read one reason I voted for President Trump: 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Salvation Belongs To"----------------

"Salvation belongs to the Lord." (Psalm 3:8a)

"Salvation belongs to," none other.  Salvation does not, "belong," to me; "Salvation," does not, "belong," to you, nor governments, anything or anyone other than, "the Lord [Jesus Christ.]"

An ancient king told a woman who cried out to him, "'Help me, my lord, the king!'...The king replied, 'If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you?'"  And right here, my friend, is the issue.  We all have that tendency, when there seems to be no help from anywhere, when the Lord Jesus seems to be "delaying" help, or "answers," or anything, to take the route of, "....where can I get help...?"  This is the plague of modern American culture.  So very, very many are crying out to the government, the doctors, the financial advisors, friends, family, some even to pastors, "Help me, my lord, the------ whatevers."  And what happens when the "whatevers" cannot come through?

Now I am not saying that we should not help one another, nor should government, family, friends, etc., ignore the cries of the needy.  What I am saying to us "needy ones," however, is that while there may be some kind of help from man, it is not, "Salvation"-help.  And I'm not talking only about, "born again."  The Word for, "Salvation," here means, "deliverance, help, prosperity, saving, security, victories."  There are depths of help in you and me that no personage can "help."  They are fundamental issues, yes, even food, clothing, shelter, health.  If our cries are, "Help me, my lord the"------, the ultimate result will be a sheer pagan life style.

"Salvation belongs to the Lord."  Can we say that Jesus "owns" Salvation?  An ancient king was reported to have sought the help of physicians and not the Lord God.  Such a life style was condemned.  Physicians can be good; governments can be good; friends, family, pastors can all be good.  But when they are our first cry for help, they become evil to us.  The, "Salvation," in our text is the, "Salvation," of life, not just "evangelical salvation."  This is our All-compassing, Living Triune God, working in us and in the earth the, "Salvation (which) belongs to the Lord," only.  Neither I, nor you, nor any super religious hero, government, family, friends, etc., etc., can do what only our Lord Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and ever shall do!  Our prayer should be, "Help me, my Lord Jesus, the King."

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for those times I "cried out to the"------ anyone or anything before or instead of You.  Amen.
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Repetition:  October 28-November 15 Mission in Germany

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....With Him Comes My Own Heart"

"I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart." (Paul to Philemon, NLT)

I hope this does not sound "corny" to you, but I say to you also, "....with [this devotional] comes my own heart."

This is considered to be one of the "pastoral epistles."  When I read this to Sarah this morning, she said, "He was a pastor."  Of course he was.  But I can also say that this attitude is the attitude of everyone in whom Jesus Christ lives.  I do not see most of you very often at all.  There are even some who receive my devotionals whom I have never met "in person."  You and I, however, are still one in Christ Jesus; we are still of the Church Universal.  "And with [this] comes my own heart."

I noticed again today that this pastoral letter was written by a "jail bird," and one who was in continual fellowship with other "jail birds."  Such is the life of one totally surrendered to Jesus.  Now for most reading this, we are not "jail birds."  But in the depths of our being in Jesus, the heart of a "prisoner" resides, a willingness to, "die for the Name of the Lord Jesus."  Whether "spiritual" or physical, there resides in all who love and serve Jesus a death-to-self.

"And with him comes my own heart."  Is there anything more beautiful than this?  This is our relationship in Jesus.  I can also tell you that as I contemplated our text this morning, I thought of, "Our Father Who is in Heaven...."  As I read one of my NT readings today, Hebrews 1, it was as though I heard Father say to me of our Lord Jesus, "And with Him comes My Own Heart." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I know that as I read this earlier, it was You.  Amen.
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More of the Snopes Deception Revealed:  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2