Nothing Is More Powerfully True

"My times are in Your hand...."  (Psalm 31:15a)

I know it is not the complete verse, but the sentence is powerful.  Everything about you and me are in the "Hand" of the Living Triune God------ everything.

The world is manifesting just how perverse is humanity's fear, how feeble his condition, how utterly out of control, really not knowing what to do.  Man struts around like a proud peacock, boasting in his achievements, scientific advancements.  And yet, plagues, weather, the journey of the earth around the sun,  just to name a few, reveal just how really beyond his control is most of his life.

So, back to our text, "My times are in Your hand..."----------- as is the Universe. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is nothing more clear, more true than all that concerns me is, "....in Your hand."  Amen. 

"....Until The End."

"And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end."  (Hebrews 6:11)

There will always be circumstances which require obedience to, "the full assurance of hope until the end," which we did not know about previously.  Last year we had no idea of the panic which would grip our global cultures because of a plague.  But over our sojourns there have been, for many of us at least, events which came our way to challenge our mettle, and our commitment to Jesus Christ in, "....hope until the end." 

So, here we are facing another, "until the end," prospect in our lives.  We just don't know what, "the end", of all of this will be.  It is easy to preach, "confess," shout amens to, "the full assurance of hope until the end."  It is quite another thing to actually, "show the same diligence...until the end."  In reality, we just don't know what lies between us and, "....until the end."

Here is what the Holy Spirit tells us in Hebrews 3:  "....Moses...was faithful in all His house.., but Christ as a Son over His own House, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for me and my friend that our, "hold fast," is sure.  Amen.

Psalm 23 Day Of The Month

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."  (Psalm 23:1)

According to the Interlinear, it is better, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be lacking."  The Word for, "want," or, "lack," is a verb.  There is the sense here that because Jesus is my Shepherd, He Who said, "I Am the Good Shepherd," we need not live in fear of wanting for anything, lacking anything.

Notice that, "I shall not be lacking," does not have anything after it.  Jesus does not tell us that we will not be lacking for peace or happiness or joy or food or clothing or shelter or....  It is clear, to the point, all inclusive.  Because Jesus is my Shepherd, "I shall not be lacking", anything, any time, anywhere, ever.  

Out text should have an it-is-settled in us.  I live in surrender to Jesus Christ, walking in obedience to His Words, abiding in Him; therefore, my whole life is "covered."  The Good Shepherd, Jesus, lives in me and I in Him----- "I shall not be lacking"-------- for ANYTHING.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I scarce can take it in."  Amen.

What Prevents "Mighty Work There"?

"Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them."  (Mark 6:5)

This is a most disturbing passage in that it tells us that it was familiarity in Nazareth, not theological issues, which prevented our Lord Jesus from doing a, "....mighty work there, except...."  Is there perhaps a familiarity with so many explanations which we ourselves have created, and the many pastors, teachers, prophets, etc., who believe they have to have an explanation which will not discourage us in our lack of faith, that hinders our coming into all that Jesus has for us?

If the Gospels teach us anything, they teach us that our Lord Jesus Christ never turned away the persistent soul, "O, woman, great is your faith."  And what about Blind Bartimaeus, and the woman and the judge in Luke 11?

I think many of us battle not just with, "Does the Lord Jesus still do this?" as much as, "Does He want to do this for me?", which is another way of saying, "Is it His will?"  Remember what Jesus said to the man when he said to Jesus, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean....I am willing; be cleansed." 

Pray with me that you and I will believe and act upon what Peter told the Centurion, his household, and his friends, that Jesus, "....went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil," yes, "all." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Have I become too familiar with the opposite of what You are really about?  Amen.

His "Strange" Ways

"Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors...."  (Deuteronomy 4:24)

The context is the description of how the Lord God delivered the Hebrews out of Egypt.  I submit that it is very similar to the deliverance of the Church over the last 2000 years.  The Blessed Trinity never promised us that this would be a "fluff ride." 

In the midst of great trials and suffering, may you and I never forget  that Jesus tells us, "In the world you shall have tribulation," similar to that which is described in our text.  But I encourage you today to always remember Jesus' Promise, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for being My Overcoming Savior. Amen.