Psalm 91 Day of the Month

"Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling...."  (Psalm 91)

The promises in this Psalm are beyond human/fleshly comprehension, especially when you look at history, perhaps even our own experiences.

"No evil shall befall you."  Yet how many of us can recall what seemed to be "evil" which befell so many?  Then, there is, "A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you."  Millions of those who had read and recited this Psalm throughout the centuries "fell," e.g., the millions in the concentration camps of the German Government, and Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake.  And I could mention more.  The question, however, for you and me today remains, What shall we now do, not only with our text, but all Scriptures which just seem to contradict what humanity perceives as "reality?"

This is "what we shall do:"  We can begin with, as does our Psalm, "He who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty....I will say of the Lord [Jesus Christ], He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; in Him will I trust."  The only life of victory is the life of believing/accepting this.  One can look at life, and come to a hopelessness conclusion.  Or, one can live, "....looking unto Jesus..," and come to another conclusion.  Reality is not what "appears" to be, as in, "....while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen."

Do not allow the Enemy to deceive us.  All of the seeming "exceptions" of life are not.  If you and I, "....abide under the shadow of the Almighty," Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, we will walk as those mentioned in Hebrews 11, "....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."  Some think I am "rationalizing."  I'm not; I'm listening.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I too, "....embrace[] them."  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

A "Political Statement"?

"O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps."  (Psalm 79:1)

Of course this is for Israel and has many implications for Modern Israel as well as World Jewry in general.  As in so much of Scripture, however, our text has other implications which include the Church, and ultimately global humanity.  

For example, American children, for the most part, are not taught truth/facts about America's beginnings, that many of the framers of the "American Experiment" were followers of Jesus.  Moreover, you can see Biblical principles throughout the Declaration as well as the US Constitution.  From its beginning, America has been unique among the nations.  I have no doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ raised up The United States of America for a definite purpose in history.  Those born in America have, in a very real sense, "....come in to Your inheritance."  

Now, we are watching, "the nations," those who reject the Reign of Jesus Christ, "....come in to Your inheritance," attempting to destroy the purposes of God.  They may have US passports, US citizenship, but they are not of the "inheritance;" they are not Americans.  More importantly, they are of the nations described in Psalm 2.  Now some may say that I am taking Scripture to assert a political philosophy.  Correct.  Because if any political philosophy is not based upon the Words of Jesus (Luke 6), it really doesn't matter if the tag is Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Fox or CNN.  They are simply worthless babble of humanity.

Yet far above all of the aforementioned is the so-called, "Great Commission," which is not just to get converts into our churches.  It is, "The Great Command," our Lord Jesus Christ sending His Church to, "disciple the nations," which really means, "Teach Me and My Words to the nations," not as a way among "ways," but the Way. In these tumultuous days, the Church needs to proclaim and live boldly, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to continually distinguish what is You in world events and what is other.  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 Is The "Safest City In Which To Live"

"Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually...."  (Psalm 71:3a)

According to the margin in my Bible, the phrase, "strong refuge," literally means, "rock of habitation,"  

Jesus Christ is my, "Rock of Habitation," and the Word, "continually," reinforces the whole aspect of our life in Jesus' Glorious, "Habitation."  This is a we-never-leave-You fellowship.

The, "God-Breathed," Word tells us that when we surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, we became one in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, "God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity", living, dwelling, abiding in, "fellowship/partnership," in Him, "continually," Eternally.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so very much thank you that Your are my, "Rock of habitation"------- CONTINUALLY."  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