'MY SUPPORT"

"They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay (support)."  (Psalm 18:18, NASB)

He is speaking of our enemies here.  But we know from Ephesians 6 that our enemies are, "not flesh and blood."  Our real battle is, "against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  Apart from Jesus Christ I am no match for them. 

Let me remind us that the, "....whole armor of God," is the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Every "piece" of the armor mentioned later in the chapter is a description of His Person.  Sometimes in our attempts at "spiritual warfare" we can get too full of ourselves.  

Make no mistake: "The Lord [Jesus Christ] was is) my support," or, "protector, sustenance."  It is sort of similar to, "The Lord [Jesus Christ] is my Shepherd."  In the cosmic struggle and in our daily battles, Jesus is our, "Perfect Everything."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are, "....my support."  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

"....HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW"

"'The Kingdom of God is like this,' He said.  'A man scatters seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn't know how."  (Mark 4:26, 27--CSB)

As the years go by in my sojourn in Jesus Christ, these Words are becoming more and more true in me: "....although he doesn't know how."  There is just some of life of which I do not need to, "....know how."

I place the, "....know how", at Jesus' feet, and say with Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been His counselor?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I accept what I do not understand.  Amen.

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* We have received $100.00 toward the Crow Mission, August 1-15

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

"FOR OUR GOOD-------- ALWAYS"

"And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day."  (Deuteronomy 6:24)

The reason people do not read the Bible is quite simple: They don't believe that, "the Words of God," are, "for our good always"-- period!  "For our good always," has been true always.  It just took me too many years to get this Word of King Jesus into my heart and mind.  As the Bible says, I was a, "sinner against [my] own soul[]."

If we get these Words, "for our good always," into our hearts and minds, nobody will have to tell us to "read the Bible."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You continually show me that Your Words are, "for our good always."  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

I WROTE ANOTHER DEVOTIONAL, BUT IT WAS TOO LONG

"And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.'"  (Mark 2:27)

This thought came to me right away as I read our text today: The Laws and Commandments were made for man, and not man for the Laws and Commandments.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You and what You do are as Your Word declares, "for our good always."  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

"[JESUS] BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS"

"God...has...spoken to us by His Son,..Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high...."   (Hebrews 1)

The hymn writer said, 

"'Tis done the great transaction's done; 

I am my Lord's and He is mine; 

He drew me and I followed on, 

Rejoiced to own the call divine.

"Happy day, happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You.  Amen.

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Crow Mission:  August 1-15

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