PSALM NUGGET, OT LESSON, NT LESSON

PSALM NUGGET:

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears....For You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."  (Psalm 18:6 & 28)

OT LESSON:

"For who will heed you in this matter?  But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike."  (1 Samuel 30:24)

NT LESSON:

"The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it."  (Acts 13:17)

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 ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION...."

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."  (Proverbs 31:8, NIV)

Well, I can say that I am among those who could not and, "....cannot speak for themselves,..[a] destitute," lost sinner; therefore, Jesus spoke up for me.  He brought me from classified as, "destitute," to, "and you shall have it more abundantly."

1 John 2:1 says, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an advocate (intercessor, comforter) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

You may feel as one who, "....cannot speak for themselves."  I remember I was in such a case when our Stephen Paul died.  But I remind you of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that right now, in this very moment, as it was over 53 years ago, and is still so, moment by moment, Jesus is He of whom Hebrews 7:25 says, "He always lives to make intercession for them", yes, "for those who cannot speak for themselves."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for being my Advocate.  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

PSALM NUGGET, OT LESSON, NT LESSON

PSALM NUGGET:

"The Lord shall reign forever-- Your God, O Zion, to all generations."  (Psalm 146:10)

OT LESSON:

"There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God."  (1 Samuel\

 2:2, KJV)

NT LESSON:

"Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?'  Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'"  (John 18:37)

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 12:2PSWALM

"....NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE...."

"Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her." (Judges 16:1)

As far as I can see, Samson never spoke of God, nor does it seem as though he had, at least what we would call, a relationship with God.  The only time he prayed to God was at the end of his life when he cried out for help to destroy the Philistines.

If you look at many, if not most, of the people in the Bible whom the Lord God called to serve Him for His purposes, many were just as Samson, just as you and I, viz., flawed with many weaknesses and sin; some were outright scandalous.

Now of course I'm not advocating such behavior, but if you are like me at times, you wonder just why the Lord Jesus has called us not only into His service, but even into His very own Family of the Redeemed.  One thing I do know, however, is that for Samson, and you and me, it is, "....not by works of righteousness which we have done (or do), but according to His mercy He saved (called) us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank 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