LITERALLY, "STOPPED IN MY TRACKS"

"O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You uphold my lot."  (Psalm 16:5)

I must tell you that I cannot remember the last time I meditated so long on a Bible passage.  It was to be my regular Psalms reading for the day, but I got to our text and just stopped.  The depth of His Words just ministered to my whole being.

The Word, "portion," is sometimes translated, "food."  Remember that Jesus tells us, "My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."

"Inheritance:"  God told the Levites that they did not need a land inheritance.  He said, "I am your inheritance."  David picks up on this as his own.

The Word, "cup," in the Hebrew has the idea of containment, holding something in it.  This is the "position" of every Follower of Jesus.

"Lot:"  "You maintain/uphold," what You give to me.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that, "You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You uphold my lot."  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

"THE FOUNDATIONS ARE DESTROYED"--PERIOD

"The foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  (Psalm 11:3, Interlinear)

The answer to the question, "What can the righteous do?" is not, "Come up with alternate foundations."  There just are none.  "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

America, in particular, "destroyed" the Foundation of Jesus Christ in its culture when it made His Words and His Prayer illegal in the public/state school system.  Of course, Jesus Christ is not "destroyed;" the nation is destroyed.  Just look around, 

Isaiah refers to, "the age old foundations."  And here they are, rather, Here He is: "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My Words and does them...is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was well built on the rock."

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive any in Christendom who believe there is an alternative to Your, "Foundation, which is Jesus Christ."  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

"PROFESSING TO BE WISE"

"Professing to be wise, they became fools...."  (Romans 1:16)

Obviously their, "Professing to be wise," was a wisdom which they thought was their natural gift.

When one rejects Jesus Christ, "....Who is made to us Wisdom from God..," then whatever "wisdom" he/she claims to have turns into, "....they became fools."  There are just no exceptions.

I make no, "Professing to be wise...."  My shortcomings are more than my "long-comings."  If you and I have any wisdom at all, it is only a gift of the Holy Spirit, not from our parents, nor our education, nor some "natural" gift.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I freely confess with the psalmist, "I have no good a part from Thee."  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

"GOD'S INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP"

"Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house."  (Job 29:4, NIV)

"....God's intimate friendship...."  This is what I long to live in.  It's ours, you know, in Jesus Christ, because of His shed Blood, death on a Cross, and resurrection.  Do not allow anyone or anything to tear you from It/Him.  Guard His, "....intimate friendship...,  jealously. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank you so much for this desire, this longing of Yours for such friendship.  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