Majestic and Amighty

 {Read Psalm 18:1-16}

 

Friday, January 8, 2016

 

Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of His anger . He opened the heavens and came down. (Ps. 18:7, 9).

 

There are people who say the God they believe in mustn’t be a “watered-down” God. A watered-down God is a weak and timid God, and all He expects is that everyone must be friendly and understanding. This is not enough to sustain faith in the face of unbearable suffering in the world today.

 

David worshiped a revered, majestic and omnipotent God. What David describes in today’s Scripture could have been a volcanic eruption or a mighty thunderstorm. One thing that he was certain of was that God was there - controlling it, using it, talking to humankind through it and destroying his enemies in this way. The great truth here is that God will act in order to save His servants. 

 

The same God appears in the New Testament. He is a strong, and at the same time a loving God. He performed mighty miracles and cast evil spirits out. He commanded the wind and the waves. He raised the dead. He came at Pentecost in the form of fire and wind, and forced open the tomb on Easter Sunday. He offers life and salvation to all who believe in Him. He sent His messengers to proclaim the Good News of His kingdom. His followers are so convinced of His glory and omnipotence that they are willing to die for their faith.

 

Make Him your God, too. He is the true, sovereign and Almighty God.

 

Lord, my God, I worship You forever in Your majesty and glory. Amen.

Freed from the Ropes of Death

 {Read Psalm 18:1-16}

 

Friday, January 8, 2016

The roped of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me ... But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears (Ps. 18:4, 6).

 

Many people have near-death experiences. Once they recover, they often forget how close they were to dying. People are attacked by thugs; others are involved in car accidents; sometimes health problems lead to emergency operations that bring patients close to death’s door. Even natural disasters can be life-threatening. There are people who manage to survive them time after time.

 

David, the writer of Psalm 18, knew what it meant to rub shoulders with death. But he was saved and gave God’s love all the credit for his survival. He is saying, “Human existence is an uncertain affair. I survived - but only just! Without God’s help I wouldn’t have stood a chance. He heard my desperate cry and responded.”

 

Of course we know about many who cried out to God for help in times of tragedy and distress, and died in spite of this. We don’t know why God hears the anguished cries of some and not of others. Cry out to Him in your anxiety, and plead with Him to help you. Follow the example of the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee when they thought they were going to die. Then, if you make it and get through the ordeal alive, remember to give the honor and glory to God for His amazing grace.

 

Thank You, Father God, that You have often heard my anxious cries and saved me from death. Amen.

Good Can Come from Bad?

 {Read Philippians 1:12-26}

 

I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News (Phil. 1:12).

 

When things go wrong in your life, try to remember that often, in some way or another, it happens to all people. The important question is how you react to misfortune, disappointment and frustration. You can become panic-stricken and complain, “This is it; I’ve had it!” You can wallow in self-pity and say, “Just look what happened to me. Why?” Or you could say, “This is a bit of a problem; let me find a way to turn it into something I can use to my advantage, and to the glory of God.”

 

Paul used his exceptional gifts and intelligence to advance the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He traveled far and wide to preach and establish congregations. It was in fact while he was planning more journeys to spread the Good News that disaster struck. He was arrested and locked up. Did this mean it was the end of his mission? Not at all - he started working from prison. He used his time in jail to evangelize the guards and other prisoners and to write letters that help and guide us to this day. What some people saw as a disaster, Paul changed into an opportunity.

 

Do not allow misfortune to ruin you. Find a way to use it to your own advantage. Give it some serious thought and ask God in prayer what He is telling you through your misfortune. It isn’t just a technique of looking for the silver lining to the dark cloud, but must be seen as something God wants you to grab hold of and use to His honor and glory.

 

Holy God, open my eyes to spot the opportunities that You hide in my disappointment. Amen.

When God Speaks

 {Read Jeremiah 31:35-40}

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

“I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jer. 31:37).

The act of speaking has a variety of qualities and authority, depending on who is doing the talking. Some people talk a lot and say nothing - they simply can’t stand keeping quiet. Then there are others who say little, but what they say is regarded as wise and worthwhile. They can make the most profound things seem simple because they are such accomplished communicators.

The Bible creates a deep awareness that God is speaking and that when He speaks He has something very important to say. He spoke to Moses at the burning bush; to Isaiah in the temple; to Samuel in the sanctuary. He spoke forcefully at the birth of Christ when His Word became flesh.

In our Scripture passage for today God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah about a covenant of eternal constancy, trustworthiness and grace. It is as if God is saying, “Listen! This is what I want to say to you. This is My promise and when I make a promise I keep it. You can take My word for it.”

Jesus is God’s Word to us and the entire human race. But sometimes He speaks to you as an individual. He may give an order; or a word of caution and correction. It may be a word of encouragement or comfort, even forgiveness or healing. You cannot force God to speak, but you can be ready to listen when He speaks and then obey Him. Are you ready?

Holy God, make me willing and eager to listen when You speak. Amen.

God’s Constant Faithfulness

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

 

“Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them [Israel] away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jer. 31:37).

 

Every human has a breaking point. Under a certain amount of pressure you will crack, although the threshold varies from person to person. The interrogation of criminals is meant to “break” people so that they will confess or betray their colleagues. Sometimes it works - then people go back on their loyalties.

 

God didn’t and wouldn’t go back on His covenant to love and care for the people of Israel. No human being can measure the heavens, or fathom the depths of the seas, or tear the cloak of mystery from the universe. Since Jeremiah’s day, science has expanded the limits of human knowledge immensely, but there are still unexplained mysteries and undetermined borders, which God will reveal to us when we get to heaven.

 

Jesus is constant in His commitment to you, no matter how flawed your commitment to Him might be. He will not disappoint you or let you down. You can fully trust Him. He will be the same tomorrow as He was yesterday and He will stand by you today, whatever happens. No matter to what extent the mysteries of creation might elude human understanding, God’s constant faithfulness is no secret and this will never change. Can you say the same about your faithfulness to Him?

 

Faithful God, make me just as constantly faithful to You as You are to me. Amen.

The Lord, the Almighty

The Lord, the Almighty

Monday, January 4, 2016

The LORD appoints the sun to shine by day. He decrees the moon and stars to shine by night. He stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the LORD Almighty is His name (Jer. 31:35 NIV).

 

The most amazing fact in the world is not that God saves, loves and redeems. It is the fact that He is. Compared to this small world of space, time, matter and human beings. He is a God of greatness and majesty, of glory and grace.

 

It was necessary for the Israelites to be reminded of this. They had been conquered by a stronger army and exiled to a miserable existence in a faraway land. There they were forced to serve new masters. It would have been easier for them to give up their faith in God and worship the gods of their Babylonian oppressors; to go with the flow. But Jeremiah confronted them with the fact that their God had always been the Lord, the Almighty; sovereign ruler of the nations and Lord of His entire creation.

 

To this day He is still the Lord, the Almighty. In spite of the increasing confidence of humanity to solve their own problems; in spite of the pressure to be independent of God, they still need God and need to be reminded that He is. There is One who is more important, and rises above the daily realities of money, sex, power and human striving, and saved the human race from their worst misery and misdeeds. He bends down to gain access to your small heart and claim you for Himself. He is the Lord, the Almighty.

 

Lord, the Almighty, I acknowledge You in Your omnipotence and glory. Amen.

Forgive and Forget

Sunday, January 3, 2016

 

“I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins” (Jer. 31:34).

 

A group of high-spirited students once played a prank on the principle of their college. The principle overreacted and the whole business caused quite an upheaval. Lectures were canceled, there was an emergency staff meeting and punishment was meted out. During the course of the day, the students in question decided to apologize, and asked for a meeting with the principle. After listening to their story and apology, the principle answered, “Gentlemen, I accept your apology and there will be no punishment. The incident will be removed from the record books.”

 

We human beings sometimes find it possible to forgive, but we seldom forget. God both forgives and forgets. God made it possible for the people of Israel to start over by forgiving and forgetting their unfaithfulness and disobedience.

 

Jesus offers you the same forgiveness. He is ready and waiting to let you start over with no record of past wrongs. If you turn back to Him, repent, confess and decide to break with your wicked ways, He accepts your confession and says, “I will never even give this another thought.” The record is blank and He puts your sins behind you forever so that you can move on with a clear conscience. You don’t need to feel guilty about anything anymore because you are now in the right relationship with God. You are now free to be a new, mature person “in Christ.”

 

Father God, enable me to follow Your example and to forgive and forget. Amen.