Month: August 2021

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.”Proverbs‬ ‭16:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬. One of the most difficult and humbling things for us to learn is, that we were not created to find our own way. We were designed to be led and directed by God. Without Him to lead us, we are like a man in the ocean with no sun, moon or stars. We have no idea what is the right way. When we are young we get many ideas about what we want to do and where we want to go. And to us, they seem right. We allow ourselves to be influenced by this ungodly world and by our own selfish flesh. And while ‘our way’ may seem like the right way, we soon discover that it brings spiritual death and destruction. But what a joy it is to discover, that there is a right way! It is following Jesus Christ Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jeremiah 10:23 tells us, “…it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”. Let us humble ourselves to follow our Saviour and always let Him be our Guide.

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: And His children shall have a place of refuge.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬. The phrase ‘fear of the Lord’ is often used to describe a life of genuine faith in God. It is a life of godliness, love, and hope. And because this life has abandoned self confidence and placed all of it’s hope and confidence in the Unfailing God, it brings a quiet assurance. It produces a security in the soul because we are not relying on the arm of flesh which fails. Rather, we are leaning on the strong and everlasting arms of our Father in Heaven. Those who have this proper fear and reverence for God know also that in Him we have found a Refuge for our soul. We know that, even if all men turn against us we can still have rest in our souls because God is for us and He is with us. One of the marks of this ‘fear of the Lord’ is that we fear doing things that will wound His heart of love, because we love Him. And walking in this loving relationship produces a confidence in our steps that fills life with joy and peace. Let us look away from self, and choose to place all of our confidence in God.

“When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭17:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬.
“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man…?” (24-25‬) In these verses before David’s fight with Goliath, we see the reaction of the men of Israel to the Philistine giant. It is very clear that they are entirely focused on him. They were listening to His words rather than remembering the Word of God. They were looking at his size and strength rather than looking to the Almighty power of their God. So of course, they became fearful and discouraged. For us today, we are faced with these same choices everyday. We can focus on what men of this world are saying. We can look at all the wicked things they are doing. But if that is all we do and fail to remember Who our God is and what He has spoken, then we will be fearful and discouraged as well. We need to be so in touch with God’s Word and Who He is, that everything we encounter in this world is brought into proper perspective. For all of the prideful deeds of wicked people, we should always keep in mind, they are only finite human beings. But God is the Infinite God Who they are going to answer to. Let us keep our eyes on Him.

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬. When God sent Samuel to find the next king of Israel, he began looking as people still look today. He looked at the outward man. He looked for size and strength and physical qualities that could be admired and appreciated by people. But God never looks on those things! Imagine if our world today understood this? What a difference it would make if God’s people would believe this, that God is looking on who we really are! He is looking at our character! May God help us to take care of the inner man, which is eternal, more than this outward man that is perishing. And while some try to use this as an excuse, saying “God sees my heart”, the reality is that truth should humble us. Because He does see ALL that is in our hearts, He will judge us based on what comes from our heart. By His grace, let us have a heart that is pure in His eyes.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” Mark‬ ‭4:37-38‬ ‭KJV‬‬. How little the disciples knew Jesus at this point. When the storm came and they felt fear for their lives, they asked Jesus, “Do you care…?” There would come a time, after His atoning death and resurrection, that they never had to ask that question again. He proved His love and care for them in a far greater way than they ever imagined! But have we reached that place in our experience with Jesus, that we no longer ask, or even wonder, “Does He care?” This is one reason it is so important for us to know Him in personal relationship. It is why we need to know what He said and what He’s done for us. It’s why we desperately need to get into His Word and believe it! Because knowing Jesus is to know He cares! He cares about every detail in our lives. He cares about our struggles and the burdens we carry. He cares when the storms of life are threatening us. Let us rejoice with the songwriter when he penned the words, “Oh yes He cares! I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief. When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares”.

“And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭14:36‬ ‭KJV‬‬. This was another occasion in which King Saul was ready to do his own will without first seeking God. And then, as people are prone to do when they blindly follow someone in leadership, they encouraged him to ‘do what seems good to you’. But thank God there was a man of God there willing to speak up! He reminded Saul that we should first draw near to God. We should find out what it is that God wants us to do. Today, the cry of our backslid nation is to ‘do whatever seems right to you’. Or, if it feels good do it. But there is great danger when we leave God out of our lives and ignore His divine will. More than ever, God’s people need to pause, before everything we do, and draw near to God! Seek His face and humbly ask Him to reveal His will to us. And help us Lord, to humble ourselves to accept and walk in Your will.

“only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭12:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬. Samuel mentions here what is one of the keys to a proper relationship with God. We know that we are supposed to fear God and serve Him with all of our heart. But do we understand why? Do we recognize that He has done great things for us? It is one thing to have a reverence for God because of Who He is. Certainly anyone who recognizes God’s mighty power and authority would humble themselves before Him. But what He desires as a loving Father is that we also see how powerfully He has demonstrated His great love for us! He wants our response to Him to be a response to His great love. He gave the greatest sacrifice possible, when He gave His Son Jesus to be our Saviour. He did the greatest thing that could be done for us when He rescued us from our sins and made us His children. Let us take time to consider what great things our Lord has done for us. And then, we will respond as the songwriter expressed, “I will serve Thee, because I love Thee”.

“…but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the Word of God.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭9:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬. These were Samuel’s words to Saul as he was preparing to anoint him to be Israel’s king. Like us today, Saul was busy, in a hurry to accomplish the things he wanted to do. The fact that we live in a fast paced world does not change the way God ministers His Word to us. We may do many other things ‘on the run’ and multi-tasking. But when it comes to receiving the Word of God, we must ‘be still a while’ and listen to what God is saying. We must get alone with God and shut out the distractions of the world. One of the main reasons for the spiritual weakness of most believers today is, that they try to treat their spiritual life and relationship with God the same way they do other things in their busy fast paced lives. But let’s be clear, it will not work! God is not man, that we can treat Him like any other thing or person in our lives! He is the Almighty Infinite God Who deserves our full time and attention. God help us to understand, He doesn’t have to speak to us. Every time we hear His voice it is His mercy displayed to us. Let us be thankful that He is willing to speak to us and slow down and take time with God, so that we can hear what He is saying.

“Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: But a good word maketh it glad.” Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬. Today, we have multitudes around us, both in the world and in the church, who are weighed down by a heavy heart. Fear grips the hearts of many. For others, anxiety has robbed the joy of life. Confusion about the things going on in our world hangs like a dark, heavy cloud over many souls. A sense of hopelessness has crept in to many lives. And if there is ever a time when God’s true people should be able to offer a word of hope, it is in this day! Just think how many people God brings across our pathway. There are so many people who need to hear a ‘good word’. Proverbs 15:23 reminds us that , “…a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Today is that due season for someone around us. Let us be those faithful witnesses to the blessed hope we have in Jesus. Let’s tell them of our Saviour Who is mighty to save and mighty to keep. Let us offer a good word to some heavy heart.

“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” Proverbs‬ ‭11:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬. Long before Jesus ever spoke the New Testament truths about mercy and forgiveness, Solomon already understood the tremendous importance of mercy in our relationships with others. He knew that having a heart of mercy brings peace and joy to our own life. But he also knew that being unmerciful is self-destructive. People who refuse to forgive and extend mercy are damaging their own souls. It is like a cancer eating at the very soul that will continue spreading until it consumes the whole life. It will harm us physically and separate us from God spiritually. Far too many excuses are given by false religion today in regards to why we can’t show mercy and why we can’t forgive. Some even deny the words of Jesus, Who said, “…if we do not forgive, then our Father in Heaven will not forgive us”! But God help us to understand how very serious this is! 2 Samuel 22:26 tells us about God’s attitude towards the merciful, “With the merciful Thou wilt shew thyself merciful…” The reason we can and should be merciful is because of God’s great mercy to us. How can we who have received such great mercy fail to show mercy to others?