Month: April 2022

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts‬ ‭20:24‬ ‭KJV. Paul had just stated that he knew ‘bonds and afflictions’ awaited him. He knew that his life would end in suffering and martyrdom. And yet, he has such a passion for Christ, that he is able to say, “None of these things move me”. In other words, he was determined not to let any thought of suffering or death deter him from what he was called to do. The reason Paul could say and mean these things was because he was moved by a greater power. For him, it was “the love of Christ which constrained him”. (2 Cor. 5:14) Because he was moved by the power of that love, he could live so that lesser things did not change the direction of his life. Today in religion, most people are moved by almost anything. Even the thought of suffering in any way will deter them from doing what is right. Others are continually moved by the pull of this ungodly world. May God help us to have such love for Jesus, that we can say with the songwriter “I shall not be moved!”

“for in Him we live, and move, and have our being…” Acts‬ ‭17:28‬ ‭KJV‬‬. As Paul is preaching in Athens, he explains to them some basic truths about God. One of those truths is stated in this verse. And that is, our very existence is because of God and in God. This reminds us that every moment we depend upon God for life and the breath that we breathe. In verse 25 he had said, “…He giveth to all life and breath and all things”. This means all that we are and have depends on Him. We are not able to move one muscle or think a single thought without God. Not only does all of our strength to move come from God, but also the motivation to move comes from Him. Every day we live and every breath we breathe comes as a gift from Him. Our continued existence depends on Him. Our entire life is held in God’s hands! And this is true of every soul no matter what they believe. The more this truth settles into our minds, the more we will be amazed at God’s great mercy to us and to all men. The fact that He allows sinners to go on living and breathing is a mercy beyond our understanding. Let this truth settle into our hearts and teach us to walk humbly and with thanksgiving. And as God’s children, we have the assurance that all throughout eternity we will have eternal life in Him.

“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” Romans‬ ‭14:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬. Many religious people today believe that Christ came, died and rose again only to be our Saviour. They talk about Him always in the context of saving. But Paul makes clear in this verse that Jesus was crucified and rose again so that He might be Lord of all! His purpose in saving us is to be the Lord of our lives. There is no way a person can truly have or enjoy a saving relationship with Christ if they do not honor and submit to Him as Lord. There are many deceivers today who promote the false idea that we can be saved apart from the Lordship of Christ. But this and many verses make clear that Jesus Christ is both Saviour and Lord or He is nothing to us at all. So we need to ask ourselves, “Am I submitting myself to Jesus Christ as the Lord of all in my life?” To honor Him as Lord means to live in all things as He wants us to live. It is to treat people like He tells us to treat them. It is to walk humbly before Him everyday and in everything we do. It is to place the government of our lives on His shoulders. Let us live so that His purpose will be accomplished in us.

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬. This verse reminds us that all that God makes is good. Every new day He gives us is good and is to be used for His glory. It does not matter if it is a rainy day or a day filled with sunshine. We may be in favorable circumstances or facing a great trial. But we can still rejoice in each day because our Heavenly Father has given it to us. In each day there is the potential for good and the opportunity to please God because the One Who made it has allowed us to live this day in relationship with Him. On the days that seem more difficult, let us realize, God has given me this day for a reason. He has some purpose for my life in this day. And let us look beyond ourselves. God may have given us this day so we can be a help to someone else. This may be the day that someone sees Christ in me and is drawn to Him. The reality is, we do not know what the day holds. So let us walk by faith each and every day. Let us trust God that His purposes will be accomplished in our lives and rejoice in His goodness every day. We only get one chance to live this day. Let us make the most of it for God’s glory.

“The Stone which the builders refused Is become the Head Stone of the corner.” Psalm‬ ‭118:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬. This verse is a clear picture of Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone of His church. We know that the Jews, the original builders God had called, rejected Him in every way. They rejected His teachings and authority. They rejected His person and His claims. And ultimately, in their rejection, they sentenced Him to death by crucifixion. But thank God, the final story is never written by men! Because He, Who was rejected by men, was accepted by God! And God made Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone. He made Him the Head and focal point of the true church. And no matter how many reject Him, He will forever be the Chief Cornerstone upon which the church is founded. Today, many of the ones who call themselves ‘believers’ are still rejecting Him. They reject His Lordship and authority over their lives. They reject Who He is as the Head of their life and Lord of all. Let us realize, that we must honor Jesus Christ for Who He is in His supreme position or we will never be accepted with Him. He must be the Chief Cornerstone in our individual lives.

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?” Psalm‬ ‭118:6‬ ‭KJV. There are many people who live in fear of man. They fear what people may say about them. They fear what someone may do to them. But what a difference it makes when we know we are in right relationship with God and He is on our side! God knows the real person we are, which has nothing to do with the outward body. Men may do things that affect our outward body but they have no power to touch our soul that God holds in His hands. And even when it comes to the outward man, let us believe that God has a divine hedge of protection around us. Angels are encamped about us. To come against a true child of God, the enemy must get permission like he did with Job. And when that happens, it always means that God will work it for our eternal good and for His glory! Let us rejoice with the words of Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Thank God, there is no one who has any power against our God! By His grace, let us live so that He can always be on our side.

“What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me?” Psalm‬ ‭116:12‬ ‭KJV. In asking this question the psalmist realizes that he has been greatly blessed by God. He knows that the many blessings he enjoys are not because of his own goodness nor worthiness. So it’s clear, he has a humble attitude towards God. A humble soul is always grateful for every good thing he he receives. And so, his question is not about earning anything from God, but it is about what his response to God should be. And we should ask ourselves this question as well. We who enjoy the many blessings of this great salvation, so freely provided through Jesus Christ, should forevermore offer our all to Him Who has been so good to us! We should render to Him the very best of our time, energy, talents and resources. We should give Him the very best that we have. The songwriter said: “Give of your best to the Master, give Him first place in your heart. Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part. Give Him your soul’s adoration, give Him the best that you have”. May we give back to Christ the love He has given to us.

“I will walk before The LORD in the land of the living.” Psalm‬ ‭116:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬. These words remind us that a life of genuine faith is a life lived out in our everyday walk. The word ‘walk’ means the outward life we live, the things we do and say. Even in the Old Testament the psalmist realizes that if our faith is real, it will be lived before our fellow man and affect every part of our lives. There are many who try to keep their religion very private and people around them have little idea that they profess any kind of religion. But that is only religion and not true faith in the living God. True faith is to be demonstrated in our daily walk. It is not just about private time with God. May we live out our faith as Joseph did, when it was written of him, “His master saw that the Lord was with him…”Jesus said in Mark 8:38, “Whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh…” By God’s grace, let us live boldly for Christ in everything we do. And let us not just talk it, but walk it everyday.

“The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens.” Psalm‬ ‭113:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬. This verse reminds us that our God is transcendent. This attribute of God is a difficult concept for our minds to consider because we are created beings living in a finite, mortal body. We read these words and normally think of distance. But it is not physical distance above us that makes God transcendent. It is not His position as being in the Heavens. Rather it His supreme quality of life that transcends anything we can comprehend. Everything else in the universe is created and dependent. Only God is uncreated and in no way dependent on anything else. We understand that the life of a little child is of greater value than that of a grasshopper, because of the quality of his life. He is able to think and laugh and relate to others. But with God, there is nothing or no one to compare Him with. He is as high above the archangel as he is the grasshopper. And yet, as glorious and transcendent as God is, He humbles Himself to allow us to have a relationship with Him. Surely we all should bow in reverence before Him and thank Him that He is mindful of us. Let us rejoice that the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity chooses to set His love on us.

“men that have hazarded their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts‬ ‭15:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬. These words were said to describe Paul and Barnabas after all they had suffered for the cause of Christ. They had been cruelly treated, threatened, run out of cities, stoned and left for dead. And they counted it all joy that that were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus! But how different is our modern form of Christianity. In most cases professing believers today do everything possible to avoid any kind of suffering or sacrifice. If someone makes a small remark or looks at them in the wrong way they pout as if it is the worst thing imaginable. So many wear their feelings on their sleeve and are upset by almost anything they feel is negatively directed at them. But how are we going to stand with saints like Paul and Barnabas if we are not willing to endure even a little suffering for the cause of Christ? Even more important, how is Jesus going to claim us as one of His own if we reject His call to take up our cross and follow Him, even when it brings reproach and suffering? May God help us today to get back to a genuine life of faith that is willing to suffer with the Saviour. 2 Timothy 2:12 tells us, “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him”.