“When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2 NKJV)

September 17, 2015

Written by David, this psalm cried out to God to lead him to a place that was safe and secure. When his heart was “overwhelmed,” perhaps by the attacks of enemies or by the disappointments of life, David cried out for a place where his heart could find rest and his clouded vision could be restored. We can pray like David. And when we ask for the “rock that is higher,” we have access to that Rock, which is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). He invites all those who are “weary and heavy-laden” to come unto Him and to find rest for their souls.

“You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth” (Psalm 60:4 NKJV)

September 16, 2015

In this psalm of David, he spoke of a “banner” given to Israel by the Lord, that was to be “displayed.” In the armies of old the one who carried the banner or flag was among the most courageous of the soldiers. He was commissioned to carry and protect the banner, to keep it raised high in the sky and blowing in the breeze, so that all could see it. In Spurgeon’s meditation on this verse, he identifies the gospel as the church’s standard. I agree. We are to hold the gospel, the message of the cross, high over our lives. We have been given this banner by Christ and instructed to display it before the nations. Let us keep it lifted up, not allowing it to fall, or to be trampled in the mud. It may be bullet-ridden from the battle, but it is still the standard of truth given to us by the Lord Himself. Let us wave high the gospel banner over our lives until all the nations have heard.

“…a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ..” (Galatians 2:16 NKJV)

September 15, 2015

Paul was concerned that the Christians at Galatia, who had received salvation by faith in Christ, were exchanging their faith for a focus on law-keeping. Those saved by faith are to live by faith, not by works. Yet this tendency still befalls many believers today. We recognize our sin and total dependence on Jesus for salvation, but then try to live the Christian life in our own strength. A focus on law-keeping leads to self-righteousness, pride and an inordinate comparing of ourselves to others. Living by faith in Jesus, we work, but we do so only according to Christ’s power. We work out what God is working in us (Phil.2:12-13). Our righteousness is us in Christ. And our life is Christ in us.

“Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12 NKJV)

September 14, 2015

Live change requires that knowledge moves from our heads to our hearts. When we know better than we do, we still have only head knowledge. What we need is heart knowledge. Better to know and do one thing than to know many things and do none of them. “Apply” what you learn from the Word to your life. Put your heart into it.

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14 NKJV)

September 13, 2015

The rebellious heart of Lucifer declared: “I will.” The obedient heart of Jesus prayed: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Satan was cast down from heaven because of his rebellious heart. He tempted Eve with the same attitude, saying that if she would eat of the forbidden fruit, she would be “like God” (Gen. 3:5). The heart of sin is an attitude that says, “I will” rather than saying “Thy will be done.” It desires to take God’s place, rather than submitting to Him.

“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11 NKJV)

September 12, 2015

More than a motto to put on our money, this is a declaration of faith. Trust in God above all others. Written by the one who slew Goliath, it is not hyperbole, but a tested conclusion, i.e. “since God is greater than man (even giant ones), I will not fear man, because I trust in God.” Wherever there is fear, especially fear of man, there is lack of faith.

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

September 11, 2015

I can’t read this verse without singing it as Handel imagined in his oratorio, Messiah. He put Isaiah’s words to music in 1741 AD, 17 centuries after Christ’s coming. Isaiah wrote the words of this prophecy around 740 BC, nearly 8 centuries before Christ’s coming. Not many song-writing duos have lived so far apart, in time that is. Yet time has little meaning to the “Everlasting” one. Isaiah prophesied a Son to be born to the house of David whose names would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Which of these names means most to you today?

“If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity” (2 Corinthians 11:30 NKJV)

September 10, 2015

The Corinthians had fallen prey to false teachers who claimed greater authority than Paul. In response to this, Paul found himself in the awkward position of establishing his own credentials. Paul didn’t like to boast, unless it was to boast of Christ. So instead, he boasted of his “infirmity,” his weakness. He listed the number of times he had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, naked, and left for dead. Paul chose to see what others might call a record of disgrace as his resume of suffering for Christ. He was fulfilling the calling that Christ had given him on the road to Damascus, namely: “he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). Most boast of their successes to elevate their position, but Paul boasted of his sufferings, that Christ might be the One elevated in status.

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV)

September 9, 2015

The gospel is simple. So simple that people nearly always want to complicate it. Just as the law of the garden was simple– “don’t eat,” so the gospel is simple– “take and eat.” The apostle Paul had preached the simple gospel to the Corinthians, yet false teachers were trying to add to his message. He warned them not to be deceived as Eve was in the garden. When you hear someone ask, “Did God really say?” You should be on alert. Anyone who questions the reliability of the Word of God is speaking with the serpent’s tongue. The gospel calls us to a faith of purity and simplicity. Believe and receive. No more, no less.

“…They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4 NKJV)

September 8, 2015

The Lord gave Isaiah a vision of the latter days when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship, a day when the Lord Himself will judge and bring peace. In that day there will be no need for weapons of war. The wealth and works of the nations will no longer be wasted on mutual destruction, but on worship of God and mutual welfare. Even the study of war will be lost, so that mankind forgets the art. Such a day Isaiah saw and we still await its arrival.