“But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth” (Psalm 11:4 NLT)

July 15, 2014

After others expressed their fearful advice to David, he responded with confidence in the Lord’s sovereignty. Their advice suggested that the “foundations of law and order” in their nation had “collapsed” and that the best thing for David to do was to “fly like a bird” and hide in the mountains. But David declared his faith that God still reigns, that God still sees and knows in spite of circumstantial evidence to the contrary. When we despair that our nation and our world is filled with injustice and violence, and it seems that God is absent from the earth’s affairs, we can declare our faith in the Lord’s sovereignty. We can call on the One who still rules and watches closely. He will answer in His good timing.

“Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them” (Psalm 10:17 NLT)

July 14, 2014

The Lord knows all our hopes, but surely He moves towards helping the helpless. Those who think themselves strong and in control, need no god. They are their own. Yet those who recognize their helpless state, cry out and the Lord hears. As Jesus taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). Admit your helplessness, so that the Helper might answer.

“They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen” (Romans 1:25 NLT)

July 13, 2014

The beauty and order of creation points to the unseen Creator, yet sin has lowered humanity’s vision to the visible creature. With an innate need to worship, they praise nature instead of nature’s God. This fallen focus puts a lie at the center of their thinking, so that their thinking devolves into foolishness and futility. This falsehood cannot be exposed without spiritual power. Mere words and human persuasion will not suffice. Sin has blinded their eyes and their minds are darkened. Only the power of God and the preaching of the gospel can shine the light of truth and reveal their need to repent and be saved.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 NLT)

July 12, 2014

Today is my 56th birthday and this verse is more dear to me than ever. I have always loved it, but as I get older my love of the gospel “Good News” grows while my other cares decrease. When I was younger I had many cares. I sometimes struggled with being a people-pleaser. I wanted people to like me, to approve. I wanted to come across as being intelligent and witty. But I learned that people weren’t persuaded by intellectual arguments or cool cultural allusions. They needed the gospel. Only the gospel has the power to persuade and save. It is the power of God at work in me and in all who believe. I am thankful to God that He has given me another year of life to preach the Good News. I am not ashamed.

“When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier” (Acts 28:16 NLT)

July 11, 2014

Paul was under house arrest in Rome for at least two years (Acts 28:30). During this time he was able preach the gospel without restraint to all who would listen. What the enemy had meant as death, the Lord had turned into a platform for declaring life. Paul’s captivity led to great freedom for his ministry and hearers. Instead of focusing on his difficult circumstance, Paul saw it as an opportunity to preach Christ. I wonder how many Roman guards became Christians during this 2 years? They were Paul’s captive audience day after day as he taught from the Scriptures.

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NLT)

July 10, 2014

The psalmist David wondered at the immensity and beauty of the night sky in comparison to the small stature of humanity. He poses a rhetorical question concerning God’s care for man, then answers it in the psalm with observations about man’s creation and authority under God. We can almost picture David gazing at the night sky and writing this meditation. Putting the words to music, he opens and closes the psalm with praise of God’s majesty. “O Lord, our Lord,” he writes, moving his attention from the great Creator (O Lord) to the personal Redeemer of Israel (our Lord). For the Lord God is both transcendent and immanent. He is omnipotent and holy, yet personal and present. The God who made everything cares for you.

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22 NLT)

July 9, 2014

Marriage is God’s idea. It is His provision for man’s need for companionship and oneness. This oneness is three-dimensional, involving the physical, the soul and the spirit. It is God’s plan for having children and parenting. The Bible opens and closes with a wedding and God is intimately involved in both. This proverb describes God’s favor in the finding of a good wife. She is to be treasured and received as a gift from God. When a husband and wife view one another as a gift from God to be received and cherished, they begin to experience the oneness that He intended.

“But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest…” (Acts 26:22 NLT)

July 8, 2014

Leadership gurus often instruct their clients to write a personal purpose statement to bring focus to their life. Paul was a man who often declared his personal purpose statement. Here, he announced his purpose to “testify to everyone” about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. When a life is lived with such singular purpose, it burns like a laser with focused energy. Paul said, “This one thing I do,” not these thousand things I dabble in (Phil.3:13). What’s your life purpose?

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy” (Psalm 5:11 NLT)

July 7, 2014

Joy. Not the conditional stuff of happiness based on favorable circumstance. But joy, the stuff that pours into us from God’s omnipotent and unchanging Spirit. How do we find such joy? Not by searching for it. We find joy by taking “refuge” in the Lord and singing His praises. We find joy by loving His “Name” and letting the joy of God flood our souls. Are you suffering with the Monday blues? Rather than seeking happiness or even joy, seek the Lord Himself. For an overwhelming joy overflows from His Spirit to those who take refuge in Him.

“…Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24b NLT)

July 6, 2014

For the remaining two years of his term, the Roman governor Felix kept Paul in custody at Caesarea. He often sent for Paul, so that he and his Jewish wife, Drusilla, could hear him talk about faith in Christ. What a strange time this must’ve been for Paul. The Scripture ascribes mixed motives to Felix. On the one hand, it mentions that Felix wanted a bribe and that he wanted to gain favor from the Jews. On the other hand, he gave Paul freedom and allowed his friends to visit. Felix also became very frightened when Paul talked to him. Yet Paul didn’t waver. When others would’ve become disheartened by being caught up in such political intrigue, Paul kept sharing his testimony and preaching the gospel. In this way, the elite ruling class of Caesarea heard his witness.