From: July 3, 2024
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2 ESV).
The first psalm begins with both a blessing and a warning. For it describes both the way of life and the way that leads to death. The key is deciding whose counsel to follow.
The psalm warns against following the counsel of the wicked. For this way does not lead to blessing, but to death. Sure, it looks like a good way to go. Everyone seems to be on this broad road. But as the Proverb cautions, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Prov. 14:12).
The way of blessing is narrow. And as Jesus said “Those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:14). It is not the way of the crowd, but of the cross. The way of blessing is found in delighting and meditating on God’s Word and following God’s Son. The psalmist says that those who follow this way are blessed.
Whose counsel do you follow? Which way are you headed?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. We delight in it and study it. For in it You have given us the way of eternal life through Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your many blessings. Direct our feet this day to walk where Your Spirit leads. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 3, 2023
“When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair” (2 Kings 22:11 NLT).
Josiah was crowned King of Judah at age eight after his father, Amon, was murdered by conspirators. Both his father and his grandfather, Manasseh, were unrighteous kings who had led the people into idolatry. Apparently, during the 55-year reign of Manasseh, the Book of the Law had been lost. How this came to be is not explained, but it was found in the Temple by the high priest when Josiah commissioned him to collect money for Temple repairs.
When the Book was brought before Josiah and read to him, he tore his clothes in repentance. After inquiring of the Lord concerning His Word, Josiah cleaned house and publicly made a covenant with the Lord to keep His commands.
According to 2 Kings 23:25, “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.”
If only our nation’s leaders and its citizens would rediscover the Word of God, repent of their wicked ways and turn back to Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, when knowledge of Your Word is lost, the people drift into terrible sin and suffering. We repent of our silence wherever we should have been speaking out. For as Your Church, we are Your prophets, always speaking forth Your Word, so that the people have no excuse. Fill our minds and our mouths with Your Word and strengthen us to speak, so that repentance and revival come to our land. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 3, 2022
ARE YOU TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT JESUS?
Paul gave his testimony and explained the calling that the Lord Jesus had given him to the rioting crowd in Jerusalem. Just moments before, many in the crowd had tried to kill Paul. However, the Roman guard was alerted and intervened, putting Paul in chains and taking him away. Paul considered the great crowd still following and asked the Roman commander for permission to speak to them. This was an unusual request. Yet even more unusual was that after Paul spoke to the commander in fluent Greek, which clearly impressed him, the commander gave Paul permission. As he spoke in their native tongue of Aramaic, the crowd grew quiet, listening to Paul. When most people would’ve been in a hurry to escape from such a crowd, Paul saw it as another opportunity to “tell everyone” what Christ had done for him.
We have received the same calling from Jesus to be His witnesses. Like Paul, we are called to tell everyone about what we have seen and heard from Jesus.
PRAYER: Lord, help us to boldly tell everyone about Your Son, Jesus Christ. Empower us to be both gentle and attractive to those who You are calling to salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 3, 2016
Even though Paul was beaten and falsely accused by a mob in Jerusalem, he was still determined to tell them the story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. The only reason he was in the Temple area was because the apostle James had asked him to take part in a Jewish purification rite in order to show his observance of the law to those who accused him otherwise. Paul’s submission to Christ and to the apostle James is in view here. Paul was a man under authority. So, when his life was threatened, instead of making a plea for his own life, he made a plea for those who persecuted him, that they might hear and believe the gospel.
From: July 3, 2015
King Josiah was crowned at age eight after his father, Amon, was murdered by conspirators. Both his father and his grandfather, Manasseh, were evil kings who had led the people into idolatry. Apparently, during the 55-year reign of Manasseh, the Book of the Law had been lost. How this came to be is not explained, but it was found in the Temple by the high priest when Josiah commissioned him to collect money for Temple repairs. When the Book was brought before Josiah and read to him, he tore his clothes in repentance. After inquiring of the Lord concerning His Word, Josiah cleaned house and publicly made a covenant with the Lord to keep His commands. According to 2 Kings 23:25 “before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.”
If only our government would rediscover the law of God…