From: September 15, 2024
“I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love” (Psalm 59:16 ESV).
David wrote this psalm during the time when he was being pursued by Saul and his men. David expressed his determination to begin each day singing of God’s power and loving mercy. For he saw that the Lord was his defense and refuge during his time of trouble. But David wasn’t planning to just hum hymns quietly each morning. No, he had decided to “sing aloud” to the Lord, so that all could hear.
Why do many believers today wake up complaining rather than singing praises to God? Isn’t it because we have forgotten to depend on God’s power and mercy? We wake up feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. We have nothing to sing about because we have been trying to live according to our own strength and then judging ourselves harshly for coming up short. But God is able. He is ready to empower us by His Spirit. And He does not judge us for our weakness, but shows us mercy, defending us in our day of trouble.
Have you ever tried singing aloud to God when you wake up in the morning? Singing to God, especially when you may not feel like singing? Try it. And watch and see the Lord move to strengthen and encourage you during that whole day.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to depend on Your power for living today. Our bodies are weak, but Your Spirit is full of power. Strengthen us. And Lord, help us to receive Your mercy and grace. For we often judge ourselves and others harshly, rather than seeing ourselves and others through the lens of love as You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 15, 2023
“In that day Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Assyrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isaiah 19:23-24 NLT).
The Lord spoke through Isaiah concerning a day when the rivalry between Egypt and Assyria would end, and Israel would no longer be the battleground between them. This must have been an astounding prophecy for that time. For Egypt and Assyria had been sworn enemies and Israel suffered between them in a brutal tug-of-war. Yet, the Lord said a day was coming when a “highway” would connect them.
There have been partial fulfillments of this prophecy since Isaiah’s time. Under Cyrus, the Persian king, there was peace between the three countries. And again, under Alexander, the three were under one banner for a brief time. Yet, it seems most likely that it was the time of the Romans that Isaiah foresaw. For it was during the time of Roman rule that there was peace between the three and more than that, it was the time when Christ Jesus appeared.
When Jesus began His public ministry, He made the Jewish town of Capernaum His base of operations. Strategically located on the North shore of the Sea of Galilee, the highway that connected Egypt to Syria, called the Via Maris (“Way of the Sea”), passed through Capernaum. During this time, the “blessed” message of Jesus was soon carried on this highway and every other highway in the Roman Empire and beyond–”a blessing within the land.”
However, today we see that Israel is again the battleground between the countries of the Middle East. Surely, the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise awaits Christ’s return.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of all Your promises. He is the true and only Highway to peace and blessing. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Strengthen us to carry the gospel on every highway throughout the world until His soon return. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 15, 2022
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE
Justification is the doctrine that God pardons, accepts, and declares a sinner to be just, “made right with God,” on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. Justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from any works of our own.
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 according to Christ’s power. We work out what God is working in us (Phil.2:12-13). Our righteousness is found in Christ. And our life is Christ in us.
PRAYER: Our Father, thank You for making us right with You through our faith in Christ. Yet even our faith is from You, so that we are in awe of Your grace towards us. We rejoice in hope now that we know we have peace with God and not only that, but we have been changed from foes to friends because of Jesus. We therefore come to You as Your children, entering into Your throne room in Christ. We rest in You and depend on You for all things today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 15, 2017
This was a pivotal meeting in the history of the Christian Church. The apostle Paul was moved both by a revelation from God and by his desire for unity with the other apostles concerning the matter of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Certain people had come behind Paul into Galatia teaching that the Gentile believers should essentially become Jewish, following Jewish laws and customs. Paul was confident that the gospel the Lord had given him by revelation was not just a reform movement for Judaism, but good news for the whole world. One could come to Christ without becoming Jewish. The apostles in Jerusalem affirmed Paul’s gospel as the same gospel that Christ had given them. The gospel was for every nation, tribe and tongue. It was for the whole world. And it still is!
From: September 15, 2016
David loved to write and sing praises to the Lord. Can you think of a better reason to sing? Get your praise on today and watch your worries slip away. Let God be your fortress and strength. For He loves you with a “steadfast love.”
From: 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.