by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 78 – 83
What is your personal history with the Lord? Is it written?
I would like to encourage you to sit down and write your own history. I have counseled many people over the years, and have heard horror stories about abuse and injustice done to them. That’s the glass half empty.
If they would take a more positive approach to their story, they would tell it differently. They would not think of the disaster as much as the deliverance. (After all, they’re still here, aren’t they)?
If you write your own history, you will include the many times that you can see God’s hand trying to lead you to Him. There were those times when you said, “No.” But He didn’t stop, did He? When you didn’t deserve it, His loving hand was trying to get you to the right people and places – the right moment – for you to receive His love.
As you look back, you know that He was always there for you. And He is there for you now.
Add to your history the times when you knew how closely He was guiding you, loving you. The miracles. The grace.
As you develop your own history, your faith will grow. You will begin to discover in a new way how important you are to your God – and how much He loves and cares for you.
His grace is always there.
Romans 10
There is power in the Word of God. We see that premise in many places and demonstrated in many different ways.
That’s how we get saved. The Word is near us – in our mouths and in our hearts. The Word of faith. So if we “confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead,we will be saved.”(V. 9)
There are those who are “seeking their own righteousness.” (V. 3). These are doing this and that which are “good works,” but that is not what makes us right before God. Our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus is the only way to have right standing with God.
Often we encounter people who aren’t believers but who seem to be “good” people. That’s a stumbling block for many. They say, “Isn’t that good person acceptable to God?” But they are asking the wrong question.
The question is, “Do they have a reborn spirit?” That’s the key. When a person seems to be good, God loves them, but they have to do things His way. He has made a way for every person on earth to be born again. That’s what matters in being acceptable to God.
A reborn spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ, is the only thing which is acceptable. Only the reborn spirit can communicate effectively with God. And only the reborn spirit can partake of God’s heavenly realm.
Are you born again? That’s the question – and therein lies the answer.
by Suellen | Uncategorized
Psalm 73-77
Have you ever felt almost jealous of some unbelievers as they prosper while you are going through turmoil? That’s common, and that’s what this first psalm is all about.
Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians, is the writer of this psalm, and he doesn’t mind expounding his jealousy. Yet he finally comes to his senses, as he remembers the goodness of God.
Ultimately every person has to make the decision for their focus: a moment of pleasure on earth or a life lived with God at the center. Of course, God brings great pleasure, but there are times when “things just don’t seem to be going so well.” What do we do then? That’s the big question.
When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within,
Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee.(73:21-22)
But he goes on to say
Thou hast taken hold of my right hand
With Thy counsel thou wilt guide me
And afterward receive me to glory. (73:23-24)
When we stay faithful to God, He will guide us through the problems we face and bring us out to glory.
These next psalms continue in a similar vein. There are problems we face, and sometimes we can feel hopeless and helpless. However, if we turn our hearts back to God and allow Him to speak to us and strengthen us, our joy will return. Then we will see the answers before us.
Faithfulness is the key. He is faithful to us. Are we faithful to Him?
Romans 9
“Not the children of the flesh, but the children of the promise.” (V. 8) That’s the key phrase when we approach chapter 9.
Paul is explaining to the Romans that the covenant of God is established by faith – and not by works. This difficult concept continues to cause hangups until this day.
As Paul elaborates on the differences between the children of the flesh and the children of the promise, he digs into the annals of Israel’s history to bring out Jacob and Esau, and even the Pharoah of Egypt.
God started His covenant with the Jews, but He eventually extended it to the gentiles. The key from man’s perspective, is to have faith in the covenant – faith in God Himself. The covenant is powerful with many benefits. It doesn’t just fall on you; but neither do you work for it. It comes to those who believe in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and trust in His blessing of grace.
Today, as we go about our routines, let’s ponder this sacrifice and this great grace. Do we believe? Do we receive what He has for us? It’s here for us if we do. We are the children of the promise.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 70-72
David’s prophetic bent continues as he presents a more detailed understanding of the coming Messiah. The true King of Israel wil also be the King of the whole earth.
“As long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations, they will fear You.”(72:5)
“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea…Yes, all kings shall bow down before Him.”(72:8,11)
“He will deliver the needy.”(72:12)
“His Name shall endure forever.”(72:17)
“And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.” (72:19)
As we meditate on these verses, we see a picture of the coming King. He is clearly not just for the Jews, but for all throughout the world who believe in Him.
When we see such a clear projection of God’s plan, it makes me wonder why the Pharisees and other leaders had a hard time with the gospel being preached to all nations. They probably didn’t pay much attention to the scriptures which didn’t agree with what they already thought.
That’s still a tendency today. (Actually, it’s always been a tendency). It’s human nature to dig out the scriptures which agree with our doctrine and pound those over and over. Then if we come to some which don’t agree with what we already believe, we dismiss them.
If we are to grow as Christians, we need to see the whole counsel of God. As we are reading scriptures, there will be times when our beliefs will be challenged. When that happens, those challenging scriptures are the very ones we need to hear. We need to break out of the box we have built and reach for more of what our God has for us.
None of us knows it all. We will be learning and growing all the days of our lives, if we are living for Him. So don’t be afraid to be challenged.
Reach for all that He has for you. That’s how we move from “glory to glory.”
Romans 8:18-49
These verses are some of the most significant in the whole Bible. Paul is sharing his insights into the power of the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
There is a glory which will be revealed in due time which shall be beyond anything we have imagined. There is a plan of God to transform us and His creation to the perfection He intended all along. In the meantime, we patiently wait for His coming plan.
Now this is the mystery being revealed in these verses: the whole creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. And who are they? They are us! We are the sons of God.
There are three Greek words for “sons.” One means babes, one means young children, and one means mature sons. This word in Romans 8 is huios, or mature sons. This word also means “pupil.” So the whole creation is waiting for the mature pupils of God to be revealed. When these mature pupils of God show up, they will take their rightful place and operate in the way God has intended.
Part of the plan is for these mature sons to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through them. Verse 26 addresses this issue. The Holy Spirit of God helps our prayers when we don’t know how to pray. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (We pray in the spirit).
He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.(26-28).
When we look at these verses we see how important our prayers are in the big scheme of things. In God’s plan, when we allow the Spirit to direct our prayers, we are praying according to the perfect will of God. And when we do that, we know that will these things are working together for the good.
If God is for us, who can be against us? The answer is “no one.” No one can stand before the God of the universe. When He is standing with us, there is no demon or human being around who can stop His purpose. God’s purpose in our lives is absolute – when we are walking closely with Him.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing!
My husband and I start every day with a recognition of God’s unwavering love for us. His lovingkindness is everlasting. Whatever we face, we know that our God is with us, and He will neither fail us nor forsake us.
