God condemns the Hypocrite and the Wicked in the Church! Day 39

Please read Psalm 50:16-21

During her 2007 Stop Global Warming College Tour, Sheryl Crow encouraged people to save the environment by using only one square of toilet paper. At the same time, she and her entourage had high demands for themselves, including lavish accommodations and pricey alcohol. The website thesmokinggun.com reported, ‘Additionally, when the global warming warrior hits the road, her touring entourage travels in 3 tractor trailers, 4 buses, and 6 cars. Now that’s a carbon footprint!’

In Psalm 50:7 we see God addressing His people. But in today’s text, He addresses the wicked. Who are wicked according to God in this text? God clarifies that they are the ones who “recite (his) statutes or take (His) covenant on (their) lips”. Now are these wicked who profess God’s statutes and covenants (we should ask) outside the church or in the church? Since those outside the church don’t care about God’s statutes or covenants, God is actually saying it is those in Church who are acting hypocritical and wicked. These are the ones who also think that they can fool/impress God by offering/showing Him false righteousness.

What charges does God lay against the wicked in the church?  Reciting God’s statutes
and covenants to others but “hating discipline’ and denying God’s Word (vs.16&17), theft, adultery, and being with sinners (18), lying (19), slandering (20), thinking god (note lower case ‘g’- the idol they create in their own mind) approves their actions (21) by His silence.

Man always thinks he can fool God and/or tries to create/define God in his own image. But what does God want?  True and genuine change (James 3:17), along with a life that displays true testimony (James 1:27), and true and proper character (Philippians 1:10) that displays true and humble obedience (James 1:22-24) and true and sincere faith and praise (James 1:26).

Dear brother and sister in Christ, if God were to come today, what charges will He lay against you and me? Can our life/lies survive the “devouring fire”(Psalm 50:3) before Him? So let’s test ourselves, our walk, our behavior in church and towards our neighbors, and repent and turn to God.

Dear Heavenly Father, being ignorant of your righteousness, and seeking to establish my own, I do not submit to your righteousness (Romans 10:3). Please help to seek your righteousness first (Matthew 6:33). In Jesus name, Amen!

If I _____, then what?!? Day 32

Please read John 8:31-36

Today we look at two verses and one word. The verses are John 8:31-32. In the ESV that I use, they go “31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

In the text, we see that Jesus is talking to the new believers in Him. He tells them “if’” the new believers “abide” in his word, there are three consequences (1) they will be known/seen as Jesus’ disciples, (2) they will know “the truth”(Greek aletheia which means ‘that which is true in any matter, situation, or circumstance’) and (3) “the truth” will set them free.

And all of the above is from God (2 Corinthians 5:18) and of course, you are given God’s Word. Earlier in the Gospel of John, Jesus had said, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life”(John 6:63). Now Jesus wants us to “abide” (ESV) in His Word. What does he mean by “abide”? The NIV uses the word “hold” and the NASB uses “continue” and they all come from the Greek word meno. The Greek word is a word that is used in reference to a place. It means ‘to sojourn, tarry’ or ‘ not departing, i.e., continuing to be present/held’. The word can also mean ‘not becoming something else’ and used in reference to time ‘to last, endure’.

So how should we abide/hold/continue? We have great examples of Old Testament saints such as Joseph and Daniel who clung to God, holding fast the word of life (and spirit) (Philippian 2:16). They walked wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17), holding on to their faith and good conscience (1Timothy 1:19, 1 Corinthians 16:13) and holding on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).  They held on to “the truth”  – doing what is good in God’s eyes at all time and in all circumstances, knowing that God is watching them.  

So my dear brother and sister in Christ, do you abide in His Word all the time? What about the times when no one is watching you? Do you still abide in Jesus and His Word?  Always remember, if you “abide”, you will be His disciples, knowing “the truth” and you are free!

Dear God, you know my thoughts and my words (Psalm 139:1-4) and even when I try to hide from you like Adam, you know my whereabouts and my actions.  Whenever I try to run away from you, please hold on to me until I come to my senses, repent and hold on to you and your Word. In Jesus name, Amen.

What Really Matters to God! Day 27

Please read Psalm 51:14-17, Psalm 34:18

William Carey (1716-1834), known as the father of modern missions, was a British missionary who served and died in India. He was known for his humility. Asked about his own funeral service preference he stated, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” His tombstone reads “William Carey…a wretched, poor, and helpless worm; on Thy kind arms I fall.”

Davis shows similar humility in today’s text. David’s sin impacted many people –Uriah, Bathsheba, his unborn son, Family, Kingdom, and David himself.   But we see that he says “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:4). Why does David say that he sinned only against God? Even though he sinned against others, as God’s anointed king he realizes the sin that he committed against God’s commands, disappointed and displeased Him (2 Samuel 11:27).  He pleads with God to save him from the punishment of death (bloodguiltiness) because he knows deserves death (Ezekiel 18:20, Leviticus 24:17). He realizes that only God’s forgiveness relieves his burdened heart, mind and crushed spirit. Then David tells us what matters to God, what He really wants from man – and it’s not (soon to be broken) vows, (cheerless) giving, (grudging) sacrifices or (meager) offerings. David tells us, “¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Dear brother and sister in Christ, it is easy to say the word sorry to the neighbor who we hurt or sinned against. Our neighbor can only hear the words but does not know our heart. The only one who knows our heart is God and He wants to see true contrition in us. Contrition is a word that we don’t hear or use very often. Contrition begins in the heart and shows true humility.  It means genuine and unconditional sorrow/remorse over sin, with a deep longing to repent of that sin. It involves a man’s realization that he wronged his God and he wants to make everything right with God.  So let’s examine our words and deeds in light of God’s Word and humbly turn to him.

Dear Jesus, I neither know the depths of my sin and pride nor the height of your suffering and sacrifice. Please move my heart to understand my vanity and your incredible patience towards me. Forgive as I cling you and only you. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD847UcRbL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR8PyKeznmo

Blessing upon blessing? (Exercise and Video) Day 12

Please read John 1:16-17

Rowland Hill was a British pastor and an evangelist in the 18^th century. One day he was given large amount of money to give to a poor pastor. Thinking that the amount was too much to send all at once, Rev. Hill forwarded just a portion along with a note that said simply, “More to follow.” In a few days the poor pastor received another envelope containing the same amount and with the same message, “More to follow.” At regular intervals, came a third, a fourth and they continued, along with those assuring words, until the entire sum had been received.

C. H. Spurgeon, the great preacher, used this story to illustrate that the good things we receive from God always come with the same prospect of more to follow. He said: “When God forgives our sins, there’s more forgiveness to follow. He justifies us in the righteousness of Christ, but there’s more to follow. He adopts us into His family, but there’s more to follow. He prepares us for heaven, but there’s more to follow. He gives us grace, but there’s more to follow. He helps us to old age, but there’s still more to follow.”

Spurgeon concluded, “Even when we arrive in the world to come, there will still be more to follow.”

Dear brother and sister in Christ, this Lent season, as we reflect on God and his work through Jesus in our lives, let us also recollect and reminisce the blessing upon blessing that God has showered upon us. If you are wondering right now, ‘what blessing upon blessing?’ please try this exercise – take a sheet of paper and draw a line in the middle of it. On the left write all the trials and troubles of your life; on the right (please spend some time) and list all that God has done for you in your life, include all the blessings.  I am positive the list on the right will be longer than the one on the left. (If your list on the left is longer than the one on the right please contact me- my email address is on the blog).

Dear God, your graces are many but I do not remember them. Instead I focus only on my real and perceived trials. Please forgive me and hold me that I will never forget you and your blessings. In Jesus name. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=900jWVSWS3M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm_gmEJjHws