In His presence

Psa 84:1  How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! Psa 84:2  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. ……...    Psa 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 How pleasant is Thy dwelling place, O Lord!  What a thrill to be where the presence of God is!  My whole being desires to be in the presence of the living God, to experience the joy and assurance of His very presence. It is better to be in His presence for just a day, than to live a thousand elsewhere.  It is better to be at the lowest servants place in the Lord’s house than to live large in the tent of the wicked.  How we ought to value and long for the presence of God!  How careful we should be to live in a way that invites His approval and presence!

Learn to do good

Psa 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

 God is good, altogether and completely good.  God is good all the time, in everything, all the time.  God is good, He is holy, He is just.  He is pure in every thought, every intention and every action.  Everything He does is good.  Everything He does is right. Everything God does is absolutely the best in every way.  Therefore, we should want to know His ways.  Our heart should desire to know His commandments so that we might do them.  We should seek to be taught His ways in order to incorporate them into our lives, so that we also may then do what is good.

Priceless

.   Isa 55:1  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 There are some possessions in this life that are beyond the reach of most of us….some very expensive cars, some mansion-like houses, that most of us can only look at and read about.  However, this verse tells us that the greatest riches of all are available to everyone.  Everyone who is thirsty may take of the water of life.  Anyone who is has a spiritual hunger may come and eat and drink of the very finest for free.  The blessing of salvation is available to all, freely available.  All that is required is a true hunger and thirst, a real desire to know God.  There is no price we must bring, just a humble and willing heart, thirsting after God and His Way.  All of us can be truly rich, truly blessed with the things that make life happy, contented and satisfying. 

Contentment

Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

 It is a great spiritual attainment to find contentment.  Too often we create trouble and difficulties because we over reach, stretching to try to accumulate too much, and in the process wound our own conscience. This verse reminds us where real contentment and satisfaction in life is to be found.  It is found in a life of reverence to God, obeying Him and trusting Him.  As such, we can rest from anxiety knowing He is caring for us, and we can sleep peacefully knowing all is well between us and God.  This verse isn’t advocating poverty, but rather it is a reminder that the security and contentment we seek must be in God, not things.  The real joy of life, contentment and security are only found in Him.  Let’s make sure we are pursuing the right means to a happy life.     

Maturity

2 Co 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

  This is Paul’s closing admonition to the church at Corinth.  There is a promise attached to following this admonition.  The promise is that the God of love and peace will be with us.  What a promise! What more could we ask?  God will be with us and for us.  God, in whose presence is love and peace, assurance and security, will be with us.  The route to having the presence of God with us is this: strive to grow in holiness, to be mature (perfect), complete.  We are to encourage one another, strengthen one another, live at peace with one another.  We are to be in unity of the Spirit, striving together toward the common goal of doing the work of God and helping others come to know Him.  If we make these things our focus, the presence of God will be with us.      

Peace

.  (Rom 12:17 KJV)  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Rom 12:18 KJV)  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

 We are instructed to not repay evil with evil. What is one of the first responses we feel when we are done wrong?  We are going to even the score, pay them back.  As Christians we are instructed not to get even, not pay back evil for evil. This passage tells us to “Provide things honest in the sight of all men”, or as another translation renders it, Take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  We are to make sure the way we respond is fitting of one who takes the name of Christ.  We represent Christ before a watching world.  There is something more important than our own rights; …it is the reputation of Jesus Christ and His salvation. (Rom 12:18 KJV)  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. As much as lieth in you, as much as it depends on you, seek to live at peace with everyone.  Do your part to insure peace and right relationships with everyone.  Let’s show the world the change that salvation brings.

Down but not out

Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

 Yesterday, in the previous verse, we saw that God is directing the course of our life.  However, that does not exempt us from difficulty.  “Though he fall”…..It has the idea of falling in the sense of calamity, or falling into loss, being knocked down by an event of life; trouble and adversity coming into our life.  One can have the course of their life directed by God and yet fall, or be knocked down.  The encouragement of this passage is found in this verse: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down.  Not utterly cast down, not cast headlong, not wiped out.  Calamity is temporary in the life of one who is directed by God.  Mistakes, failures, losses don’t have to dictate our life’s course. Failure is not permanent.  Notice, we are not utterly cast down because of God’s strength:    for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. God is able to lift us back up.  The fall does not remove us from the course of life God is establishing us in.  This is a source of great confidence and strength in our life; this is a source of great joy in our life.  Press forward with confidence in the Lord.

Finding the good life

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 What a blessing to know God directs our life!  God establishes the overall course of our life.  God providentially cares for us in the course of our life.  There is a security that comes from our life being under God’s control. The control, care and supervision exercised by God over His children is called the Providence of God. The Providence of God refers to God’s wise planning – in advance.  God knows the beginning from the end.  God sees the future, nothing takes Him by surprise.  Therefore, God is able to successfully plan the course of our life. There is a confidence, a sense of safety and protection knowing that the God who looks out for us is both wise and good.  There is a joy that comes from knowing God is directing our life.  We can delight, or find joy in living our life under His direction. 

Generous

Pro 11:24  There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Pro 11:25  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

 Generosity is a Christian attribute; it is a Christian attitude toward the needs of those who are around us.  We are cautioned against selfishness. Notice the Proverb; its bit of a riddle: “Scatters but increases, holds tight but tends to poverty”. Verse 25 tells us why:  God is at work.  God takes care of those who take care of others. We are called to be generous in meeting the needs around us; it is a visible example of love.  History tells us this was one of the great witnesses of the early morning church.  This is not a call to give away all, but a call to generosity: “withholdeth more than is meet”.   Our heart ought to be moved with compassion on the needs around us.  One of our responses should be generosity, sharing what God has blessed us with.

Pleasing God

(Micah 6:6 KJV)  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?(Micah 6:7 KJV)  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

       How shall we come to worship God?  What do we bring that will please Him? Our text tells us what God is looking for, what pleases Him.  First of all, it isn’t just about being religious, not just going through the form, the rituals.  It isn’t about doing some great sacrifice, not about self inflicted suffering, pain.  What the Lord requires, what it takes to make heaven our home is still pretty simple:  Our text summarizes it this way:  do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.  First of all, we are instructed to do justly, do what is right. This is the standard we are to apply to our selves, this is how we are to judge our own life. We need to cultivate a sincere desire to know what is right and to live that way. We need to give serious attention to doing what is right in every situation, with every one, all the time.  We cannot allow those things that are wrong to continue in our life and expect to be pleasing to God.

      The first instruction was how we are to deal with our self; the next is how we are to deal with others.  We are to love mercy. This has to do with the attitude in which we view others, how we deal with others.  Not with a hard, harsh spirit or attitude, but with an attitude that loves mercy. This is a heart like Gods, one that prefers mercy, is bent toward mercy. There is a tendency to grow harsh in our judgment of others if we resent the strong discipline, strict obedience we are to apply to our own life.  We are to be compassionate, kind, merciful toward those around us.  This is not condoning sin, ignoring sin.  But it is an attitude of one who has been forgiven to desire that others find forgiveness as well, patient in our dealing with others. 

All our needs

(Phil 4:19 KJV)  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 In this passage, Paul was thanking the church at Phillipi for remembering him and helping supply his needs. Paul was unable to repay them for their love and care, but he was confident that God wouldn’t overlook what they had done.  The promise was that “My God shall supply all your needs”. This isn’t limited to things spiritual. My God shall supply all your needs, ALL our needs. ALL our needs, all those things we are tempted to worry about. God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. Does God have enough to get the job done?  Enough wealth, enough wisdom, enough love, enough grace? Resist the temptation to worry. Resist the temptation to focus your time and attention on the things of this world. Continue faithful, continue to trust God. My God shall supply all your needs.

Our Father

(2 Cor 6:18 KJV)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 God identifies Himself as our Father, the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, is our Father.   What more could we ask for?  We have been brought into a special personal relationship with the very creator of the universe.  The One who knows all, sees all, the very Creator of all, has promised to take us as His children.  Is there anything too hard for our Father?  Is there anything beyond His knowledge?   Is there any need to great for His resources?  Trust your Father, He loves and cares for you.  He is truly all we need. 

Held up

(Isa 41:13 KJV)  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

 There are many things in life that can cause us to fear and worry.  The promise of this passage is that we need not fear because God will help us.  Like a parent takes hold of a child’s hand, God takes hold of our hand and says “Fear not, I will help thee.” There is no fear when we have His very presence with us to protect us and to guide us.  There is no fear when He is guiding and directing us.  There is no fear when God is keeping us.  There is no fear though we are in the very midst of danger when our hand is help tightly by His.  Keep reaching up; keep your hand in His.

Pray

(1 Th 5:17 KJV)  Pray without ceasing.

 Don’t let anything keep you from maintaining your prayer life.  This is how our relationship and faith grows, by talking to God, by seeking what we need, by seeing God answer our prayers. We are to be consistent in our prayer, and we are also to be continual in our prayer.  By that, I mean we are to learn to live with God throughout the day.  Talk to God all day long as we live out the day, seeking His help in everything.  This is how our relationship grows and how we experience the felt presence of God in a greater way.

Priorities

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 Living a successful Christian life requires that we keep our priorities in order.  The things which pertain to this life only thrust themselves upon us….things like making a living, acquiring things, taking care of our things.  If we are not careful, we can begin to believe that life consist of things and making a living.  Our life can be consumed worrying about material things, and cause us to forget the most important things of life.  Instead of worrying about and pursuing money and things, our spiritual life and the things of God are to be the most important pursuits of our life.  This passage reminds us that God does a good job looking after the needs of His creation.  If He takes such care of the birds and the flowers of the field, how much more can He be depended on to take care of His children.  Don’t let your life be consumed with pursuing material things….this is how those who don’t know the Lord live.  Instead, let’s give priority to the kingdom of God and God can be depended on to supply what we need.  Let’s keep our priorities in order.    

Changed

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

 Being a Christian is more than just having our sins forgiven.  The experience of salvation changes us from loving our self above everything else to loving God supremely and loving others as our self.  One who despises his neighbor sins; despises them by words, scorn or by ignoring their needs.  On the contrary, one who shows mercy, has compassion on the poor will be blessed.        

God cares

Luk 12:6  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Luk 12:7  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

 God sees all, knows all.  He sees everything that happens in His creation.  Even the little sparrows, which have little value or significance in this world, are seen of God.  Not one of them falls to the ground without God seeing and caring.  God knows all about us.  He knows more about us than we know about our selves.  He knows every detail, even insignificant details like the number of hairs on our head.  Jesus reminds us that we need not fear, need not worry.  If God concerns Himself with these lesser things, how much more can He be depended on to take care of His own children.  I pray our faith take in God’s great concern and care, and allow our faith to replace our worries and fears.  

Waiting, expecting

(Psa 130:5 KJV)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. (Psa 130:6 KJV)  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

 There are times when disappointment and discouragement seem to come in like a flood.  In such times, our hope is in God and in the promises of His Word.  The Psalmist expresses an intense longing for God’s help.  The expectation and intensity is even more than that of those who are waiting for the dark night to pass with the dawning of morning. We share that same longing during times of intense or prolonged trouble and trials.  Notice in this passage that we have more than hope; we have an expectation.  There is an expectant waiting and looking for His help and deliverance.  Stay steady, continue to trust and expectantly wait; God’s help is as certain as the bright morning of a new day after a long night.  

Live the good life

Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

 How easy it is for us to get our priorities mixed up.  Too often we strive to obtain things, to get ahead, to accumulate money, to live the good life.  However, these are not the things that really make life good and pleasant.  What makes life good and pleasant is the warmth and security of being loved, the joy of an atmosphere of love.  It is better to have fewer of the finer things of life and enjoy love, than to live the “good life” and contend with bitterness and ill will.  Let us strive for the best life, to show love, to promote love, to build those things that make life truly good.  

Remind ourselves

(Psa 42:11 KJV)  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

 There are times when we find ourselves mired down in worry, discouragement and restlessness.  As the Psalmist, we need to remind our self of God’s care and faithfulness. We can revive our hope in the midst of our difficulties by knowing that God is our God and will never forsake us.  We can be praise Him now for who He is and in confidence that He will once again prove faithful.