Tag: church

Lord Of The Whole Earth (Psalm 97 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 97

The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad! 2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice [are] the foundation of His throne. 3 A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about. 4 His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory. 7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all [you] gods. 8 Zion hears and is glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O LORD. 9 For You, LORD, [are] most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. 10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

PSALM 97:1-12

LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH

I recently taught through Revelation. I continue to be amazed at how consistent the book of Psalms is with the picture we get in Revelation! The Bible really does present one cohesive worldview despite being written by several authors who were occupationally, geographically, and chronologically separated from one another. The type of consistency I see in the scriptures speaks to me of it’s divine authorship (ie.. God wrote it, he used men of different backgrounds, languages, and styles, but at the end of the day scripture is from God.)

I’ve noted three thoughts that I think sum up this Psalm.

  • God is WORTHY
  • Idols are WORTHLESS
  • God Will Deliver Us From WICKEDNESS

GOD IS WORTHY (Vs 1-6): In the Old Testament God had appeared to His People on Mount Sinai. It was a great big and awful in the sense of causing awe display of his grandeur. 

14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near [your] wives.” 16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who [were] in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai [was] completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.

Exodus 19:14-19

In the New Testament we get another picture like this, that speaks of His justice and worthiness!  

[Rev 19:1-9 NKJV] 1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power [belong] to the Lord our God! 2 “For true and righteous [are] His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants [shed] by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Revelation 19:1-9

IDOLS ARE WORTHLESS (Vs 7-9) : We are aware where there will come a day where all the false claims about God, life, etc. are dealt with in extreme fashion. The Lord will make Himself plain. There won’t be any competition of ideas in that day. The God who is, and sees what is will bring Judgment. 

We know that there are no such things as false gods, so how could they ever worship the true God? 

It could be their followers, put off worshiping this farce and worship the one true God. He welcomes worshippers! Many of us have been false worshippers who were worshiping false gods, but then the grace of God found us. We repented of our sins and trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

GOD WILL DELIVER US FROM WICKEDNESS (v. 10-12): We Know that God’s justice will flow at the return of Christ. We also look forward to what is called the wedding supper of the lamb. Where we will no longer be separated from Christ but will dwell with him in glory. 

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your incredible mercy and grace! Thank you that Jesus is worthy! We look forward to the day when you return to dwell with your people. We long for the moment when you usher in the New Heaven and the New Earth! We look forward with anticipation of your grace, greatness, and glory. Even now come quickly! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here

Proclaim The Good News Of His Salvation (Psalm 96 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional2 Comments

PSALM 96

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 4 For the LORD [is] great and greatly to be praised; He [is] to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples [are] idols, But the LORD made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty [are] before Him; Strength and beauty [are] in His sanctuary. 7 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Give to the LORD the glory [due] His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9 Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.” 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. 13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

PSALM 96:1-13

PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF HIS SALVATION

New songs are sung after new occasions that call for praise. When God delivered the Israelites through the Red Sea and drown the Egyptian army, they sang a new song. When Sisera was defeated, Deborah wrote a new song! As long as God is active in the world, all the praise songs have not been written yet. New songs recounts God’s faithfulness to new generations and remind us that God still delights in saving and redeeming his people!

In this song, the whole earth is called to praise God for His coming deliverance. The nation of Israel is to sing this song so that the nations will hear the good news of God, forsake their idols, and come worship Him (The only true God)! In a sense it is a missionary song. It gives God glory for His salvation.

How quick we are sometimes to pray for something. We’ll ask God for safe travel, we’ll have a near miss, and instead of giving God the glory we’ll say something like, “Wow, I guess I got lucky on that one.” Rather than having our conversation seasoned with the salt of the gospel (good news of Jesus Christ). We are tempted to go out of our way and dismiss the fact that God answered our prayers.

To write new songs we must be aware of God’s good news applied to our lives and invite others to praise God too. New Songs in this sense give God all the glory for answered prayers and deliverance of His people. It ties our modern world to the truth of God’s character and His Word. As time goes on, those new songs become our old songs as we recount God’s more recent activity in our lives, but they still serve to help us see God in all of our circumstance and give Him the Praise He deserves.

I couldn’t help but be enamored with Chris Tomlin’s song, “How Great is our God” this morning as I was reading this Psalm and so I’ll share a few lines of the song to stir your heart to worship. This melody will be on my mind all day no doubt.

The splendor of a King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

– Chris Tomlin, “How Great Is Our God”

PRAYER

Father, How great are you! You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. You have saved my life from heart disease and Covid Pneumonia in the last few years. You have done great things in my life, the most important thing you did was to save me from my sin. I ask that I would always be passionate about your gospel and proclaiming your name! Help us not be shy about trusting you and let us be quick to give you all the praise, honor, and glory that others may see you and come worship you too! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Unbridled Praise (Psalm 95 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 95

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For the LORD [is] the great God, And the great King above all gods. 4 In His hand [are] the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills [are] His also. 5 The sea [is] His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry [land]. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He [is] our God, And we [are] the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: 8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As [in] the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. 10 For forty years I was grieved with [that] generation, And said, ‘It [is] a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ “

PSALM 95:1-11

UNBRIDLED PRAISE

A few years ago I broke out in a rash from head to toe. Every inch of my skin was on fire with an unsatisfiable itch. I was in agony. It was beyond my control. As much as I tried to put “mind over matter” I couldn’t. My body was apparently responding to something I ate. Finally the doctors subdued my symptoms with some medication but it boggled my mind how my body could have such a loud response to something in my diet. (We still don’t know exactly what caused it, but we suspect a pesticide on one of the plants I ate was to blame)

When we meditate upon the LORD, who He is, what He has done, and His enduring character it should provoke us to unmitigated praise. There is room for a loud response to God. When we see just a little bit of who He is, it should provoke a reaction in our heart that is all consuming! If a little bit of chemical in my food can cause a rash, then understanding that God made the world and everything in it should cause us to break out into loud joyful praise.

Today as we open up Psalm 95 we see the psalmist call us to a loud response of worship to the praiseworthiness of God! We may be used to mild mannered singing or responsive readings, but those won’t do in this moment. The Psalmist calls for us to shout joyfully! Sure there are worshipful moments of quiet reflection and meditation that fit the bill of worship… but there are also times and celebrations that call for unbridled praise! There are moments were we are to let our praise be loud and obnoxious!

The Psalmist shares truth after truth in rapid succession and our hearts should be leaping out of our chest to praise God and say amen! One of my habits when someone else is praying is to amen the words they use to express the sentiment of their heart. It’s as if I’m saying, “That’s my prayer too Lord!” So when we hear these words describe the goodness and faithfulness of God our hearts should be leaping with unbridled praise, “Yes! Amen! It’s True!”

There is room for joy in the Christian life, indeed we are commanded to joy! Indeed Paul wrote these words chained to a prison guard in Rome, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4)! And he tells the Thessalonians church to, “Rejoice always” (I Thessalonians 5:16). This doesn’t even take into consideration the numerous psalms that call us to praise God and shout for joy!

I hope you are able to see all that you have to be grateful to God for and it spills into loud, joyous praise of the LORD! I hope the Lord puts a melody in your heart and you are provoked to praise. I hope that even when you don’t “feel it” that you do your best to offer God your best praise and in doing so come away from moments of personal and corporate worship encouraged and blessed!

PRAYER

Father, you are worthy of worship! You are worthy of all of our loudest praise! I am grateful that you lead us like a shepherd! I am grateful for your kindness and mercy that has been poured out upon us today! I choose to rejoice in your goodness and kindness today! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Six Things to Remember When You Are Bullied (Psalm 94 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 94

[Psa 94:1-23 NKJV] 1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs–O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud. 3 LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph? 4 They utter speech, [and] speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. 5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand.” 8 Understand, you senseless among the people; And [you] fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they [are] futile. 12 Blessed [is] the man whom You instruct, O LORD, And teach out of Your law, 13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the LORD will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. 15 But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 17 Unless the LORD [had been] my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. 18 If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You? 21 They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood. 22 But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. 23 He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The LORD our God shall cut them off.

PSALM 94:1-23

SIX THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE BULLIED

Teenagers have the potential to be vicious and mean. A lot of kids don’t feel good about themselves and in order to feel better, they start making fun of someone else. Middle and High School students already feel an extreme amount of pressure to fit in and so when someone criticizes them for their clothes, shoes, hair style, makeup, being too fat, too thin, being too smart, or not smart enough it really strikes home. They need our encouragement!

I remember when I was in the ninth grade. I had a bully. He was an upperclassman and for some reason we were in a class together. One day he said, “Hey stupid” and I made the mistake of looking up. From that day on, he just called me “Stupid” like it was my name. I already had enough stuff going the wrong way in my life, I didn’t need the added drama. 

I hated my bully. I was ready to settle things with a fight. One day I threw my books down and was ready to punch him, thankfully one of the coaches caught me and stopped me before I did. I poured my heart out about what was going on and the coach was able to put a stop to it. 

Generally our thoughts towards bullies aren’t good and we may have thought about ways to settle the score, get even, or just had a bit of a smile at the thought of something bad happening to them. We don’t like injustice. What the coach did was a great thing and it helped me. There were other bullies through the years who have come and gone in my life. I wish I had known Psalm 94 (or at least how to apply it in my life) back then. I think it would have helped. 

In Psalm 94 we have a guide on how we should think and pray about the bullies in our lives. Here are six takeaways I drew from this Psalm to help us pray and consider God and the bullies in our lives:

  • Remember God’s CHARACTER (v. 1-2) – God alone is the judge. He is in a place to juge and render punishment. We are told that there is a day coming where we will all stand before God. Are you prepared for that day? The psalmist is saying, I wish it were today!
  • Remember God’s TIMING (v. 3-7) – Revelation 6:9-11 is a good cross reference here. It may look like evil is winning the day, but there will come a time when we all stand before God and give an account for our lives. Nothing a bully has said or done will escape God’s notice, but nothing we have said or done will escape his notice either. We will all pay for our sins in one of two ways, either we will pay for them in an eternal Hell forever (Matthew 25:41-43), or we will plead the blood of Jesus who has transformed us from death to life. There will be some on that day who were bullies, but because of God’s patience (2 Peter 3:9) enter in as saints, like the apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:12-16).
  • Remember God KNOWS (v.8-11) – The psalmist concludes that people who think God doesn’t know or care what goes on are biologically ignorant because the God who made the eye’s and ears certainly sees and hears. They are historically and geographically ignorant because nations have risen and fallen from power under his watch. And they are Psychologically ignorant because God knows their very thoughts and their thoughts cannot help them escape the grasp of the LORD. There are no hidden sins. The truth will come out.
  • Remember God’s BLESSINGS are Ultimate (v.12-15) – Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that this world is not my home. I am not supposed to settle down and get too comfortable. I was made for another place and Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for me! When He is ready, He will come back and get me and it will all be right.
  • Remember God Stands with the AFFLICTED (v. 16-19) – 2 Timothy 4:16-18 is a good cross reference here. We must remember that God stands with the afflicted. Even though we may feel alone, we are not alone. Our friends may turn their back on us or forget us, but God will never forsake his own.
  • Remember God’s JUSTICE Will Prevail (v. 20-23) – Justice will prevail. This should cause us comfort. God will set it all right on the appointed day. This should also cause us pause to examine our lives to see if we have afflicted anyone. Have we been a bully to others?

PRAYER

Father, Thank you that you care for the bullied and oppressed. I confess that there have been times in my life when I was bullied, but Lord if I’m honest, I know that there were times in my life where I was a bully. Thank you for your patience in my life. I am grateful that you hear our prayers and meet us in our affliction. I am grateful that you are a God of justice and that justice will prevail. I am grateful that you are also a God of grace, because I so desperately need your grace! Thank you for Jesus Christ and the Cross where you could serve a just sentence for my wicked deeds and and make me righteous before you. You made grace possible. I praise you for your glorious gospel of grace! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

The LORD Reigns (Psalm 93 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 93

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. 2 Your throne [is] established from of old; You [are] from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high [is] mightier Than the noise of many waters, [Than] the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.

PSALM 93:1-5

THE LORD REIGNS

I am blessed to pray with people everyday. Many times when someone comes to me for prayer, they are facing a crisis or an emergency situation. Sometimes it is a health crisis. Sometimes it is financial. Sometimes it’s relational between spouses or parents and children. Sometimes it is the loss of a loved one. The point is that we are often provoked to prayer when something has gone wrong or is going wrong. We need relief from the stress, strain, loss or hurt that we face.

Many times we pray to God for answers. Sometimes we even try to tell God how to answer. I am grateful that God hears even these sorts of prayers. He tells us to, “cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). However in Psalm 93, the psalmist takes a different approach. He begins with praise for God’s might, splendor, and holiness. He mentions the floods of life (perhaps we could describe those floods as the problems, anxieties, and heartaches we experience). Then he kicks back up and reminds us that God still reigns! God is still on his throne! His testimonies are still true! He won’t be shaken!

What I think encouraged me most out of Psalm 93 today is that God’s “testimonies are very sure” (v. 5a). Sometimes due to our circumstances, it is hard to believe that God is in control or that He holds the whole world in His Hands (understood in verse1b). God calls us to faith and yet we seem very uncertain, hesitant to even trust God or search for His will. Yet, in the Bible we have testimony after testimony of God’s faithfulness.

To be sure, He is a God who baptizes His people. (The whole Old Testament is full of stories of how God brought his people through the water). We may go through floods, storms, and choppy seas that threaten to undo us, but when God is with us, there is nothing that can come against us. There are No promises that the floods will never come, but there are promises that when the flood comes, if our house is built on the rock of Jesus Christ, we will stand.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27).

So how doe we respond to a God who is bigger than the flood? We trust His word (His testimonies) more than we trust the voice of the floods (v. 3a)! We prove that God’s testimonies are sure by taking God at his word in the midst of our troubles. We let the character of God, not our circumstances dictate our praise.

Reading Psalm 93 brought another song to my mind today as I meditated on taking God at His Word. It’s the song that I’m sure I’ll be humming all day as I am reminded of God’s sovereignty beyond our circumstances.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus – Louisa M.R. Stead 1882.

PRAYER

Father, I am grateful that your throne is higher than the restless floods that rage. I am grateful that your word is surer than the floods that surround me. I am grateful for your word and that every time I have trusted your promises, you have lead me through the waters that threatened to undo me. Your testimony’s are true! I can’t help but remember your hand upon me as I faced open heart surgery at age 39. You are worthy of all praise honor and glory! I trust in your promises! Your testimonies are sure! I echo the hymn I quoted here today, “oh for grace to trust your more.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

I Love Sundays! (Psalm 92 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 92

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day. [It is] good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, 3 On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound. 4 For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. 5 O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. 6 A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked spring up like grass, And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, [It is] that they may be destroyed forever. 8 But You, LORD, [are] on high forevermore. 9 For behold, Your enemies, O LORD, For behold, Your enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 10 But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. 11 My eye also has seen [my desire] on my enemies; My ears hear [my desire] on the wicked Who rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, 15 To declare that the LORD is upright; [He is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in Him.

PSALM 92:1-15

I LOVE SUNDAYS

There is just something about Sundays (I’m kind of grateful this Psalm fell on a Sunday)! I hope you enjoy getting out of bed, getting ready to come to church and worship the Lord with your brothers and sisters in Christ! We need Sunday morning worship! This Psalm talks about the benefits of worshiping the Lord together. 

In the Old Testament the Nation of Israel worshiped the Lord together on SATURDAY, known as the Sabbath. In the New Testament, however, the day of worship for the church became SUNDAY so we could honor the day Jesus rose from the dead. “Now after the Sabbath, as the first [day] of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb” (Matthew 28:1). In the early church, Sunday had come to be known as the LORD’s Day, the day that Jesus had risen from the dead. It was the day that the New Testament Church met to Fellowship and worship the Lord, memorializing His resurrection and celebrating new life in Christ (and the fact that we are a “new creation” – 2 Corinthians 5:17).

“Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight”(Acts 20:7).

“On the first [day] of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10).

This time of coming together is a time of corporate remembrance. Throughout the week we are bombarded with information. Sometimes it is information we need to process like a cancer diagnosis, a tragic car wreck, or sudden loss of a loved one. We need to figure out how we feel about it. It’s tragic news that often produces grief. We search for meaning and hopefully turn to the Lord for comfort and strength that may even be beyond our understanding. 

We acknowledge that we are bombarded with messages all week from coworkers, billboards, movies, tv, shows, songs on the radio, politicians, face book, and more. Many of these voices compete against the voice of God in our lives. They tell us to covet: If we just had this car or that truck with that transmission. We need to put in more overtime to afford this or that or pay off our debts. They play on our anxieties through the stress of mounting bills, relational strife with our children, puzzlement over how to help our aging parents, or a quarrel with our spouse. They play to our pride: you deserve a break. They play to our laziness: You need to sleep in. Or maybe they encourage us in the right direction: You can be a godly father or mother to your children! You can love in your actions, not just your words.

Each week all of these voices encourage or discourage us and point us to or away from our purpose in God. We need Sunday to come together and be recentered on what matters most! We need to hear one another singing about the faithfulness of God. We look across the pews and we see those who are facing similar struggles or who have been through them. We sing and we remind each other of the grace and goodness of God. We share in Sunday school lessons, share prayer requests, and absorb the same message from God’s word. We give of what the Lord has entrusted to us to demonstrate we still trust Him to provide for our needs. We are brought to a place of examining our lives and seeking God’s will not just that day, but for everyday in the coming week. It is a moment to recenter and remember who life is all about.

To seek to honor the LORD and rest from our labors, we are confessing that we can’t do it all, we are limited. We rest in the fact that God is not limited. When we close our eyes to sleep he is in control. When we rest for a day from our labors, He is in control. We remember we were put here on this earth not for all the striving, overtime, stress, relational dysfunction… but that we are here to worship Him! We recenter our lives. Without it, we often fall into disarray and pursue the wrong things.

The LORD Is certainly worthy of all of our praise. I hope you are able to meet with the people of God today to sing His praise and share in His word. I hope you are lifted up and encouraged. I hope you are blessed and a blessing to others. I hope you have opportunity to be still and hear from Him today.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for the church. We are grateful to gather together with saints to praise your name. (What a small taste of heaven this is). Thank you for the diversity of testimonies that will be in the room today as we sing your praise. We all have lived different lives apart from you but have seen your grace displayed to us through Jesus Christ. We are new creations, conformed to the image of your son Jesus Christ, we celebrate your glory and grace today in the resurrection of Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

My Refuge (Psalm 91 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “[He is] my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth [shall be your] shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, [Nor] of the arrow [that] flies by day, 6 [Nor] of the pestilence [that] walks in darkness, [Nor] of the destruction [that] lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, [Even] the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In [their] hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

PSALM 91:1-16

MY REFUGE

When the Golden Gate Bridge was being built. The workers were working 100’s of feet above the water. As a result several men fell and died and there were all sorts of delays. However after much consideration a very costly safety net was installed under the bridge. If a man fell, the net would catch him and he’d live. Production actually increased because the men didn’t have to be as careful, because if they did slip, the net would catch them and their lives would be spared!

God is a refuge and a deliverer from all sorts of enemies. He even watches over us and protects us in a way from, “pestilence that walks in darkness.” Certainly we have understood this as we walked through the last few years of a global pandemic. God is a refuge from enemies seen and viruses unseen. This psalm doesn’t guarantee immunity from trouble in life or tragedy in death, but it does celebrate the benefits of a confidence in Sovereign God. Trusting in God will not keep you from experiencing bad things in life, but it will keep you as you encounter difficulties in this world.

When I was a youth pastor, one of our youth groups had named itself “Refuge.” Many of the kids who came on Wednesday nights came from difficult home lives. A pastor friend had once intimated that all the kids were “refugees.” In a way, many of them were. They had difficulties that I had never faced. Some were so hungry to meet with God and one another that they walked two miles every week just to come to church. Some of the students had commented that “Refuge” was a place where they had met God and learned how to face the rest of the chaos in their lives.

I think the Apostle Paul knew well how to pull up close to God as His Refuge and Deliverer in some of the most challenging circumstances of his life. When facing the possibility of death he wrote with Psalm 91 confidence, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain. But if [I] live on in the flesh, this [will mean] fruit from [my] labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell” (Philippians 1: 19-22). And when facing less than desirable circumstance chained next to a Roman guard he said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

PRAYER

Father, You are my Refuge! Jesus has kept me from your wrath and purchased my salvation. I know that I belong to you and until my work on earth is done I am immortal. I ask for grace to live as the Apostle Paul with great confidence and contentment no matter my circumstances. May I rest in the peace of having all my hope in you! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Only One Life (Psalm 90 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 90

[Psa 90:1-17 NKJV] 1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You [are] God. 3 You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in Your sight [Are] like yesterday when it is past, And [like] a watch in the night. 5 You carry them away [like] a flood; [They are] like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass [which] grows up: 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. 7 For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. 8 You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret [sins] in the light of Your countenance. 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives [are] seventy years; And if by reason of strength [they are] eighty years, Yet their boast [is] only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, [so is] Your wrath. 12 So teach [us] to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days [in which] You have afflicted us, The years [in which] we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

PSALM 90:1-17

ONLY ONE LIFE

I heard a story of a professor who wanted to teach his class about time management. He took a jar and filled it with rocks and he asked his students if the jar was full. Many replied that it was. He then poured in pebbles that fit in around the rocks and asked again if it was full. Many thought it was. Then he took out sand and shook the sand into the crevices between the rocks and asked the students if it was full. Some were hesitant, but many concluded that it was. Then he took a couple cups of coffee and added them to the mix. Finally it seemed like the jar was full. The professor went on to explain the rocks represented the important things in life, etc. If you try and fill the jar backwards, you will never fit it all in only when you plan around the important things can you live a full and fulfilled life.

This Psalm attributed to Moses, reminds us that our time on earth is finite. We are limited to 70-80 years. Many of those years are filled with sin and wickedness that earns the wrath of God. What we do with our days matter. We are also encouraged to ponder the eternality of God. While time defines our existence, He defines time. Moses calls out to God that we would be taught to number our days. That we would “make them count.” We should seek to see God work though us.

The things of the Lord are important. If we want him to “establish the work of our hands.” We need to be busy doing the things He has for us.. the big rocks. Honoring parents, loving our spouse, raising our children in Christian households, telling others about the Lord, etc. There will be plenty of room for all the other stuff in life, but seeking God is our priority. Jesus said it like this: “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

This Reminds me of the poem, Only One Life, by the great missionary C. T. Studd:

“Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, ”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

PRAYER

Father, Teach me to number my days that I might live each one for your kingdom and glory. Work in and through me to redeem the time that I might walk wisely in your counsel. Establish the work of my hands before me that I might spend the days you have given me honoring you! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

To All Generations (Psalm 89 Devotional Thought)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 89

A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.” 3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: 4 ‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’ ” Selah

PSALM 89:1-4

TO ALL GENERATIONS

In our society we like things quick. We order “fast” food or put something frozen in the microwave and get it piping hot in just a few minutes. We don’t like to wait in lines. We don’t like it when people drive slowly in front of us. we are always in a hurry.

In a society like that, there is something to be said for the things that take time. We have the privilege of living on a hill and knowing of the last several folks who lived in our house. We know generally what happened on that hill for the last 140 years or so. I’ve come to learn some of the stories surrounding the plants around our house. Some of the tree’s were planted by previous generations and from them we draw shade today.

The psalmist wants to declare the glory of God to all generations. Those who have gone before have the legacy of faith to pass down to the coming generations. The newer generation has the privilege of hearing the testimony of how God has moved before. The evidence of God’s faithfulness to the Israelite people was seen in the geneology of the man on the throne. When David’s heir was their, God’s faithfulness was there for those who chose to see it, even though the midst of a few bad kings.

We now see Jesus as the ultimate king in the line of David. He is the one who has come and fulfilled all of God’s promises. He reminds us that God has been faithful in all generations and will be until the end of time.

We may have just come though a rough season or we may be trying to discern what will happen with the youth of today. One thing we can count on for certain is that God is faithful to ALL generations. The same God who watched over our fathers, watches over us, and should he be patient in his return, he will watch over the next generation to come as well.

PRAYER

Father, you are faithful to all generations! You have displayed your love, your justice, your mercy, and your grace in every generation. I am grateful for the way you have moved in my life and I pray for those who are coming behind me today. I pray they see your faithfulness in their generation. Let them be a generation sold out to you. May you do a great work in their time! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Heman Prayed In The Dark (Psalm 88 – Devotional Thought)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional1 Comment

PSALM 88

[Psa 88:1-2, 6-7 NKJV] 1 A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. 2 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry. … 6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, In darkness, in the depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted [me] with all Your waves. Selah

PSALM 88:1-2, 6-7

HEMAN PRAYED IN THE DARK

I used to have “Heman” toys growing up, but I doubt that guy was the same Heman as referenced here. This Heman thoughtfully called out to God in the midst of the darkest time of his life. It was so dark, he couldn’t see any light. This is one of the few Psalms that ends without a kick up looking for the LORD to “save the day.” In doing so, he points us to the reality that some of our darkest moments are our longest.

No one wants to be in the darkest moments of their life for long, but sometimes we get stuck there. Sometimes it is circumstances that are well beyond our control. Sometimes it is tough to find a grateful attitude for all the adversity that comes your way. At some point it can feel personal, like perhaps God Himself has aimed the war bow of heaven at you… but Heman for all his woe, still calls out to God in the darkest time of his life.

That I think is what we are to contemplate. That even when our circumstances are beyond our control and comprehension. When we feel affliction from every side. When we don’t know how to breath or which way is up… God is there! He is big enough to hear your woe’s, He can handle your complaints about the calamities in your life.

We learn something about God and Heman in the dark. Heman won’t let go of God because somewhere in the middle of all this chaos, grumbling, and commiserating, Heman knows that God hasn’t let go of him. He may be grieving the loss of those closest to him, but he hasn’t lost God. While that doesn’t take the darkness away, it makes it more barrable to know that despite his silence, God is still there.

PRAYER

Father, You are God alone in the good times and bad. You reign when I see your hand moving so wonderfully among your people and when I struggle in the dark. There are many questions that I have that probably won’t be answered this side of heaven, but there are also many instances where I’ve learned to ask better questions. Thank you for the grace of your presence, may I never take it for granted that you are a God who hears the prayers of his saints, even when they are in the dark! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.