TO GOD BE THE GLORY

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Do you like to be recognized?

I don’t mean recognized in a way that means someone sees you and knows you. I’m talking about a feeling that desires to be recognized and acknowledged for something you’ve done.

You know the feeling I’m talking about don’t you?

Surely you have done something, maybe at work or maybe at home or maybe just a deed for another person, and you craved to be told “thank you” for what you did or told that you did a great job. And when you didn’t get that recognition, you were hurt or angry or felt unappreciated.

Have you been there?

Now, while it’s in our human nature to want to be appreciated for the things we do, there is a danger attached to it. For our pride and ego can end up taking over if we’re not careful and we begin to be the ones who want to be glorified instead of giving glory to the One who deserves all our glory and praise. Of course, I’m talking about the Lord.

Christian songwriter Chris Tomlin wrote a great song about this and derived the foundational lyric from the first verse of the 115th Psalm:

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.

The words of the song say this (and you can listen to it at the end of this devotion):

The cross before me the world behind
No turning back, raise the banner high
It's not for me, it's all for You

Let the heavens shake and split the sky
Let the people clap their hands and cry
It's not for us, it's all for You

[Chorus:]
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It's not for us, It's all for You

Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It's not for us, It's all for You

Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
It's all for You
The waves are crashing, the sun is raging
It's all for You
The universe spinning and singing
It's all for You
The children dancing, dancing, dancing
It's all for You, It's all for You

My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

We can’t help but be drawn to a place where we are self sacrificial vice being self consumed when we sing this song and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us. With the cross before us and the world behind, we are drawn to Jesus, our Savior, who lived a life that was never all about Him but rather all about saving us. In Him, we see the perfect example of humility.

Jesus takes us to a place where we care more about lifting Him up than ourselves, more about glorifying and magnifying His holy name than receiving credit for ourselves. When we are praised for something we do, we deflect the praise to the One who led us to do what we did, not receive it and claim it for ourselves.

This attitude places Christ first and ourselves second. It places everything in the right perspective spiritually and counters the worldly attitude of self gratification. And as we give the Lord all the glory when we talk to others, we point them to the One they should be praising and acknowledging as well. In other words, our “not to us, but to the Lord be the glory” attitude spreads to those we fellowship with each and every day. When this happens, when we get a group of people drawn together and committed to give the Lord all the honor, glory, and praise, then we have what we call worship.

Worship in its purest form is a full offering of our hearts, our souls, and our lives to the Lord. It’s a submission and surrender of all we are to Him so all He is can be in us. As a Christian we are to be like Christ and when you live for Him in obedience and trust, then when you look in the mirror, you no longer see yourself but Him living and abiding within you. In other words, you become an extension of the Lord Most High day-by-day, His hands and feet that continue to do kingdom work here on earth just as He did when He walked here.

Friends, there is no other life than a life completely and totally sold out for Jesus Christ. And as we become like Him then our actions are reflections of His actions and thus He is the One worthy of all praise not ourselves.

In closing, I have three prayers for you today.

The first is that you will sincerely search yourself and ask, “Do I have a ‘not to me but to the Lord be all the glory’ attitude?”

My second prayer is that you will be able to answer, “Yes.”

And my third prayer is that if you have been taking all the credit and not giving the Lord the glory, that you will start today. Rest assured, you’ll be far more satisfied and gratified if you do so, knowing that your attitude and actions are pleasing to the Lord who watches over you, guides you, loves you, and blesses you more than you’ll ever know.

Amen.

Listen to “Not To Us” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0LowihOXY

In Christ,

Mark

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BOWING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.

Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?

Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

Psalm 114

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Look at the world around you today and you’ll see a world in chaos in many places. Most of the time, this is because of governments that have decided to go down the path of instability and conflict, both internally and externally. Whether we’re talking about civil unrest, financial declines, or outright threats of some form of destructive action against other nations, we see in too many cases a world that has chosen to follow their own desires and plans, desires and plans that are contrary to the will and expectations of the God who brought all things into being. It’s a sad state of affairs and I often wonder how long God is going to put up with the apostasy of the nations and their peoples.

It’s into this world climate that I feel the 114th Psalm brings a very timely world as well as an ominous warning. Look at the words of the psalmist:

When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.

Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?

Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

In the world’s earliest days, we see examples of how God’s power and might were respected. And we’re reminded of how not respecting God’s authority will lead to destruction.

Note that the scripture passage draws us back to Israel’s escape from the oppressive hold of Pharaoh and the Egyptians who were considered a strong and formidable fighting force of the day. Note the imagery of how the sea fled at the presence of God as He parted the waters to allow the Israelites to get away on dry land. The imagery here is of a submissive response to the presence of the Lord Most High, the sea giving way in respect to the One who created it, setting the captive Israel free.

Now note what happened to the Pharaoh and his Egyptians who failed to submit to God after ten plagues and stubbornly pursued Israel as if they would somehow triumph over God.

What happened?

You’ll recall that the seas that submitted to God and His authority collapsed upon the Egyptians and their leader, washing them away in waves of divine destruction. So much for their alleged strength.

Fast forward a little bit to the deliverance of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. In Exodus, we’re given a description of this:

Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. Exodus 19:18

Note that the power of God was such that the mountains trembled at His presence. The mountain was covered in smoke as the Lord descended in a fiery arrival to deliver His expectations to His people. It had to be quite an experience for all who were there and as we read about it in the scriptures, we should try and imagine being in the midst of it, realizing fully how incredibly phenomenal the power of the Lord really is.

And we should keep in mind this same authority and might are present today, ever ready to be leveraged against anyone who would choose to oppose the Lord God Almighty. If He can move mountains. Then He surely can move an entire nation and world anytime he chooses.

The psalm also reminds us of another miraculous display of the Lord’s strength. You may recall this action He took on behalf of His people Israel during their wilderness journey:

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. Numbers 20:2-11

Seas parted. Mountains trembling. And now a rock producing water.

Is there any doubt as to how amazing God is? And is there any doubt that God can do all things? As scripture and the words of Jesus remind us, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

Friends, we need to bow down and worship the magnificent power and awesome majesty of the Lord. If the seas part and mountains tremble, how much more should we submit to God’s presence in our own lives?

It’s time the world takes note again and returns to granting the Lord the honor, glory, and respect He deserves. For no nation or person will ever rival God. Many have tried and fallen as evidenced by history as the mightiest empires in the world’s eyes crumbled and fell. And you can be certain that many more will try and fall in the future.

In the end translation, it’s time for the world to wake up and bow down to the presence of the Lord. He demands it and He deserves it. Nations can either do it on their own or God will bring them down before Him. Rest assured of that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHO IS LIKE THE LORD?

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 113

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Why do people place their full faith and trust in the Lord to help them get through life?

We can find many of the answers in the words of the 113th Psalm. Look at the words of the psalmist:

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Note how the psalmist states the following, distinguishing the Lord from anything else in the heavens and on earth:

1. The Lord is exalted over all the nations.

2. The Lord’s glory is above the heavens.

3. The Lord sits enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth.

The psalmist asks, “Who is like the Lord our God?” Of course, the answer is “no one.”

The good news for us is that this God who made all and is above all is for us (Romans 8:31). Again, the psalmist highlights this truth through the following examples of God’s goodness and providence:

1. The Lord raises the poor from the dust.

2. The Lord lifts the needy from the ash heap.

3. The Lord seats the poor and the needs with the princes.

4. The Lord grants motherhood to the childless woman.

Yes, the Lord meets His people where they are and delivers in the midst of their needs. This is why we have an enduring hope in life no matter what comes our way. For there is nothing beyond the work of God’s almighty hands.

And so given this, how could we not respond to the Lord in the same way as the psalmist, in proclamations and exclamations of praise. Not only are we to praise Him for all He has done for us but we are to encourage and exhort others to do likewise.

For truly friends, who is like our Lord? May we ever praise His name now and forever more, from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE BENEFITS OF FEARING THE LORD

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.

Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.

Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Psalm 111:10-112:1-10

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

This statement from God’s word comes in the very last verse of the 111th Psalm and discussion of the matter continues the entire way through the next psalm, the 112th one.

We know the word of the Lord is absolute truth so there is no doubt that any person who wants to be wise starts that process when he or she fears the Lord. For when one begins to fear God, one begins to receive wisdom.

OK, fair and simple enough. But what does it mean to fear the Lord?

The Hebrew word translated to mean fear is yirah which has a variety of meanings that go a long way toward answering our question regarding how we should react and respond to the Lord. At times the word can indicate one who is afraid of some imminent danger or pain such as the Lord’s judgment or discipline in response to one’s sin. But the word also can mean feeling a sense of awe or wonder or amazement toward the Lord, a sense of reverence and respect for who the Lord is.

There is no doubt that the Lord is the Creator and we are part of the creative work of His hands. He is the Master and we are His subjects. Brilliant pastor and writer John MacArthur even goes as far to say we are slaves unto the Lord, expected to submit to the Lord and serve His every wish.

In other words, we are to bow down and surrender all we are to the Lord of lords and King of kings. The fear of the Lord brings us to that humble place and any legitimate wise person will find themselves there.

People today like to ask, “What’s in it for me?” Well, in response to this question, we only need look back to our scripture passage to see what a person can gain beyond the wisdom that we already have discussed. Consider the following:

1. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding.

Not just wisdom but understanding the will and way of the Lord as revealed by His Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible.

2. Blessed is the man (or woman) who fears the Lord.

When one holds the Lord in the kind of esteem He warrants, that person will find their self happy.

3. The children of those who fear the Lord will be mighty, upright, and blessed.

Note that there is a trickle down benefit to fearing the Lord. For the parents who do so will pass on benefit to their children who will be mighty, upright, and blessed.

4. The one who fears the Lord will have wealth and riches. The fear of the Lord leads to generosity and charity.

The Lord provides an abundance to those who revere and respect Him. Why? Because He knows those people will be obedient to His word and use what He gives to benefit others out of a sense of generosity and charity.

5. The fear of the Lord produces an enduring righteousness.

When we submit ourselves to the Lord and His will, the end product will be a life that consistently and persistently reflects the Lord’s righteousness.

6. One who fears the Lord will not be shaken and does not fear the dark, difficult times of life. The fear of the Lord results in a person having a steadfast heart that places its trust in God.

When we fear the Lord and see Him as ultimately in power and control, we need not fear any forces this world might bring upon us for God is greater. This is what buoys us up in hope and keeps our hearts and minds steadfast in faith, no matter how tough things might become.

7. The person who fears the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

The more we respect the Lord, the more we’ll reflect Him. And the more we reflect Him, the more others will see His graciousness and compassion through us in all we do.

8. One who fears the Lord walks and acts justly.

We saw earlier how an enduring righteousness will be embodied by one who fears the Lord. This leads to a person living right, walking and acting justly in all they do.

9. The person who fears the Lord will be remembered forever.

We tend to want to be remembered for the life that we live. One way to ensure you’re remembered for all the right reasons is to live with a fear of the Lord. When you do this, you’ll be remembered not for what you did in your name but rather for all the things you did in the name of the Lord. In other words, you’ll be remembered for the way you glorified God, not the way you glorified yourself.

10. One who fears the Lord will have the victory now and forever.

When we fully revere and respect the Lord, we praise Him and give thanks for all He has done for us, to include providing us salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s through this eternal promise granted to all those who place their faith and trust in Jesus, that brings us to a place of victory now and forever more.

So there you have it. The fear of the Lord is expected by the Lord Himself and we are to revere Him even if it meant we would get nothing in return.

But that’s not the way it is, is it?

No, through the scriptures we see that the Lord provides a rich bounty for all those who would fear Him. I pray you are counted in that number. For only a fool would choose to do otherwise.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHY WE EXTOL THE LORD

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Praise the Lord.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever.

He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for His people; He ordained his covenant forever — holy and awesome is His name.

Psalm 111:1-9

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“I will extol the Lord with all my heart.”

These are the words of the psalmist in the 111th Psalm.

Now we don’t typically use the word extol in our every day vernacular but that doesn’t mean we don’t do it regularly. In other words, I believe we are extolling much of the time, with all our heart just like the psalmist, and not even realizing we are doing it.

A look at the dictionary tells us a little about the word “extol.” We learn it is derived from a Middle English term “extollere” which means “to lift up.” And so we lift our hearts up to the Lord in the highest sense of praise. We proclaim His glory and power with an overwhelming spirit of thanksgiving, bestowing on Him all our honor and admiration. This is what is means to extol the Lord and as stated, I believe we all can say we have done so once we know what the word means.

So why do we extol the Lord? Why do we lift His name up above all other names?

Well, we only need to look to the scriptures for our reasoning, a reasoning we need to be ready to tell others about, those who have no knowledge of the Lord. Consider the following things from a passage found in Job and in our psalm reading for today:

“God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? Who has prescribed His ways for Him, or said to Him, ‘You have done wrong’? Remember to extol His work, which people have praised in song. All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar. How great is God — beyond our understanding!”  Job 36:22-26b 

Praise the Lord.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever.

He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for His people; He ordained his covenant forever — holy and awesome is His name. Psalm 111:1-9

Why do we extol the Lord?

1. Because He’s got infinite power that He reveals regularly to His people.

2. Because He is great beyond our understanding.

3. Because there is no greater Teacher than Him.

4. Because great are His works.

5. Because He is glorious and majestic.

6. Because His righteousness endures forever.

7. Because He is gracious and compassionate.

8. Because He provides for our needs.

9. Because He remembers His covenant.

10. Because He is faithful and just.

11. Because His precepts are trustworthy.

12. Because He is a Lord of redemption.

13. Because He is faithful and upright.

In the end translation, no one or nothing is as great as the Lord. No one or nothing can do for us what He can. No one or nothing will ever love us like He does.  And so when it comes to extolling, only the Lord is worthy of it, now and forever more.

Amen

In Christ,

Mark

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AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying:

“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”

Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind:

“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift His head high.

Psalm 110

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I’m a right-handed person. And although there are some things I can do left-handed, there is little doubt that my right hand is my more dominant hand, the one with which I can do more things. There is more strength in my right hand and I enjoy a good firm handshake with friends and acquaintances. But no matter how much might I think I have in my right hand, I cannot even come close to the awesome power found at the right hand of God.

As we look at the 110th Psalm, we find that this matter of God’s right hand is central to the passage. Look at the words of David:

The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying:

“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”

Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind:

“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift His head high.

Note here that God is in full control. David’s enemies will be vanquished when they experience the power of God’s right hand coming against them. Kings will be crushed and nations will be judged. Israel’s enemies will perish as they face an adversary of infinitesimal supremacy and might.

Indeed, there is power at the right hand of God. Look at these other passages from the Scriptures that affirm this truth:

“Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.” Exodus 15:6

“You stretch out Your right hand, and the earth swallows Your enemies.” Exodus 15:12

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to His anointed. He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand. Psalm 20:6

Your arm is endowed with power; Your hand is strong, Your right hand exalted. Psalm 89:13

Friends, this God who holds such immense power at His right hand is the God who is with us. Truly we need to ask ourselves, “If God is with us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31) The answer is no one.

And so we need to understand today that we not only find power at God’s right hand but we find protection as well. Consider these verses from the Bible that testify to this fact:

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Show me the wonders of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes.  Psalm 17:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand You save me. Psalm 138:7

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Not only do we experience the protecting power of God’s right hand when we place our faith and trust in Him but we find Him with us and at our right hand. Our God is not a God who is so distant that He can’t be reached. No, our God is with us, at our right hand where He brings us a confidence that allows us to not be shaken, refuge from the things of life that might bring us harm, preservation from our foes, and help when we are feeling dismayed.

This is the God we serve.

But it doesn’t stop at strength and protection. For we also find righteousness at God’s right hand. Consider this verse:

Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. Psalm 48:10

God is perfectly right and perfectly just as He metes out discipline through the power of His right hand. And when we dwell with Him, allowing Him to be at our right hand, then we too will start to emulate His righteousness, living rightly and uprightly as He expects us to.

And so power, protection, and righteousness. All things we discover when we turn to the right hand of our God and Father. Yet, we have not touched on the most important thing we find there. That would be our Savior Jesus, God’s one and only Son who He allowed to be sacrificed to pay the price for our sins, all because this God at our right hand loves us so very much.

Yes, salvation is found through Jesus Christ, who abides and rules over the world from God’s right hand. The scriptures say as much:

Save us and help us with Your right hand, that those You love may be delivered. Psalm 60:5

God exalted Him (Jesus) to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. Acts 5:31

Jesus Christ, ( who) has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3:21b-22

When Jesus died, God raised His Son from the dead to sit Him at His right hand, delegating to Him all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus became the King of kings, Lord of lords, and the only gateway to get to God (John 14:6). In other words, if you want to live eternally with your Creator Father God, you have to first believe and trust in His Son, the One at His right hand, as your personal Savior. There is no other way to salvation.

Friends, my prayer today is that you are fully experiencing all of the splendor and majesty found at God’s right hand. I pray you are experiencing the fullest extent of His power, protection, and righteousness. And I pray that you have professed Jesus as your Savior so that you have received the salvation promise offered to you and the associated victory over death one day that it will bring.

Amen

In Christ,

Mark

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