THE VOICE OF THE LORD

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In Christ, Mark

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

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.

Psalm 29:3-11

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

Have you ever heard the voice of the Lord? How would you describe it?

Maybe He has spoken to you in prayer. Or perhaps He has spoken to you while you were studying from the Bible as the Word of God often springs to life when we read it. Or it’s very possible He may have spoken to you another person like a pastor or spiritual mentor. Regardless how you experience it, the Lord is speaking every day and He has been doing it for as long as there has been man.

It was the voice of the Lord that commanded Abraham to go to where the Lord would lead him. It was the voice of the Lord that spoke to Moses from a burning bush and told him to go and lead the Israelites out of Egypt and Pharaoh’s oppression. It was the voice of the Lord that spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and delivered His commandments to deliver to the Israelites. It was the voice of the Lord who spoke to Elijah, not in a powerful wind, not in an earthquake, not in the fire, but rather in a whisper. And it was the voice of the Lord who asked the prophet who he should send and Isaiah responded by telling the Lord to send him.

As we read the remainder of the 29th Psalm, it was obvious that David had first-hand knowledge of the voice of the Lord as he gives multiple references as to what the voice of the Lord is like. Here’s how he described it:

1. The voice of the Lord thunders over the waters.

Ever been outside when a storm is approaching? What’s your first indicator?

Typically, long before the storm gets to where you are, you hear the thunder, a sign of the storm’s coming power trumpeted by the Lord. It’s as if the Lord is sounding a warning well in advance of His arriving, amazing handiwork. And typically we listen to the voice of the Lord and seek to take shelter from the storm.

2. The voice of the Lord is powerful.

Can anyone argue that thunder from the heavens carries with it significant power? Short of a major explosion, there are few things as strong as the thunder.

But the power of the voice of the Lord isn’t necessarily measured by decibels. No, the power in the voice of the Lord is relevant to how that voice affects the listener.

For example, there have been times when I was studying the scriptures and all of a sudden, the voice of the Lord will speak powerfully to my heart, opening up floodgates of emotion within me. There doesn’t need to be a thunder clap. Just the voice of the Lord speaking power into my soul through God’s Holy Word and the illumination of that Word by the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, the voice of the Lord is powerful, no matter the decibel level. His whisper is more powerful than the world’s loudest voice.

3. The voice of the Lord is majestic.

The Lord is the Lord of lords. He defines royalty. No one has more distinction. No one is more magnificent. No one is more grandiose.

Indeed, everything about the Lord is majestic, including His voice.

4. The voice of the Lord is strong.

When one has authority, there is strength in their voice as they lead and command others.

As stated, the Lord is without equal as the Ruler of all mankind. There is no greater authority and thus no one speaks with a stronger voice.

Indeed, the voice of the Lord is strong and commanding in its delivery. It doesn’t need to beg for our attention. Rather it captivates it. And the voice of the Lord not only projects strength but it grants it to the listener as well. Lend your ear consistently and persistently to the voice of the Lord and you can help but be empowered by it.   

5. The voice of the Lord strikes like lightning.

There is a frightening component to lightning, mainly because it is totally unpredictable. This is why we should never be outside when a storm is raging. More than one person has perished when struck by a lightning bolt. Not the way one should want to go.

David tells us the voice of the Lord strikes like flashes of lightning. When the Lord needs to reach His people, He has a way to powerfully strike us deep in our inner being with conviction and/or wisdom, relaying His will and way to us. And unlike natural lightning bolts that we can hide from, there is no concealing ourselves from the lightning strikes of the voice of the Lord when He chooses to speak to us.  

6. The voice of the Lord shakes the land.

We tend to be creatures of habit. We establish a routine and like to stick to it.

The Lord has a habit of finding ways to move us out of our comfort zones and toward His service, service that seldom is routine and never boring.

The voice of the Lord will shake the land like the desert of Kadesh mentioned by David but it will also shake the foundations of our lives as well. When the voice of the Lord speaks, it breaks our worldly norms, convicts us by exposing our sins, and then works to move us onto the foundation of righteousness, the foundation built on the immovable Rock, the Lord Almighty.

Yes, the voice of the Lord is mighty and authoritative. It’s what you would expect from the Creator and Maker of all things who is enthroned as our King forever.

And this King of kings doesn’t keep His strength to Himself. No, David reminds us that the Lord gives strength to His people, helping them endure any and all circumstances. There is no hardship that God can’t overcome, no obstacle He can’t clear. He leads us through trials and difficulties, and He does so often with just the sound of His voice.  

Friends, this Word of God is a blessing to all of us because it comes with the assurance that God is with us, a promise that brings us peace in knowing He is on our side. Truly, if God is for us, who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31)

And so I ask again, have you heard the voice of the Lord? If you haven’t, then you haven’t been listening for He is always speaking in amazing ways.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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OUR OBLIGATION TO ASCRIBE

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In Christ, Mark

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

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

Psalm 29:1-2

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

The contemporary Christian group, Jars of Clay, wrote the following lyrics into a song titled “The Stone” which appeared on the compilation album, “City on a Hill”:

“Ascribe greatness, ascribe greatness. Ascribe greatness to the Rock so high, so high”

It’s one of the few songs I can remember that have used the word “ascribe” in reference to the Lord Most High, the Rock and Stronghold who rules over us all, the Almighty, Omnipotent Creator of the world who is the definition of greatness.

Look into the scriptures and you’ll find that within the New International Version, the word “ascribe” is only used ten times across seven verses. In all instances, we are to ascribe either glory, strength, or, in the case of Job, justice to the Lord. As we look at the opening verses of the 29th Psalm, we find David exhorting ascription:

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

So what does it mean to “ascribe greatness” or to ascribe anything for that matter?

If you pull out your dictionary, you will find that to “ascribe” a matter to something or somebody is to refer something to a “supposed cause, source, or author” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary). Using my thesaurus within Microsoft Word, I learn that synonyms for the verb “ascribe” are to assign, to credit, or to attribute. And with this, the meaning of “ascribe” becomes to take shape as we apply it to God.
It’s rather simple really. We are to ascribe or assign and attribute full credit for all things to the Lord, the One whom from all things flow.

Looking back at the things David tells us to ascribe to the Lord, we see two key mentions:

1. Glory.

We are to give the Lord all the glory for He and He alone defines glory.

Glory is great beauty and grandeur. Is there anything more beautiful than the Lord, than the love He has for His beloved children, the mankind that He created in such amazing grandeur. And speaking of beautiful grandeur, get out and fully experience the world around you and you’ll never cease to be amazed at the beauty of God’s handiwork. For the glory of the Lord shines brightly all around us. The lands we walk, the seas we sail and swim in, the trees, the flowers, the birds of the air and the animals of the land and sea, the clouds and stars and planets that inhabit the sky, and the air we breathe that sustains us, all are just a measure of the magnificence we see in the Lord, the only One worthy of being ascribed glory because He is glory.

2. Strength.

Is there any power greater than the Lord’s?

Look at what some of the scriptures have to say about it?

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. Ephesians 3:6-7

God reveals His power to us through grace, not His power to destroy us but rather His power to save us despite our deserving His wrath. We might call it divine will power or the Lord’s power displayed in His will not to punish us as we deserve. God’s mercy is indeed a powerful blessing, a blessing that grants us strength from Him. It’s the very reason I can type this right now and why you can read the words He is giving me.  

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

God displays His power in all kinds of ways and does so that we might grow in our faith in Him and that all things can be done by Him. After all, His word assures us that there is nothing impossible with God. With this truth, why would we ever place our full trust in the imperfection of humanity when we have the perfect power of God available. It’s little wonder why the scriptures ask, “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” Romans 8:31 No one can be ascribed the strength that we find in the Lord.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Yes, grace and mercy are both reasons to ascribe strength to the Lord but they are both intangibles. Want a tangible example of God’s power and strength? There is no better one than the Cross of Calvary where Jesus was crucified. For death was swallowed up in victory as Jesus died and then rise from the grave into resurrection, the fullest measure of God’s glory and strength on display. Today and forevermore, the Cross is our assurance and revelation of God’s almighty power.

Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him in our dealing with you. 2 Corinthians 13:3-4

Indeed, Jesus was resurrected by God’s almighty power and the good news is that those who place their faith and trust in Christ as Savior will also experience that resurrection power when the appointed time comes. Paul knew and trusted in the powerful promises of the Lord and gained the strength to boldly carry the Gospel to others through the Lord and the Lord alone. We can do likewise.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

Yes, we gain a living hope through God’s power and strength expressed in His raising Jesus from death to life and in His promise to do the same for us. We are emboldened to go forth and share the good news of the Gospel with others, fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations, and we can do so without fear because we know we aren’t going out alone for the cause of Jesus. No, God is walking with us to protect us, shielding us by way of His power until our salvation comes. Who should we be afraid of if we know we are shielded by God’s power? No one, that’s who.

David proclaims, “Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.”

Truly, there is no glory like the glory of the Lord and there is no strength like His strength. And with this, we are to ever and always give the Lord His due, to ascribe to Him all credit. It’s our obligation to do so for all glory, honor and praise belong to Him and Him alone.

Friends, we were created to worship the Lord while immersed in the splendor of His holiness, the magnificence of His divine sacredness. He is and always will be worthy of all our respect and admiration. 

Have you taken the time today to ascribe greatness to the Lord, the Rock Most High?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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IN THE EVERLASTING ARMS

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In Christ, Mark

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

Only you, Lord, are a mighty rock! Don’t refuse to help me when I pray. If You don’t answer me, I will soon be dead. Please listen to my prayer and my cry for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy temple.

Don’t drag me away, Lord, with those cruel people, who speak kind words, while planning trouble. Treat them as they deserve! Punish them for their sins. They don’t pay any attention to Your wonderful deeds. Now You will destroy them and leave them in ruin.

I praise You, Lord, for answering my prayers. You are my strong shield, and I trust You completely. You have helped me, and I will celebrate and thank You in song.

You give strength to Your people, Lord, and You save and protect Your chosen ones. Come save us and bless us. Be our shepherd and always carry us in Your arms.

Psalm 28 (CEV)

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

When it comes to Christian or Gospel music, I would consider myself a “tweener.” That is, I am caught up between a love for traditional music, the old hymns that seem to be timeless, and the newer beat of contemporary Christian and Gospel music that has a present day sound while conveying the same message as those timeless hymns. Maybe you’re the same.

Yes, as much as I love to listen to and sing out the new Christian songs I listen to daily, I also love to pull out the hymnal at church on Sunday morning and sing a blessed old hymn that Christians have sung for the ages. One such hymn I want to use for today’s devotional writing is “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms.” If you’re not familiar with it, the lyrics are as follows:

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning on the everlasting arms of God. We all find ourselves having to do this as we walk through life. Some opt to do it and discover fellowship with God and the joy divine that accompanies it, the blessedness and peace that comes through that fellowship, the sweet walk on the path God lights to travel, and His security that removes our fears. Yes, some will opt to lean on the everlasting arms of God but sadly, some will not. They will try and make it on their own strength, attempt to make their own way, endeavor to make their own blessings and joy and peace. And in the end, they will find themselves unfulfilled. For there is only one place that will bring us satisfaction and solace in the world today and that is in the everlasting arms of God, our Father.

David, the shepherd boy who God selected and anointed as king, fully knew God and what he could find in His everlasting arms. We see this when we read the words he penned in the 28th Psalm:

Only you, Lord, are a mighty Rock! Don’t refuse to help me when I pray. If You don’t answer me, I will soon be dead. Please listen to my prayer and my cry for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy temple.

Don’t drag me away, Lord, with those cruel people, who speak kind words, while planning trouble. Treat them as they deserve! Punish them for their sins. They don’t pay any attention to Your wonderful deeds. Now You will destroy them and leave them in ruin.

I praise You, Lord, for answering my prayers. You are my strong shield, and I trust You completely. You have helped me, and I will celebrate and thank You in song.

You give strength to Your people, Lord, and You save and protect Your chosen ones. Come save us and bless us. Be our Shepherd and always carry us in Your arms.

So what did David find from his experience in the everlasting arms, the arms that he not only leaned on but was nestled in as God carried him through times when deep danger lurked?

1. David saw God as his mighty Rock and strong Shield.

Watch a western movie sometime and I’ll bet you will see at least once where someone takes cover behind a rock during a gun fight. As long as they stay behind the protection of the rock, the bullets meant to harm them bounce right off. The rock kept them safe.

Today, we are under attack every day. Satan wants nothing more than to assail us and ultimately destroy us. We need protection. We need a rock like no other to keep us safe, to be our strong shield against harm, and we have that Rock in God. David realized it and God wants us to as well.

2. David found he could have two-way communication with God.

David yearned to talk to God, his Rock. He pleaded for God to not refuse him, to answer when he called out to Him. And God obliged his requests and answered David’s prayers, receiving his praise in return.

God desires to speak with us as well. We need only seek fellowship with Him, leaning on His everlasting arms, be ready to share our concerns and praise as well as listen, and He will carry on a vibrant, edifying communication with us.

I wrote this quote a long time ago, “Communication is the lifeblood of relationship.” In other words, you won’t have a relationship with someone if you aren’t communicating with them. If you don’t believe it, try it sometime and you’ll see I’m right. We must communicate with God, and that communication must be two-way, if we hope to have relation with Him. David found this and we will too when we try it.

3. David grew in his trust in God.

The more we experience God’s protection, the more we are in fellowship with Him, the more we speak with Him, the more trust we gain in Him. We find that there is no other worth having faith in than God. David discovered this and we will too if we fall into and lean on the everlasting arms of God.  

4. David found help.

We all need help. In fact, we need help every day. Help can have varying degrees with some needs more critical than others but when we need help we need it, regardless of the degree.

There are many sources of help out there, so many that we’re often left unsure of which option to take. It sure would be less confusing if we could narrow those options down.

In God, we have just that. In fact, it’s too easy. You need help, you lean on the everlasting arms of God and He grants the help you need. He knows what those needs are and will provide. He did for David and He still does for all those who place their faith and trust in Him today.

5. David was brought to a spirit of celebration and thanksgiving.

When we experience God’s protection, His guidance, and His help while leaning on His everlasting arms, we can’t help but celebrate His goodness, grace and love. We give consistent and persistent thanks for all He is and all He has done. We learn fully that God and God alone is worthy of our praise.

6. David found strength.

After David wrote this Psalm, the apostle Paul would write the words, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) When we’re in the everlasting arms of the Lord, we have a strength and power to get through life, not a power of our own but a power granted to us by the Lord, a power that gives us the strength to do all things. David received it. Paul received it. We can receive it as well.

7. David found salvation through his Shepherd who carried him.

David was in constant danger of being killed. As king of Israel, many foes wanted the power of his throne and saw murdering David as the way to get it. Yet, in the midst of this peril, David was not harmed. He was able to avoid all his adversaries, delivered and saved by God, the Shepherd who carried him through every instance.

You and I have the same opportunity for deliverance and salvation today through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who God sent to save us from our sins. Leaning on God’s everlasting arms leads us to His Son and into a salvation that is not just for now but for eternity. Truly, if God is for us, who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31)

Yes, David gained so much by choosing to abide in the everlasting arms of the Lord.

How about you? Are you in His everlasting arms today? Are you experiencing fellowship with the Lord and His joy divine? Are you enjoying the blessedness and peace that is only found in Him? Are you walking on the path of righteousness He will light before you?

If so, then you know just what David is talking about, you know how he is feeling.

If not, then why not lean into the everlasting arms of God today? Rest assured they are open wide to receive you.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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DWELLING IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

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In Christ, Mark

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

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of You, “Seek His face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me Your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:4-14

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

What do you ask from the Lord?

One of the most appealing characteristics of our relationship with God is that it is a personal relationship. The Maker and Creator of all things, full of unmatched power and might, loves and cherishes us individually. That’s why we see Him as our Father, the ultimate single Parent who cares about every aspect of our lives. He wants us to know Him as intimately as He knows us.

And so with this, we can freely approach our Heavenly Father at any time and talk with Him. This is the definition of prayer, a divine conversation with the only One who can do all things for us because there is nothing impossible with God. No one can do for us what He can and no one is with us whenever we find ourselves in need as He is as He is always walking with us as we journey through life.

So again, what do you ask from the Lord?

If you’re struggling with illness or injury, you’re probably asking God for healing and recovery and, if the affliction or damage is grievous enough, you may be asking about your life, whether it is God’s will for you to survive or enter into His care eternally.

Maybe you are going through financial hardship, unsure of how you’re going to make ends meet. You may be out of work or working and not making what you need to pay the bills. Your debts are piling up and if you have a home, maybe you’re concerned about whether you’ll be able to keep it. Your life if full of uncertainty and you need some assurance that things are going to work out. And so you turn to God and ask for guidance.

Maybe the stresses of life are weighing hard on your relationship, tearing at the very threads that hold it together. The worries of finances or parenting or work strains or any combination of these are taking a toll on the commitment you made to one another. Your hearts seem to break a little more each day and you yearn to rekindle the love you had when you first met. And so you ask God for help, for restoration and reconciliation, for a return of love and peace into your union.

Indeed, these are just some of the things we find ourselves facing in life that draw us toward God and the help He can bring.

As we look at the remainder of the 27th Psalm, David offers us a fresh perspective on life and what we should ask from the Lord. Surely David knew all about experiencing difficulty. By his own words, he was surrounded by enemies and oppressors who desired to ruin David, both by word and malicious accusations as well as action. We know there were many who would have loved to see David dead like Saul and David’s own son, Absalom.

Yes, David had a lot to ask for, much he could have petitioned God for. But as we read, David only had one request that really mattered to him. And in that request, we can gain a new insight into how we should view life and how God fits in.

Look at these amazing words of Israel’s king:

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Wow! David could have given the Lord a list of things he didn’t. For there was only one desire that really mattered to David. He only sought to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of (his) life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” And we should long for the same solitary thing.

For what is more important that making the Lord our home, living in Him with every waking moment of every day for all the days He blesses us with. It’s only then that we can truly and fully gaze on His glory and gain a complete appreciation for all He is to us, for all He has done, all He is doing and all He is yet to do.

Friends, we were created to worship and adore our Father God, to give Him our complete admiration, to dwell and make ourselves at home in Him, to give Him all our honor, glory, and praise. For when we do, we will discover the following things that David did:

1. We’ll discover safety.

David said in verse 2 of this Psalm that the Lord was his stronghold. He knew God was His Almighty Refuge from his enemies. He knew that on days of trouble, he would find safety within the dwelling of the Lord, the place he wished to call his home. Yes, David knew God would shelter him and exalt him above his enemies and we need to see that too for God offers the same to anyone who dwells within Him.

2. We’ll find help.

David, a later psalm, would proclaim that God was his ever present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Indeed, no one was a present with David and able to aid him in times of need like God. When you are always abiding with someone, they are right there for you. David longed to dwell with God, to live side-by-side with Him, knowing that he need not fear anything or anyone because God was ever present with him.

God longs to abide with us the same way and He will be ever present with us if we seek to always dwell in His house for all the days of our lives.

3. We find ourselves living in joy and praise.

Dwelling in the house of the Lord was going to bring David an unrivaled happiness, a happiness he would not have living elsewhere. David professed that he would sacrifice with shouts of joy while singing and making music to the Lord. Sounds like worship to me. And while David was sacrificing to atone for sins, celebrating the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God, God, in turn, asks us to sacrifice our lives just as He sacrificed Jesus to bring us the gift of salvation. We are to leave where we currently live and move into the dwelling of the Lord, to take up residence in Him to live in the midst of His glory. We are to leave the world and its desires behind to make the Lord’s desires our primary focus.

For when we do that, we, like David, can live in joy and praise, our hearts full of the glory and pleasure only found in the Lord.     

4. We find guidance.

You can’t live with God and not be led in righteousness. David knew that and so He looked for direction, requesting God to teach him and lead him on a straight path, a path not paved by sin. And as we read the scriptures, God answered David’s call when David was dwelling in the house of the Lord. David only found himself in trouble when he decided to move out of God’s house and seek his own desires. Bad things happen in life when we try and take control. I know I can speak from experience.

The Lord is ready to lead and guide us as well. Our ever present help in times of trouble is also our ever present counsel to deal with life’s circumstances. And the only way we can be sure we’re living in a way pleasing to the Lord is when we constantly seek His direction.

5. We begin to see the goodness of God around us.

When we dwell in the house of the Lord, we see the world in a new perspective. Immersed in His glory, we become tuned in to the way He has formed and continues to conform and transform the world around us. In other words, we see the goodness of the Lord working here in the land of the living.

Jesus taught us to pray to God saying, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6: 10) We see the fruits of that prayer come to life when we are able to see the goodness of the Lord working in the land of the living and we can only discern that when we are dwelling in the house of the Lord.

6. We find patience.

There’s an old song titled, “He’s Right on Time” that has a great lyric:

You can't hurry my God, no no no no

You just have to wait

Trust Him and give Him time

No matter how long it takes

He's a God you just can't hurry

He'll be there, don't you worry

He may not come when you want him but He's right on time.

David ends his psalm with the following words:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

When we’re dwelling in the house of the Lord, we will fully be able to see God working in, through and around us. He knows our needs and He knows the perfect time to meet them. It might not be when we want, but He is always right on time because God’s timing is always perfect. But as we wait, we gain the strength to persevere for as long as God wants us to and take heart knowing He is always working for our good.

In the end translation, ask yourself, “Is there any better place to dwell than in the house of the Lord for all the days of your life?”

As David discovered, it’s the only thing we should ask for, the only thing we should seek.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHY BE AFRAID?

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In Christ, Mark

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

The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

Psalm 27:1-3

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

What are you afraid of?

We all have our fears in life. In fact, there has been a whole psychological science dedicated to the matter of phobias, fear of certain things that can be so severe that they leave people petrified.

Are you afraid of heights? Then you have acrophobia. Fear of flying? Aviophobia. Fear of being in a confined space? Claustrophobia.

Maybe you have arachnophobia or a fear of spiders. Or cynophobia, the fear of dogs, Or ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes.

When you were a child you probably had vaccinophobia or the fear of vaccination and that might morph into aichmophobia when you are an adult as you fear needles.

I could go on and on but you get the point. We all have our fears.

But why should we be afraid? Why should we fear when we have an Almighty God who watches over us and promises to keep us in His care?

As the 27th Psalm opens, we find David speaking boldly about his confidence in God, a confidence that took his fears away, a confidence God wants you and me to have as well.

Look at David’s words:

The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

Do you feel the steadfast self-assurance in David as he testifies in these verses? There is no fear in David there.

Why?

Because David placed his full faith and trust in God the Father, the Lord of Lords who was always with him, no matter his circumstance.

It wasn’t that David was trouble-free. There were plenty of wicked people he could have feared, plenty of enemies and foes he could have been afraid of. There were armies that wanted to war against David and take over his kingdom. They sought worldly power. David, on the other hand, stood firm on the foundation of God’s power, the power of the Lord.

We know this because of David’s testimony. Going back to the scriptures, David speaks of three things that gave him the kind of confidence that dispelled fear.

First, David knew that the Lord was his light.

Faced with decisions that could be life or death in the midst of challenges by his adversaries, David relied on the light of the Lord to illuminate his paths and guide him to safety. He didn’t need to be frightened by what might come against him because he knew he was being led by the Lord, his Refuge and his Light. The same Lord who shined his light on David shines on us today, leading us from harms and into refuge. With Him ever guiding us from danger, we need not be afraid.

Second, David knew Lord was the stronghold of his life.

A stronghold was a place of survival and refuge. Think about the important cities where people lived in the times of David. Were they not protected by walls and gates that would protect the people within? For the ages, strongholds have been built to keep danger out and shield those within.

Yes, there were strongholds but there was and is only one real Stronghold (capital “s”) and that is the Lord. In Him, David continually found refuge and safety for no enemy could get to David when He was protected by the Stronghold of the Lord. This same Stronghold screens us from jeopardy today and provided us a safe haven from anything that might bring us fear. Truly, if God, our Stronghold, is with us, who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31)

Finally, David knew that the Lord was his salvation.

No one could truly save David but the Lord and David didn’t just know it, he proclaimed it. He acknowledged the Lord as his Sustainer and Keeper, his Protector and his Rescuer. And knowing he had a salvation from the Lord that no one could steal from him, David could live boldly in faith and hope, no matter what life brought his way.

In Christ Jesus, the Savior sent to all of mankind, those who place their trust in Him are saved. Nothing or no one can take away the salvation freely given once attained. Our future becomes set, our hope secured, our promised inheritance sealed. The Lord’s salvation should remove any hindrance that would distract us from fully carrying out the command of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. We’re told to go, and we can do so without fear, because the Lord has and will save us from all harm, even death.

Friends, the Lord our God is our Light and Stronghold and Salvation. So why should we be afraid in life and live like people who are unprotected, misguided, and unsaved? Why do we allow worry and anxiety and stress to rule over our hearts and minds, paralyzing us and hindering us from doing the kingdom work of the same Lord who is our Almighty Guardian and Defender?

The good news today is that the Lord is ready to bring you into a life full of peace that surpasses understanding. You just need to trust Him for who He is to you, the powerful Lord of all creation who can do all things.

Truly, there is nothing impossible with the Lord and thus He can easily handle anything that comes against you and me. It’s time we live like it, put away our phobias, and live with the bold confidence of David.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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ASK TO BE TESTED

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In Christ, Mark

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

Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on Your faithfulness.

I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud Your praise and telling of all Your wonderful deeds.

Lord, I love the house where You live, the place where Your glory dwells. Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.

My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 26

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

If you think about it, we tend to ask many things of the Lord as we walk through life. Don’t we?

When life brings difficulty of some nature, like illness or financial problems or a relationship strain, we call on the Lord for help, whether for healing or provision or reconciliation, and often others call on Him on our behalf as well, interceding for our needs. We call on Him because we believe and trust that God is who He says He is: a God who is so powerful that nothing is impossible when He’s in action.

We also turn to God for guidance and wisdom. Life often places us in situations that can be confusing, situations that offer us multiple options to choose from and leave us uncertain as to which path is the best one to take. Often there is a lot of risk involved, a lot to lose if we choose the wrong way and so we get anxious and nervous because so much is at stake. We don’t want to make matters worse by making the wrong decision.

And so we turn to God who we know is omniscient, a fancy word that simply means “all knowing.” In fact, the scriptures remind us that the wisdom of the world is considered foolishness by Him (1 Corinthians 3:19). In other words, there is no legitimate wisdom except the wisdom that comes from God Himself. Once we mess our lives up a time or two trying to rely on our own understanding and wisdom, we find out that we need to turn to God for His counsel always for when we follow His lead, He will always bring us to the right place by following the right path. After all, perfect righteousness is only found in God, right?

Sometimes we just want to learn more about God, His Son Jesus who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who guides us through life. We read God’s word in the scriptures to seek understanding but find ourselves with a lot of questions as we try and discern what God is trying to say to us in His word. This is when we ask the Lord to open our hearts and our minds to His instruction, ready to receive His teaching as He illuminates His words and imparts knowledge upon us. We gain no greater insight into life than when we read and pray over the words of the Bible, offering ourselves as hungry students, our minds craving to be fed by the Divine Professor of life.

Yes, we ask the Lord for a lot. We search for help, we look for guidance, and we seek instruction. In the 26th Psalm, David gives us one more thing to consider asking for, one that we seldom do. Let’s look at the scripture:

Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on Your faithfulness.

I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud Your praise and telling of all Your wonderful deeds.

Lord, I love the house where You live, the place where Your glory dwells. Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.

My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

David, a man after God’s own heart, was definitely like you and me.

He found himself in his share of difficulties and dangers and so he called on God for help and in doing so, found deliverance, a deliverance only God could bring.

He sought the wisdom and guidance of God over and over again, not sure what to do in the midst of the problems he faced, understanding that God would show him the right paths to take in life, paths that would sustain him and lead him from harm. And David saw that in every circumstance when he looked for God’s counsel, God delivered it and in turn rescued him. It is little wonder why David saw God as His refuge and a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

And although David didn’t have the full Bible, he had the portions that would become the Books of Law and he sought God’s instruction regarding obedience to the commands He had given. David wanted to make sure that he and his people were not violating God’s guidelines for right living and knew God would always teach him the way to go to conform to His will.

Yes, David sought to live a blameless life and trusted in the Lord so he would not falter. He sought to avoid hanging out with people who would be a bad influence on him and tried to stay innocent before God. David fully recognized what sinful living was and wanted to avoid it. As believers in this time in life, well over 2,000 years after David, we strive to do the same. And like in David’s time, there is no shortage of temptations out there to draw us away from God and His desires toward worldly lures which drag us into sin.

So how do we stay on track? How do we stay connected to God’s help and wisdom and instruction, avoiding falling into worldly enticement?

We look for someone to keep us accountable and it goes back to God and asking Him for something we seldom ask for: examination.

For go back to this Psalm and you’ll see David asking God to look inside of him and assess his state. He says, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”

David seeks to be accountable, not just to his closest and most trusted advisors, not just before the priests who were in his court, but to God, the only One who can see into the deepest depths of our hearts and minds, the only One who cannot be deceived for nothing is hidden from His sight (Hebrews 4:13).

It’s takes a bold believer to ask God to test and try them, to ask God for an examination. I think most of us would be afraid to do so for we we’re ashamed of what God might see when He gives us a checkup. We wouldn’t want to hear His diagnosis.

But maybe, just maybe, that’s our problem. We don’t ask God to examine us as we should. Just think how doing that would change the whole concept of living for us. For you and I would definitely think more on a micro-level when it comes to all the things we do, say and think, knowing that every action, word or thought would be examined by God. We would be extremely careful so that nothing would be found that would displease God. We would strive to get a good report during our checkup just as much as we do when we go to the doctor or dentist.

Yes, God, the Great Physician, is always ready to examine us. And in truth, He examines us even when we don’t ask Him and so why would we think we’re not under scrutiny just because we don’t ask?

In the final translation of God’s wisdom from this psalm, we, like David, should ask to be tested. We should hold ourselves to a standard that would leave us in a place where we would not fear His examination because we so submissively pursued His help, wisdom and instruction that all we did, said and thought were of God and His will.

We’re sinners, yes, but we don’t have to submit to sin. We can be in remission from it but only if we allow the God who made us to be the God who leads us and the God who tests us.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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