Teach so They Return

I am reading in Psalms again this morning, chapter 51. As I look at my bible, I have been in this chapter a lot over the years. It is no wonder why, the title of the Psalm is “Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God”. Although this morning it is not about me as I have been reminded.

Yes, I look to the LORD for guidance in my life that I might live a life pleasing to Him. I take action to do the work that He has assigned for me. Not for my glory but His.

“¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

And those works are to lead to others growth and learning and lead them to or back to the LORD. Those works are just that, works, not just actions. Righteous actions are important, but those actions are between the LORD and me and do little for the advancement of the gospel in their own right.

“¹⁶For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.”

— Psalm 51:16 (ESV)

The action of sacrifice or burning offerings to the LORD are for me and for others to see in me. I am to demonstrate proper action with the LORD and my faith. But I am also to do the work of Christ and that work is to spread the gospel to those I interact.

“¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.”

— Psalm 51:13 (ESV)

I have to teach as Jesus did. I have to guide others in the Word of the LORD. When I do, those will have the opportunity to come to and/or return to the LORD. They need to be led back to the LORD who they have wandered away from They need to see in me that it is okay to be with and about Him. It is acceptable to worship the LORD. It is where they belong and that the LORD wants them there for His glory. The LORD wants to be there for them. The LORD wants to the relationship with them. The LORD is grateful for their return to Him.

I forget on the regular that my role is to teach. Whether in my role at my worldly job, or in the work I perform for the LORD. I am to teach. I am to give to others that which will benefit them. I also have to remember that I cannot make them accept that which I bring to them. My role is to teach them and then encourage them to accept and use that which they have learned. With the LORD that is no different. I am to teach so that the Word of the LORD reaches. I am to encourage the exploration and continued learning of the Word of the LORD. I am to lead them to the LORD and turn them over to Him to work on their heart. I am to teach them so they have the opportunity to come to Him.

What is your role with the LORD? Are you the constant recipient and are you just taking on actions for yourself? What if you leaned into the work you are called to do and teach so that the sinners will return to the LORD?

All that Wealth Will NOT Remain

We have been conditioned by society to build wealth so that we can have an easier time of things in this world. We have been told and shown that the life of great things will make us happy and that we are making things better for ourselves. Well, it does not remain.

“¹²Man in his pomp will not remain;

he is like the beasts that perish.”

— Psalm 49:12 (ESV)

You see, all that is gathered in this world is only for this world. We cannot/do not get to take it with us to the next. It is something that is useful in this world alone and only those who do not have will see and want what they have. Yet they are blinded by their “riches” and do not see the fault in it all.

Now, I am not saying that wealth is always getting in the way of righteousness and cannot be used for God’s good work. Just the opposite. God provides for His people to do the work He has for them. Using wealth to do His work is certainly in the cards for some. I am not one of them, but I do know that the LORD has and will continue to use those with wealth for the advancement of the gospel, and that is not always in the form of provided monetary gifts to others.

Think of those who provide financial backing for those who are spreading the gospel. Those spreading are not building homes and schools and churches, they were given the opportunity to preach and teach through the generosity of another. We tend to see things in this world from a tangible perspective and miss opportunities to simply provide the way for someone. Like those who provide scholarships for youths to attend Christian summer camp. Monetary wealth can and should be used for His good works.

When kept with the self, the riches of this world are of no use. Yes, they may provide some momentary relief from a difficult situation or in some cases provide a lavish lifestyle. But, it will not remain with you once you leave this world and does not improve your station in the next. Where real wealth is found and is beneficial in your life is in the use of that financial wealth to support others in their ability to have their spiritual needs met.

What is your thoughts on financial well being? Are you one to seek it out for your own lavish lifestyle? What if you realized it cannot be taken with you and instead you use it for the advancement of the gospel?

His Law in Your Heart

It seems as though there are new “laws” and rules popping up all the time. Whether it is related to online use or what is unacceptable in the driving through an area. But notice the way we look at laws, we tend to see them as restrictive and speaking as to what not to do. We may even dread the idea of having another law to keep up with and adhere. But let’s look here at what David says about the Law of the LORD.

“⁸I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

— Psalm 40:8 (ESV)

“²but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

— Psalm 1:2 (ESV)

I see that David is loving the Law of the LORD. He does not see any restriction and actually welcomes and cherishes the Law of the LORD by keeping it “within my heart” and meditating “day and night” on it. There is no what not to do, David sees the Law of the LORD as the what to do in giving and getting the most to and from the LORD. In fact, look at the volume of what comes from the LORD according to David.

“⁵You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.”

— Psalm 40:5 (ESV)

They are too many to be declared to the world.

Here is what I am seeing and learned this morning. The LORD provides all, and I mean all according to His Law. He is gracious to the point of so much abundance that we cannot let it known the full extent. I am to keep His law in my heart, not to be sure of what not to do as it is not restrictive as one might think, but to delight in the wonder and greatness of the Law that allows me to give and get the most to and from the LORD.

What is your approach to the Law of the LORD? Are you working to be sure that you are doing what is “acceptable” and seeing it as restricting? What if you meditated on the Law of the LORD and kept it in your heart to delight in it, giving and getting the most to and from Him?

Speak Truth

This morning I am continuing my study of the word “will” and was reminded to not hold in the truth in the interest of inclusion and tolerance. Too often it is the truth that is determined to be exclusionary and intolerant. When it comes to our life in the LORD, He is truth and therefore we are to be examples of Him and truth to the world. He is to be trusted as is His Word which we are to meditate day and night.

“¹⁶All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

As the Word of God is truth, and can be trusted, we are to speak it always. I do not have to “feel bad” for bringing the truth. I actually should release the truth and not keep it bottled up inside, as it will eat me up inside. By speaking truth always, I will avert the tragedy of exploding the truth and will be able to deal with others much more rationally and calmly.

“¹I said, “I will guard my ways,

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

²I was mute and silent;

I held my peace to no avail,

and my distress grew worse.

³My heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:”

— Psalm 39:1-3 (ESV)

Notice the words from David’s Psalm above that he works to “muzzle” himself and that he was “mute” and “silent” and “held” his peace only for it all to well up inside him. His “hear became hot” as the truth was burning to get out. He then “spoke”. I can only imagine the fire that David spoke with as he let out the truth after holding his tongue for so long.

Isn’t that the way it is with us as well. We hold things inside and then when they finally come out, there is this explosion that is understood. We become emotional and irrational and loud and flailing to the point that we are cast aside as zealots.

We should be rational and thoughtful and calculated and honest in our speaking. We are not to hold things in, we are speak the truth so that the gospel will be known in the world.

“¹⁹Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” – James 1:19-20 (ESV)

This morning I pray for slowness of speech which leads to calmness where the truth of the LORD will be revealed and understood.

What is your approach to speaking? Are you holding in the truth to not offend? What if you were to speak the truth slowly that the Word of the LORD would be heard and understood?

Be All About the LORD

This morning I am in Psalm 37 and am seeing the glory of the LORD manifest for those who are connected to Him. The thing that stood out to me this morning is that I have to be all about the LORD and give myself fully to Him and work to bring glory to Him always.

“³Trust in the Lord…

⁴Delight yourself in the Lord…

⁵Commit your way to the Lord…

⁷Be still before the Lord…

³⁴Wait for the Lord…”

— Psalm 37:3, 4, 5, 7, & 34 (ESV)

These are all there in God’s Word for me to meditate on. I am not just to accept salvation from the LORD, I am to be all about and all in with Him. Justification is gained once one has accepted salvation and the fact that Jesus came and paid the price for my sin in this world that I may not die of my sin. He came for that I would not have to experience the wrath of the Father as He took on the consequence of my separation from the LORD.

Being all about the LORD and all in with Him is a move to Sanctification as I work to remove the power of sin in my life. I will be judged as righteous when I trust, delight, commit, am still, and wait for the LORD. When I surround myself with the LORD and dwell in Him I will keep myself working for, in, and with Him and my focus will not wander into the temptation of sin. I am devoted to the LORD and His work and do not have the time or thought of anything else.

Every day I am tempted by the evil one to wander off from the LORD. Even as a child of God, I am drawn to sin and sinful ways. I am secure in my salvation thanks to the justification I have gained through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. My sanctification is the ongoing struggle as I work to overcome the power of sin. It is in my all in and all about the LORD where I will find relief from the power of sin as I find peace in Him.

What is your view of your relationship with the LORD? Are you content in your justification? What if you were to be all about the LORD and fully trust, delight, commit, are still, and wait for Him to avoid the power of sin that continues?

Will You Trust the LORD for However Long

This morning I am going to re-post from over 5 years ago. As I am studying the word “will” I am taking what the LORD has for me each day as I go to the next passage. This morning I am in Psalm 13 where the title of the passage is “How Long, O LORD?” David is looking for relief from the LORD (which is a key point) and experiences three steps in seeking that relief, questioning the LORD, asking Him for help, and declaring His devotion to Him. Shouldn’t that be the same approach we take daily with the LORD?

Here is my writing from April 17, 2020:

I sometimes feel, like right now, that the difficulty, adversity, and challenges should be resolved much faster than they are.

“¹How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? ²How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” – Psalm 13:1-2 (ESV)

David felt the same way. I am comforted when reading this passage. As I continue the passage of Psalm 13, I am reminded of the approach to take. As in the next 2 verses as David prays for help.

“³Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, ⁴let my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.” – Psalm 13:3-4 (ESV)

So David first laments his questions as to the timing of God’s deliverance. Next, he again prays again for help from God. And finally, he states his confidence in eventual deliverance.

“⁵But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. ⁶I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” – Psalm 13:5-6 (ESV)

It is okay to question God. He is sovereign and He provides for my needs. But that does not mean that I am to be silent. God is my Father and I should be asking questions for guidance. When things are not going the way I thought they should, I have to ask.

I know that as a corporate training professional, one of the things I stress in class is for the participants to take charge of their learning. A key part of that is to ask the questions they need answers to, and no question is off limits. I should be doing the same with God. He is the one that knows all and therefore doesn’t it make sense to ask Him? The answer I get may not be what I wanted, but I have to trust that He will provide when needed.

Have you asked God? Have you declared your trust in Him? Remembering that God’s timing is perfect, will you declare your confidence in His deliverance, no matter how long?

The LORD Will Deliver

This morning and over the past few months, I am thinking of the deliverance that comes from the LORD. I am in Psalm 6 and the title in my ESV Bible is “O LORD, Deliver My Life”. As I read David’s plea for deliverance, I see that he is not taking any physical action. He is asking for deliverance with his words that come from his heart. David is asking the LORD to deliver him for he needs it.

“¹O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath.

²Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;

heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

³My soul also is greatly troubled.

But you, O Lord—how long?

⁴Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.”

— Psalm 6:1-4 (ESV)

In my discipleship group for the past few months we also dive into the grace and mercy of God. Mercy being God not giving us what we deserve and grace is Him giving us what we don’t deserve. David above is asking for mercy and we should be as well. The payment for mercy has already been paid through the shed blood of Christ Jesus and yet, for us to receive, all we have to do is ask. I don’t have to take any additional action, I need only to ask for the mercy of the LORD.

This is the deliverance that we should be seeking. It is from His wrath that we need deliverance. I have to accept that my sinfulness is that which separates me from the LORD and that I am in need of mercy to fill the chasm between us. I cannot do anything, physical action wise, to close the gap between the LORD and me. I can only seek His deliverance and give myself to Him knowing that He will save me through His mercy and grace.

“⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

I am in need of saving and only the LORD can deliver. I need only ask with my words from my heart and He will deliver me.

What are you thoughts on deliverance? Are you looking to take action to be delivered? What if you understood that you need only ask from your heart to be delivered and accept the mercy through grace that only the LORD can provide to be saved?

Find Peace in the LORD, Not Man

Aren’t we all looking for peace. I know that I am and will look any and everywhere. I am in a constant search for the safety and comfort to just be. What I have found to this point is that I am not going to find it in man. I am not going to be able to dwell in a place where man is “leading” the way. I say “leading” in quotes, because I do know that man is really not leading the way in anything. It is either God or the evil one leading the way. When man is “leading” there is selfish actions and work being done and I how can I follow the actions of someone who is out for themselves and not for others.

“²O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?”

— Psalm 4:2 (ESV)

David could see the selfishness in man as noted above. The lies and honor were in themselves and not in the LORD. As we place our trust and actions in man, we will be betrayed and will find ourselves in a place that is seemingly worse than where we started.

On the other side of things, when we are trusting of the LORD to provide, we are able to find peace and safety and actions that are in our best interest as we do the work and take action that He leads us in.

“⁸In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

— Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

I see here in the words of David that peace comes when dwelling in the LORD. He was able to sleep well at night knowing that the work of the LORD was delivering Him. It was not the work of man, for as noted above, man would lie and would certainly not honor others.

Over the past few months I have had financial well being for Lori and me on my prayer list. I want to be clear in that I am not asking for riches, only that the LORD provide what we need. I have been at peace, knowing that the LORD will provide financially for us. Well, Lori had a medical procedure a bit ago and we have been awaiting final billing to make sure that we are not being overcharged. As usual with these things, there have been several rounds come through. It is only now that we feel the final bill has been presented to us. Here is where the peace of the dwelling in the LORD played out. Lori received a note from someone that we should proactively check on unclaimed property with the state. Wouldn’t you know it, there was some there that matched to the amount of the bill we had been presented. The LORD provided peace and resolution where man was reluctant as played out with the multiple rounds of billing.

It is in the LORD that we will find our peace and not in man. Yes, man may offer up some resolution, but will that resolution be in the best interest of you, maybe or maybe not. However, when we place our trust in the LORD, we can know that He will provide for our well being in the interest of peace and safety.

Where are you placing your trust? Are you relying on man to provide? What if you were to instead place your trust in the LORD knowing that He is looking out for you and your peace and safety?

The Wicked Will Not Be There

Will not be where? In heaven. I know there is a lot to unpack with regard to who will be in heaven and who are the wicked that will not be there. There are a lot of items to discuss and a lot of questions to answer. Where I do believe that the answers are found in God’s Word, I am going to only address the wicked, and will only scratch the surface for those with lots of questions.

“⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

⁶for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.”

— Psalm 1:5-6 (ESV)

First thing here is that we find the wicked, well they will not be in heaven. They will be somewhere, but their time has come and they reap what they sow, wickedness. They are not granted life everlasting in heaven with Christ. So, just who are the wicked. That is a great question.

“Wicked – 1: morally very bad: EVIL” – Merriam-Webster Online

So, they are the very bad, or evil individuals. But what does that mean. Well, again, there is a lot to it, but what I believe to be the thing is that there is a conscious effort of them to inflict harm, whether physical or emotional or social or cultural or in any other sense to others. In short, as the definition above notes, morally very bad people. These are those who are only “happy” when others are experiencing hardship and likely that hardship is the doing of the wicked person.

But what about the second part of verse 5 above you ask. “Sinners” will not be there either. Aren’t we all sinners all the time? Well, yes we are sinners and do not deserve the gift of eternal life in heaven. But, we have been saved by grace through our acceptance of the gift of salvation. We are sinners, Just that we are working to not be active. Think of alcoholics. They are always alcoholics, but when they have gotten “on the wagon” they are not active are are identified as a recovering alcoholic, but an alcoholic none the less. We are recovering sinners but sinners none the less. The sinners that are referenced in verse 5 above are not recovering and have not accepted the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus.

All wicked are sinners, but not all sinners are wicked. The thing is that sinners are still separated from God and will be dealt with in the same fashion as the wicked. Both will be eternally separated from God as they will not be in heaven with those who have accepted the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus.

What is your view of the wicked and sinners? Are your thoughts that they will just go through a different more harshly regulated gate to heaven? What if you were to reconcile that they had every opportunity to accept the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus and will not be there at all?

Yes, it is Okay to Question the LORD

I believe that too often, we are reluctant to ask questions for a number of reasons, it is not my place, it is not the right time, fear of what others might think of my not knowing, or maybe the authority is too great for me to ask. Either way, reluctance to ask results in confusion or not/misunderstanding. This is, I believe, even the case with the LORD.

When there are things that are unknown the best way to know them is to ask questions. We should be able to question those things that are of need to know. The LORD is not too big for our questions. His authority is not too mighty that He won’t hear us. Any time is the right time and any place is the right place. It is not important what others might think, only that we are communing with Him.

“⁴Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.” – Job 42:4 (ESV)

Job understood that the way to get answers and the way to ensure things were done right, you have to ask. Specifically, you have to ask the LORD to provide the answers.

Yes, it is okay to question the LORD. It is okay to seek answers from Him. It is okay to rely on the LORD for the direction in our lives. He is the only one who knows the answers to where it is He would have us go, so it is okay and encouraged to ask Him.

What are your thoughts on questioning the LORD? Do you find you are not worthy, the time is not right, or worried about what others might think? What if you took the approach of seeking to understand and that the LORD is the one who can provide that understanding?