Psalm 132 “Amazing Promise”

The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” (vv. 11-12)

The psalm here is referring to the promise God made to David right after David made his promise to God, to find a dwelling place for the Lord. It included both a conditional and an unconditional aspect. It was conditional in that God told David: “If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever” (v. 12) History tells us that David’s sons did not keep the covenant, and therefore they did not keep the throne.

However, there was also an unconditional aspect to the promise, because verse 11 tells us: “The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: ‘One of your own descendants I will place on your throne” (v. 11). Despite the disobedience of David’s descendants, God’s promise will stand firm with David.

Jesus the Messiah, descended from David, will rule on the throne for ever and ever. Through Jesus, God has come to dwell in and with his people forever. This teaches us one very simple truth. All God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and are yes and amen.

The Truth: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Psalm 131 “Childlike Faith”

“My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.” (vv. 1-3)

Psalm 131 is a call to reorient ourselves back to God. The psalmist, David, is sharing his own experience as an encouragement. He wants us to know that he was not proud or concerned with lofty endeavors. When it came to his walk with God, he had a childlike trust and his hope was in the LORD.

May we all take the time to reorient ourselves in the same way. To return to a childlike trust and simply place our hope in God.

The Truth: “He saves the humble, but brings low those whose eyes are haughty.” (Psalm 18:27)

Psalm 130 “Hear My Cry”

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.” (v. 1)

Great anguish and gut wrenching sorrow have often been compared to deep and troubled waters. I’m sure you can recall a time in your life when you were there, caught in the maelstrom of the sea, headed for the bottom. As hopeless as that can seem, there is no depth from which the soul cannot cry out from nor pray, “LORD, hear my cry!”

Our God is one who hears. No more than a mother can ignore her child’s cry for help, or it’s moan in pain, could the LORD ignore His children’s cries from the depths of their souls. Therefore, cry out to Him, pour out your heart to Him. He will hear your call.

The Truth: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15)  

"God's Gift To All"

Jesus came to this earth, by Gods' plan and design.

The place of His birth, marked by a heavenly sign.

A new star above, showed the place where He lay.

The Fathers' gift, sound asleep on the hay.

So innocent and pure, this gift to man.

Would later receive, Roman nails in His hands.

Born to die, His life He gave.

So all might live, and their souls be saved.

One day all will answer, for what they have done.

With Gods' gift to the world, His only son.

So accept His gift, and your soul you will save.

From the wages of sin, and the death of the grave.

Merry Christmas

The Truth

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a "gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Psalm 129

 “Song of Victory Over Israel’s Enemies”

“Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up.” (v. 5-6)

Psalm 129 focuses on the preservation and survival of God’s people. No nation in history has experienced the persecution, the attack, or the hostility that Israel has. In spite of all the pasted persecutions, and the numerous on-going anti-Semitic efforts to extinguish the Jews, they remain.

Israel’s enemies will never have the last word—God Almighty will. And one day He shall return to establish His kingdom in the New Jerusalem to rule and reign for 1000 years (Revelation 20:6).

The Truth: ‘But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” (Psalm 37:20)

Psalm 128 “Blessings to Those Who Fear The LORD”

“Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” (vv.1-2)

This psalm says that if we fear God, and walk in His ways, we will be blessed. The word fear doesn’t mean being “afraid” of God, it’s more like being in awe and wonder of Him, holding Him in the highest possible regard.

The psalmist wants us to recognize that God is holy and we are not. This correct attitude will allow us then to walk in His ways, and not ours. Then, not only will we be blessed in our generation, but our eyes will see the next (vv.5-6).

Therefore, fear the LORD, walk in His ways.

The Truth: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 6:9)

Psalm 127 “The Foundation of the Family”

“Unless the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (v. 1)

I can remember when my wife and I had our first child, Sara. We were like all new parents happy, excited, proud, but inexperienced in raising children. Oh, we had been around young children, even did some babysitting together. But, spending a few hours with a young child is much different than a 24-7 responsibility. And, like all first time parents, we needed help, advise, support, and prayer. We needed our LORD’s help in building our family, for without it (as our text indicates) we labored in vain.

Benjamin Franklin quoted our text to the struggling 1787 Continental Congress trying to raise up (build) a new government. He then followed the scripture up by saying: “Do we imagine that we no longer need [God’s] assistance? I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convinced I am of this great truth—that God Governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall without His notice, can a great nation rise without His aid? Many times during the revolution we have offered prayers to the Father of Lights in this very room. But now I feel that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”

Franklin understood that God’s direction and blessing on the new nation of the United States were essential for it to succeed. And, that human effort on its own, would produce little to no lasting effects. The logic was simple, but was missed by many over time, forgotten, set aside for individual wisdom of men, and political agendas, much like our nation today. Oh how we need Godly men in our government, for a great many that labor do so in vain.

Therefore, we too need to bring our LORD’s direction, blessing, and guidance into the construction of our families, so the foundations will be strong enough to stand against the storms of life, and not fail the test of time. Family is the core foundation of this country, and we need more men and women dedicated to building their homes upon HIM.

Thank you LORD for Your enduring Word and for our founding fathers who looked to You for guidance and wisdom. May we always do the same. Amen.

The Truth: “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the wind and rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock.”  (Matthew 7:24-25)

Psalm 126 “Reap in Joy”

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (v. 5)

Have you ever experienced a feeling or desire to help someone so strongly that it moved you to tears every time you thought of it, because you felt like your prayers were all in vain? Sometimes our deepest concerns and prayers for others, especially family, can seem unanswered, but that’s no reason for us to stop sowing in prayer for them. On the contrary, we need to continue to intercede, to pray, to sow our field with tears, in order to reap in joy.

Let’s not be defeated in our prayer life, but continue to plow the field, going forth, bearing the precious seed to the Father. For scripture tells us, “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing the harvest, the sheaves with him” (v. 6).

Though sometimes our prayers are not answered this side of heaven for us, we must continue in faith and trust in the LORD our God that, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy," even if it's on the other side. I so look forward to a reunion with many friends and loved ones who have gone before me, and know at that time my joy will be complete with them, in heaven, with our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, don't stop praying, don't stop trusting, don't stop believing. Plow on good Christian until the harvest is come in or is gathered in by another. For some plant, some water, and "others" harvest. But all who labor contribute to the harvest and shall "reap in joy."  

The Truth: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart.” (Galations 6:9)

Matthew 28 "He Is Risen"

Matthew 28 “He Is Risen”

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6)

Jesus had often predicted that He would rise from the dead, but the disciples did not understand it, and consequently did not expect it. But God would not leave His Son in a tomb, nor suffer Him to see corruption. He was not stolen away as the chief priests hired the soldiers to say He was; nor was He removed to another place, as Mary Magdalene first thought, when she found Him gone; but He had risen from the dead, by the power of His Father.

Therefore, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb expecting to anoint the body of Jesus, they were met by an angel of the LORD instead saying, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.”

It took the Lord Himself appearing to; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, to Peter, then the twelve collectively showing them His hands and His feet, eating with them and finally opening their understanding to the scriptures, before their blindness turned to joy and their hope restored.  

Just as it took the infallible truth of the scriptures to open the eyes of those who walked with Jesus then, so it may be with our loved ones today as well. With so much evil in our world, we need to keep praying that our Lord will bring His truth into their lives and open their understanding to His love and grace.

The Truth: Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And on the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19)

Matthew 27 "Let Him Be Crucified"

Pilate said to them, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified." To which the governor replied, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they cried out the more, saying, "Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:22-23)

Death by Roman crucifixion was a result of the whole body weight being supported by the outstretched arms of the victim. When nailed to the cross, there was a massive strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders often resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints. The rib cage was constrained in a fixed position, which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath.

The victim would continually try to push himself up by his feet to allow for inflation of the lungs enduring terrible pain in his feet and legs. Eventually, the pain in the feet and legs would become so unbearable, that the victim was forced to trade breathing for pain and die of suffocation. The length of time required to die from crucifixion could range from hours (if they broke your legs), to a number of days depending on an individual physical condition. Crucifixion was chiefly inflicted on slaves and the worst kind of criminals, and was considered a most shameful and disgraceful way to die. Condemned Roman citizens were usually exempt from it.

Jesus voluntarily died this death (refusing the medication v. 34) for you and for me, that we might have forgiveness of sin through His atonement. But, this greatest gift ever given was not His end, the best was yet to come in chapter 28. Hope to see you there.

The Truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Matthew 26 "Christ's Prayer in the Garden"

“And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

In this prayer we are shown the two wills of Christ, the human and Divine. The human will seeking deliverance from torture by requesting, “if it be possible”, is there another way? While at the same time the divine will, ready to submit and comply with His impending death on the cross, “not as I will, but as You will.”

Three times that night Jesus prayed this prayer. Luke’s gospel records that Jesus was in such conflict of soul and body that, "his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground." Luke further records that, an angel was dispensed from heaven to strengthen and support the fainting human life of our savior, that He might drink the cup of indignation and death for us (Luke 22:43-44).

This prayer of Christ is meant for our example to follow, when going through our own struggle of wills. May we learn to endure whatever God's will may be in our lives, whether easy or difficult in dispensation, and put His will above our own.

The Truth: “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things, which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”
(Hebrews 5:7-9)

Matthew 25 "Be Ready"

Here in chapter 25 Jesus finishes His Olivet Discourse with a piece of practical advise, Be Ready. In light of the end times there are three things one must consider in relation to being ready: 1) personal salvation (vv.1-13), 2) responsible stewardship (vv. 14-30) and 3) practical servanthood (vv. 31-46).

If the rapture occurred tonight, would you be ready? Would you be found: 1) With His Spirit burning in your heart? 2) Making the most of the talents you have been given? And 3) Serving others? Jesus said, “Pray that you will be found worthy to be kept from the hour of tribulation” (Luke 21:36). In other words, some will not be ready, and they will go through that terrible time. Make no mistake, Jesus is coming again in all His glory, and all the holy angels with Him (v. 31). The only question is, "Will you be ready?"

The Truth: “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (2 Thessalonians 5:1-10)

Matthew 24 "The End of Days"

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (v.37)

OK. What were the days of Noah like? The Bible tells us that the wickedness of man was great, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil (Genesis 6:5). Abnormal sexual practices abounded (Genesis 6:4), and that violence and corruption filled the earth (Genesis 6:11). Sound familiar?

Today, we are seeing the days of Noah virtually repeated by man. Violence, corruption, evil imaginations and abnormal sexual practices are abounding. Add to that, pestilences, famines and earthquakes, floods and tsunamis. Along with a society that calls good evil and evil good. Noah lived before the flood, and we before the fire. Noah spoke of a coming physical rain (to man's days), and we (the church) the coming reign of Christ (to end man's days).

Noah had been building his ark and preaching to his people for one hundred and twenty years, but they did not listen. They just kept living in sin, and each day was like the next - eating, drinking and marrying. Right up until the day Noah entered into the ark and it began to rain. So too people today care nothing for their spiritual future, though they hear the message all around them: radio, TV, pod cast, churches, friends, neighbors, family. They only live for the moment with no regrets. After all, there's plenty of time to "catch up" with Jesus.

In chapter 24 Jesus speaks of the end times as they relate to nations, Israel specifically, and the church. At the end of the chapter (vv. 42-51), Jesus instructs all of us to be faithful servants, to be watchful, wise, and warned, concerning the events of His return. And like those who were shut out of the Ark in Noah's day when it began to rain, so shall it be with those who have not headed the warning, and accepted God's Son before the coming of Jesus - in the twinkling of an eye.

Therefore, be His faithful servants, be watchful, be wise, and be warned, for the end of days draws near.

The Truth: “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7)

Matthew 23 "Take Off Your Mask"

“Wow to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”  (vv. 27-28)

These are words that cut to the heart, for we all are guilty of playing the hypocrite. A hypocrite is literally “one who hides behind a mask.” There’s an old story of a man who told the pastor he didn’t go to church because there were so many hypocrites there. The pastor responded by saying, “Oh, don’t let that stop you. There’s always room for one more.”

While I’m sure you could find at least one in every church, genuine believers remember that they are first and foremost forgiven hypocrites themselves. There’s an old saying that, "going to church doesn’t make one a believer any more than going into a garage makes one a mechanic." What some people perceive as hypocrisy in the church is in fact the result of a mistaken assumption. Some people assume others are believers just because they get up on Sundays and go to a place called church. It’s just not so.

On another related note, authentic believers are also sinners, and they know it. The apostle John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). A hypocrite claims to be without fault in one area or another. An authentic believer on the other hand, freely admits to the fact that he or she is a sinner, and consistently seeks forgiveness from it.

If you would like to get rid of your mask, be willing to admit your weaknesses, and join in the family of authentic believers, Jesus is ready to forgive you and bring you into His family. Just stop pretending and come on home. (See the prayer to the right of this post)

The Truth: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleans us for all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Matthew 22 "Which is the Greatest Commandment?"

“But the Pharisees, when they heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" (v. 34-36)

Here in chapter 22 Jesus had been answering questions posed to Him by the Pharisees and the Sadducees designed to, "entangle Him in His own talk" (v. 15). In the beginning of this passage we find our Lord replying to a question of a certain lawyer, who thought for sure he could entrap Jesus into a theological corner of disgrace by asking him, "Which is the greatest commandment of the law?"

The question, was obviously asked in no friendly spirit. But, we have reason to be thankful however that it was asked at all, for it drew an answer full of precious instruction, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the Law and the Prophets" (vv. 37-40)

The Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Lawyers, they all wanted to make religion complicated. And they certainly didn't like the idea of Jesus (the son of a carpenter), one who had no "formal training" in their eyes, winning the hearts of the people through His simple teachings. But Jesus was correct, the heart of the Law and the way to salvation is to love the LORD our God with all our hearts.

The Truth: "We love him because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Matthew 21 "The Barren Fig Tree"

"Now in the morning, as He (Jesus) returned to the city, He hungered. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves, and said unto it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” And immediately the fig tree withered away." (v.18-20)

Here we see that Jesus hungered. He went to the fig tree expecting fruit because it had leaves; but, finding no fruit, He sentenced it to perpetual barrenness. This cursing of the barren “fig-tree” represents the state of hypocrites in general; the state of the nation, and people of the Jews in particular. They were the “fig-tree” planted in Christ's way as a church but, like the tree, were covered in leaves, but no fruit - a huge disappointment to our Lord Jesus.

We too must be careful not to be a disappointment, a hypocrite, or a false witness to Christ and to those around us. May God help us to be like the tree, "planted beside rivers of water” that bears fruit in its season, ready to give sustenance to all in need, and not like the barren fig tree.

Therefore, don’t let your roots become dry. Water them daily with His Word and fruit will abound from your life to others.

The Truth: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

Matthew 20 "Parable Of The Landowner"

“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” (v. 1)

This parable, recorded only by Matthew, is closely connected with the end of the nineteenth chapter and Peter's question as to how it should fare with those who, like himself, had left all for Christ.

This teaching is designed to show that while the disciples would be richly rewarded, a certain equity would still be observed towards later converts and workmen in His service who may not have labored as long. While some men may have come to Christ earlier in life, and served Him longer than others who have been recently converted, all believers will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Thus, every man ought to go forward in service to Him without stopping or staggering, and not curiously examining the doings of other men. The lesson here is, watch out for jealousy and greed. Be more concerned with answering your calling, not your position or reward through it.

The Truth: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)

Matthew 19 "What Do I Lack?"

“Now behold one came to Him and said, “Good master, what good thing shall I do to have eternal life?” (v. 16)

Here in chapter 19 we find Jesus counseling a rich young ruler. Throughout this young man's life he has tried to do the good thing, the right thing to his fellow man. And yet, he is conscious that there is a void in his life, and that there must be something more than just living a good life and being wealthy, to gain eternal life (v. 20). So he asked Jesus, "What do I lack?"

Jesus then answered his question by telling him to leave his wealth behind, to come and follow Him, and he would have treasure in heaven (v. 21). Now when the young rich man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had a great many possessions (v. 22). Then said Jesus turned unto his disciples and said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (v 24).

This response by Jesus has been misunderstood by many and was never intended to be a universal commandment. It was a statement meant for the rich young ruler only, to expose the one thing that was holding him back from eternal life, his wealth. Jesus was indicating that it is impossible to buy or work your way into heaven. No man by any good work can inherit eternal live. It is a gift of God, and it is only brought by a miracle of God working in our hearts and lives through His Spirit, and not bought with wealth or works.

Therefore, what is impossible with man, is possible with God (v. 26). And, like all men, he had a choice. So what did the rich young ruler lack? The desire to follow Jesus, for He is the way to eternal life, and there is no real life apart from Him.

The Truth: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6)

Matthew 18 "Childlike Faith Leads to Greatness"

“Therefore whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 4)

Here in chapter 18 the disciples, after hearing Jesus predict His own death and resurrection, seeing Him transfigured on the mount, and also seeing Him cure an epileptic child, out of know where they asked Jesus, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Wow! His own disciples were more concerned with their future position, and prestige, and rank in the kingdom, than with what was happening in front of their very eyes. This is so typical of human nature, projecting, planning, getting way out in front, elevating themselves in their own minds and for their own glory and not God’s.

Jesus immediately sets them all straight by saying, “Unless you are converted and become like a little child, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (vv.3-4).

Humility is the true path to greatness, and there is nothing more precious to God than the simple faith and trust that is in the heart of a child.

The Truth: “He that exalts himself shall be abased. But he that humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). (Humble thyself in the eyes of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.)