The Blessed Person… is safe.

Day #6 – 1/9/16 – Genesis 10-11; Psalm 1-2

THE BLESSED PERSON… IS SAFE.

Psalm 1:6 – Blessed is the person…For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

The ball has dropped.  The gong has sounded.  And we’re off into the new year.  But it’s usually not that simple. At least not for me.  There is so much pulling on us.  There are so many people tugging at us.  It’s not so easy to live our life with so much competing for our attention and our affections.

If we’re going to figure out this thing called life we’ve got to figure out why we’re living and what we’re living for.

Do you stand with Lady Gaga living for the applause? Longing for affection and attention?    The truth is that applause, that affection and affection will never satisfy.  God gives you his applause, his affection and his attention.  You’re a loved child of God with whom he is well pleased.  You’re a loved child of God who turns his face toward you with affection to hear your every prayer.  He knows your ways and he watches over your paths.

Do you long for life to be a little bit easier, a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more pleasurable, a little bit happier?  Longing for your heart and life to be satisfied and satiated?  You’ll never find that life.  That’s why it’s called a pursuit. But God promises the blessed life, the contented life to those who sit in his word and walk in his paths.

Do you want a pat on the back and the assurance that you’re doing the right things and taking the right steps? Longing to be validated and highly regarded?  You’ll always be chasing that from people.  But there is no higher validation than those words from God who says, “I love with you an everlasting love and you mean the world to me.”  To the world you may be only one, but in the eyes of your Father you are the only one.

That’s the secret.  That’s the key.  Set your heart, your affection, your attention on your God who loves you like this, pays attention to you like this, cares about you like this, promises to bless you like this.  Love him first.  Love him best.  Love him most.

PRAYER:

Lord God, you are all that I need.  You loved me first, most and best.  Teach me to love you first, best, and most.  This day, this week, this year I’m living for you and your applause.  Amen.

“To be blessed means to enjoy the happy and rewarding life which comes from God alone.  Real happiness is the peace which comes through the forgiveness of sins.  Real happiness is receiving the freedom to live according to God’s Word.  Real happiness is enjoying the glory of living with God throughout eternity.  This is the blessing that awaits all those who delight in God’s Word” (Brug page 122).

 POINTS TO PONDER

1. Do you stand with Lady Gaga living for the applause of people around you? How has this been a let-down for you?  How can you find joy in the applause that God has given you?  Why is he the only one we need in our audience as we live our lives?
2. What words of validation has God given you? What words spoken to Jesus by the Father also apply to you? Look up Galatians 3:26-27 then Matthew 3:13-17.

 TAKE THE PSALM HOME AND TO HEART

Brug 124: “There are two road which people can travel: the road of obedience to God, which leads to life in heaven, and the road of rebellion, which leads to death in hell.  There are no other routes.  There are no other destinations.  In this life we stand at a fork in the road that leads in two directions.  Be sure you take “the road less traveled” (Matthew 7:13-14), for that will make all the difference in the end.  Nothing in life is more important than being sure you are traveling the right road.”

“Psalm 1 invites us to read and to use the whole book of Psalm as a guide to a blessed life.  If we heed its advice, we will find in this book a reliable map of the road to heaven.  “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28).

The wicked person… will fail.

Day #5 – 1/8/16 – Genesis 8-9; Psalm 12; Psalm 1-2

THE WICKED PERSON… WILL FAIL

Psalm 1:4  – Blessed is the person…Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Sometimes we have trouble connecting the dots.  Sometimes we look at a sin and evil and think we can get away with.  Sometimes we look at a choice and think we can hide it. “No one will notice,” we think.  “It’s not that big a deal,” we tell ourselves.  But sin and wickedness are a big deal.  God hates it.

And God is not a grandfather who winks at his grandchildren when they do something sinister or evil.  He doesn’t think it’s cute. He doesn’t overlook it as though it didn’t happen.  He doesn’t look the other way.

We might be able to hide our sins from other people.  We might be able to get away with our sin for a while.  In fact, it might even seem to be advantageous or fun for a while.  But the psalmist shows us something we might not otherwise be able to see.  The wicked person will fail!  The sinner will fall.  We cannot – yes, we dare not – continue on in our sin and our sinful ways.

Repent then, now, today.  Don’t be blown away with the wicked.  If you don’t, it won’t end well.  God promises it.

God has still given you breath and life.  He has promised that he won’t send another flood to wipe out all the wicked like he did in the days of Noah.  He has given you time today, to repent of your sins and sinfulness.  So, repent of it now and find forgiveness in him.

PRAYER

Lord, I find myself struggling with sin every single day.  I find in myself and in my life the very opposite of the fruits you want me to bear.  I’m sorry.  I’ve sinned against and deserve to be blown away with the wicked on the day of judgment.  But please, I beg you.  Don’t treat me as my sins deserve.  Forgive me and restore me.  Wash my sins away and cleanse me with the blood of Jesus. Amen.

POINTS TO PONDER:

1. God is very clear about sin and identifies it clearly for us. Read Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.  Which one(s) hits home for you?  Confess it to God.
2. God is very clear about his grace and mercy. He longs to forgive us.  Read 1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1-2.  What specific words from these verses brings you hope?  Rejoice in it!

The Blessed Person… Bears Fruit.

Day #4 – 1/7/16 – Genesis 6-7; Psalm 1-2

THE BLESSED PERSON… BEARS FRUIT.

 Psalm 1:1, 3 – Blessed is the person…who meditates… that person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither – whatever they do prospers.

 We’ve all seen the scrawny trees in Texas.  Looking around at the rocky, sometimes hilly and sometimes flat country side these twigs of trees crop up.  They don’t get very tall.  They never get very full.  They just seem to survive.  Some of this has to do with the kind of trees that they are.  Much of it, however, has to do with the conditions in which they are planted and grow.  They often grow in places where there often isn’t much water.  They often grow in places where the sun beats down on them.

What trees need is water and nutrients so that they can grow tall, full and fruitful.  God often compares his people to trees and Psalm 1 is no different.  What God’s people need then is water and nutrients so that they can grow tall, full, and fruitful.  Because when there is water and nutrients for the tree, then fruit comes.  Its what trees do.  But there is no water and nutrients for the tree, there can be and will be no fruit.

So, eat up!  Drink up!  The fruits will come.  It’s what God promised.  The fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control that God promised in Galatians 5:22-23 will come.  The fruits of repentance that John the Baptist preached about will come.  The fruits will come when we sink our roots down deep into the Words of God’s living and nourishing Word.

PRAYER

Lord God, I want to be fruit-filled for you.  I want to be a rooted tree, planted in you, bearing fruit for your glory.  Fill me with your Word.  Give me your Spirit. And send out the roots of my faith into your Word so that I will bear much fruit.  Apart from you I can do nothing.  Rooted in you there is nothing you can’t use me for.  Amen.

 POINTS TO PONDER:

• What kind of fruit do the righteous bear? Look up Luke 3:8-14; Galatians 5:13-26.
• We want to be fruity. Where does a Spirit-filled and Spirit-gifted fruity life come from?  Where’s the power to sink down roots into the water and bear fruit?  Brug’s commentary page 122 – “Trees can produce fruit only if they are well watered.  Christians can produce good works only if their faith is “watered” by God’s Word (Isa 55:1; John 4:10-14; John 7:38-39; Psalm 46:4; Revelation 22:1).  What do we need to fill our lives with then?
• Did you know: It takes bamboo about three years to get established. Once established the new shoots that emerge in the Spring will continue to get bigger and more numerous from year to year. After that, certain types of bamboo can grow up to 3 feet per day. What can we learn from the bamboo plant about our own spiritual growth?  If it takes the three years to set down roots and then it explodes in growth, what expectations for fruit in our lives can we have?

The Blessed Person… Meditates

Day #3 – 1/6/16 – Genesis 3-5; Psalm 1-2

 THE BLESSED PERSON… MEDITATES

Psalm 1:1, 2 – Blessed is the person… whose delight is in the law of the LORD and who meditates on his law day and night.

Whenever I hear the word “meditate” I think of yoga class.  I’ve never actually had the pleasure of attending one, but that’s what comes to mind.  I imagine sitting quietly and trying to empty my mind of all that fills it, the things that stress me, the things that scare me, the things that overwhelm me.

When God teaches me to meditate he imagines for me a lion who has a low rumble gurgling up from it’s mouth. It’s a lion who has caught his prey, has taken a portion of that prey for dinner, and now retreats to a quiet place to enjoy his meal.  A low growl rumbles from his throat because he’s enjoy his meal.

Or imagine a dog who got his bone and now retreats to a corner to gnaw on it for a while.  The dog growls and drools because it’s enjoying the treat.

God’s Word is a treat for our souls.  It’s a food that delights us like honey to the taste.  It’s like the finest wines and the choicest foods.  Meditation takes that word off to a quiet place so that we can taste every nuance of the food, chew on it and take it to heart.

Meditation is a far cry from emptying our minds.  Meditation is filling our minds with the one thing that will calm our hearts.  Meditation is filling our minds and hearts with the words and promises of our God who can calm our stresses, protect us from dangers, and handle what we can’t.  Meditation is filling our minds with what God says and enjoying every moment of it.  Savoring every taste.  Enjoying every nuance as it goes down. Sometimes sweet.  Sometimes sour.  Sometimes even bitter.  But always good for the soul.

PRAYER

Lord God, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.  Your words are always good for my soul.  Help me to take them off to a quiet place and enjoy the banquet for my soul that you have prepared for me today and every day.  Amen.

POINTS TO PONDER

1. What does it mean to meditate on God’s Word? How is different than a typical understanding of meditation? How is it the same?
2. Explain how these words describe what’s needed to meditate: 1) TIME – you can’t do it in a moment. How does the psalmist make that clear? 2) QUIET– you need quiet space in your mind to be able to think about who God is and what he is saying.  How does David say that in Psalm 46:10 when he says, “Be still and know.” 3) PREACHING – meditation is preaching the truths of God to your own heart.
3. How, when, and where can you give yourself time and quiet so that you can preach the truth’s of God’s Word to your own heart? How can you make Psalm 19:14 your own prayer after a time of meditation?

The blessed person… does not.

Day #2 – 1/5/16 – John 1:1-3; Psalm 8; Psalm 104; Psalm 1-2

 THE BLESSED PERSON… DOES NOT.

Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers…

Do you ever wonder what makes a fish bite?  I’ve often wondered what makes a fish chomp down on a wiggly worm, even though its tasted the sharp edge of a hook before.   He’s gotten burned before, pulled out of the water and gasped for breath, before the hook was torn out and he was tossed back.  And yet, there he is again.  Lured.  Reeled. Caught.  And maybe even fried for dinner.

Sin poses the same danger to us. And though we find ourselves caught again and again, we find ourselves lured back, reeled in and caught in it again and again.  Sin draws us in and though it at first it seems to be a good thing, soon we find that it isn’t all that good.  It’ll kill us!  It’ll suck us and kill us to death.

“Watch out!” the Psalmist cries.  We might start by listening to the advice, but pretty soon we’re in the places where they are, being drawn into sin with them.  Soon we’re keeping the same company and we’re living live with them.

DANGER! DANGER!  This is not the way to the blessed life.

PRAYER:

One thing is needful; Lord, this treasure, teach me highly to regard.  All else, though it first gives pleasure, is a yoke that presses hard.  Beneath it my heart is still fretting and striving, no true, lasting happiness ever deriving.  This one thing is needful; all others are vain – I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.  Amen.

POINTS TO PONDER

1. What about the secular, non-Christian world seems to be a good place to get advice?
2. What about sin makes it seem like a good place to stand? How can sin be a lure that draws us in then spits us out?  How does it seem good at first?  How does it always end?  Give some examples of specific sins that seem fun and good, but always end poorly.
3. What is the danger of dwelling and being in the midst of those who mock and laugh at God? (Can you see the parallel thought in Psalm 2?)
4. What is the opposite of all this: a) seeking advice from sinners; b) standing in the path that sinners take; c) hanging out with those who mock God?

A Good Word.

Readings for February 16, 2015: Acts 19-21, Proverbs 12:15-28.

It’s Monday morning.  It’s going to be a big week.  It’s going to be a busy week.  I’m not sure what is on your plate and on your to-do list this week, but we’re all busy.  There always seems to be more to do than there are hours in the day.  Some of the things, if not all of the things, seem to be things that are beyond our ability to handle. Our hearts are heavy to face it all.

The apostle Paul was facing some major things in the days and weeks ahead.  He was facing a farewell with the Ephesians congregation with whom he had spent three years of his life.  He was facing major mistreatment and persecution in the great city of Jerusalem.  Yet, as you watch Paul.  He faced it all with a cheerful and joyful heart.  He knew what was coming, but he wasn’t anxious.  He was thankful.

Anxiety will weigh you down. That’s what Solomon wants to teach us.  “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Proverbs 12:25).  Anxiety is an attitude or an emotion of distrust.  It is to be troubled and really bothered by something.  And it’s like a weight on your shoulders.  It makes your neck and back tense up.  It keeps your mind and body from really resting at night.  We become consumed with worry and anxiety.  Someone once said, “Worry and anxiety is like sitting in a rocking chair.  We do a lot of moving, but we don’t go anywhere.”  Anxiety is just like that.  Our mind and sometimes even our body is very active, but we’re not going anywhere.

What’s the antidote?  Solomon tells us that. “A kind word cheers it up.”  We need a good word of encouragement from a friend, who reminds you of God’s promises, of God’s love, of God’s care, of God’s power.  That’s what Barnabas was for Paul and so many others.  He was the encourager! That’s what his name means and that’s what he did.  We need a good word of encouragement from God’s Word.  As you read today and every day, pay attention to the words that God speaks.  He is speaking a good word to you to encourage you, to help you, and to build you up.  His only aim is to save you.  His only aim is to bring you to himself.  We need a good word to ourselves.  This is where we take God’s Word that we read and preach a sermon to ourselves.  Take one passage from your daily reading and preach it to your heart all day long.  Remind yourself about it.  Walk in the green pastures of God’s Word.  You’re safe under the care of the Good Shepherd.

Lord Jesus, speak life and speak hope to me through the people around me.  Speak life and hope to me through your Word and by your Spirit.  Amen.

Firm foundations.

Looking back at the men of faith we read about in the last week, I notice a growing trend.  Their foundation.  More and more throughout their lives their foundation on the word of God became more and more foundational for their lives and for their walk of faith.

Consider Jacob. Deceptive and manipulative early on.  Eventually moving to Egypt with nothing but a promise: I will make you into a great nation there (Genesis 46:2).

Consider Joseph.  Great dreams from God about his future, yet his future was hardly great at first.  Sold into slavery.  False accused.  Wrongly and unjustly imprisoned.  Forgotten.  Yet, Joseph seems so pious and faith-filled in all this suffer.  He concludes for his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended this for good, the saving of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

Even David in his psalms.  He suffers much.  He calls on God for help. Yet, his faith never wavers and his faith never moves.  His faith was based and built on the solid promises of God’s Word.

God, grant us such a faith to stand on the firm promises of your Word and on your Son Jesus, the cornerstone. Amen.