Open Your Heart and Be Blessed By God

Scripture: Psalms 117: 1-2

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Scripture Commentary: God has blessed you in every way

This psalm says a lot, using few words; however the message is to praise the Lord, let the world hear your praise, and lift up the Lord, your God. Be blessed!

Not only is Psalms 117 the shortest chapter in the Bible, it is also the middle chapter. Are you at the mid-point in your life? If so, ask yourself the following questions:

Have I accepted God?
Have I, at any time, given God the praise?

Have you ever said , “I can’t think of anything that God has done for me.”

If you are reading this, then God has given you another day. You aren’t in the grave. If you have a place to stay, if you’ve had a meal today, then give God the praise.

God has given you His love, and His faithfulness endures forever. You probably cannot say that you have been faithful to God all of your life but God has been faithful to you always.

If God did nothing else for you, He would still be worthy of your highest praise. Praise the Lord!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 117

God Shows Us Great Mercy

Scripture: Psalms 6: 1-5

(To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.) O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Scripture Commentary:

David accepted God’s punishment but he begged God not to discipline him in anger. He implored God to have mercy on him. He poured out his heart to God, being completely honest with Him.

Be honest with God (He knows when we are not) even when filled with anger or despair. God knows us thoroughly and wants the very best for us.

God would wipe us out with His wrath if He treated us with justice alone and no mercy. Instead, God is kind to us and forgives us instead of giving us what we deserve.

God searches our minds and hearts. He knows our motives. There is no place to hide and no way to pretend that we can get away with sin.

We don’t have to impress God. Communicate with Him in prayer. Talk to Him and talk about Him to others while able because the day will come when we will not talk or praise His name.

Even after others have forgotten us, He will call us His good and faithful servant.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 6

I Once Was Lost But Now Am Found

Scripture: Luke 15: 6-7

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Scripture Commentary: I Have Found What Was Lost

The parables in Luke illustrate that God is forgiving. Luke 15 takes us through the parables where there is a lost son, sheep and coin. Each parable illustrates the joy we feel when we have found what was lost.

We have all gone astray. We feel much joy when we return and accept Jesus as Our Lord and Savior. God loves us and feels much joy when we return to Him. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to earth to save us and to give us direct access to Him.

Just as the shepherd, the woman, and the father in the parables rejoiced on finding what was lost, all of heaven rejoices over the return of a repentant sinner.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 15

And I Heard A Voice From Heaven

Scriptures: Revelation 14: 13 and John 5: 24

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Revelation)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John)

Scripture Commentary: Will you hear Christ’s voice on judgment day?

Is the Lord Jesus Christ your Savior? Death has no hold on you if He is your Savior. You are free from death if you have placed God first – not money, fame, and belongings that you can’t take with you.

Christ, on judgment day, will separate the faithful from the unfaithful. Physical death is inevitable but when Jesus Christ returns, that sleeping body of yours will be resurrected to live forever with Him. If you are a Christian, you will hear His voice on that day and your spirit will rise.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? You face eternity apart from Him if you have not accepted Him.

Do not be one of those who thinks death is the end. It is the beginning. Jesus paid the price to save you.

You will face judgment. What will be the outcome?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Revelation Chapter 14
John Chapter 5

God Says To “Ask of Me, and I Shall Give”

Scripture: Psalms 2: 7-12

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Scripture Commentary: When God says, “Ask of me, and I shall give,” He means for us to be fully His first.

God is all powerful. God said to David, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee …” Because David had totally surrendered himself to God, he could ask. If we truly place ourselves in God’s hands, He will provide.

To “kiss the Son,” means to surrender fully and submit to Him. Christ is not only God’s chosen king, but also He is the rightful king of our hearts and lives.

Our world has many leaders who boast of their power, who rant and rave against God and His people, and who promise to take over and form their own empires.

God has the only power. He is our creator; we are in His hands. To be ready for His coming, we must submit to His leadership every day.

Jesus Christ is the light; He is the way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 2

Jesus Fulfilled the Prophecy as King

Scripture: Matthew 12: 17-21

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Scripture Commentary:

The people in Jesus’ time expected the Messiah to be a king. They forgot the prophecy detailing the kind of king He would be. The Book of Isaiah showed the king to be a quiet, gentle ruler who brought justice to the nations. Although Jesus fulfilled the prophecy, the people were looking for the big bang.

Like the crowd in Jesus’ day, we may want Christ to rule as a king orchestrating great and visible victories in our lives. Do not look for the big bang miracle. Look at your life and see what Jesus has done for you. You are the big bang! You are the miracle!

God created you, He loves you, and He lets His light shine in and on you. He gave His only begotten son for you.

Are you working in His name? Have you told anyone about Our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for you?

Let Jesus into your life, and feel and see the love He has for you. Get down on your hands and knees and thank Him for His goodness.

God loves you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 12

Additional Reading on the Prophecy of the King:
Isaiah Chapter 42

Do Not Break the Vow You Make to God

Scripture: Numbers 30: 1-3

And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded. If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;

Scripture Commentary: Don’t make a vow to God that you won’t keep

Does this sound familiar … O Lord, if you get me out of this mess, I’ll never do this or anything wrong again! We ask God for help and we promise Him something in return when He gets us of the situation that we’re in. Invariably we will break the promise we make to God.

Our promise is our bond! Would you trust someone who doesn’t keep his word to you? I would think not!

What we promise God is binding. He doesn’t ask for your signature; He doesn’t ask you to make a vow if/when you’re in trouble. The vow He asks of us is to love, obey, and carry out His Word.

Once you make a promise to God, you are to fulfill it. To break it is to break the trust God has given you. God has never broken His promise. He will never forsake you, so why should you forsake Him?

Think the next time you make a promise to God. The only thing you truly have is your word. Our God is a loving God who will forgive seven times seven … times seven, times seven. Why? Because He loves you!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Numbers Chapter 30

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

Scripture: Luke 5: 18-20

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Scripture Commentary: When Jesus saw their faith, He made the man whole

How far would you go to help someone? What would you do to lead a friend, enemy, or anyone to Jesus? If someone hurt you, would you, being a Christian, help him/her come to know Jesus?

If God will forget your sins and forgive you, can you do the same?

The man in Luke 5 was not able to do anything for himself. He had people who cared enough for him to go the extra step to get him to Jesus. They had faith that Jesus could heal, and the man had faith also. After all, if they did not have faith, why put forth so much effort to get their friend to Jesus?

If we say we have faith in God then we are to do God’s work. That means we are to forgive, forget, help, lead, spread the Word of God, teach and love one another.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 5

Here I Am, Lord; Send Me

Scripture: Isaiah 6: 8-10

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here I am; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Scripture Commentary: Will you say “here I am, Lord,” when He is looking for a spokesman?

The more clearly Isaiah saw God, the more aware he became of his powerlessness and inadequacy to do anything of lasting value without God; however, he was willing to be God’s spokesman.

God told Isaiah that the people would listen but not learn from his message because their hearts had become calloused beyond repentance .

How is your heart? Are you so into yourself that when God calls you, you can’t hear Him?

God’s patience with the people’s chronic rebellion was finally exhausted. His judgment was to abandon them to their rebellion and hardness of heart.

Why did God send Isaiah if He knew the people wouldn’t listen?

Although the nation would not repent, some individuals did listen. God is merciful even when He judges. We can gain encouragement from God’s promise to preserve His people. If we are faithful to Him, we can be sure of His mercy.

Consider what God may be telling you, and obey Him before time runs out.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 6

Praise the Greatness of Our God

Scripture: Psalms 150: 6

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: Let me live that I may praise you

How could the message be more clear? In a way, the book of Psalms parallels our spiritual journey through life. It begins by presenting us with two roads, the way to life and the way to death. The road to eternal life is with Jesus Christ.

Which road are you on? If you choose God’s way to life, you will still face both blessings and hardships, joy and grief, successes and obstacles. However, God is at your side, guiding, encouraging, comforting, are caring.

The writer tells us to give thanks to God for He truly loves you. As the wise and faithful person’s life draws to an end, he or she realizes clearly that God’s road is the right road, but don’t wait until the end of your life to accept Christ. Do it now!

Go and tell everyone how He has loved you despite yourself. Knowing and accepting God for leading you in the right direction and for assuring your place in His Kingdom will put praise for Him on your lips. Let your voice tell the world how He loves you.

What a fitting way to end Psalms with encouragement for you to praise God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 150

Two Additional Readings on Praise:
Deuteronomy Chapter 32
Psalms Chapter 119