Praise God with trumpet, harp, organs and cymbals

Scripture: Psalms 150: 1-6

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: Make joyful sounds unto the Lord with your trumpet, harp, and cymbals

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. If we choose God’s way to life, we still face both blessings and troubles, and joy and grief, and success and obstacles.

Throughout it all, God is at our side, guiding, encouraging, comforting, and caring. 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. Knowing this will cause us to praise God for leading us in the right direction and for assuring our place in the perfect world God has in store for those who have faithfully followed Him.

We have a choice to follow Our Lord Jesus Christ, do nothing, or follow a road to hell. Jesus died for our sins, and as a result, we can be with Him.

What road are you on in your life?
Psalms Chapter 150

Sow Your Seed in the Morning

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11: 1-6

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Scripture Commentary: Sow to please the spirit*

In these verses Solomon summarizes that life involves both risk and opportunity. Because life has no guarantees, we must be prepared. “Cast your bread upon the waters” means that we must seize life’s opportunities.

He who observes the wind will not sow. In other words, waiting for perfect conditions leads to inactivity. If you wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading … or if you wait for a perfect church … you’ll never read the Bible and you’ll never join the church.

Take steps now to grow spiritually. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 11

*Additional Reading:
Galatians Chapter 6

Praise the Lord While You Live

Scripture: Psalms 146: 1-4

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Scripture Commentary: I can only complete my assignment while I live

Praise the Lord while you still have the mind, time and ability. Praise the Lord while you live. We are on a path to God or we are on a path to Satan.

Do not put your trust in the images you see daily on your computer or TV/movie screens. These images are only for a moment. Do not let worldly things come between you and our Lord Jesus Christ

The Word of God is the truth and is forever. Jesus is the truth and the light to eternal peace with God.

We are but a vapor, but before we disappear we have an assignment to spread the Gospel. You must be saved to do this – you must believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Once you have departed this life, you can no longer talk about Our Lord. Talk about the Lord while you can.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 146

We Must Acknowledge Our Wickedness and Change Our Ways

Scripture: Jeremiah 14: 17-18, 20-21

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.(17) If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.(18) We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.(20) Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.(21)

Scripture Commentary: It’s not easy to acknowledge our wickedness

Jeremiah interceded for the people. He asked God if Judah’s repentance might bring His help, but God refused. The people’s insincerety, wickedness, and stubbornness parted them from God. They knew God wanted to bless them, and they knew what God required from them in order to receive the blessing. The people wanted God to do his part but they did not want to do theirs.

Do you think, for a moment, God forgot his covenant with them? Do you think He would ever forget His promise to us? God never forgets, but we constantly forget our covenant with him. It’s easy to express sorrow for wrong actions, especially when we want something. It’s not easy to acknowledge our wickedness and stop the wrong action.

God will forgive those who are truly repentant, but hypocrites will be severely punished. You must identify your wrong action, ask for forgiveness, and make a change in your life. That is true repentance.

Remember these three important lessons:
1) We can reveal our true hearts to God in prayer
2) God expects us to trust him, no matter what
3) We are here to influence others for God

Read the Entire Chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 14

Obey The Gospel And Let the Lord Save You

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 17-19

For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinners appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Scripture Commentary: God is faithful and we can count on Him

A life of sin and indulgence in earthly desires can only unfold in the house of Satan. The ungodly will spend eternity in Satan’s house if they do not repent and ask for forgiveness.

We are all sinful by nature. We constantly go against God and not everyone recognizes their wrong ways. Not everyone repents. God allows believers to sin for the experience of consequences. God forgives those who sincerely repent. Allowing us to sin shows us our potential to do wrong. The experience encourages us to return to God. Smaller sins strengthen us against bigger temptations and condition us to truly trust in Him. If we know God will stand by us in the drizzle, we are more likely to rely on him in the storm.

If Christians need discipline from God, how much more will those who do not obey the gospel need to receive? It’s not quantifiable. Only God’s mercy saves us. People who reject Christ still have a chance at eternal life through repentance. We know God is faithful and we can count on Him to fulfill his promise to us. He will always welcome us home, as long as we are willing to do what is required to be in his kingdom.

We must follow this as a path to salvation:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Peter Chapter 4

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

Scripture: Romans 7: 4-6, 9

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus’ grace and mercy delivered us

Before you came to Christ there were times in your life when you felt you were in a good place, doing the right thing. From where you stand now you know you were wrong. Has your husband or wife ever hurt you? Did you feel you had to hurt them back? Did you think revenge was justice?

We are constantly hurting God, but He does not throw us away or hurt us. God forgives us, loves us, and helps us to understand what love is. Being born again takes a moment of faith, a moment God undoubtedly sees. Becoming like Christ is a lifelong process, and God will stand by to help us.

We were unspiritual in our previous lives; sold as slaves to the law of the land, to sin. But Jesus – because of his grace and mercy – delivered us. With Jesus Christ, sin has no hold on us. Sin is always waiting. We will struggle like Paul, but with the strength of Jesus (not ours, but His) we can make it. We can serve God, not by a set of rules, but out of renewed hearts and love for Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 7

A Living Dog Is Better Than a Dead Lion

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9: 3-6

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Scripture Commentary: The living have hope

When Solomon says the dead know nothing and that there is no work, knowledge, or wisdom in death, he is not contrasting life with the afterlife. He is contrasting life with death.

After you die, you can’t change what you have done (or have not done). Considering the uncertainties of the future and the certainty of death, Solomon recommends enjoying life. It is God’s gift to us.

We must accept each day’s measure of work, food, and pleasure to refresh ourselves to continue God’s work.

Jesus rose from the dead and showed us the way to everlasting life; therefore, death is not the end. If you have Christ in your life, it’s the beginning. For Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
John Chapter 8

Let Your Name Be in the Lamb’s Book of Life

Scripture: Revelation 21: 4-6, 27

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.(4-6) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(27)

Commentary: God wrote His children’s names in the Lamb’s book of life

The Holy City of the new Jerusalem is where God wipes every tear from your eyes. Forevermore, there will be no death, pain, sorrow, and crying. God has written the final chapter, and it is about fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love him.

You can’t get to heaven because of your works, background, personality and good behavior. Consequently, eternal life is available to you only because of what Jesus Christ, the Lamb, has done.

You choose to be either with God or with Satan. God tells us what to do to be with Him so that we do not end up in hell.

He paid for our sins with His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. As a result, we can enter into heaven and be with God for eternity. His love for us has made this possible. Eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine here on earth.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Revelation Chapter 21

God Shall Prepare the Way Before Me

Scripture: Malachi 3: 1-6

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Scripture Commentary: The messenger comes to prepare the way for the Messiah

This chapter opening tells of the coming of John the Baptist and of the Messiah. God prepares the way before me that leads me to Him. John prepared the people. The Messiah will return. Pursuing faith refines us like metal, melting away our impurities.

Refinement exposes the reflection of our lives to those around us. During the refining process a child of God appears Christ-like. When we read and apply the Word of God, Jesus tells and shows us the pure life that we have with and in Him.

God is always loyal to us in his patience although we have disobeyed and scorned His laws. He accepts our return. God is ready to return to us if we are willing to return to him.

God never leaves us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 3

What Do Your Words Say About You?

Proverbs 10: 19, 31-32

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.(19) The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.(31) The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. (32)

Scriptures: Proverbs 4: 24

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Scripture Commentary: The words you use say a lot about the person you are

The words you use to express yourself offers a picture of who you are and what you are about. You know what is appropriate and what is not; you know right from wrong. When in conversation, expressing yourself in a godly manner is respectful to God.

Be careful not only about what you say but also how you say it. Chose your words as you would chose your friends. Bad friends can lure you into doing the wrong thing.

Young people are quick to want acceptance, and as a result, they would never want to confront or criticize a friend for wrong actions, plans, or language. Remember this: it is easy to get opinions from people who will tell you only what they think will please you but such advice is not helpful.

Instead look to those who will speak the Godly truth, even when it hurts. These words, said in love, have the most value.

Think about the people from whom you get your advice. What do you expect to hear from them?

Think about the words you chose and the advice you give. Chose those words prayerfully!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Proverbs Chapter 4
Proverbs Chapter 10