Take Shelter in the Lord in Every Storm

Scripture: Psalms 55: 1-8

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest – I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

Scripture Commentary: God is our shelter in every storm

More than likely David wrote this psalm during the time of Absalom’s rebellion and Ahithophel’s betrayal. Even those who are especially close to God, as David was, have moments when they cry out to the Lord for shelter from their pressures and problems.

We are plagued by internal problems in our homes, cities, and churches. Violence, strife, malice, abuse, destruction, threats, and lies appear to be all around us. As a result, we also feel the need to cry out to the Lord to shelter us.

Although a constant threat, external enemies are not nearly as dangerous as the corruption inside. Even today, churches often look to defend themselves against trouble from the sinful world while they fail to see that their own sins are causing their troubles.

Nothing hurts more than a wound from a friend. Even though it hurts, there may be times when friends will need to lovingly confront you in order to help you. Your real friends will stick by you, especially in times of trouble, and will help bring healing, love, acceptance, and understanding.

What kind friend are you? Don’t betray those you love.

God is our helper, protector, and friend.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 55

Do Not Continue in Sin – You Have Been Set Free

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 12, 14, 18, 22

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?(1) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye shall obey it in the lusts thereof.(12) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.(14) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(18) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.(22)

Scripture Commentary: Do not continue in sin; put your life in the Lord’s hands

Now that our Lord Jesus Christ has removed the shackles of death and sin from you, how does it feel? If you do not know, then you are still living your old sinful life. Do not continue in sin.

If you think because you were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ that you are one of his, but you still live your old life, you are wrong. The body we inherited from Adam is the rebellious, sin-loving body. Let that sin-loving body go.

Set yourself free to do God’s work by letting your old sinful nature die once and for all. Let the Spirit of God grow in you and let the weak flesh melt away.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are acquitted. Put your life in His Hands and you will no longer be a slave to sin. If you truly do this you are now resurrected into a new life with Christ and have an unbroken fellowship with God, and freedom from sin’s hold on you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 6

Let God Give You A New Heart

Scripture: Ezekiel 36: 25-27

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Scripture Commentary: God can give you a new heart to follow Him

In these verses Ezekiel felt that he was preaching to dead people. It’s the same today when people in and out of churches hear the Word but do not listen to what the Word is saying.

We look for things on our terms and time. Jesus told his disciples in John 8: 47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

God is telling Ezekiel if he will give the people a new heart, not only physically but also spiritually. With a new spiritual heart you will truly follow God and not man.

If you become so callous in your ways, then you have lost all sensitivity to sin. Why try to patch your old self? Let God make you new again.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 36
John Chapter 8

What is Your Purpose?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 22

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.(1) Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that in his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Scripture Commentary:

What would you say is your purpose in life? Is it to make money or to provide for yourself and/or your family? Or is it to purchase things you want?

Purpose in life starts with whom we know; not what we have, what we think, or what we know. It is impossible to fulfill your God-given purpose without knowing God. God is first place in your life.

We have a spiritual thirst and an eternal value, and nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy the thirst. If wealth, power, and status mean nothing to God, why do you attribute so much importance to them and so much honor to those who possess them?

Do not let material possessions be your purpose in life. What you have in your heart and what you do in your Godly way of living matters to God and endures for eternity.

In this chapter Solomon shows us the cycles of our lives and its the changes These cycles are not to be barriers, but rather opportunities to discover that without God, life’s problems have no lasting solutions. Jesus Christ is the only answer.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

“For God Himself is Judge” – Psalm 50:6

Scripture: Psalms 50: 1-6

The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. And God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge.

Scripture Commentary: God will judge all – good and bad.

God judges people for treating him lightly. First, he speaks to the superficially religious people who bring their sacrifices but are only going through the motions. They do not honor God with true praise and thankfulness. He asks the superficially religious for genuine thanksgiving and trust.

Second, he chides wicked, hardhearted people for their evil works and immoral lives. He warns the evil people to consider their deeds, lest he destroy them in anger.

God will judge all – good and bad. If you think because you participate in religious activities, tithe, or attend church out of habit or conformity rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience that you agree with God, you are wrong.

The very act of sacrifice shows God that you agree with him wholeheartedly. We must pledge ourselves to obey God, and utilize our resources for the good of his kingdom.

God wants righteousness, not empty ritual. God’s judgment must begin with his own people.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 50

God Has Prepared Great Things For You

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 9-12

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Scripture Commentary: God has prepared a wonderful and eternal future for his children

We cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity. God’s “secret wisdom, that has been hidden” was his offer of salvation to all people when Jesus rose from the dead.

His resurrection proved that he had power over sin and death. He will create a new heaven and a new earth and we will live with him forever. Until then, his Holy Spirit comforts and guides us.

Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid giving in to Satan’s temptations. Those who believe in Christ’s death and resurrection and put their faith in him will know all they need to know to be saved. This knowledge, however, can’t be grasped by even the wisest people unless they accept God’s message.

This world is not all there is. All who reject God’s message are foolish, no matter how wise the world thinks they are.

The best is yet to come.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 2

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

Scripture: Galatians 3: 10-14

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary: Live by faith

Paul quoted Deuteronomy 27:26 to prove that contrary to what the Judaizers claimed, the law cannot justify and save, it can only condemn. Breaking even one commandment brings a person under condemnation. And because everyone has broken commandments, everyone stands condemned. We are to live by faith in Christ to be saved.

The law can do nothing to reverse the condemnation. But Christ took the curse of the law upon himself when he hung on the cross. He did this so we wouldn’t have to bear our own punishment. The only condition is that we accept Christ’s death on our behalf as the means to be saved.

Trying to be right with God by our own effort doesn’t work. Good intentions such as “I’ll do better next time” or “I’ll never do that again” usually end in failure.

God has kept his promise, he has not revoked it, though thousands of years have passed. Circumstances may change, but God remains constant and does not break his promises.

He has promised to forgive our sins through Jesus Christ, and He has done so.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 3

Also Referenced:
Deuteronomy Chapter 27

Christ is the True Vine

Scripture: John 15: 1-5

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Scripture Commentary: Be close to Jesus like a branch to a vine

Is God pruning you? What kind of fruit are you producing? Many people try to be good honest people who do what is right. You live a truly good life by staying close to Jesus Christ, like a branch attached to the vine. Jesus Christ is the vine, and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful.

We are the branches. The fruitful branches are true believers who, by their living union with Jesus Christ, produce much fruit. The unproductive branches are people who turn back from following Jesus after making a superficial commitment. God will separate them from himself. The unproductive followers are as good as dead because they follow themselves. God cuts them off and tosses them aside.

Jesus Christ makes a distinction between two kinds of pruning, separating and cutting back branches. God cuts back our fruitful branches to promote growth; discipline strengthens our faith. God cuts off others because they are worthless and they infect the rest of the vine.

Are you pruned? Or are you being cut off?

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 15