Encouragement

All Things Together

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“Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve You.” -Psalm 119:91

This verse nicely compliments the previous two verses. The psalmist is still praising God for the endurance of His Word. God in His lovingkindness has proved Himself faithful over the course of human history to reveal His Truth to us. We would be eternally lost if the Lord had not left His instruction on how to find Him. What does the Bible say on how to find God? Jesus said, “I AM The Way, and The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). If we want to know God and His ways of saving faith, we need not look any further than His Son Jesus Christ (John 17).

All things serve God as well. Even a soul which does not know or acknowledge their Creator, God in His Sovereignty can use whatever tool He pleases for His purpose. The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart to accomplish His plan in redeeming enslaved Israel through Moses (Romans 9:14-24). God appointed Cyrus, a pagan ruler of Persia, to allow the Jews to return to Israel after 70 years of captivity. Isaiah even prophecies Cyrus’ role in Jewish history, calling him by name, 150 years before Cyrus was even born:

“This is what the Lord says to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge Me.” (Isaiah 45:1-4)

God gives each of us a will which He can use in His foreknowledge for His purpose. Nothing takes the Father by surprise, there is no ‘plan B’. This is the beautiful mystery of man’s will and God’s sovereignty at work. Praise God He allows us to mine the depths of His revealed wisdom. Yet I believe we have only begun to scratch the surface of this incomprehensible, indescribable, unchanging Lord of all. In writing his letter to the Roman church, Paul stops two-thirds of the way and exclaims,

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36) 

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: Job 37:14-42:6; Colossians 1:15-17

All Things Together by Andrew Peterson

 

This is my Father’s World

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“Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.” -Psalm 119:90

There will always be a remnant to proclaim the wonders of God from one generation to the next. God’s Word has promised this. It is part of the Lord’s faithfulness to us. Our duty as Christians is the amazing privilege of working with the Lord, serving Him by going and telling others the Gospel. We get to disciple our children, training them in the way they should go, not merely to be outstanding citizens in society but learn what it means to die to self and follow Christ. If believers refuse to obey these commands, taking them seriously, then we not only lose rewards in Heaven but will be held accountable for our sins of omission (James 4:17; James 1:22-25; Matthew 12:47; Luke 11:42). The rocks will cry out and praise Him if we do not. Creation will testify to its Maker more than it already does because all of creation is made to worship (Luke 19:40; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 148).

God doesn’t need us, but desires to include us in His good purpose, loving His own dearly. Whether we obey or not, His Name, His World, will endure until He is ready to change the current Earth and Heaven into something new (Revelation 21:1). God does nothing half-way. He has firmly established His Creation, His people, His Word- and now we actively wait in eager anticipation of the Lord’s promises fulfilled at the end of this Age, the Era of Grace (Romans 8:19-25).

Grace upon grace,

April  

This is My Father’s World Hymn

The B-I-B-L-E

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“Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the Heavens.” -Psalm 119:89

Each verse in Psalm 119 is a beautiful stand alone prayer framed as a plea, or a confession, of adoration, or thanksgiving. Here the psalmist praises in adoration the true and trustworthy Word of God. He proclaims God’s words are eternal. The Scriptures are truly our most treasured possession as Christians. God did not anoint us as pilgrims and then leave us alone to figure everything out. He has given us His own instructions, which if we follow them, will lead to goodness and mercy all the days of our lives and into eternal glory. 

God’s Word is eternal. It will never be irrelevant or forgotten in human history as thousands of other books have. Even when we fade and wither, returning back to the earth, God’s Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:6-8). The Bible is the one book which leads to everlasting life, because of whom it points to. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth, The Life (John 14:6). All of Scripture points to Him as the Redeemer of mankind. What blessing, what mercy, for us to have the Bible at our fingertips.

Grace upon grace,

April

Preserved

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“Preserve my life according to Your love, and I will obey the statutes of Your mouth.” -Psalm 119:88

The cry of the psalmist for preservation is not unique to him. Many frightened and weary souls have pleaded for the Lord to protect their physical beings as well as preserve their souls. The psalmist’s prayer is for God to keep him “according to Your love.” He petitions God to remember how much He loves this poor pitiful creature. Then the psalmist declares to pursue holiness as God refreshes his spirit. 

There are times to be brought low and times to be lifted up. We cannot thrive in the valley indefinitely. The Lord knows our weak frame would wear out and wither. He may not remove the affliction, but He does promise to refresh you with His grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). God will give us exactly what we need for optimum spiritual growth. Whatever He decides for us to personally endure He will be faithful to keep you close to Him to the very end. Our Father will not forsake His own. He cannot and will not be faithless. And what will your response be? Will you forget His mercies on you and go about your business? Or will you stop and consider His grace in preserving your spirit for all eternity? The latter response leads to worship and obedience to the Preserver of our souls. No matter our external circumstances, God has promised soul rest through His Son Jesus for all who trust in His sufficient work on the cross. Praise God for our Great Shepherd and High Priest, for now we can approach His Throne of Grace in our time of need and God not only listens to our pleas, but He cares and responds accordingly in His Sovereign Wisdom.

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: Psalm 23; Hebrews 4:14-16

I Know Whom I Have Believed

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“They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.” -Psalm 119:87

This is a heavy topic. Evil men plotted not only to smear David’s reputation, but sought to kill him. The Bible is full of gritty, messy, real life stories. Perhaps you aren’t fearing for your life, but this type of behavior to “wipe someone from the face of the earth” still happens today in our cancel culture. It is an attempt to silence a voice, discredit their opinion and make them irrelevant. Wickedness seeks to bury truth, but truth-tellers will be justified. If not in this life then in final victory when God will make all things right. They do not forget God’s Word but cling faithfully to clarity in a world of confusion.

The true believer will echo the psalmist in perseverance of God. The harder we are assaulted for our faith, the tighter we hold on to what we know is true. Like the old hymn says, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” Ask the Lord to daily renew a fresh fire in your heart to pursue Him. He promises to draw near to those who still seek Him (James 4:8).

Grace upon grace,

April 

‘I Know Whom I Have Believed’ hymn

 

Is God Trustworthy?

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“All Your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause.” -Psalm 119:86

The first part of this verse is an acknowledgment that our Lord, Maker and Law-Giver can be trusted. He will never deceive, never lead us astray from what is good, what is best for us eternally. God’s Word is absolute Truth. External circumstances do not change the object of our Hope or salvation status for the one who follows Christ the Lord no matter the cost. Their souls are secure so the inner man can rest despite the trials of life. 

The latter part of the verse is a cry for help. Even if the writer knows God can be trusted, he still prays for his suffering to end. Affliction is not without purpose, but unless our spirits are refreshed even with one cool drink, we will wither. Man cannot stand alone against our adversary the devil apart from God’s divine help. The thorn may never be removed, but our perspective can change. The psalmist also does not take matters into his own hands but instead trusts in the One who loves him best, the Perfect Judge. He will avenge His elect, His Bride, one day with complete finality when every tear will be wiped away and pain will no longer exist (Revelation 21:3-5). The reason you and I can have such outrageous hope is because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. The God of the Universe came down to us because we could not go to Him on our own (John 1:14). He endured not only the hatred of men through persecution and murder, but experienced God the Father’s wrath, so those who place their faith in His sufficient blood never have to eternally bear God’s punishment for their sins. Our sins have been pardoned, wiped away, because of the matchless grace of King Jesus. He is worthy of our trust at all times, He is worthy of worship in all of life, even in persecution. 

Grace upon grace,

April

Song: ‘Wonderful Grace of Jesus’

Pitfalls

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“The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to Your law.” -Psalm 119:85

The wicked will not win the war, yet they can do much harm on this side of Heaven. When assaulted over the havoc they cause, it is good to remember Matthew 10:28:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.”

Many brothers and sisters have gone before us in a martyr’s death. Their reward is great (Revelation 6:9-11). We also have an example of how Jesus responded to His enemies on the cross. He forgave them (Luke 23:34). Pray for strength to endure as Christ did. Let us ask for God to help us stay faithful to Him as He is faithful to us, not acting contrary to His law like the wicked rebels who sought to sabotage the psalmist. Learning to love others (even our enemies) and loving God will keep us from digging our own pits to fall into. Paul reminds the church in Rome how to respond to their enemies writing, 

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him: If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)

Grace upon grace,

April

The Voice of the Martyrs remembers Christians who have paid the ultimate cost of laying down their lives for Jesus in death. June 29 is the day of remembrance.

Trusting in the Lord

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“How long must Your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?” -Psalm 119:84

Once again the question of “when?” is submitted before God’s Throne. Although believers trust in the Lord’s Sovereignty and Wisdom, we can inquire of God’s plans. Even if He does not answer how we expect, it is good to remember His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are higher (better) than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). This verse is a prayer formed as questions, transparent in emotion, meaning David feels God is trustworthy to bring his suffering to the One who not only listens to his cries, but is able to deliver him. 

Along with bringing our own questions before God, our prayers need to circle back to pleas for His help. The Christian resolves to worship and trust in the One True God who loves him best, even when he doesn’t get all the answers. Your view of God in the midst of suffering reveals what the heart truly trusts and loves. Is God still good? Does He care for you? Does He love you? The answer is yes- infinitely yes for the soul covered in Christ Jesus. More than this, our God is not only willing to meet us in our pain, but He is able to comfort, deliver, and encourage our weary spirit as He sees fit. We are only called to submit to His wisdom and persevere in faith. May the Lord help us stay faithful as we learn to wait on Him.

Grace upon grace,

April 

Growing deeper: Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Peter 5:7-11; Psalm 42-43

Agony of Affliction

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“Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your decrees.” -Psalm 119:83

It was custom to place wine in leather bottles for preservation. If the bottle was hung around smoke it would char and shrivel up, becoming useless as a container for new wine. David uses this imagery to communicate how he feels in his affliction: like a thrown away broken vessel, no longer of any use once the smoke has wrinkled the wineskin. King David is wasted with age, sickness and sorrow.  Yet still he clings to the Lord by declaring he will not forget God’s Word. This supernatural perseverance reminds me of Paul’s resolve in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12:

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

This is where the believer lands. We remember and hope in our Deliverer, trusting our trials will conform us to Christ. His life is at work in the believer and He will not finish until this transformation is complete (Philippians 1:6). We are to die daily to self so Jesus becomes more real and lovely to us. How we respond in our trials also serves as a witness before a spiritually dead world. Dead to our old nature, alive in Christ through the agony of affliction.

Grace upon grace,

April

Faithful Comfort

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“My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I say, ‘When will You comfort me?’ ” -Psalm 119:82

The psalmist can’t see the outcome. Since God is outside of Time, the Creator of Time, He alone knows the future perfectly. The writer is honest before the Lord asking “when?” As Mediator, Jesus provides us access before the Throne of God to come to Him with our fears, impatience, and all the emotions in between. He will be faithful to wash the earthly grit from our eyes and sharpen our eternal perspective over time. He will do this for the psalmist as well. Why? Because God does not forsake His children. He paid a dear price to rescue us for Himself by permitting His Son Jesus to take our payment of sin. God is our Comfort. He teaches us that this world is not our Home (John 14:1-4). This isn’t all there is to life. Yet even as the world blazes on fire and nations rage, God is a constant companion to those who know and fear Him through Jesus Christ. How is this possible? By taking hold of the promises of God by faith. Faith is a precious jewel in the treasure trove of spiritual riches. For the last two thousand years believers have lived by faith. Before Jesus came in the flesh His people walked by faith too, like the psalmist, believing better things lie ahead when the Messiah would come (Hebrews 11:13-16;32-40). My knowledge may be limited but I can hold fast to the Omniscient Lord. People will disappoint and hurt us in this sin cursed world, but God Eternal never will. He has proved Himself faithful over and over. He is trustworthy. Trust in Him too and take courage while we wait on the Lord.

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: Psalm 42; 2 Corinthians 1:3-10; 2 Corinthians 4:8-18; Hebrews 12:1-3

‘Before the Throne of God’ by Sovereign Grace Music