Your Decrees Are My Delight

Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your decrees are my delight,
    they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:23-24 NRSV

 

I suppose that it is within the sinful nature of humankind to plot against one another; to delight in the fall of others, especially if they have played a hand in the fall. We see and experience it all the time; all around us. It may be a natural inclination; yet, it is still sin.

 

When we feel that we are being plotted against, it is not the time to retaliate; but, to keep our peace by meditating on the decrees of the Lord. We are to meditate not just on the law; but, on his promises so that we might truly know the peace of heart and mind that surpasses all understanding.

 

When we are wronged; when we are plotted against, we are to pray for our enemy, that they and we might be reconciled to God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ; that we might live in peace.

 

May God help us to stay in His Word, in His truth, and the truth shall set us free.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Only One Sign For Eternal Life

"And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red
and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,
but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." Matt 16:3 NIV

I was very young when my mother began teaching me some pretty cool things; especially if you live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She taught me how not to get lost in the woods when picking wildflowers by observing the position of the sun or the moon and what side the moss grows on a tree. She taught me how to track, at least well enough to follow my own trail back out of the woods. She also taught me how to forecast the weather by watching the leaves on the trees or the color of the skies. She taught me "red skies at night, sailors' delight; red skies in the morning, sailors take warning."

When the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven he told them there would be only one sign for them. That sign would be the sign of Jonah. The prophet Jonah, you might recall, had spent three days floating around in a watery abyss in the belly of a big fish. He had thought at the time that this would be his grave; his final resting place.

The sign that Jesus was referring to was that he, himself, would repeat the sign of Jonah. But, this time it would be for the salvation of all people; for all who would believe him. Three days he spent in the grave. He descended into hell. (1 Pet 3:18-20) And... just as Jonah was spit from the mouth of the fish to go and proclaim God's message to those nasty Ninevites that they might be saved and live; on the third day Jesus rose from the grave so that all who believe him would be saved and inherit eternal life.

God gave us many signs in creation to assist us in our daily lives. But, Jesus, is the only sign that we need for eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 12:54-56 The Time Is At Hand

Luke 12:54-56 NIV                                                       
I learned many helpful things about the earth and sky from my mother; things like how not to get lost in the woods and how to discern what the weather is going to be like from watching the birds and other animals or the wind and the sky. She taught me this little saying: "Red sky at night; sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." Knowing what the weather is going to be like helps one prepare for the day or days ahead.

Jesus told the crowd, "Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?" (vs 56) We have made ourselves wise to the ways of natural science so that we can be prepared for whatever may come; whether blessings or disasters. However, we fail to discern the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. For some (for those who can discern his presence) it is a blessing for others (those who cannot recognize his presence) it can be a disaster.

May God help us to understand the signs of the time so that we might be prepared for his coming again. He has come. He is present. He will come again. Don't wait to be prepared. The time is at hand.

God's Peace - Pr. J