QT 6/30/2022 Ps 12:1-2, A nation falling apart

Psalm 12:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

 

NOTE: The period of Judges ended with Samson as the last Judge and then followed by an ugly and lurid story of the near destruction of one tribe, Benjamin. A repeated phrase ends the book:

 

Judges 21:25 (ESV) — 25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

 

Samuel is arguably the last judge of Israel. His name appears in the book of Samuel which is the start of the kings. He travels a circuit in Israel teaching the law. His sons were wicked men and Israel asks for a King. The nation hardly looks different than the world around it. Sin has engulfed the nation, and God chooses a man named Saul from the small remnant of Benjamin to lead Israel. But Saul was steeped in the culture of his time. The King does not lead the people to God. Spurgeon believes this Psalm was written during the reign of Saul when he gave the order to kill the priests for having given David bread and a sword.

 

Sometimes it seems as if things have never been worse for belief in the one true God. And as for the history of the United States, that statement is probably true. But Israel had many periods of outright rebellion and idol worship. There were evil men who ruled and no one stood up for what is right.

 

God knows the time. He sees the evil. He will judge the wicked. It is folly to ask "when?" His timing will be perfect.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I discouraged by the sin of my time? I should be.
2. Do I make excuses for my sin and others?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive my nation for our sin. We have done evil in your sight. We have rebelled against even the most basic of commands. We lie, cheat, and steal from one another. Open the eyes of the nation to its wickedness. We have a sin problem.

QT 6/29/2022 Ps 11:1-3, Our rebellion is having tremendous costs

Psalm 11:1–3 (ESV) — 1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

 

NOTE: I've read this Psalm many times. I feel as if Satan is shooting arrows in the dark to see what he hits. The world follows his lead, although they seem a little more targeted at times. Ultimately, our culture is destroying its foundations. We restored one piece a few days ago by affirming the sanctity of life, but we really didn't -- we just moved the issue to state level. We are destroying our children by confusing them with sexual identity and sexual activity. The human emotional costs are tremendous and addiction and mental health problems will continue to grow. We no longer marry without living together first, destroying the foundation of marriage and a life-time commitment. And the enemy continues to shoot arrows at Christianity and the bible, because they hold the answers to life. Where is God the world asks? He is right where we left him when we rebelled against his rule, and he is waiting for us to repent of our sin and return to him.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I stand up against our evil culture?
2. Have I acquiesced to sin?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive my nation for its rebellion and its wickedness. Please convict us of our sin, of your righteousness, and of the coming judgment. May our lives be so different that we draw people to Jesus.

QT 6/28/2022 Ps 10:14-18, Abortion is an evil thing toward the helpless

Psalm 10:14–18 (ESV) — 14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. 16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

 

NOTE: Recently the United States Supreme Court decided that the US constitution does not provide any person the right to end the life of the unborn. These are the most helpless of our society, the babies, aborted babies. They never get to see their fathers. They are by definition fatherless. They feel their mothers, but their mothers choose to end their lives. They have no voice. They have no opportunity to enjoy life. They define helplessness. Does anyone care for the sixty million unborn who have died? God does. They are not dead. They are not angels. They are human beings resting upon God's justice who will receive new bodies in the coming kingdom.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my response to the injustice of abortion?
2. Do I side with God and the babies right to live, or do I side with those who think the babies are disposable?

 

PRAYER: Father, Evil screams when its sins are discovered or taken away. I've seen it happen. There are demons living within people screaming at the top of their lungs because of their anger and hatred and their sin. They can't see straight. Father, open their eyes to themselves. Show them their sin. Bring them to Jesus.

QT 6/27/2022 Ps 10:3-7, Examining the evidence

Psalm 10:3–7 (ESV) — 3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. 4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” 5 His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” 7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

 

NOTE: It is an amazing thing, how blind pride can make us. We come up with reasons why there is no God without truly examining the evidence because we don't want to believe in God. We don't want to obey his commands. We don't want to call him Lord. So, we latch on to something, like, "he has given me no evidence to believe in him" while ignoring his visitation on earth (Jesus) and his resurrection from the dead. We point to all the evil in the world as evidence, but he created the world without any evil and we chose to be our own gods by rebelling against his commands. The evil in the world is the reminder that we rebelled against him and the only peace will be when we return. God sees the evil and the naysayer, and he will judge both. He will establish the long sought kingdom of justice, and peace will finally rule on earth. The day is coming. We are fools if we do not examine the evidence.

 

PONDER:

1. Where do I stand? Am I a naysayer too?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the truth that you have revealed to me. Thank you for the change in my heart. Thank you for the peace that you have given to me in the midst of a crooked and broken world. Help me to stand up as a light and a voice for you in this amazingly dysfunctional world trying to find all answers but you.

QT 6/24/2022 Ps 9:13-14, Living in his graciousness

Psalm 9:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

 

NOTE: I think one prayer that I have said more than any other prayer is "be gracious to me" or as other versions translate, "have mercy on me." I need God's mercy. We typically define mercy as "not getting what you deserve" and grace as "getting what you don't deserve." I make many foolish choices and in his mercy I don't get what I deserve. He is gracious to me in my stupidity and foolishness. That is no reason to continue in bad behavior and I don't want to continue in sin. But like Paul wrote,

 

Romans 7:15 (ESV) — 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

 

What then is my hope? Thanks be to God for he will deliver me from this body of death, and he until then he gives mercy and grace in my time of need.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I comfortable with my sin? I must never be. I must always repent. I must always seek to turn and ask the Holy Spirit for strength to fight my sinful nature.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you so much for grace and mercy. I could not survive without it. Continue your graciousness to me so that I may recount your praises to those around me.

QT 6/23/2022 Ps 9:9-10, Knowing the names of God

Psalm 9:9–10 (ESV) — 9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

 

NOTE: Those who have knowledge of God, who know his name, his many names, are those who trust in him. God has many names in scripture because no name can ever fully capture the essence and person of God. He will never forsake those who know his name. How does one go about knowing God's name or names? I suppose one could do a search of them, but that knowledge would be external and academic. The only way to know God and to know his names is to spend time with him. Sunday worship is not enough, nor is another service or two during the week. We can meet with our spouse once or twice a week but that will not allow us to truly know our spouse. We must spend regular time together to intimately know a person. So, spending time every morning and also during the day with God is the path to knowing God. The best time is in the morning, before the distractions of the day. Other times are prayer times, maybe as we are driving to a location. Another thing to do is to memorize a verse each day while standing in line or waiting. Most phones can easily accommodate a widget with a verse of the day. Today I will work on Matt 7:8 "For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." As I meditate on the word and meet with God daily, I come to know God intimately.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I really know God or am I playing church?
2. Am I committed to churchianity or to a relationship with Jesus?
3. Is blessing "the middle class American life" or is blessing what comes from a knowledge of God?

 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for revealing yourself over the years. It does not happen overnight, although the new birth does feel that way, but knowing you is an ever-growing walk into trust in you that provides a perfect peace. Forgive me for allowing the world to draw me away from you. I want to know you.

QT 6/22/2022 Ps 8:3-4, We seem so insignificant

Psalm 8:3–4 (ESV) — 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

 

NOTE: We do seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The universe is so large that it exceeds our ability to comprehend. Our galaxy, just one of hundreds of millions of galaxies is immense beyond comprehension. Our solar system, one of hundreds of millions in our galaxy is huge. We recently made it to the edge of a solar system and out into the gap between the stars. It took us over 20 years, and at that speed would take hundreds of years to get to the closest star. And yet here we are -- 8 billion souls in the middle of an indescribably large ocean of space. And, even more amazing, we are greatly loved despite our insignificance. The son of God, who created our amazing universe, came to Earth and died on a cross for our sins. God loved us first.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I appreciate the greatness of creation and my own insignificance?
2. Do I appreciate God's love for me and that he cares for me personally?

 

PRAYER: I am staggered by the immensity of the universe. I am amazed that Jesus died for me. Thank you Lord for love that is so amazing, it truly does demand my heart, my soul, my all.

QT 6/21/2022 Ps 7:12-16, We need to speak up against the evil of the day

Psalm 7:12–16 (ESV) — 12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; 13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. 14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 15 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. 16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

 

NOTE: On the slimmest of evidence, the world will pursue ideas that agree with their perceived truth, especially if it disagrees with God's word. We are seeing that today with the gender dysphoria hype. On slim evidence, the world is pursuing a strategy that destroys children. It is evil and it is fueled by evil. Any evidence that might question the theory, such as the recent Heritage study is immediately disparaged. The bible says that "the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies." And then to make is even clearer, it says "He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made." Our society today is a picture of that pit. God has designed us and given us instructions on how to enjoy his creation, but we don't want to listen. We have not made anything better. We've created a pit for people that consumes them with anger and drugs and sexual sickness. And our society is too blind to see the ugliness. Judgment is coming from the Lord upon the heads of all evildoers. We desperately need to repent of our sin.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I try to explain away God's word in order to "fit" in with the popular opinion of the day?
2. Am I willing to stand up for truth?

 

PRAYER: We live in a society that is increasingly controlling what we can and cannot say. While I might accept some control in an environment like work where another pays for my labor, I must not give in to those controls in my home or neighborhood or church. I must obey God, not men.

QT 6/20/2022 Psalm 7:8-9, Our nation needs repentance

Psalm 7:8–9 (ESV) — 8 The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. 9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

 

NOTE: I know wickedness is great and has been great in the past. Yet, it seems more widespread today because of our media and cultural pressure. And, unlike David, I'm not sure I could pray "judge me … according to my righteousness and … integrity." But, I can agree with David that the evil of wicked needs to come to an end. The destruction of marriage, the imposition of multiple sexes, and the glorification of sinful sexual practices, are destroying people and ruining lives. It is a fist raised up against God. There is no shame, in fact, we teach that people should not be ashamed of their sinful desires or pleasures. But it is wrong! And judgment is coming. The only question is "when, O Lord?" as opposed to "where is the Lord?" that the fools cry out.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my heart torn by the sins of my people and my own sin?
2. Have I been fooled by the world and accept its' sin as okay?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to live differently. I want people to see Jesus in my life. The sin of my nation is wrong, gravely wrong. We are celebrating all the wrong things. Forgive us. We should be repenting of our sin. Forgive me for my weakness and sin. Transform the church. Clean it out. We need to live for Jesus and not this world of sin.

QT 6/16/2022 Psalm 6:6-10, Life is painful because we rebelled

Psalm 6:6–10 (ESV)

6I am weary with my moaning;

every night I flood my bed with tears;

I drench my couch with my weeping.

7My eye wastes away because of grief;

it grows weak because of all my foes.

8Depart from me, all you workers of evil,

for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

9The Lord has heard my plea;

the Lord accepts my prayer.

10All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;

they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

 

NOTE: I love the language of the psalms -- they are true reflections of the emotions of the author. Theologically, they would not be my source of truth, but emotionally they show the heart of a true worshipper. There are times in life when the pain is so great that verses 6-7 feel like David had gone through the same thing. Sometimes it is our own sin, sometimes it is evil and evil persons, and sometimes it is just life. We rebelled against God in the garden. We decided to be our own god and live life the way we want it. Should we be surprised life is not the way God intended it to be? Evil, pain, tragedy are not evidences that there is no God, but rather they are the evidences of our rebellion from God. He has returned to earth in the human-God frame of Jesus and has given us another choice, to repent and believer, or to continue in the rebellion. Someday the world will be remade and restored, and these painful moments will be no more. But for now they only remind us of our need for God as our King and ruler.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I rail against God when it is I who rebelled?
2. Do I tell people that God has not given me any reason to believe he exists when I have never truly investigated Jesus' life and claims?

 

PRAYER: Father, take away the blinders that the evil one uses to prevent us from seeing the truth and changing. Our own evil hearts put those blinders on. May we not resist your effort to open our eyes to truth.

QT 6/15/2022 Psalm 6:1-5, We need to be restored

Psalm 6:1–5 (ESV)

1O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath.

2Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;

heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

3My soul also is greatly troubled.

But you, O Lord—how long?

4Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

5For in death there is no remembrance of you;

in Sheol who will give you praise?

 

NOTE: Sin affects us. We can harden our hearts but we can't hide from the effects. Sin drains us spiritually -- that part of our soul that we can't measure or see. Suicide attempts, depression, addiction, anger, uncontrolled emotions, dangerous sexual activity -- these are all signs of an unhealthy spiritual body. "My bones are troubled" was David's recognition of something wrong physically which corresponded to something wrong spiritually, "my soul is also greatly troubled." We did not evolved by random processes, we were designed and created by God, and unless we understand the creator's design, we will ruin the creation. We need the washing and cleansing which comes from the word of God and the Holy Spirit and repentance. As Jesus said, "man does not live by bread alone." Until we accept this truth, our bones (health, mental and physical) will remain troubled.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I healthy, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and physically?
2. Am I filling holes with sin because I refuse to see my spiritual emptiness?

 

PRAYER: Father, feed me from your word. Wash me and cleanse me. Continual to restore me each morning as I meet with you.

QT 6/14/2022 Ps 5:7-12, Now is the time to look differently

Psalm 5:7–12 (ESV)

7But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,

will enter your house.

I will bow down toward your holy temple

in the fear of you.

8Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies;

make your way straight before me.

9For there is no truth in their mouth;

their inmost self is destruction;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongue.

10Make them bear their guilt, O God;

let them fall by their own counsels;

because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,

for they have rebelled against you.

11But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you.

12For you bless the righteous, O Lord;

you cover him with favor as with a shield.

 

NOTE: I was reading about protestors at the houses of Supreme Court justices, and the lack of federal enforcement of federal laws, and verses 9-10 appealed to my sense of justice and a desire for revenge (hardly, could one say that I was loving my neighbor). Yet, the world is so evil and corrupt. It is so blinded by hatred and emotion. We have stopped thinking. We have "evolved" to animals. I use the term facetiously, because while I believe we were created, my protagonists think they evolved to a higher being. Apparently, rudeness, crudity, and anger are part of a higher plan of evolution and not peace, kindness, and concern for our fellow man. So, what do we do? First, recognize that evil does not win in the end. For all of its apparent victories, they are temporary and fleeting. Secondly, people are hurting, and their anger is directed at life. They are in rebellion to God and do not want to repent. They are suffering because they can't let go of their sin, hatred, and rebellion to God. We need to pray for them. Third, we have to show them a difference. Yes, it is normal to be angry at injustice and their abuse of our freedoms, but somehow (by the Holy Spirit's power), we need to be different. Our mission is the gospel, not the betterment of this temporal life. Paul and all the disciples of the first century never fought Nero or Claudius or the Roman government. They focused on spreading the gospel message.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my mission here on earth?
2. Is it to make my life better or is it share the message Jesus gave us?

 

PRAYER: Father, we need to be different as believers in our Savior. Now is the best time (in a long time) to look different. The enemy is "all-in" and we still can be different and show that difference to those around us. Give us strength and grace to live differently.

QT 6/13/2022 Psalm 5:1-6, Taking sin seriously

Psalm 5:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. 4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

 

NOTE: In verses 5-6, David categorizes 4 sinners. The first category is the proud and arrogant, who think they have created their world with their own power. The second category are evildoers. If I was to translate the two Hebrew words, I would say they "make pain." And that is certainly the result of those who ignore God's commands and do the opposite. They listen to their feelings. They act like animals. And they wonder why there is still a hole in the middle of their souls crying to be filled. The third category are those who speak lies. I imagine that some have darkened their hearts so much that they even believe their own lives. They lie to protect themselves, they lie to make themselves look better, and they also lie to hurt others. They take perverse pleasure in seeing their lies seek their revenge. The last category is a group that the Lord not only hates, but abhors: men who plot others destruction and seek blood. Like the liar they deceive too, but they do it not just to hurt someone, but to actually destroy another. They imagine themselves gods with their money and cleverness.

 

God hates evil. In Genesis, God tells Cain that sin was crouching at his door and he must master it. Fortunately, we, who have put our faith in Jesus, have the Holy Spirit within us. The HS reveals to us our sin. Our job is to repent, and take steps of action to change. God, in his power, will fill in the rest. The power is the HS, and it is also found in God's word. But if we are not in God's word on a daily basis, sin will master us bit by bit.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I serious about my sin?
2. Am I in the word of God daily?
3. Who do I think I am fooling?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to change me and recreate me in the power of your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for pride and other sins. Forgive my land for their rebellion. We are destroying ourselves and blindly following evil. Open our eyes while there is still time.

QT 6/10/2022 Psalm 4, Believing His good is better than my good

Psalm 4 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

3But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

4Be angry, and do not sin;

ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

5Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the Lord.

6There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

7You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

 

NOTE: The question, "Who will show us some good?" is a poor question because the premise behind the question is misleading. The person is not looking for good, as in an objective 'best' possible thing, but rather what the person thinks is good, i.e., brings him immediate happiness and takes away pain. It is a temporal measure that is based on feelings and not objective knowledge. We don't have the vision (the ability to see the big picture, nor the ability to see the future impact) to decide what is truly good or best for us. Only God knows what is good, and so if we truly desire good, we must trust God for the good. For a true child of God, we are promised,

 

Romans 8:28 (RSV) We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

 

This promise is not to all, but only to those who love God and have been called by God, that is true born-again believers. Others do not have this promise for their life, no matter how religious they might be. You must know God to experience God's goodness for your life. But know this, it will not always be what, at the time, you might call "good."

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God for good in my life or am I the judge of what is good for my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is so hard to trust in this matter. Sometimes your good is quite painful in the present, only yielding the peaceful fruit of righteousness sometime later. It is hard to wait. It is hard to appreciate your goodness because the world offers a temporal cheap goodness that is not really good at all. Open our eyes to your truth. Help us to trust you for your goodness.

QT 6/9/2022 Psalm 3, Resting in God

Psalm 3:1–8 (ESV)

1O Lord, how many are my foes!

Many are rising against me;

2many are saying of my soul,

“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

3But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5I lay down and slept;

I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

6I will not be afraid of many thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

7Arise, O Lord!

Save me, O my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;

you break the teeth of the wicked.

8Salvation belongs to the Lord;

your blessing be on your people! Selah

 

NOTE: His enemies thought they had one. They had King David on the run. He had fled Jerusalem. But God would confound their victory and David would return to Jerusalem not many weeks later. There was good reason for David to worry, but he didn’t. Sleep is an important component of a spiritually sound man. When a person is doing the right thing, he can sleep, despite what the worldly odds look like the next day. In verses 5-6, we see David resting before the battle even though he is outnumbered. David's trust is in God. Peter writes,

 

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 

We all have worries and anxieties. We can't do everything. We can't solve every problem. We need to bring all of our concerns to him, trust, and then rest.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I struggle sleeping because I am thinking of all the things I need to do?
2. Do I involve God in my day?

 

PRAYER: Father, I give you this day and the days ahead. There is much happening and I need to trust you in this time. Please take care of all the things and help me to live a life of service to you.

QT 6/8/2022 Psalm 2:7-12, Submitting to Jesus' Lordship

Psalm 2:7–12 (ESV) — 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

 

NOTE: This is why the nations rage and the people plot -- they do not want to kiss the Son. The phrase is used as in 'submission to his Lordship.' Jesus has already received rod of iron.

 

Revelation 2:27 (ESV) — 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

 

The day is coming and the scoffers need beware. "When is his day of coming?" is the question of the fool. The proof is in the resurrection and the many eyewitness accounts and eyewitnesses who went to their death rather than deny the truth of the resurrection. I'm not talking second generation martyrs -- Lord knows Islam owns that market -- I'm pointing to the first generation eyewitnesses, and Christianity owns that market completely. No one who knew Mohammed died for him, unless they were attacking trade caravans for profit and got killed in the process. But all the men and women who knew Jesus were willing to face death than deny the resurrection. The accounts are recorded in multiple books of the New Testament by eyewitnesses. The resurrection story is exactly as one might expect eyewitnesses to recount an event. It is not exact, but it is exact enough to piece together the events. It does not contradict itself to the honest investigator. Examine the truth and submit (kiss the Son) before it is too late.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly believe or am I a scoffer at heart?

 

PRAYER: Father, the evil one attacks us often and would weaken our faith. He uses the world to attack our beliefs. We need to remain strong and trust your word. We need to question the so-called settled science of the worldview. The enemy has blinded so many. Keep our minds free and open to truth.

QT 6/7/2022 Psalm 2:1-6, Knowing God will cure the rage

Psalm 2:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

 

NOTE: Why do the nations rage? Why do the peoples plot? Because we are still in rebellion. We did rebel in the garden, and we continue to rebel against God's call to return. "Repent and believe," God has said repeatedly. He desires for us to return to him. He is still sovereign although he has given some control to his creatures. Why do we so want to be apart from God? Why do we love our sin so much? Why are we so foolish? The rich evil men of this world can spend fortunes on destroying every visage of God, but they can't rid of the earth of God. It is hard to kick against the goads. We were created by him for purpose. We will never enjoy life until we find our real purpose. Life will only hurt until we repent, return, and believe in the Son. The degree of our rage is the degree to which we do not know the savior. Even the believer needs to grow in knowledge of the savior. Peace comes with knowing Him.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I really know my God?
2. Is my life full of rage, whining, anger, and disappointment? Maybe I do not know God.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank  you that you give peace to your children. The degree to which we spend time with you is the degree to which our lives are changed to be like you. And with transformation, comes peace.

QT 6/6/2022 Psalm 1, Blessing comes from truth

Psalm 1:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

NOTE: Blessed -- I think that is the desire of every believer in Christ, to be blessed by God. Everything else pales in comparison to the blessing of God. Even hard times and attacks can be endured when we are blessed. What is "blessed?" It is an inner sense of acceptance by God, confidence in God, peace from God, and joy in knowing God. Financially, it may mean nothing, although many saints have enjoyed both abundance and want. Ultimately, it is that hole in our soul that has been healed and closed. There are three necessary conditions. One, we don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. This is the culture's worldview of how one should live life and it is in opposition to God. Two, we don't stand in the way of sinners. We don't take pride in sin. We don't exalt our sin but we recognize our shame at disobeying the commands of our creator. Third, we don't sit with scoffers. This is the worst of the three and seems to leave some question as to whether the individual even believes if the person scoffs at truth. It is okay to question. It is even good. But scoffing is different -- it denies without truly knowing or wanting to know truth.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my intake? What do I listen to? Where do I develop my philosophy of life, from the world or from God's word?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we could experience your blessing. I pray we would wash our souls in the word of God and allow it to penetrate deeply and change who we are. Protect us from the world and its lies.

QT 6/2/2022 Matt 28:11-15, The "real" great lie

Matthew 28:11–15 (ESV) — 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

 

NOTE: The story, perpetuated by the Jews, authenticates a couple of facts, one, that the body truly was missing, and two, that the soldiers lied, since it would be fatal for a soldier to admit falling asleep on guard duty. Additionally, this passage seems to indicate that the soldiers were Roman soldiers temporarily assigned to the temple guard to bolster their numbers (since they had their normal guard assignments, and now an additional facility to guard for a few days). Otherwise, if they were not Roman soldiers they would have had no fear of the governor Pilate. Not only did some people believe this story, but some still do today. Others believe in a swoon theory, where Jesus never died. But none of those stories explain why eleven disciples would rather face death, torture, or life imprisonment than to deny the resurrection. And not only them, but many of the other 500 eyewitnesses of the resurrection. It is a peculiar faith that some deny the historical accounts of the resurrection.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly believe in the resurrection, or am I only religious? And how does my life show my belief in the resurrection?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for my new life in Christ. He is alive and I will someday receive a new body as well, and will be free of this body of sin and pain.

QT 6/1/2022 Matt 28:9-10, Jesus is my brother

Matthew 28:9–10 (ESV) — 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

 

NOTE: Blomberg says that this is the only time in the gospels where Jesus calls his disciples 'brothers.' He uses the word 'brothers' often in other contexts, but not in direct relationship between himself and his disciples. It certainly indicates a very positive tone to the disciples who had all abandoned him only a few days ago. It also indicates that they had faith prior to Pentecost. The scriptures are not teaching that receiving the Holy Spirit is different from believing unto salvation, because the giving of the Holy Spirit the first time specifically fell on a Jewish feast. That feast, Pentecost, was remembered for the giving of the law in the old covenant. This new day, Pentecost, is when the Holy Spirit comes and the new covenant based on grace starts. The significance is important. Paul explains in Ephesians that the Spirit seals a new believer upon believing, not in a second baptism. There are other examples of the Spirit coming later, but they are one-time and significant historically for the Samaritan's Pentecost, and the Gentile's Pentecost (both with Peter).

 

PONDER:

1. If I have truly believe in Jesus and what he did for me on the cross to secure my salvation, then I have been born again, and I have the Holy Spirit within me, and I am his brother. Do I realize my privilege?

 

PRAYER: Father and Lord, thank you for the privilege of being a member of the family of God. I am undeserving on my own, but because of Jesus' sacrifice, I am worthy. Thank you.