Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for January, 2024

What shall we call it, careless following?

Posted in Consequences, Implications, Obedience, Piety, tagged , , on January 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Even in the midst of victory through repentance and calling upon God written about in 1 Samuel 4, I see so much ignorance about God and His ways. it is not the obvious foolishness that lost the ark to the Philistines (1) or the evil neglect and conduct of Eli and his sons (2), nor even the “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25) syndrome of the era between Joshua and Samuel. This is somewhat more subtle. Why is the ark at Abinadab’s house for 20 years and Israel pining after God rather than erecting the tabernacle and having the Levites install it there? I s Abinadab a Levite?

In our freedom in Christ and nonchalant worship and careless piety and overconfidence in our knowledge of God and our arrogance in “speaking things into existence”, what blessing, victory, and influence are we missing? What 1 Samuel 8 (3) scenario are we failing to avoid in our self-assurance and lack of seeking God’s counsel and following what He has already prescribed and warned about in His Word? (4)

  1. 1 Samuel 5
  2. 1 Samuel 2:22ff
  3. “Give us a king to judge us.” 1 Samuel 8:6
  4. Example: How the ark should be carried: Numbers 1:50, 2 Samuel 6:6-8, 1 Chronicles 15:2

Read Full Post »

Nostalgic Snow Day

Posted in General, Hike, Memories, Nature, Outdoors, Photo, Reminiscence, tagged , , , , on January 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Halfway through high school I took up backpacking with my older brother’s friend. We hiked quite regularly all through my senior year of high school, 4 years of college, and for a few years declining frequency into my marriage. Most of our trips were one, two, or three nights. Though we always intended to go longer, we never did go longer than 6 nights. Even so, two nights is enough to clear your head and your lungs. Carrying a pack weighing between 30 and 45 pounds up and down steep grades is challenging. Our packs tended to be on the heavier side because we preferred to hike in winter and carry our own tent. We could have cut a few pounds, but equipment was not as light then as now. I have spent many years and many miles day hiking since my 20’s but very few nights out since then. After our backpacking days, our families spent some time together camping and visiting for nearly a decade but various things in our lives over the years drew us apart.

Today the business I work for was shut down for snow. I arose late and had a leisurely day about the house with my wife, only going out for an afternoon walk in the snow. Midmorning I received a message from my old backpacking buddy. He sent a picture of three fresh faced young men in full gear at the beginning of the trail smiling for our pre-trail photo. Check it out at “Old Backpacking Memories.”

Read Full Post »

D21E, The Result

Posted in Blessing, Faith, God's Law, God's Word, Grace, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I will have to practice by repeating Psalm 1 in order to retain it, but I have memorized it in the process of these 21 days. Reading and reflecting for 21 days has deepened my resolve to focus more on God and His Word. In context, the Scripture says, “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”” (1) (Galatians 3:18) A desire for God’s law and the totality of His Word is not the way of salvation but a result of it. The righteous are and will be known by these things, but salvation is by grace through faith. This grace separates the saved from the unbelieving lost, resulting in righteousness or wickedness.

I hope that you have benefited even a fraction of the amount that I have from doing this 21-day Psalm 1 Challenge. In some respects, I did it twice, because I read and journaled last month and clarified and deepened it to present to you this month.

  1. Habakkuk 2:4

Read Full Post »

D21M, The Law Fulfilled

Posted in God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , on January 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Many would say that we should not even be talking about the Law since we are not under it any longer. Of course, the Law and some of the Prophets were all that the psalmist who wrote Psalm 1 had, but we would now say the Word of God which includes all 66 books. Should we ignore the Law as New Testament Christians?

What does Jesus say on the subject? “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

The Law has relevance for living, but it also has significance for understanding and belief. “Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,” (Luke 24:44-45)

Christ fulfilled the Law. We are free from its penalty and the ceremonial and civil components, but the moral law is being fulfilled as the Spirit works within us (Romans 8:1-4). This is all accomplished by the Incarnate Christ who died and rose and reigns, whose 1st Advent we celebrate this day (1).

  1. Originally written on 12/25/23

Read Full Post »

D20E, In and Through

Posted in Blessing, Psalm 1, Work of Jesus, tagged , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It is in and through Jesus Christ that men and women are made righteous and blessed. We love and pursue Him because He first loved and pursued us.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:2-4

  1. 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:6-11

Read Full Post »

D20M, Similar?

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Judgment, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How are the righteous and wicked similar? Both are created by and accountable to their Creator (1). Being made in their Creator’s image with a spirit, they will exist for eternity (2). Both of them have fallen, sin natures, and are therefore under God’s wrath (3). They can hear the Word of God and are responsible for what they hear (4). They both have knowledge of God’s existence, nature, and power through what is created (5). Both have sinned and deserve hell (6). The sun and rain fall on both (5), an indication of common grace.

  1. Ephesians 3:9, Romans 3:19
  2. Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 25:46
  3. Ephesians 2:3
  4. Romans 10:18
  5. Romans 1:20
  6. Romans 3:23, 6:23
  7. Mathew 5:45

Read Full Post »

D19E, Where are you standing?

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Influence, Psalm 1, Witness, tagged , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“…nor does not stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1)

“Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) What level of association with unbelievers is corrupting? Does it have to do with the intentions for Gospel witness or the watchfulness or the agreement on the part of the unbeliever to avoid crude action and speech? Marriage and business covenants are precluded by 2 Corinthians 6:14, but are friendships and shared recreational, education, or political pursuits also disallowed?

“They themselves are in the world” and “I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:11,18) “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) So, we associate with the worldly ones because Jesus sent us for the purpose of witnessing to them by our lives and words. We are not to associate with those claiming to be believers whose life denies it- hypocrites. But out associations must be measured and careful because “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Believers, check your intentions and any changes that may creep in and hear the counsel of fellow believers if they perceive you bending to the ways of the world.

Read Full Post »

D19M, Re-evaluate

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Re-evaluate what counsel you walk in. Does it claim to be wise only to really be worldly wise? Does it claim to be biblical when in reality it is tainted by cultural thinking and tradition? Does it claim to be Christian though wrapped in secular theory, education, or psychology? Does it claim to be healthy and profitable but turns out to only be the schemes of man? It is not enough to stand still and be a spectator with regards to counsel. Walk in God’s counsel found in God’s Word, meditating on it and praying for good application of it for your circumstances. May God help us to hear the “voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” (Revelation18:4)

Read Full Post »

D18M, Two Options

Posted in Faith, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

There are no more than two options, two types of people, righteous and wicked. There are no disinterested or OK or “good people” or as yet undecided or ignorant. And even if you fancied yourself in one of these categories, you are no longer. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

God saves all of those who come to Him, who trust Him to save them from their sin.

Read Full Post »

D18E, “Therefore”

Posted in Consequences, General, God's Law, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Therefore” Psalm 1:5

Not because “they are like chaff” (v.4). That is a metaphor the result of their conduct and belief, not the cause. They shall not “stand in the judgment…” (v.5), because they do not delight in God’s law (v.2), and therefore not in Him or His salvation. God said, “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, a people who continually provoke Me to My face.” (Isaiah 65:2-3a) “…They refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.” (Jeremiah 5:3) “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.” (Zechariah 7:11) God’s wrath upon them is fully justified and justice demands it, because of their refusal to listen or believe in God and their participation in evil. (v.1)

Read Full Post »

D17E, Hide His Word

Posted in Blessing, Delights, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness on January 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I have two sons who can memorize long dialogues in movies by just watching it several times. I am not so gifted. However, if you repeat something long and often enough, it eventually sticks. This day I realized that I had memorized a bit more than the first three verses of Psalm 1.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. For he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so.” Psalm 1:1-4a

Read Full Post »

D17M, “Delight”

Posted in Blessing, Delights, God Thoughts, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 1:2)

It is not enough to not “walk…stand…[or]sit” (v.1) in wickedness. We need God and His Word daily. And because it is a relationship, apathy or lack of passion cools or destroys the relationship. Where is your delight? Perhaps a better question, which delight(s) are you developing?

Read Full Post »

D16E, Contrasting Ways

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , , on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The whole of Psalm 1 is about contrasting ways. One establishes, blesses, makes righteous and eternal the traveler. The other brings death, that is, separation from God, the righteous, life, and blessing. The starkness of the contrast is meant to warn the sinner and saint away from the one and toward the other, for their good.

Read Full Post »

D15E, “Scoffing”

Posted in God's Law, God's Word, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

What is scoffing but saying with derisive passion that it is not so? (1) And about what are they scoffing? Is it not about the truth of God’s Word, the veracity of His promises, the wonder of His grace, the miracles of His workings, the condition of man, the hope of salvation, and the wisdom of living a godly life?

“A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, he will not go to the wise.” (Proverbs 15:12)

“Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and blows for the back of fools.” (Proverbs 19:29)

“Drive out the scoffer and contentions will go out, even strife and dishonor will cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)

  1. Dictionary definition- “contemptuously ridiculing or mocking someone or something”

Read Full Post »

D15M, Wicked Counsel

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1)

Is wicked counsel limited to those actively pursuing evil, or does it include seemingly benign culture wisdom like “it’s just the way its always been done.”

Jephthah of Judges 11 was desperate and vowed a foolish thing when he tried to buy God off instead of resolving to serve Him all of his life. David could not give up numbering the people even when warned not to (2 Samuel 24), and he had the ark carried on a cart (1 Chronicles 13). These seemed like the thing to do but people were killed because of them. And so, it was with Joshua and the elders who only sent a few thousand men to fight at Ai without inquiring of the Lord (Joshua 7). Had they inquired, God would have showed them Achan’s sin. More people lost their lives. Let us take heed not to walk in the counsel of wicked, be it ever so benign, passive, or non-threatening. Walk in God’s counsel watching, waiting, and inquiring of the Lord.

Read Full Post »

D14E, Rooted in the Source

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Metaphor, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“He will be like a tree firmly planted…in whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

The psalmist moves smoothly into and out of the metaphor, transitioning from he to tree and tree to he. It all points to the righteous prospering. Why does he prosper? In the metaphor, the tree prospers because it is rooted in the Source, the Living (flowing) Water of Life. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that the water He gives prevents thirst and springs up to eternal life (John4:14). The righteous man rooted in this Source is in a perpetual state of fruitfulness, undeterred growth, and prosperous activity.

Read Full Post »

D14M, “Path”

Posted in General, Judgment, tagged , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Nor stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1)

The path or way of a man speaks of more than habit, procedure, lifestyle, or perspective. It is the very course of his life. Therefore, it will perish with him. The righteous, declared so by God, are under the blood of Christ, a strong umbrella shielding them from the wrath of God. The wicked are out in the open, unprotected from God’s judgment. God cares and He wants us to care, too: “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, oh hold them back.” (Proverbs 24:11)

Read Full Post »

D13E, “Not Stand”

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Judgment, tagged , , on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The wicked will not stand in the judgment.” (Psalm 1:5)

“Not stand” is a metaphor perishing, being destroyed, or falling when The Judgment comes. And if you are not in the assembly of the righteous, then you are delegated to the assembly of the wicked with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

Read Full Post »

D13M, “By Streams of Water”

Posted in Blessing, General, Grace, Sustaining, tagged , , , on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.” (Psalm 1:3)

God fully supplies the needs of His own with an overflowing abundance. Do you suffer, particularly for His cause and as a believer? Yes, but even then He provides comfort, confidence, and purpose. Tap into the Source that never runs dry.

Read Full Post »

D12E, At Odds

Posted in Blessing, God's Word, Implications, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Psalm 1:1- “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, not stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.” “wicked…sinners…scoffers.”

In regard to intention, action, and speech, these people are at odds with and God and man. Their counsel is destructive; their way is away from God; their conversation is demeaning, if not degrading.

It occurs to me after making these statements, that frequently these people seem to be nice, helpful, well educated, and well-spoken, but spiritually their conduct may simultaneously be destructive, away from God, and demeaning.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

Myrela

Art, health, civilizations, photography, nature, books, recipes, etc.

Overflows from the Heart

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…" Matthew 15:18

CreatorWorship

Pointing to the One who made, saved, and sustains