Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Sanctification’ Category

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

D12M, Ways of the Wicked

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

In Psalm 1:1, the psalmist lists three ways of the wicked to be avoided: “counsel…path…seat.”

Counsel is the advice or wisdom of the wicked, and therefore of the world. Walking in their counsel means that you have more than heard it or considered it. It means you are heeding it and have more than your toe dipped in this way. If you are day and night meditating on God’s Word, I cannot see how you would get past the considering and rejecting it phase.

Path or way is the rut or habit that sinners run in. We should not even stand there, let alone walk or run there. Keep your way far from that way, even if you must bushwack across country to avoid it. In reality, however, heed “Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.”” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Seat is a place of repose. In their self-satisfied, self-important perspective, scoffers mock the righteous and anyone who would dare to seek for truth. Do not take up your repose nor linger in their presence, but rather run out of earshot.

Read Full Post »

D10E, “Law of the LORD*”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Law of the LORD has several nuanced meanings referring to the total body of God’s commands and instruction, to the narrower part of that body-the Pentateuch or first five books of the Moses, or simply the Ten Commandments. When God commanded Joshua to meditate on “the book of the law”, it undoubtably meant the five books of Moses. By the time of the psalmist, it would have included the histories of Joshua and Judges and perhaps some part of the Samuels and Chronicles.

Among its many purposes, the law reveals God’s righteousness and our wickedness, God’s will and our resistance to it, the way of life and of death, and points us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25). We have so much more in the canon of God’s completed revelation, and by the Holy Spirit we are enabled to fulfill the works of the law (Romans 8:3-4). We are no longer under the curse of the law, but the law of liberty or law of Christ (James 1:25, Galatians 3:13, 6:2). These direct us. The New Covenant law is not different than the Old Covenant moral law in content, only deeper as it includes matters of the heart- intentions. We may and should meditate on the Law of the LORD both day and night so that “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:6, KJV)

*LORD- YHWH (Yahweh), the I AM (self-existent) covenant keeping God

Read Full Post »

D10M, Cart or Horse?

Posted in Blessing, Faith, God's Law, God's Word, Gospel, Grace, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Psalm 1 lays out an overview of the characteristics of the righteous and the wicked. Do the characteristics listed in verses 1-3 make a man righteous or do those made righteous do these things?

Verse six says, “The Lord knows (approves, has regard to (1)) the way of the righteous.” Does that mean that the sinner is saved by keeping the law or that the one declared righteous lives rightly and is approved?

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) Are these two passages contradictory, or were Old Testament saints saved by a different means than we are today?

No, these two passages agree but one speaks of cause and the other effect. God saved by the same means in the Old Testament. In Habakkuk 2:4 the Lord says to the prophet, “Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.” God is referring to those who would judge Israel, as He said, “I am raising up the Chaldeans.” (Habakkuk 1:6) But anyone is a “proud one” who seeks to make his own way apart from God, so He states how one lives (is saved, justified, continues)- by faith.

The whole of Scripture agrees: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) Works is excluded (Romans 3:27-28). So where do works come in? They are the effect, or result. Those made righteous by “grace… through faith” will demonstrate it by their works (James 2:18-26).

  1. NASB 1995 center notes

Read Full Post »

D9M, “Blessed”

Posted in Blessing, General, God's Law, God's Word, Joy, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Blessed is the man who does not…does” (Psalm 1:1,3)

Blessed in a biblical sense is to be “granted special favor by God resulting in joy and prosperity.” (1) That it is granted clearly shows that this blessedness results from God’s grace. The Hebrew word is “baruch” meaning “to increase (in joy, in peacefulness)” (2)

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’

So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”

(Numbers 6:22-26) God commanded the priests through Moses to speak this blessing over the Israelites. God has the intention of blessing His people, and more so those who delight in Him.

“It [blessing] bestows on a person the honor of experiencing God’s presence, His care and His favor.” (2)

The word “How” (v.1) emphasizes the overwhelming extent of the blessing. I want Your presence, care, and favor in my life, Lord.

  1. biblestudytools.com/blessing/
  2. firmisrael.org/learn/the-hebrew-meaning-of-blessed/

Read Full Post »

D8E, “Day and Night”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)

How often do I forget You, Lord? How few and how shallow are my thoughts about You? How selfish and self-absorbed are my thoughts and utilitarian and pragmatic requests of You?

I want to be more consumed by thoughts of You and Your Word so that my every reaction and intention pleases You and is guided by You.

Joshua and elders of Israel did not inquire of the Lord concerning Ai. (Joshua 7) So many times I have not inquired of God, or I thought or said that I was when I was interjecting my own desires. Guard me, O Lord, from presumptuous thoughts and actions by giving me a desire and habit of meditating in Your Word day and night and acting accordingly.

Read Full Post »

D7M, “Seat of Scoffers”

Posted in Blessing, General, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , on January 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Blessed is the man who does not… sit in the seat of scoffers.” (Psalm 1:1)

What is the problem causes one to be a scoffer and what is the result? “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling (a fall, KJV).” (Proverbs 16:18) Perhaps that is the reason that they stay seated. In reality, I think they are armchair quarterbacks for life. “They continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people…” (2 Chronicles 36:16) But life is no game, and neither is scoffing. “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.” (Proverbs 9:8) “…if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” (Proverbs 9:12) There are many such judgments proclaimed upon scoffers in Proverbs. Not merely wicked action is judged but also wicked, proud, derisive speech is an abomination to God that portends a bad end for scoffers. Jesus suffered at the hands and mouths of scoffers, as Luke 18:32 says, “He…will be mocked and mistreated.” He patiently bore their abuse “yet He did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) While witnessing to others, I must share in His suffering by not reacting to their abuse other than with love and truth. It is a balancing act, because I must discern when to “not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6) Do not be surprised by such treatment because “in the last days mockers will come…” (2 Peter 3:3).

Read Full Post »

D5M, “Blessed”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I can’t get enough of this “blessed” idea.

Consider the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12: “Blessed are [the righteous]…for…kingdom of heaven…comforted…inherit the earth…satisfied…receive mercy…see God…sons of God…kingdom of God reward in heaven is great.” And “everyone who has left…for My sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29) It is inescapable from Psalm 1, these verses, and many others that the blessing of prospering will include physical, mental, and spiritual elements even though Scripture teaches that we are not earning God’s blessing and we will experience loss, too.

Read Full Post »

D4E2 (1), “Prospers”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“In whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

Just a few ways the righteous prosper:

“He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

He will give you “length of days…and peace.” (Proverbs 3:2)  

“You will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:4)

“Healing…and refreshment” (Proverbs 3:8) are yours.

Physical prosperity by way of “barns…filled.” (Proverbs 3:10) This is not Prosperity Gospel. The Christian will have trials and “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

And some of the difficulty comes from God for our good through “trials…testing of your faith produces endurance…[so that you are] lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) And “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11)

Regardless of the good or bad, Jesus says, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20), so that “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

  1. Day 4 Evening #2 Entry: I forgot that I had already written reflection on that evening and wrote again later.

Read Full Post »

D4E, “He Does”

Posted in Blessing, Faith, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“In whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

“He does” denotes an active faith over a conceptual one. “Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:20) The “effectual doer” is “blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

Know the Word, do the Word, and be blessed by and through the Word.

Read Full Post »

D4M, “Whatever”

Posted in Blessing, Delights, God's Law, God's Word, Joy, Piety, Sanctification on January 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“In whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

But of course, his “whatever” is formed, informed, directed and constrained by his delight and meditation upon Bod’s law. As in Psalm 37:4-5,

“Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

The desires of my heart and God’s accomplishing of it proceeds from my delighting in Him and committing my way to Him. We are on the same page, or far more accurately, I am on His page, and He is pleased to delight His child.

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