July 19, 2017
There is a short window of time for teaching children obedience. During this time there is hope that parental discipline might become the child’s own self-discipline. It may seem a lot of work to discipline a child of ages 2 through 6, but it becomes nearly hopeless for the parent who waits until they are 12 through 16 before starting to correct their behavior. Chasten a child while they are young and when they are older, they will have learned to respect and obey. And be certain to aim past the behavior to the heart. For the child is more tenderhearted than the teen. Teach the child about sin, repentance, and forgiveness through Jesus. For the child is more receptive to spiritual things than the adult. Do this important parental work while there is still hope.
July 18, 2017
The Lord looks. The Lord sees. The psalmist uses anthropomorphic language to describe the Lord’s intense interest in humanity. Some men may doubt God’s existence, but the Lord knows all things about man. He looks at the heart. He searches for those that search for Him.
As God has said, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).
July 17, 2017
Our best attempts at being righteous through religiosity, self-denial and good works cannot justify us before God. This takes away all human boasting, for humanity is steeped in sin and beyond saving itself. Yet, God has provided a Savior, which is Christ Jesus the Lord. The one who “believes on Him” is made just in God’s sight. The believer’s faith is counted as righteousness by God, for it depends on the righteousness of Christ, rather than his own.
Stop working and believe. Rest in Christ’s work.
July 16, 2017
David not only provided the materials and plans for the building of the Temple, he also organized the Levites for its service. Among those he set apart were 4,000 he chose for praising the Lord with musical instruments which were made according to his instruction.
David was a well known musician and song writer himself. He wrote most of the 150 psalms we have in our Bible. He included inscriptions at the beginning of many of his psalms for the musicians who would perform them. For instance, today’s One Year Bible psalm reading, Psalm 12, instructs the Chief Musician to have it played “on an eight-stringed harp.”
David’s vision for worship was all-encompassing. He planned and provided for every detail, including the musicians, instruments and even the songs they would perform. Yet, he never saw his dream fulfilled. He left it all in the hands of his son, Solomon to accomplish.
Although the Lord didn’t allow David to build the Temple, He was David’s inspiration for planning it. Even the songs and musical instruments that David made were echoes of heaven’s worship that David heard from the Spirit that anointed him.
July 15, 2017
Paul wrote that the outward signs of Judaism were inadequate for proving their faith. What matters is the inner life, the circumcision of the heart. For “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). This principle is also true for the one who would claim to be a Christian. It’s implications are:
– Outward religion is less important than inner relationship. Have you become a child of God through faith in Christ?
This means that…
– Being born into a Christian family does not make us so.
– Baptism without heart change will not save.
– Profession of faith through creed or prayer alone will not save.
– Church attendance and generosity alone will not save.
As Jesus said, “You must be born again of the Spirit” (John 3:5). Have you received Jesus as Lord and Savior, so that you are born again by His Spirit?
July 14, 2017
Don’t let the richness of God’s goodness, the apparent way that He seems to let those who continue in sin still prosper, and His patience towards evildoers in this world, lull you into doubting His existence. Or worse, despising Him as unjust because He does not judge sin immediately. For it is His goodness that should soften your heart and bring you to repentance, changing your mind on self-rule and surrendering your will to His. And it is His forbearance and patience that should cause your heart to tremble because He is storing up His wrath for the Day of judgment. For God is loving and good, but He is also holy and just. Repent therefore, and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, that you might be forgiven and be accepted on that Day.
July 13, 2017
These two verses come from the psalm of thanksgiving that David instructed Asaph and the Levite singers to sing during the procession of the Ark to its new home in Jerusalem. David was not only a good king, he was a good worship service planner.
The first stanza invites all the earth to sing to the Lord. The next instructs his saints to proclaim the gospel (“good news”) every day. The third and fourth stanzas instruct the saints to declare God’s “glory” and “wonders” among every nation and people. Reading this, one can see the continuity of David’s song and Christ’s Great Commission, namely, to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
What a wonderful worship service David planned for the Ark’s arrival in its new home! And what a worship service the Lord plans for us when we arrive home with Him!
July 12, 2017
After Saul died, all Israel came together to make David their king. At this time, David consulted with leaders from every tribe to get their advice about bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and inviting all Israel to gather together for the occasion. The assembly gladly approved the idea. So David invited Israelites from as far South as “Shihor in Egypt” (“Shihor,” meaning “black,” was another name for the Nile River), and as far North as “Hamath” (A city located deep in modern Syria called “Hama”), which at that time was a possession of Israel.
David had the Ark brought from “Kirjath Jearim,” the place where it had rested for 20 years, since its capture and return by the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:1-2). Unlike king Saul, David wanted the Ark nearby, that he might inquire of the Lord, something that Saul had not done.
King David’s first act as king revealed his heart for the Lord and his wisdom for uniting the twelve tribes into one nation.
July 11, 2017
David was God’s man, but he was also a man’s man. There was something about his heart that the Lord would anoint him king. And something about his manner that made men of action want to follow him. He was an amalgamation of such eclectic talent and passion, rarely found in one man. He was both a song-writer and a stone-slinger, a man of words and a man of war, a gentle lover and a giant-killer, a musician and a mighty warrior, he was the shepherd king and even mighty men would follow him anywhere.
David was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah. The one who would be both Lion of Judah and Lamb of Jehovah. The one who was lifted up on the cross that He might “draw all men” to Himself (John 12:32). Those who follow Him as King are made His “mighty men” and mighty women today.
July 10, 2017
Another way of reading this proverb might be: “A man may have many fair-weathered ‘friends,’ but it is rare to have one who remains for him when trouble comes.”
Such a friend is rare indeed, for he “sticks closer” than his own family. Jesus is such a friend. As He told his disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus demonstrated this love when He died for us on the cross. O, what a Friend we have in Jesus!