From: November 28, 2023
“Lord, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions” (Psalms 119:126 NLT).
The psalmist saw the people of the world becoming more and more rebellious, ignoring the law of God. He called on the Lord to take action. This call was made especially acute by the fact that Psalm 119 was written as an ode to God’s Word. Usually ascribed to David as its author, it is said that he wrote the acrostic poem to teach his son the Hebrew alphabet, while also instilling in him a love for God’s Word. As the longest of the 150 psalms, it stands at the center of the Bible as a banner for the beauty and perfection of the Word of God.
The psalmist saw the law of God that he loved, being “violated.” He felt it was time for God to do something about it. But he need not have been concerned. For God’s Word never comes up empty. As the Lord told the prophet Isaiah, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please. And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).
God’s people today may often feel as David did, that it is time for the Lord to act. Yet the Lord’s timing is His own. For as the apostle Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
The truth is the Lord has already acted and continues to act. He acted when He sent His only Son, Jesus, to give His life as a ransom. He is acting now to draw us to Himself by the Spirit of Christ. And He will ultimately act on that Day when Jesus returns. The Lord’s activity and timing are His own. And they are governed by His perfect love and righteousness.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we wonder as David did whether it is time for You to act, O Lord. Consider the state of the world, of our nation, even our city. Consider the utter disregard that people seem to have for Your Word. They treat it as if it were mere myth, as if it were without power. Yet, we love Your Word. We believe Your Word. We know that the timing is Yours, but even so, Lord, come quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 28, 2022
THE WRITING ON THE WALL
King Belshazzar of Babylon gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels from the treasury that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. He and his nobles partied, praising the gods of silver and gold as they drank from Jerusalem’s Temple goblets. It was at that moment that a disembodied hand appeared, writing on the wall. The drunken king was immediately sober with fear. The prophet Daniel was summoned to read the unreadable script, which warned Belshazzer of his imminent demise.
Daniel reminded the king that he had witnessed the humbling of his forebearer, Nebuchadnezzar, yet he had not humbled himself before God. Instead, he had proudly defied the Lord, even drinking from the sacred cups.
This was not Belshazzer’s first warning. He had surely heard the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar concerning the greatness and righteousness of God. Yet, he did not repent. He should have known what was in store for him. Especially, after he saw the “writing on the wall.”
Thus, we have the saying to this day, He should’ve seen the “writing on the wall.” In other words, Belshazzar knew better. He knew about the Lord, yet failed to honor Him.
I wonder. What will it take for the people of the world today to see the writing on the wall?
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks this day for all of Your many blessings. For You are full of grace and love toward us, withholding no good thing, but always giving us what we need to live for You. Yet, we see the human pride and rebellion in our world today against You. Bring revival to our land and give us a holy boldness to speak Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: November 28, 2016
The apostle Peter wrote his second letter to awaken believers to an unclouded understanding of the faith. In chapter 2, he warned them to keep their eyes open for false teachers that would invariably try to creep into the flock. As Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matt. 7:15). Persecution and trouble from without is challenging enough, but false teachers that attack from within may actually cause the most destruction. What are some signs of false teaching according to Peter: 1) “Denying” the divinity and lordship of Christ (v.1), 2) Overt sensuality or pursuit of the flesh (v.2), 3) Greedy exploitation of the flock for personal gain (v.3). What is the best way to stay alert to false teaching? Stay in the Word! By knowing the genuine, we guard against the counterfeit.
From: November 28, 2015
Who is in an “entangled” and “worse” condition? Understanding this verse means identifying who “they” are. There are two choices: The false teachers (2:1) that Peter has been describing or those that the false teachers “allure” (2:18). The description that “they” have “escaped” through the “knowledge” of Jesus points to the latter. These are immature believers who have been enticed back into a life of sin. How is their latter state worse? Is it because they have lost their salvation. Peter does not say this. Instead, he describes them as miserable and muddied, like a dog who returns to its vomit or a pig who returns to the mud. Unlike the unbeliever, who lives in ignorance, they wallow in sin having known better, yet once again “overcome” by it.
From: November 28, 2014
Some bounce from job to job and deal to deal looking for their big break. Others keep their head down and work with what they have. The former often end up empty while the latter prosper. Be thankful and get busy with what you have now.