relationships (Psalm 48:1-14) Having a Positive Outlook

(Psalm 48:1-14)   Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised 

     In the city of our God, His holy mountain.
2   Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
     Is Mount Zion in the far north,
     The city of the great King.
3   In its palaces,
     God has made Himself known as a stronghold.

4   For, behold, the kings arrived,
     They passed by together.
5   They saw it, then they were amazed;
     They were terrified, they fled in a hurry.
6   Panic seized them there,
     Anguish, as that of a woman in childbirth.
7   With the east wind 
     You smash the ships of Tarshish.
8   Just as we have heard, so have we seen 
     In the city of the Lord of armies, in the city of our God;
     God will establish her forever. Selah 

9   We have thought over Your goodness, God,
     In the midst of Your temple.
10 As is Your name, God,
     So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
     Your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Mount Zion shall be glad,
     The daughters of Judah shall rejoice 
     Because of Your judgments.
12 Walk around Zion and encircle her;
     Count her towers;
13 Consider her ramparts;
     Go through her palaces,
     So that you may tell of her to the next generation.
14 For such is God,
     Our God forever and ever;
     He will lead us until death.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God is faithful in leading His children in His righteousness.  We can see how God looked after His people in the past, we can see how He does so right now, so we can know that He will in the future.  To think about and remember His goodness helps us to be thankful and confident in the Lord.  It also helps us to be ready to praise the Lord and tell other people the good news.  

When we focus on God's goodness and righteousness, our outlook on life will be more positive and encouraging to ourselves as well as to others.  It is God who works in our hearts so He can work through us.  Therefore, let us remember to clothe ourselves everyday with Jesus' faithful righteousness.

relationships (Psalm 4:1-8) The Greatest Blessings

(Psalm 4:1-8)  Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness!

     You have relieved me in my distress;
     Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2   You sons of man, how long will my honor be treated as an insult?
     How long will you love what is worthless and strive for a lie?  Selah
3   But know that the Lord has set apart the godly person for Himself;
     The Lord hears when I call to Him.

4   Tremble, and do not sin;
     Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah
5   Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
     And trust in the Lord.

6   Many are saying, “Who will show us anything good?”
     Lift up the light of Your face upon us, Lord!
7   You have put joy in my heart,
     More than when their grain and new wine are abundant.
8   In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
     For You alone, Lord, have me dwell in safety.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

These few verses are amazing and so encouraging, with a very strong message of salvation, fulfillment, clear guidance, (spiritual) nourishment, healing, protection, peace and joy!!  I love how David calls the Lord, "the God of my righteousness".  And verses 4 and 5 gives us the prescription of how to live in His righteousness and enjoy all of these blessings of His, in a personal relationship with Him.

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness!"  This aligns with the Bible verses that tell us to humble our hearts, deny ourselves, and pick up our cross and follow Jesus, love and pursue the Lord, learn and understand His words, as well as to clothe ourselves with the righteousness of Jesus.  When we truly trust in the Lord, we will strive to be obedient (with His help), not because we have to but because we want to... because we understand that what He wants for our lives will bring about the best outcomes and the greatest blessings and an even closer relationship with Him.

relationships (Job 29:1-31:40) Finding Inner Peace

(Job 29:1-25)  Job again took up his discourse and said,

2  “Oh that I were as in months gone by,
     As in the days when God watched over me;
3   When His lamp shone over my head,
     And by His light I walked through darkness;
4   Just as I was in the days of my youth,
     When the protection of God was over my tent;
5   When the Almighty was still with me,
     And my children were around me;
6   When my steps were bathed in cream,
     And the rock poured out streams of oil for me!
7   When I went out to the gate of the city,
     When I took my seat in the public square,
8   The young men saw me and hid themselves,
     And the old men arose and stood.
9   The leaders stopped talking
     And put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voices of the prominent people were hushed,
     And their tongues stuck to their palates.
11 For when an ear heard, it called me blessed,
     And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me,
12 Because I saved the poor who cried for help,
     And the orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me,
     And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
     My justice was like a robe and a headband.
15 I was eyes to those who were blind,
     And feet to those who could not walk.
16 I was a father to the poor,
     And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked
     And rescued the prey from his teeth.
18 Then I thought, ‘I will die with my family,
     And I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters,
     And dew lies on my branch all night.
20 My glory is ever new with me,
     And my bow is renewed in my hand.’

21 “To me they listened and waited,
     And they kept silent for my advice.
22 After my words they did not speak again,
     And my speech dropped on them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
     And opened their mouths as for the late rain.
24 I smiled at them when they did not believe,
     And they did not look at my kindness ungraciously.
25 I chose a way for them and sat as chief,
     And lived as a king among the troops,
     As one who comforted the mourners.

(Job 30:1-31) 

1  “But now those who are younger than I mock me,
     Whose fathers I refused to put with the dogs of my flock.
2   Indeed, what good was the strength of their hands to me?
     Vigor had perished from them.
3   From poverty and famine they are gaunt,
     They who gnaw at the dry ground by night in waste and desolation,
4   Who pluck saltweed by the bushes,
     And whose food is the root of the broom shrub.
5   They are driven from the community;
     They shout against them as against a thief,
6   So that they live on the slopes of ravines,
     In holes in the ground and among the rocks.
7   Among the bushes they cry out;
     Under the weeds they are gathered together.
8   Worthless fellows, even those without a name,
     They were cast out from the land.

9  “And now I have become their taunt,
     And I have become a byword to them.
10 They loathe me and stand aloof from me,
     And they do not refrain from spitting in my face.
11 Because He has undone my bowstring and afflicted me,
     They have cast off the bridle before me.
12 On the right hand their mob arises;
     They push aside my feet and pile up their ways of destruction against me.
13 They break up my path,
     They promote my destruction;
     No one restrains them.
14 As through a wide gap they come,
     Amid the storm they roll on.
15 Sudden terrors are turned upon me;
     They chase away my dignity like the wind,
     And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.

16 “And now my soul is poured out within me;
     Days of misery have seized me.
17 At night it pierces my bones within me,
     And my gnawing pains do not rest.
18 By a great force my garment is distorted;
     It ties me up like the collar of my coat.
19 He has thrown me into the mire,
     And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;
     I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.
21 You have become cruel to me;
     With the strength of Your hand You persecute me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and make me ride it;
     And You dissolve me in a storm.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
     And to the house of meeting for all living.

24 “Yet does one in a heap of ruins not reach out with his hand,
     Or in his disaster does he not cry out for help?
25 Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard?
     Was my soul not grieved for the needy?
26 When I expected good, evil came;
     When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 I am seething within and cannot rest;
     Days of misery confront me.
28 I go about mourning without comfort;
     I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 I have become a brother to jackals,
     And a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin turns black on me,
     And my bones burn with fever.
31 Therefore my harp is turned to mourning,
     And my flute to the sound of those who weep.

(Job 31:1-40) 

1   “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
     How then could I look at a virgin?
2   And what is the portion of God from above,
     Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3   Is it not disaster to the criminal,
     And misfortune to those who practice injustice?
4   Does He not see my ways,
     And count all my steps?

5  “If I have walked with deception,
     And my foot has hurried after deceit,
6   Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
     And let God know my integrity.
7   If my step has turned from the way,
     Or my heart followed my eyes,
     Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,
8   Let me sow and another eat,
     And let my crops be uprooted.

9  “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
     Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,
10 May my wife grind grain for another,
     And let others kneel down over her.
11 For that would be a lustful crime;
     Moreover, it would be wrongdoing punishable by judges.
12 For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
     And would uproot all my increase.

13 “If I have rejected the claim of my male or female slaves
     When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises?
     And when He calls me to account, how am I to answer Him?
15 Did He who made me in the womb not make him,
     And the same one create us in the womb?

16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
     Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone,
     And the orphan has not shared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
     And from my infancy I guided her),
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
     Or that the needy had no covering,
20 If his waist has not thanked me,
     And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan,
     Because I saw I had support in the gate,
22 May my shoulder fall from its socket,
     And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
23 For disaster from God is a terror to me,
     And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

24 “If I have put my confidence in gold,
     And called fine gold my trust,
25 If I have gloated because my wealth was great,
     And because my hand had obtained so much;
26 If I have looked at the sun when it shone,
     Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart was secretly enticed,
     And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment,
     For I would have denied God above.

29 “Have I rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy,
     Or become excited when evil found him?
30 No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
     By asking for his life in a curse.
31 Have the people of my tent not said,
     ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’?
32 The stranger has not spent the night outside,
     For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
33 Have I covered my wrongdoings like a man,
     By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,
34 Because I feared the great multitude
     And the contempt of families terrified me,
     And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 Oh that I had one to hear me!
     Here is my signature;
     Let the Almighty answer me!
     And the indictment which my adversary has written,
36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder,
     I would tie it to myself like a garland.
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
     Like a prince, I would approach Him.

38 “If my land cries out against me,
     And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit without money,
     Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
40 May the thorn-bush grow instead of wheat,
     And stinkweed instead of barley.”

     The words of Job are ended.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 29:24 has excellent advice for us to always be kind when sharing the gospel with others.  And even when people choose not to believe, we should never hound or nag them.  We are not responsible for anyone's faith or salvation.  We cannot argue the points until they see the light.  Even with family members!  We should share when we have opportunities, but then, let it be and let the Holy Spirit work on convicting them.  Meanwhile, we are to love and pray!  And we are to be living as shining examples of Jesus' love, for them to observe.

We can also be a great testimony to others while we are going through struggles.  Therefore, we should realize that while we might be going through a test, the test for ourselves might also be a test for someone else.  Job had once appreciated the respect of people, but now that he was the one suffering, he no longer had that.  While Job experienced public humiliation, it was the people who didn't respect him who had to realize their own sins and confess them.  But as one cannot control what others do, one has to figure out how to react and respond with forgiveness, love and grace, and move forward.  

Following Jesus requires just that - moving forward.  So, fondly thinking back to the "good" old days is one thing, but longing for the "good" old days is wrong.  As Job wallowed in his loss, he now used the excuse that he had called out to God but God did not answer;  and so, Job continued to "mourn without comfort".  But even though we don't feel God, doesn't mean that He is not there.  He is omnipresent.  He is here, and He is at work!

To move forward and have God's inner peace, comfort and joy, we must be continually worshiping God and praising Him.  Even in miserable situations, if we work on having a better attitude, this will help.  Think of the good that God has already done in our lives, and then understand that He will still bring about good in the future.  We certainly cannot judge God based on evil things that happen, or on people's words and actions.  And we cannot judge God with our own scorecards, since God's standards are way beyond ours.  

Our personal righteousness will fail every time.  This is why we need the salvation of Jesus.  And as Job mentions in verse 29:14 - this is why we always need to cloth ourselves with the righteousness of Jesus.  This is what and Who will help us in every circumstance!

relationships (2 Kings 13:1-25) Seeking Approval

(2 Kings 13:1-25)  In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria, and he reigned for seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel; he did not turn from them. 3 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He continually handed them over to Hazael king of Aram, and to Ben-hadad, the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz appeased the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them. 5 And the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans; and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as previously. 6 Nevertheless they did not abandon the sins of the house of Jeroboam, into which he misled Israel; rather, they walked in them; and the Asherah also remained standing in Samaria. 7 For he left to Jehoahaz no more of the army than fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry, because the king of Aram had eliminated them and made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now as for the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 And Jehoahaz lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria; and his son Joash became king in his place.

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned for sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel; rather, he walked in them. 12 Now as for the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13 So Joash lay down with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne; and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Lay your hand on the bow.” And he laid his hand on it, then Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot. And he said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, and the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have put an end to them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. 19 Then the man of God became angry at him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you put an end to it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.”

20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the marauding bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they threw the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.

22 Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and He was unwilling to eliminate them or cast them away from His presence until now.

24 When Hazael king of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz again took from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of his father Jehoahaz. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

When we sin and experience the consequences, and then we appeal to God, and we experience the amazing changes and inner peace as a result, this should make us realize a few things.  God is so amazing and loving and can do the impossible.  Sin is oppressing, deceptive and destructive.  God loves people, but hates sin.  We should love God and people, while realizing the gravity of sin and hate it as well.

In relation to others, to truly love them, we have to separate these two things.  Unconditional love is NOT unconditional approval.  These two actions are not compatible in this imperfect world, where everyone is born with a sin nature.  So it is an awesome message of hope for unbelievers (although they typically do not understand, and therefore take it personally).  As well, this idea of loving people - no matter what - can be a challenge to believers!

Loving our neighbors as we love ourselves - implies that we love ourselves to some extent (appropriately nurturing and caring about our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing).  In this, we will not or should not approve of any sinful behavior in our own lives.  This is not to hate ourselves, but rather, it is with love that we look to the Lord for healing and reconciliation.

If Joash would have loved God more and hated sin a little more, he would have kept striking the ground.  I know there have been a few bad habits of mine that I didn't think were so bad, and even thought I enjoyed them, but by ignoring them, and/or just continuing on in them (even "just a little bit"), these do grow to have a stronger and stronger and unhealthy foothold.  

Seeking approval from others, should not be our focus.  This can be very misleading and destructive.  And seeking approval from God isn't about convincing ourselves that what we are doing is okay.  It is to realize sin, humbly confess sin, and continue to consistently grow closer to the Lord by asking Him to work in and through us, all to His glory!  This is the only way to find God's approval, true spiritual health and inner peace, 

relationships (2 Kings 12:1-21) Having Accountability

(2 Kings 12:1-21)  In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all his days that Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 Only the high places did not end; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 Then Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the sacred offerings which is brought into the house of the Lord, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment and all the money which anyone’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 The priests are to take it for themselves, each from his acquaintance; and they shall repair damage to the house wherever any damage is found.”

6 But it came about that in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had not repaired any damage to the house. 7 So King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, “Why do you not repair damage to the house? Now then, you are not to take any more money from your acquaintances, but give it up for the damage to the house.” 8 The priests then agreed that they would not take any more money from the people, nor would they repair damage to the house.

9 Instead, Jehoiada the priest took a chest and drilled a hole in its lid and put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lord; and the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord. 10 When they saw that there was a great amount of money in the chest, the king’s scribe and the high priest went up and tied it up in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord. 11 And they handed the money which was assessed over to those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord; 12 and to the masons and the stonecutters, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the damage to the house of the Lord, and for everything that was laid out for the house to repair it. 13 However there were not made for the house of the Lord silver cups, shears, bowls, trumpets, any receptacles of gold, or receptacles of silver from the money which was brought into the house of the Lord; 14 for they gave that to those who did the work, and with it they repaired the house of the Lord. 15 Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hands they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, because they acted faithfully. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord; it belonged to the priests.

17 Then Hazael the king of Aram went up and fought against Gath and captured it, and Hazael was intent on going up against Jerusalem. 18 So Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred offerings that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had consecrated, and his own sacred offerings, and all the gold that was found among the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Aram. Then he withdrew from Jerusalem.

19 Now as for the rest of the acts of Joash and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 20 And his servants rose up and formed a conspiracy; and they struck and killed Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla. 21 For Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

As believers, it goes without saying that our relationship with the Lord comes first, and we should desire to please the Lord, not ourselves or others.  But as we try to get along in life, and get along with others, there will be temptations to compromise our walk with God, thinking that this will be the only way to keep the peace, or this will be the only way to be happy.  Compromising or allowing things to slide might "work" (difunctionally) for a short time, but it will backfire.  

Even though we have eternal security, it is because God loves us and wants the best for us that He will discipline us and allow consequences into our lives.  Also, because we live in a fallen, broken world, we will sometimes suffer consequences of other people's choices.  In order to navigate through all of this, it is beneficial that we set up measures of accountability.  When we don't have these in place, corruption can be just around the corner.  Even in churches, pastors, elders, treasurers, etc. become more vulnerable to stumbling.

As long as we don't become legalistic (because our spiritual walk with Jesus isn't about do's and don'ts, it is a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior), having reasonable and wise measures put in place not only protect us from ourselves but  also protect us from others.  Not that we are to focus on sin, living in fear or worry, because God doesn't want that for us, either.  We are to focus on the Lord and His will, while staying alert, consistently searching our hearts and lives so that we continue to grow and mature in God's righteousness and love.  Always, no matter what we are dealing with, the Lord is right here with us to give us strength, wisdom and peace.