Month: May 2020

Good Friday morning, my friend – the Friday before Pentecost Sunday!

Read Eph 5:1-21.

This passage is particularly appropriate to read as we approach the day in which we celebrate the filling of the church with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)!

As believers, we are called in many ways to be the “ekklesia”; that is, the called out, the called forth, the assembly, the church. These verses from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus paint a picture of what, exactly, that “calling out” looks like to us as individual followers of Christ. We are to…

…be imitators of God.

…walk in love.

…remove ourselves from uncleanliness, idolatry, and all activities that would serve to separate us from Our Lord.

…walk as children of light.

…seek out what is acceptable to The LORD.

…expose the works of darkness.

…redeem the time given to us by God.

…be filled with The Spirit.

And as a result of being filled with His Spirit, we, as believers, and as His church, we all will begin “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” .

What a picture this paints of a people, a church, an assembly operating in the manner that is both pleasing to Our Good God AND attractive to those who are still seeking a saving relationship with Him through Jesus Our Lord!

Brothers, let us strive today to live out this scripture, and be the church that this world, this troubled world, so desperately needs! Amen!

It is a glorious Thursday morning, brother!  Blessings over you and yours, in the precious name of Jesus!

Read Hebrews 12:1 -24.

I love this passage. The writer of Hebrews describes our life of faith in Our Lord not as a walk, but literally as a race, with Jesus both as the finish line and our pacesetter.  The finish line, because He is our reward; and pacesetter, because He is our example.

Throughout this “race of faith”, we are encouraged – to lay aside the burdens of sin which might slow us down; to be re-energized and strengthened in the knowledge that Jesus has already completed a much tougher race before us; and to be exhorted during the race by a good Father who wants to correct us and train us so that we complete the race, and run it with honor towards Him!

And what does our finish look like?  Consider this:  “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant”.

In the end, my brother, your “race of faith” will be rewarded!  Run it well!  Amen!

May our Good God bless you on this Wednesday morning, friend!

Read Psalm 33. Selah.

This beautiful scripture paints a picture of the intimate and ordained interaction between the LORD and “the sons of men”.  On our (man’s) part, we are to:

Rejoice in Him.

Sing praises to Him.

Know that His word is right.

Recognize that His works are truth.

Fear (revere) Him.

Stand in awe of Him.

And as you read, pay particular attention to how Our Father relates to each one of us as individuals – on a beautifully personal level.  Indeed, this Psalm tells us that He who spoke creation into existence sees us as a PERSON.

The LORD has fashioned your heart, just as He has fashioned mine.

The LORD considers your works, just as He considers mine.

The eye of the LORD is on you, and His eye is on me, too.

As you start this day, be encouraged by the fact that the LORD is with you today, and that He is your help and your shield.  “Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.”.  Amen!

Good morning, brother, and I trust that you had a wonderful Memorial Day Holiday with your close ones.  Blessings to you on this Tuesday as we start another week!

Read Matthew 6:25 – 34.

In these times the news we receive is filled with despair, doubt, conflict, and uncertainty.  It is therefore easy to find ourselves walking down a path of worry and anxiety, particularly as men – after all, our Good God created us to be (among other things) protectors and providers.

In this passage from The Sermon on the Mount, Our Lord Jesus reminds us that Our Heavenly Father is well aware of all that we need.  And because we have faith that The Father has an overarching and intimate and incomprehensible knowledge of our needs, we are instructed by Jesus not to worry.  Not once, not twice, but 5 times in this brief discourse Jesus addresses the issue of removing worry from our lives!

As we consider this notable instruction, let us equally consider The One giving us the instruction – He is the “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1).  He is the God who defines Himself as always existing, across all time.

Therefore, since He is well aware of our tomorrows, let us place our worries of today into His Almighty hands.  And as for this day, let us each “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”!  Amen!

Thank You, LORD, for helping us through another week. Good Friday morning, my brother!

Read 1 John 3:18 – 4:6

The apostle John’s scriptural writings are filled with reminders of the commandment given to us by our Lord Jesus to love one another.  Today’s passage is reflective of that theme – that we should love one another; and that commanded love should be both actionable and evident through Kingdom changes in our lives. Those important Kingdom changes include Spirit-breathed discernment and a desire to do things that are pleasing in the sight of our Father.

And as you read this portion of John’s letter, please take note of this significant point:

Our hearts can actually bring condemnation into our lives. But God, our Good God, is greater than our heart, and He desires that we overcome any condemnation so that we can walk in confidence before Him.

Friend, if your heart has been causing you to suffer from any condemnation, lay claim to the promise of this passage. You can “assure your heart before Him” and know that GOD IS GREATER than any condemnation your heart may bring. Be free from condemnation today, and always!  Amen!

Good morning to you on this fine Thursday, my friend!

Read Psalm 91. Selah.

This particular Psalm is widely read, and rightfully so, because it paints such a wonderful picture of how our Good God is faithful in providing safety and protection for those who abide in Him.  As you read the Psalm today, take note of the bond between His protection and His truth.

Verse 4 is particularly illustrative: “He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge;”.  Like a hen with a brood of chicks, the LORD provides a safe place for His children when the enemy is seeking to attack.  And not only is the refuge place provided by our LORD safe, it is familiar to us – it is where we belong. His cover and His protection and His truth all are literally our dwelling place, according to the psalmist.

In this world where fear and anxiety are constantly being stoked, we have a refuge – in Him. Let us abide today and always “under the shadow of the Almighty”.  Amen!

May our Good God bless both you and your loved ones on this Wednesday morning!

Read 1 Cor 1:18 – 31

In many ways, today’s passage can be related to the LORD’s declaration made in Isaiah 55:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”.
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As you read these verses from Corinthians, know that God’s ways and God’s wisdom seem to be foolish to those in this world who consider themselves wise.  And note these key points:

There are those who are perishing, but we are being saved through the message of the cross.  What a distinction and delineation!

God is PLEASED to save us.

Our Lord Jesus is the power of God.

Jesus is the wisdom of God.

Jesus is the righteousness of God.

Jesus is the sanctification of God.

Jesus is the redemption of God.

And finally and importantly, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”.

Brother, let us embrace His wisdom and give Him glory today and always!  Amen!

Blessings to you this Fine Tuesday morning, my friend!

Read Psalm 119:1 – 18.

This famous and precious passage reminds us that we are to continually be mindful of our Good God’s desires and directions for each of us. The writer of the psalm gives these directions specific names…

…the way

…the law of the LORD

…Your precepts

…Your statutes

…Your righteous judgements

…Your word

…Your testimonies

In all of these, and through all of these, the LORD is guiding us, not just once in awhile, not just on Sunday morning, but literally second-by-second. Steadily. Unceasingly.  Always.

It is akin to a father teaching his son to ride a bicycle without the training wheels – He is right there with us, beside us, providing instruction and encouragement and safety and balance.

Today, let’s heed the word of the psalmist, and ask our Good God to “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”  Amen!

Good morning. Felicitations and blessings to you as we begin a new week given by our Good God!

Read Rom 15:1 – 13

In these verses taken from what some refer to as “The Gospel of Paul”, we are provided with some valuable instructions and insights:

We bear with and consider our neighbors. Our desire is that they are lifted up (edified); and as we become stronger in our faith, we are to have even more regard for others.

The SCRIPTURES are patience and comfort.

GOD is patience and comfort.

Unity (like-mindedness) is pleasing to the LORD, and provides us all with a platform to better glorify God for His mercy towards us.

And here is my prayer over you as you start this new week (vv 13): “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”.  Amen!

Brother, it is Friday morning, and we praise our LORD for helping us and guiding us through this week!

Read Psalm 148.

The earth, and everything in it; weather and wind; highest mountains and deepest depths; every creature, swimming, creeping, or flying; and every person, from the lowly to the king – all of creation is instructed to praise the name of the LORD.

In these extraordinary times in which we live, it is easy to get distracted, but always remember that one of reasons you were created is to give praise to the One who worthy of all of our praise!

And as we head into the weekend, I want to close by quoting 2 verses from Romans 1 that express my heart towards you, as my brother in Christ: “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”.

Encouraged together – Amen!