July 31, 2021 -- Isaiah 65:17-18 -- Creation Beauty and Re-creation Transcendent Splendor

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
   or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
   in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
   and her people to be gladness.”
Isaiah 65:17-18 ESV

This morning, while I was taking a lovely walk in the cool of the morning and mists were rising from the fields of corn and soy beans leaves were outlined in dew droplets, the magnificence of creation struck me again. The clouds were fantastic shapes and the sun danced between the billows, sending out dazzling rays in many directions. What beauty is contained in this world. Then as I approached my end point of the walk, I realized I’d be speaking with people experiencing brokenness. The conversations, each of them painful reminders of ruination, point out how far we are from the perfections which God intended for us. Sin has taken hold and tainted all that our LORD of Majesty has created.

Thanks be to God that our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered sin, hell and the grave. Thanks be to God that the former things He will remember no more because He Who created is now recreating and bringing us to the place of joy and gladness. When we catch glimpses of all that is exquisite here, we are reminded how much more is yet in store for us who believe. The new heavens and the new earth will be resplendent and beyond our current capabilities to describe them because the LORD has sought out sinners, the Savior has purchased by His blood and the Spirit has captured us for the blessedness of God which is planted in us now and is germinating so that new, eternal life will grow, unstoppably, into every area of our being and into every area of the redeemed people.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin
I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death, that every good work or thought
found in me thy joy in my sorrow, thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty thy glory in my valley.
"Valley of Vision" Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Page 1

https://youtu.be/47gTydwGSv4

July 27, 2021 -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Covid-wrought sins exposed

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:1-11 ESV

Hmm, I wonder, what sin has Covid reignited in your life? There were so many lockdowns and so much more time spent at home, perhaps you got your Covid-20, you know, 20 extra pounds from sitting at home. Perhaps you started watching more TV and then binge-watching shows you know are not wholesome or healthy for you. Maybe you got into pornography, again, allowing former old sinful habits which had been put to death, to reemerge. I wonder how many have become gossips. Since getting together in person is not allowed, and loneliness has been exacerbated, slowly it happened that talking changed to malicious talk and gossip evolved. You can fill in the blank and acknowledge before the LORD what your sin (or tangled web of sins one which led to another) is and how you have stepped back from setting your heart and your commitment fully on Christ.

Take one look at me and you’ll know that I have Covid-20. That’s right, I’ve gained weight and not disciplined myself to deny myself and find Christ my all in all. This morning, having renewed my commitment to honour God with my body and honour Him by watching what I eat, I took a good walk. It is a small start. But my life is now hidden with Christ and it will take His Spirit in me to defeat this old, sinful nemesis.

No doubt that is true for us all. As we begin to emerge from our Covid hibernation, the passage before us calls us to renew our commitment to Jesus. Read the Bible; it is the Word of God that will show you your sin and convict you of your wrong-doing. Pray—that the Spirit would show you what needs to change and where you have compromised and lead you to repentance. Repentance is turning from sin and walking in a new direction—towards Jesus Christ. Be prepared for the Christian friend who loves you enough to broach the hard subject with you and call you to change your behavior for the sake of Christ. Ask a Christian friend to hold you accountable and help you in your march towards greater. When someone asks you for help, be honoured and be prepared to invest times of prayer on behalf of that person, times of prayer with person and offer rebuke where sin creeps up again and offer encouragement where victories in Christ are becoming evident.

Father, You call us to be holy as You are holy. It is a standard of impossible, unscalable heights. Blessed are You, Jesus, for You have taken our many sins upon Yourself at the cross and having taken away God’s reproach, given to us Your righteousness. Spirit of God, renew in us a desire for and commitment to walk in the holiness given us in Christ. Spirit of God, as others seek to walk in true community, asking our help in the pathways to holiness, help us to be prepared to be concise in rebukes and extravagant in encouragements. Triune God, Who is there in all the cosmos like You? You are rich in mercy. You are steadfastly holding out to Your people compassion. Your covenant faithfulness upholds us. Let us offer ourselves up, our words, thoughts and actions, as a fragrant offering of praise to You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/I1GiZL60c80

July 25, 2021 -- Colossians 1:3-4 -- Powerful Prayer

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints…
Colossians 1:3-4 English Standard Version

Dear Christian friend—I wonder who Jesus directed to pray for you, so that the Spirit of God stirred up your soul and you found and continue to find delight in the things of God? In Colossians it is Epaphras who was the faithful prayer warrior so that the Good News of Jesus Christ would reach the Colossian Christians.

Those of you, dear readers, who do not call yourselves Christians yet, but are now interested in the things of God and curious, you may well ask who is praying for you that your interest in Jesus is so stimulated? Paul writes to the believers, teaching them and us, it is fervent prayer that extents the reach of the Gospel. God has chosen to work through the prayers of His people.

Believer, if the LORD has put it on your heart to pray for someone, do it. Take a moment right now and pray. Trust that your inclination to pray has been directed by Jesus. However stumbling your praying might be, it will be made strong and effective by the Spirit of God Who lives in you. Trust that the one you are praying for is appointed by the Father to receive life and that person will take hold of the Good News of Jesus.

It may not be immediate. The person for whom you are praying may be years away from believing. It may be decades in the making, but the prayers of a righteous man, the prayers of a righteous woman, are powerful and effective. It is so because believers are made righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Father in heaven, thank You for Your great love and covenant faithfulness by which You draw men and women, boys and girls to Yourself through the work of Jesus Christ. Beautiful Savior, we bless You, for the cross by which You have glorified the Father and made open to us the way to our Father's love. Spirit of Truth, thank You for directing us as believers to dig deeper into the Word and mine precious truth from its pages. Spirit of All Comfort, thank You for directing us to pray for those around us. Forgive us, Mighty God, for the times we have ignored these promptings and denied ourselves the joy of sweeter fellowship with Yourself. Move us, this Sunday, to drink deeply from the wells of salvation and follow Your prompting and instruction. Amen.

https://youtu.be/TKE4zYT-q6E

July 22, 2021 -- Isaiah 30:15 -- Rest and peace

For thus said the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
   “In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15 English Standard Version

Notice the name God reveals to His people. He is the LORD GOD—the second part of His Name is capitalized as well. It is LORD—the God Who Was, Is and Is to Come—and GOD—the Sovereign. That is, the Only One Who is Supreme, the Highest in power. He is the Holy One—by that title His own people had said “let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 30:11). Those who scoff at Him, He has declared are like a bulging wall about to collapse or a clay pot smashed to smithereens. Turning towards those longing to hear from Him, the LORD declares His great and glorious welcome. Inviting even those who had jeered Him, He speaks.

Ah, how lovely are His words. In times when we are all Covid-weary. In days when the we feel like if we hear one more word about one more variant we will burst! Suddenly, our Father, the Source of every good gift, promises in returning to Him and resting in Him you shall be saved. This word “returning” means retirement from war. It is coming home and not fighting useless battles against the very God Who seeks to bless and build His people up. Rest is one word used two ways. In the word “rest” it means rest from external conflicts and quietness is rest which is withdrawing from all the storms and conflicts which rage within our own head and heart. The focus self-consciously shifts from our world and our ourselves to God Who is strong and great.

Where do you place your trust? Is your trust in yourself? Is it in your government? Is it in your family? Is it in your resources and retirement savings? The LORD GOD is the best and sole Person in Whom we can trust. In sickness in health, in war or in peace, in riches or poverty, in youth and old age He is the sure foundation for our times (Isaiah 33:6).

O LORD, You are exalted, You live up in the highest heavens;
   Yet You fill Zion, that is the place where Your people live,
   with justice and righteousness,
You are the stability for our troubled times.
You bring to Your people the abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge,
   and the key to this treasure is reverent fear and obedience to Jesus Christ.
Spirit of God, bring us to the place of repentance and rest,
   quiet and whole-hearted trust.
Amen
(The prayer is based on Isaiah 33:5-6 and Isaiah 30:15)

https://youtu.be/0actASvQUCg

July 21, 2021 -- John 6:66-67 -- Who else can we run to, who else but Jesus?!

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:66-67 ESV

Interesting how Peter answered the question. It is almost the response of a lawyer! He didn’t actually say, “No, we don’t want to leave you Jesus”. Nor did Peter say, “Yes, we want to stay with You.” Basically Peter realized, as he spoke for the rest of the disciples, that there was no where else to go. No one else is reputable. No one else is true. No one else is God, the Holy One, Who has the power of life and the power of death.

Why did the others leave off of following Jesus? It was because his words were hard. It would require the Spirit of God to transform a believer completely—all the old would be torn down and would pass away and the new would be brought in by the Spirit as the Word of Jesus is applied to every area of life. Unless Jesus, by His Spirit increases my will and my capacity for obedience, I too would turn away.

Jesus continued, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve?” As those chosen by the love of the Father from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to be in Christ Jesus, work out your salvation with joy and hope. Push past the days of “I don’t feel like it” by asking the Spirit for all help necessary. I often don’t feel like doing laundry, or dishes, or mowing the lawn…you get the point. We do many things we don’t feel like doing. What is so amazing is the satisfaction God gives us when a task is done. A mown lawn smells so good and looks good. Laundry cleaned and folded adds pleasure to a day—once it is done.

We have no where else to go, no one else to go to. Yet, where else would we ever want to go? Jesus is sent by the Father to give life, hope, joy, truth, peace. As we believe in Him, so He confirms in us His goodness and blessedness. It is work to follow Jesus. He claimed us as His Own—and our lives are then lived out in response, working out our salvation with fear and trembling awe!

THE THRONE

O God of My Delight,
 
Thy throne of grace
   is the pleasure ground of my soul.
Here I obtain mercy in time of need,
   here see the smile of thy reconciled face,
   here joy pleads the name of Jesus,
   here I sharpen the sword of the Spirit,
   anoint the shield of faith,
   put on the helmet of salvation,
   gather manna from thy Word,
   am strengthened for each conflict,
   nerved for the upward race,
   empowered to conquer every foe;
Help me to come to Christ
   as the fountain head of descending blessings,
   as a wide open flood-gate of mercy.
Prayer from: The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions "The Throne", opening sentences of the prayer. Page 272.

https://youtu.be/rwGW8qRqz4I

July 19, 2021 -- Proverbs 25:15 -- How long is your nose?

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
Proverbs 25:15 English Standard Version

In the Hebrew language “long of nose” expresses our word patience. When you have a long nose, even simple daily task become complicated. Think of a cartoonish exaggeration, like Pinocchio, who after telling a lie tries pulling on a sweater. If he is not careful, his long nose would get all tangled up in it. Or think of Pinocchio in a big crowd of people if he turns his head sharply or quickly, he’d poke someone in the eye. To be long of nose requires someone to be patient at a task or activity.

We also read: “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle” Proverbs 18:19 ESV. A ruler and an offended brother—both require great patience in order to pave the way for conversation and healing.

What can open the heart? The fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—you can see how the Spirit of God prompts a Christian man to become long of nose. When an intractable ruler or an offended brother is before you, the correct response is not to dig in and perpetuate the quarrel, it is to answer with a soft tongue, healing words, finding opportunities for reconciliation and peace-making.

Notice that a soft tongue—one which carries kind words, humility and love—can break a bone. Literally it means can break strength. The strength of a quarrel and the barred castle of a man’s heart, these can be broken by the person who wields kind words. How is this even possible? It is Jesus Christ Who brings us from hard-heartedness to the foot of the cross, where our great sins are set alongside the great sins of those who have offended and wounded us. And there at the cross, upon the person of Jesus Christ, all our sins and all our shame and all our wickedness is punished. Jesus bore it all. The path of peace is found through the broken body of our Savior.

This is why His Name is forever blessed. This is why a brother can be firm and hardened against sin, while at the same time being long of nose with those who would oppose. It is interesting, God Himself is described as “long of nose” in Exodus 34:6. He is slow to anger—that is how He deals with us. Blessed be His Name—for where would we be if His anger burned in an instant? Blessed be God our Father—that His word and Spirit broke the strength of our stubborn rebellion against His Name and gave to us the blessedness of peace through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Who is a God like You, O LORD our God?! You pardon our iniquity and pass over our transgressions; You restrained Your anger until it was fully vented against our sins upon the Person of Jesus! Blessed Jesus, thank You for the wonderful reconciliation You brought about by Your sacrifice at the cross. Spirit of God, in view of the work of Jesus Christ, make each one of us long of nose and filled with the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Let the Word, the Living Word and the written word, take up residence in us and never leave. Amen.

https://youtu.be/QEF7IoQ3eUk

Copyright © 2021 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 18, 2021 -- Isaiah 12 -- Reverberating praise

In that day you will sing:
    “I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
    Now you comfort me.
2 See, God has come to save me.
    I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.”

3 With joy you will drink deeply
    from the fountain of salvation!
4 In that wonderful day you will sing:
    “Thank the Lord! Praise his name!
Tell the nations what he has done.
    Let them know how mighty he is!
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.
    Make known his praise around the world.
6 Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!
    For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

Isaiah 12 English Standard Version

What is worship? Consider the beautiful expression of verse 3—it is, with joy, drinking deeply of from the fountain of salvation! What a description. Christians gather to worship and in praising God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the thirst of our souls is assuaged. Worship lifts our eyes so that in faith we see all the LORD has done, is doing, and will do. It is the LORD Who saves a person, and a church full of people. It was the work of Jesus Christ at the cross to stand in our place and take our punishment. Then is it is the Spirit of God Who shows us all the wonderful things the LORD has done for us as individuals, as believers across the globe and across time. The people of God will never die out and there will be faithful witness to our King of Glory that will reverberate across the continents until the day when Jesus returns.

Join the faithful choruses of praise. Get to church if you are able to do so. Join in via whatever livestream platform you can if going to church is not possible for you. Let the praises of the LORD be on your lips and celebration of His majestic glory fill your heart and imagination. Invite a friend to join you. Faith stirs faith and rejoicing is contagious. If your heart is heavy, reach out and ask a brother or sister in Christ to pray with you so that your faith may be encouraged. Consider this as fuel for the fires of praise today: “Great is the Holy One of Israel—that is Jesus—Who lives among you!

https://youtu.be/Q1Gd-FoNLuI

July 17, 2021 -- Psalm 18:1-3 -- Why do you have devotional times?

I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3 English Standard Version

While driving from Moncton to Ontario, there were many opportunities to listen to wonderful teaching sermons and interviews. An example: C.J. Mahaney hosted an interview, he asked wonderful questions of Sinclair Ferguson. In one reply Ferguson reflected on the purpose of our devotional times. Are these times 1. so that we can get our verse for the day and show God we have done what we are supposed to do? Or 2. For the purpose of learning about God and knowing better how to serve Him with our lives and honour Him?

Ferguson paused. He let the leading questions sink in. In the context of the story he’d been asking a friend, an accomplished student of the Bible, these two questions. The friend replied I must confess to 1 while realizing I should be aiming for 2. Yes. We are to read the Bible to know God. To love Him more. To understand the depths and the riches of Who He is and so rejoice in the salvation He brings to us, unworthy though we are.

Look at Psalm 18, what is teaches us about Who God Is. He is the strength of His people. When all our strength has failed, the infinite, unstoppable power of God, which every nanosecond upholds all the universe and everything in it, sustains and revives His people. By His strength poured out into your life and mine, His power is not diminished in least part.

As the believer reflects on Who God is, inevitably praise will follow. The LORD is the source of blessing. He is the Only God, LORD of heaven and earth, to Whom all praise belongs. The more His people discover Him, think on Him, read of Him, know Him, the greater is their increase of praise, delight, blessing and love directed to Him Who is our shield and salvation.

Spirit of the Living God, increase our desire to know Jesus--Who reveals the Father. Spirit increase our desire and capacity to praise God the Triune! Spirit of God, by Your presence in us and Your vivification of the Word to us, magnify in us a longing to give our lives in whole-hearted service to the LORD, our strength and song. Amen.

https://youtu.be/bOKaL3bee6I

July 10, 2021 -- Proverbs 18:1 -- Isolating or seeking community?

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
Proverbs 18:1 ESV

Such a simple proverb. Yet profound. I know I have examined this verse before, but it is one that keeps popping up again in practical, daily situations. When someone knows he is about to go and do something wrong he isolates himself. An adulterer isolates himself from his wife, hiding his intentions to visit his mistress. A thief hides isolates himself from others, looking left and right in order to steal. A child looking to pilfer a cookie from grandma’s cookie jar sneaks away from grandma and quietly reaches in to take his prize. You get the point. Formulating the plan while starting to pull away from people should be a warning signal in your own brain—there is evil intent here.

Friends, dear family in Christ, when you see a sister pulling away and isolating herself, ask yourself, why? If you see a brother suddenly withdrawing from activities he once enjoyed, warning bells should sound. Christian, when you see your family in Jesus becoming less frequent or attentive in worship, pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to go and seek that person out in kindness.

You and I both know that “deer in the highlight” look we can give when we are caught out in our wrong-headed intentions. We might lash out, say angry words—even as we are simultaneously experiencing relief that our wicked desires are not allowed to go unchecked. This is also why Proverbs declares: “faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6). A true, Christian friend, will endure the backlash in order to bring back a wandering brother or wayward sister from his or her folly. This is the gift of fellowship and dearest friendship in Christ.

Tomorrow is Sunday Invite your friend to church. Be prepared yourself to go to church to be warmed by the Gospel and the light of Christ’s salvation. Invite your friends, frequently, persistently, as you would convince them to join you in other activities, doing so without remorse or reluctance. Worship is the great privilege and abiding joy of the Christian.

Thank You, Jesus for those who, by Your Spirit, questioned my actions. Thank You, Spirit of God, for placing us in true community, where we can go and grow in open, honest, desire to hate evil. As the Puritan so aptly said it, “I must not only labor to overcome sin, but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it, and He must become to me more than vile lust had been”. My Savior, draw me nearer to Yourself, that the beauty and the healing of the Father’s love, which You have gained for me by Your cross and resurrection, will shine brightly from my life, encouraging and blessing those around me. Amen.

https://youtu.be/O5lgwI6Z8G4

July 9, 2021 -- Ephesians 1:3-6 -- Rescue cats

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV

What a soaring passage of praise this is. What deep and high and wide blessings flow to us by the decree of our Father Who has elected us in His love through Jesus Christ sealing this decree in us by the Spirit so that we are made fit for eternal life.

A dear friend and I were speaking yesterday on the significance of our election. Consider what we are like before the Spirit of God broke down our stubborn resistance. Here is the word picture we came up with as we spoke. We were like drowning cats before the kindness of the LORD took hold of us. When He reached down and rescued us we didn’t purr and thank Him in gratitude. We bit. We fought. We scratched. Not until we were fully rescued. Dried. Restored. Calmed. Fed. Safe. Did we ever think of praising Him and blessing Him for our great salvation.

In fact, even as those who are saved and rescued from the whirlpools, raging falls and fast undertows, we are just as likely to jump right back into our folly. We need the restraining hand of the Beloved, Who seals us with His Spirit, so that the things of our past are not back-lit with hazy, fond memories as if drowning were pleasant. By His great grace and steadfast love, the more we reflect on our rescue and the greater our songs to and meditations on the Rescuer, the deeper will be our life-long gratitude. Times of rebellion will be foreshortened because to our hearts and minds it is grace that is backlit and precious in our memories.

Great Shepherd of souls, blessed are You, Beloved and Dear Rescuer. Thank You for Your restraining love that seals us by Your Spirit so that we are prepared for Your courts above. Our Father in heaven, Who is like You—the false narratives of this world and the trite lies of those who hate You are blasphemies too great! How tender You are. How infinite You are in Your patience toward us. Let our lives and our lips, our thoughts and our tasks ever bless You until all wandering and even the potential for wandering is ended and Your presence will be fullness of joy and peace, contentment and exuberance which stretches to all eternity. Amen.

https://youtu.be/UiJiDphZvbs

July 7, 2021 -- Proverbs 4:18-19 -- JOY, DELIGHT, PLEASURE IN GOD

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
   which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
   they do not know over what they stumble.
Proverbs 4:18-19 ESV

Certainly one of the great joys of teaching new believers is catching their excitement as they see for themselves the fact that Word of God is true. A young believer will examine his past and realize how much stumbling and falling took place because their lives were filled with darkness.

How are you being renewed in your zeal for God? How are you giving thanks to Jesus Christ, awed by His faithfulness and goodness to you? This morning as I was up early I saw the oranges and pinks in the sky which reflected off the edges of clouds and as the sun rose higher the clouds shone with a golden halo of light. The beauty of the dawn contributed to the pleasure of listening to this passage as I walked. (I have a Bible App that allows me to hear Scripture read, and it is a delightful to walk and hear the Word).

JOY
O Christ!
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in
my delight,
Thou didst weep, sorrow,
suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy Thou hast sent the Comforter,
   multiplied thy promises,
   shown me my future happiness,
   given me a living fountain.
Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;
   give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.
Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy,
   at my work, business, duties.
If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of thy love,
  pardon for sin, my title to heaven,
   my future unspotted state.
I am an unworthy recipient of Thy grace.
I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love,
but can in repentance draw water
   from the wells of Thy joyous forgiveness.
Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath,
   where the work of redemption, sanctification,
   preservation, glorification is finished
   and perfected for ever,
   where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven,
   for in that state are no sad divisions,
   unchristian quarrels,
   contentions, evil designs,
   weariness, hunger, cold, sadness, sin, suffering,
   persecutions, toils of duty.
O healthful place where none are sick!
O happy land where all are kings!
O holy assembly where all are priests!
How free a state where none are servants
   except to thee!
Bring me speedily to the land of joy.
"JOY". The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions
page 292

https://youtu.be/l_baJyIQp_w

July 6, 2021 -- Acts 17:10-12 -- Jesus nerds!

Much loved children of God, by the Spirit's power: sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Acts 17:10-12 ESV

Yesterday I was at the shop and the salesman was tugging on his shirt to cover his tattoo. I asked him about it. He broke into a smile and noted that he had characters from Star Wars on his wrist all the way up to his shoulder. He smiled and noted since his youth he has been a Star Wars nerd. The tattoos, well, these are the “misunderstood” characters, like Darth Maul. Hmm. Okay, as we chatted further, I learned he grew up as a Christian. I wondered, do you spend the same amount of time and give such intensity to the study of the Bible? His mumbled reply made it clear he did not. I invited him to come to church with me this coming Sunday. We will see if he does.

Christian friends post on social media they are going to review all the Harry Potter books this summer—for the however-manyeth-time. Hmm. H.P. nerds.

The noble Bereans heard Paul and Silas preach. When they heard the Gospel message, they examined the Old Testament, compared the prophesies of the Messiah to the word spoken about Jesus and His life. Many of them believed because of this intense study and as a result of their eagerness to know. Perhaps the Word is not powerful and engaging and fresh for so many drifting Christians because they do not investigate, study, ask questions and dig to find out. Fantasy novels and fictional characters fill their brains and the clutter the corners of their lives to the extent that belief in Jesus gets buried.

Yesterday I spoke with a man who encountered Jesus this past Friday. I knew him before he knew Jesus. He would politely listen to “stories” (as he called them) about Jesus. Then he would go back to his exercise routines and exhaust himself in his passion for fitness. On Friday, at a gathering of believers which my friend attended, he realized the Bible Person of Jesus is a real, flesh and blood man. He is personal, He is greater than any other experience that life offers. Now my friend, still interested in fitness, speaks with eyes alight about the power of Jesus and blessing of knowing Him. He has Bible passages he wants to find and study. Those who suggest other passages to read spark in him new areas of interest and anticipation about what he’ll learn.

Dear reader, if you got this far in today’s devotional, I encourage you, no, I challenge you, to study your Bible this summer. Find out answers to questions that bother you. Dig deep to learn more. Pray—urgently and constantly—asking God to stir His Spirit within you so that Jesus will be greater, more radiant, more charismatic to you than any fictional character. I challenge you, proudly be a Jesus-nerd.

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 149 ESV

https://youtu.be/rChnJ15-mj0

Copyright © 2021 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 5, 2021 -- Matthew 13:41-43 -- Perfect rest in Jesus

“The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:41-43) ESV

One of the tests army recruits must endure is sleep deprivation. Most of us know what it is like to have a terrible night’s sleep and how foggy and cranky we can feel the next day. But when sleep deprivation stretches past 30 hours or more then there can be hallucinations and great mental anguish which accompanies this. Hell is a place of endless torments, endless grinding of teeth and endless wakefulness of fresh horrors.

Why speak of such a thing? Because today is the day of salvation. Today Jesus calls out: whoever has ears, let them hear the good news of the Gospel. The righteous are those who have found shelter in Jesus Christ, knowing He was punished in our place and our sins are forgiven. Those who run to His kingdom for refuge find rest for their souls, and delight which flows from a life of obedience to Him.

Today is the day of salvation. Today you have the opportunity to obey Him and walk in fellowship with Him that is sweet and filled with His steadfast love.

https://youtu.be/GyRIVbdsi4c

July 2, 2021 -- Psalm 135:13-14 -- His Renown! His Fame! His Glory!

Your Name, O LORD, endures forever,
   Your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
For the LORD will vindicate He people
   and have compassion on His servants.
Psalm 135:13-14 ESV

What a stirring refrain! Kingdoms and tyrants, depots and princes rise and fall and fade into obscurity such that archeologists must debate and argue about the inscriptions and meaning of scratches on walls trying to determine what this or that tomb drawing meant. No such issue with the LORD our God. His renown—His prominence, His actions, His reputation, and His fame is recounted generation after generation. Even the cynics who claimed “god is dead” are now forgotten and the Splendor of the LORD increases.

There will be a day when all nations and all people, all rich and poor, will stand before Jesus Christ and those who served Him, obeying His decrees and commands, despite the prevailing godless of the ages they lived in, will be proven and declared approved servants of the Most High. Do not despair in these Covid times. Read the Word. Pray with fellow Christians. Attend church where you are able to attend church or live stream if it attendance is not possible.

Understand that all our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ All our standing before God is not based on our response to Covid. Know that the LORD has compassion on His servants. Where the LORD gives opportunity, act justly and love kindness showing mercy to those around you and walk humbly with God.

Self-Knowledge

SEARCHER OF HEARTS,
It is a good day to me when thou givest me
a glimpse of myself;
Sin is my greatest evil,
but thou art my greatest good;
I have cause to loathe myself,
and not to seek self-honour,
for no one desires to commend his own dunghill.
My country, family, church
fare worse because of my sins,
for sinners bring judgment in thinking
sins are small,
or that God is not angry with them.
Let me not take other good men as my example,
and think I am good because I am like them,
For all good men are not so good as thou desirest,
are not always consistent,
do not always follow holiness,
do not feel eternal good in sore affliction.
Show me how to know when a thing is evil
which I think is right and good,
how to know when what is lawful
comes from an evil principle,
such as desire for reputation or wealth by usury.
Give me grace to recall my needs,
my lack of knowing thy will in Scripture,
of wisdom to guide others,
of daily repentance, want of which keeps thee at bay,
of the spirit of prayer, having words without love,
of zeal for thy glory, seeking my own ends,
of joy in thee and thy will,
of love to others.
And let me not lay my pipe
too short of the fountain,
never touching the eternal spring,
never drawing down water from above.
"Self-Knowledge". Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Page 122

https://youtu.be/dk7llf2LkKc

July 1, 2021 -- Acts 17:29-31 -- Hymn to the Ruler Supreme

Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 17:29-31 ESV

Happy Canada Day! It almost feels like I am not allowed to declare this. On the one hand, the bodies of so many residential school children have been recovered and there are municipalities and towns which are ‘shutting down Canada Day’. On the other hand, the fact those bodies were in the ground is something that has been known, it was not publicly acknowledged. This atrocity needed to be publicly acknowledged.

It is appropriate to grieve. It is appropriate to celebrate Canada with the knowledge it will take the will of a nation and all her people to set things right. Sorrow and hope can be celebrated on the same day. Love for a country and the blessings God has given her and grief over sins can exist side by each. This is appropriate.

The passage from Acts is very hopeful for us today. All people, from conception to death, are precious in the sight of the LORD. All are His offspring. All the deeds of all people, through all the ages, will one day be judged by the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the One Man Who lived and was completely without sin. At the cross He was punished for the sins of all. All Who repent and believe in Him know sin has been fully and finally punished. Those who stand before Him at the last judgment will face His judgment and His justice. There is no escape from this. His righteousness and His punishments are exact, perfect and will set all things right.

Once the flags have been repositioned from the half-mast of mourning to full mast, it is time for all Canadians to roll up our collective sleeves. Get clean water running on the 50+ reservations which still have boil water advisories—some of these advisories are decades old! It will take the will and finances of a united Canada. Get justice for the children of First Nations children who are caught up in the foster care system. It will take the will and finances of a united Canada. It will take the will of a nation and united efforts of the government and opposition leaders to bring these things about and to stop the tide of missing First Nations men and women, making sure every life of every person in this land matters. That is the work of all Canadians.

Happy Canada Day. May we all use our freedom to work for justice and reconciliation. May we all work in the sure hope that our God and King has not overlooked even one life—all are known to Him. Our prayer today is the fourth stanza of our national anthem.

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

https://youtu.be/MV5x6M38ea8

June 30, 2021 -- Psalm 115:9-11 -- The LORD is our Trust! Our Help! Our Shield!

O Israel, trust in the LORD!
   He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
   He is their help and shield.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
   He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 115:9-11 ESV

The Covenant Name, that is the Name by which God revealed Himself to His people as the God Who both promises and keeps His promises, is used four times. It is emphatic and those who believe in Him can fully put all their hope and confidence in Him. This repetition of His Name undergirds, or supports all His promises, because He alone has the powerful to fulfil what He promises and He alone loves His people so that their salvation is assured.

The word “trust” is used three times. This word trust includes the sense of being fully secure or feeling safe. Notice how the names for the people of God change with each stanza. Israel, which refers to Jacob the deceiver who wrestled with God and therefore was renamed “Israel” saw the goodness of God. His descendants are called Israel—they wrestle in prayer—wrestle to believe, to trust and to put to death their old nature and longings. The House of Aaron are those who are priests, who bring good news of the Living God, the LORD, to the people. Sometimes the people listen and rejoice. Sometimes the people refuse God. But the messengers of Good News trust in the LORD and feel secure not in the response of the people, but in the goodness of God, Who promises and brings about His great salvation. Those who fear the LORD are commanded to trust in Him. It is an effort. The chaos of the times we live in may seek to undercut your confidence in Him.

Finally, the word shield is used three times. All who trust in the LORD are shielded by His grace When the LORD made promises to Abraham, to bless all the people of the earth through his seed Jesus Christ, the LORD promised He is Abraham’s ‘shield’. The exact word is used there as is used in our passage today. Though troubles fly to the left and to the right, though the path of salvation is difficult and marked with suffering, the LORD is the shield—the guardian, the protector and the One Who brings His people to victory. Notice accompanying this word "shield" is the word "help". Not only does the LORD our God protect His people, He is the only source of help to this great salvation. He Is the One Who promises salvation, Who protects His people along the way and who fulfills His promises by giving all the resources needed for our salvation. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, thank You for all Your promises which are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus our Savior. Father in heaven, thank You that You are the shield of salvation to all who trust in You. Jesus, we believe, help us overcome our unbelief. Spirit of the Living God, as we read the Bible and worship God, increase our trust and our joyful security in the LORD, our shield and very great reward. Amen.

https://youtu.be/ocmCTU_rEeI

June 27, 2021 -- Psalm 106:48 -- Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Strong and Kind

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
   from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
   Praise the LORD!
Psalm 106:48 English Standard Version

The Book of Psalms are divided into 5 sections. Today’s text is the final verse of Psalm 106 and the last verse of the fourth book of the Psalms. It is the highpoint of a Psalm that celebrated the salvation of the LORD, Who rescued His people from slavery in Egypt.

We read this as New Testament Christians and realize how much we are like the people of Israel. Jesus has rescued us from our former slavery to sin. He set us free to serve Him. By the strength of His Spirit we are on our way to the promised land, the place where Jesus will be our light day and night and we shall live with our Father in heaven with no possibility of sinning—and we murmur along the way. We complain about the difficulties on the journey.

But that is not the end of the Psalm. It ends with a ringing summons to praise! We are not rescued because we are worthy. We are rescued because the LORD is great. We are rescued precisely because we are unable to save ourselves. The glory of the LORD shines in us and through us because without Him we would still be enslaved, lost and helpless.

If you are free to get together with other believers today, do it! Meet. Praise God Stir the embers of your faith. If you have to livestream a worship service, do it. Meet with others online until you can meet in person and bring unchained praises and blessings to the Name of God. He is our Light, He is our Salvation, He is our Joy, He is our Peace. Amen.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and all that is within me, 
   bless His holy Name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and forget not His benefits,
Who forgives all your iniquity,
   Who heals all your diseases,
   Who redeems your life from the pit,
   Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
   Who satisfies your soul with good,
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5 English Standard Version

https://youtu.be/D4fqAzldxHQ

June 25, 2021 -- Psalm 91:14 -- Holding Fast to God the Father

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
   I will protect him, because he knows my name.
Psalm 91:14 English Standard Version

When our four-month-old grandson visited, we as grandparents had the pleasure of spending time with him and watching our daughter interact with him. At one point he started crying. So our daughter went through all the usual list of questions in order to determine what might be causing outburst. His diaper was clean. Check. He had just been fed. Check. He is not crying sharply as if in pain. Check. He is not tired. Check. He might be teething? Perhaps. He might just be restless. Maybe.

It is interesting though, when this little guy was picked up by his mamma, he was comforted. When she smiles at him he reacts. He wiggles. His eyes follow her. No matter the troubles bothering him, the bond of love brings great comfort to this little one.

What a beautiful image that is for us as Christians. We are like tiny babies in the presence of the Father Who is mighty, glorious, great, perfect, wise, righteous and loving. We squirm and fuss, we barely know what troubles our souls and we cry out, but He hears. He answers. In fact, unlike an earthly parent, He knows absolutely what is wrong even before a word is on our tongue or our minds know how to formulate what we want to say.

We hold fast to Him in love. We know He is the source of every good in our lives. Christ has been given so that we have a flesh and blood elder brother Who brings us into the presence of our beloved Father. The Father and the Son give us the Spirit Who lives in us so that the deepest needs of our heart, mind and souls are fully and deeply known by the Spirit. It is the Spirit Who prays deep within us, making even our most unformulated thoughts and needs known to our Father in heaven. Yet, what we realize by the powerful presence of the Spirit of God is that it is He, the Triune God, Who holds us fast—tightly to Himself

Sheltering LORD, the Refuge and Fortress of all who believe, with the writer of the Psalm we confess, “You are my God, in whom I trust”. Thank You that we live our lives under the shadow of Your wings and surrounded by Your guardian angels. Spirit of the Living God, increase our capacity to love Jesus Christ, so that we may hold ever more dearly and tightly to our Father in heaven until we are ultimately rescued from this life and world and in His presence, in the Light of His glory and that radiance of the Son we are satisfied with long life, salvation joy which stretches through eternity. Amen.
Today's prayer is composed using various phrases and expressions from Psalm 91

https://youtu.be/936BapRFHaQ

June 23, 2021 -- Ecclesiastes 9:10 & Romans 12:11 -- Throwing Down Procrastination

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Romans 12:11 ESV

Putting things off. Procrastinating. Avoiding. Finding other (sort of) worthwhile things to do instead of the very thing that keeps staring up at me from my desk. Perhaps you are just as familiar with this ability to evade specific, distasteful duties as I am? Seriously, sometimes I think if there were a prize for dodging certain duties I’d win it…but find several other things to do before I ever picked it up.

Ecclesiastes is blunt, while you live, do what is useful and necessary and do it with all focus and strength and perseverance until the task is completed. The reason appended to this is once you hit the grave, Sheol, there is no more work, no more second chances.

Romans picks this theme up and reinforces it with positive imperatives, commands. Our lives belong to the LORD. We are called to serve Him heart, soul, mind (using our imagination and our mental energies). Be zealous for good in the service of the LORD. Do not put off serving God as you do not know how long your life will be and what can overtake you in an instant. With your eye focused on the glory of God, your heart thankful for the work of Jesus Christ Who has set you free from the powers of hell, your hands and minds engaged by the powerful Spirit Who is present in you—serve the LORD. What you’d been dragging your feet about may, instead, be something quickly accomplished and set to right so that your time and your desk, your heart and your hands are freed for greater, zealous service to our King.

TRUE RELIGION

Lord God Almighty, 
I ask not to be enrolled amongst the earthly great and rich,
but to be numbered with the spiritually blessed.
Make it my present, supreme, persevering concern
   to obtain those blessings which are
   spiritual in their nature,
   eternal in their continuance,
   satisfying in their possession.
Preserve me from a false estimate of the whole
   or a part of my character;
May I pay regard to
   my principles as well as my conduct,
   my motives as well as my actions.
Help me
   never to mistake the excitement of my passions
   for the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
   never to judge my religion by occasional
   impressions and impulses, but by my
   constant and prevailing disposition.
May my heart be right with thee,
   and my life as becometh the gospel.
May I maintain a supreme regard to another
   and better world,
   and feel and confess myself a stranger
   and a pilgrim here.
Afford me all the direction, defence, support,
   and consolation my journey hence requires,
   and grant me a mind stayed upon thee.
Give me large abundance of the supply of
   the Spirit of Jesus,
   that I may be prepared for every duty,
   love thee in all my mercies,
   submit to thee in every trial,
   trust thee when walking in darkness,
   have peace in thee amidst life’s changes.
Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief
   and uncertainties.
"TRUE RELIGION" The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions, page 118

https://youtu.be/cxsPnNvRrQM

June 22, 2021 -- Isaiah 46:3-4 -- Sustained and Carried by Great Grace

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4 even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
Isaiah 46:3-4 ESV

It was a delightful, after church conversation. A young teenager chatting with a middle-aged man. She was complaining of the challenges of school math and fractions. The conversation suddenly switched to a light-hearted comparison of how old each person in this conversation was, and unfairly, the older gentleman asked the teen-ager, “Hm, how old do you think I am?” You could see her consider this question for a moment and she grasped for an age that seemed very mature, very old to her and she blurted out: “Thirty, at least!” He smiled and responded, “Bless you”. He is (nearly) 52.

Notice that the LORD of Heaven and Earth calls His people “Jacob” which means “he deceives” and “Israel” which means “he struggles, wrestles with God” The God of Mercy full-well knows our frailty and failings and from conception to the final breath we draw, He knows us, and carries us. In fact, “I will bear” refers to the carrying of a heavy load or burden”. Yet, for the LORD, we are not heavy nor burdensome. He declared the fact that He is ready, in every moment and every circumstance of our lives, to bring us to the fullness of His salvation. We can not accomplish this on our own. It is His work to save to the uttermost. Blessed be His glorious Name.

The 'Nevers' of the Gospel

O LORD,

May I never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth,
never rest in a system of doctrine, however
   scriptural, that does not bring or further salvation,
   or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts,
   or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;
never rely on my own convictions and resolutions,
   but be strong in thee and in thy might;
never cease to find thy grace sufficient
   in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;
never forget to repair to thee
   in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles,
   in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;
never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace
   and truth, the friend that loveth at all times,
   who is touched with feelings of my infirmities,
   and can do exceeding abundantly for me;
never confine my religion to extraordinary occasions,
   but acknowledge thee in all my ways;
never limit my devotions to particular seasons
   but be in thy fear all the day long;
never be godly only on the Sabbath
   or in thy house, but on every day abroad
   and at home;
never make piety a dress but a habit,
   not only a habit but a nature,
   not only a nature but a life.
Do good to me by all thy dispensations,
   by all means of grace,
   by worship, prayers, praises,
And at last let me enter that world where is
   no temple, but only thy glory
and the Lamb’s.
THE 'NEVERS' OF THE GOSPEL,
The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions, page 116

https://youtu.be/936BapRFHaQ