My Help Comes From The Lord

From: Our Daily Bread

  January 20, 2018  

Read: Psalm 121 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 49–50; Matthew 13:31–58

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

For decades the renowned Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has blessed multitudes through their soul-refreshing gospel songs. One example is their recording from Psalm 121 titled “My Help.”

Psalm 121 begins with a personal confession of faith in the Lord who brought all things into existence, and He was the source of the psalmist’s help (vv. 1–2). Just what did this mean? Stability (v. 3), around-the-clock care (vv. 3–4), constant presence and protection (vv. 5–6), and preservation from all kinds of evil for time and eternity (vv. 7–8).

Father, thank You that You are our source of help.

Taking their cues from Scripture, God’s people through the ages have identified the Lord as their source of “help” through their songs. My own worship experience includes lifting my voice with others who sang a soulful rendition of Charles Wesley’s, “Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, no other help I know; if Thou withdraw Thyself from me, ah! whither shall I go.” The great reformer Martin Luther got it right when he penned the words, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.”

Do you feel alone, forsaken, abandoned, confused? Ponder the lyrics of Psalm 121. Allow these words to fill your soul with faith and courage. You’re not alone, so don’t try to do life on your own. Rather, rejoice in the earthly and eternal care of God as demonstrated in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And whatever the next steps, take them with His help.

Father, how grateful we are that Scripture and song remind us that You are our source of help. Help me to not forget that this day.

The Maker of the universe is the helper of God’s people!

Vision and Darkness

By Oswald Chambers

 

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. —Genesis 15:12

Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light— that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).

Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God…”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.

Broad rivers and streams

From: Charles Spurgeon, and Biblegateway.com

‘Look upon Zion … thine eyes shall see Jerusalem … there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.’ Isaiah 33:20–22

Suggested Further Reading: Exodus 14:10–31

In 1588, when the Armada sailed towards Britain, God blew with his winds and all Spain’s mighty hosts were broken, and God’s favoured isle was free. We were doubtless spared the horrors of war under Napoleon because of the Channel. It was especially so in the old times of ancient warfare; then a narrow trench was almost as useful as a broad channel would be now, for they had no ready means of crossing, though on old Assyrian sculptures we see galleys with oars crossing over rivers, and we have one or two sculptures, I believe, in the British Museum, of the Assyrian king turning the river into another channel so that he might the more easily take the city. But still, rivers were for a defence. O beloved, what a defence is God to his church! Ah, the devil cannot cross this broad river of God. Between me and you, O fiend of hell, is my God. Do remember this, Christian; between you and your arch-enemy is your God; Satan has to stand on the other side, and how he wishes he could dry up that stream, but God is omnipotent. How he wishes he could change the current, but fear not, for God abides immutably the same. How he wishes he could get at you and me; but only once let us get safe landed in Zion, we may look over its walls across the broad rivers and streams, and remember that we are out of gunshot of the enemy so far as our spiritual existence is concerned. He cannot destroy us; worry us he may; for we are such timid souls, but kill he cannot, for God, even our mighty God keeps us safe beyond all possibility of destruction.

For meditation: Others may have assumed the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ or even undermined it—‘Defender of faith’—but God is the true and everlasting defender of his people (Psalm 5:11; 20:1; 59:1; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6; Zechariah 12:8).

Spectacular Provision

From: Our Daily Journey

 Jan 17, 2018 

Read:

From: Our Daily Journey

Genesis 1:11-13,29-30
Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food (Genesis 1:29).

Once while on a trip visiting some friends in a village in China, we trekked deeper and deeper into the forest, venturing farther and farther away from the village. After an hour or so, we heard the deafening roar of a waterfall. Quickening our steps, we soon reached a clearing and were greeted by the beautiful vision of a rushing curtain of white water flowing over gray rocks. Spectacular!

Our friends suggested we enjoy a picnic there. It sounded like a great idea, except where was the food? None of us had packed as much as a snack. But soon we got to work, some of us picking up wood and starting a fire, while others disappeared into the surrounding forest to look for food. As the fire began to blaze, they returned with an assortment of fruits and vegetables—even some freshly caught fish!

That day, I had a better glimpse of the meaning of Genesis 1:29 in which God declared, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.” In Singapore we have access to produce from all over the world in our grocery stores and markets. But that day, I relied directly on the earth for food and was able to try unfamiliar but delicious exotic fruits and vegetables.

Creation declares God’s extravagant provision, clearly displaying proof of His generosity through “all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit” that He’s given to us (Genesis 1:12).

Are there moments where you find it hard to trust God to meet your needs? Just consider the variety of fruits and vegetables in our world! Our God has provided so much for us—physically and spiritually. May we trust and rest in His loving provision.

Supreme Over All

From: Our Daily Journey

  Jan 16, 2018  

Read:

From: Our Daily Journey

Colossians 1:13-22
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1:15).

A few years ago, I learned about a type of protein found in humans and animals called laminin. This protein, positioned outside cells, provides support for cells inside organs. Because laminin has the ability to bind like glue with other proteins and cells, it provides a vital role in holding tissues and organs together. Interestingly, when viewed from a specific angle, laminin has a shape similar to that of a cross.

Thinking about this protein’s crucial function reminded me of Paul’s description of Jesus as the one who “holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:17). Paul gave this awe-inspiring description of Jesus to counteract the various false teachings influencing the small church of Colossae to rely on things other than Jesus, the One who is far above all others (Colossians 1:18). Through the Spirit’s inspiration, Paul highlighted Jesus as the only Source, Sustainer, and Savior of creation (Colossians 1:16-19).

Jesus is the creation’s Source because He was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2) and “through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth” (Colossians 1:16). He’s the Sustainer because “he holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:17). Far from being distant from what He’s made, Jesus is involved in every aspect of it. Finally, He’s the Savior because through His sacrifice on the cross “God reconciled everything to himself” (Colossians 1:20).

Although human sin has wounded creation, Jesus, the Source, Sustainer, and Savior is restoring all things. Because of Him, we can stand “blameless . . . before [God]” (Colossians 1:22) as we live for Him. This is an amazing yet true reality, not just in the future or after we die but right now!

Old Self, New Self

From: Our Daily Journey

  Jan 15, 2018  

Read:

Ephesians 4:17-25
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life . . . . Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:22-24).

I once was treated to a makeover in which a generous friend not only bought me gorgeous clothes, but arranged for a swanky haircut and new makeup. Giggling and thanking her, I swished around my stylish tresses. My friend knew I had recently made some life changes so that I could better follow Christ and wanted to celebrate by helping me feel beautiful not only on the inside but on the outside too. It was a truly special moment. I knew that those who follow Jesus don’t need a makeover to reveal God’s presence to others, but my friend’s gesture gave me a visual reminder that when we submit our lives to Him our lives are transformed.

As the apostle Paul wrote in many of his letters, believers in Jesus are continually transformed to be like Him. But, as we see in Ephesians 4, we are not passive in the process. In the original language, the verbs for resisting our old patterns and being made new in our minds are all active. “Throw off your old sinful nature . . . . Put onyour new nature” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

As we grow, we must continually embrace the “new self” we have in Him, instead of returning to the person we are on our own—our “old self.” Because it’s easy to fall back into the old habits we had before knowing Jesus, we need to submit to the Spirit’s transformation continually.

And we are changed, inside out, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This is a freeing message, for daily transformation means we can become more like Christ moment by moment. We don’t have to be stuck in the mire of sinful patterns of behavior. Through the Holy Spirit’s power we can embrace a truly new way of life.

Knowing and Loving

From: Our Daily Bread

Read: John 10:7–16 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 33–35; Matthew 10:1–20

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” is the message of one of Christian music’s most enduring songs, particularly for children. Written by Anna B. Warner in the 1800s, this lyric tenderly affirms our relationship with Him—we are loved.

Someone gave my wife a plaque for our home that gives these words a fresh twist by flipping that simple idea. It reads, “Jesus knows me, this I love.” This provides a different perspective on our relationship with Him—we are known.

The wonder of it all—just to think that Jesus loves me!

In ancient Israel, loving and knowing the sheep distinguished a true shepherd from a hired hand. The shepherd spent so much time with his sheep that he developed an abiding care for and a deep knowledge of his lambs. Little wonder then that Jesus tells His own, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. . . . My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:14, 27).

He knows us and He loves us! We can trust Jesus’s purposes for us and rest in the promise of His care because His Father “knows what [we] need before [we] ask him” (Matthew 6:8). As you deal with the ups and downs of life today, be at rest. You are known and loved by the Shepherd of your heart.

Dear Lord, thank You for how You tenderly love and care for me. Help me to trust You in all areas of my life.

The wonder of it all—just to think that Jesus loves me!