"He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles" (Proverbs 21:23). Let me tell you who is the "chief offender" of this proverb...ME. But don't laugh and point your fingers at me because some of you also have a little problem here.
With some of us, I don't understand, but it is so simple for us to open our mouth and stick our foot right in it! I think "wouldn't it be nice if words would flow slowly out of our month and we had the ability to grab them and stuff them back in?" Well, unlike the written word, once it is said, it cannot be returned.
I remember when I first became a Christian. I was concerned because I worked in a Steel Mill and was a United States Marine (not profiling here) and it seems like I could "cuss" the wallpaper off a wall. Seems like my vocabulary only offered "four letter" or "offensive" words and phrases. It was like I only knew about a dozen or so words.
I remember when God convicted me of speaking this way and how He helped me recover from this terrible way of communicating. He simply said to slow down my speaking to where I could actually hear the words I was preparing to say, in my head first. Kind of like an old phonograph record player. Some of you remember those things. They had different speeds for different sizes of records (some of you don't even know what a record is). Anyway there was 78 RPM's (revolutions per minute), 45 RPM's and a 33 1/3 RPM"s. Before Christianity I spoke at 78 revolutions per minute and I slowed my speech down to 33 1/3 RPM's and guess what? I was able to control the filth that came out of my mouth. Anyway, that was my method. I'm sure there are plenty of other ways.
Here's what seems important to me. James says, "...the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;..." (James 3:6) so we know not only from experience but from God's Word as well that the tongue is a "frightful" tool in the hands of a fool. However, James also says in verse 2 of the same chapter, that "...we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well."
The answer? Well, I'm kind of partial to my method, but really, whatever you need to do to keep your tongue "bridled" is what is best for you. Some of us may need to quit speaking all together for a while...Ha Ha! God wants to share in every part of your life as a Christian, and well it should be that way. But He desires to see your respect and love for one another (without cussing them up one side and down the other...LOL).
Speaking at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute isn't so bad. It really keeps the "flames off the tongue".
Dave
Crazy Papa
I'll make 'um an offer
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
I Trust You God!
I was just reading Psalms 56:3 & 4: "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?"
What an "awe-inspiring" Word from the Lord. As David opens this Psalm he says "...Fighting all day long he (Satan) oppresses me. My foes have trampled upon me all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me."
But, he say, "...I will put my trust in Thee." On a moment by moment basis, I find myself in this situation where I MUST put my trust in Him. How else could we survive. There are threats all around us, all the time. But God is in us, on us, beside us, and nothing that happens to us goes unnoticed by the great I AM.
Like David, I will rest in Him and His praise shall ever be in my mouth. If you are not at peace in the middle of your storm, you can know real peace and passion with the Lord in your heart. Jesus opened chapter 14 of John's Gospel by saying "Do not be afraid, you believe in God, believe also in Me."
In the middle of a total collapse, we have nothing to fear, for God is with us. Is He with you?
Dave
What an "awe-inspiring" Word from the Lord. As David opens this Psalm he says "...Fighting all day long he (Satan) oppresses me. My foes have trampled upon me all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me."
But, he say, "...I will put my trust in Thee." On a moment by moment basis, I find myself in this situation where I MUST put my trust in Him. How else could we survive. There are threats all around us, all the time. But God is in us, on us, beside us, and nothing that happens to us goes unnoticed by the great I AM.
Like David, I will rest in Him and His praise shall ever be in my mouth. If you are not at peace in the middle of your storm, you can know real peace and passion with the Lord in your heart. Jesus opened chapter 14 of John's Gospel by saying "Do not be afraid, you believe in God, believe also in Me."
In the middle of a total collapse, we have nothing to fear, for God is with us. Is He with you?
Dave
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Give Yourself
Today, inadvertently, my daughter-in-law reminded me of Isaiah 58:10 which says, "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like mid-day."
Here is the benefit which follows the performance of this ministry. If a person, a family, a people, steer themselves to things that help their fellow man, they find God, their bountiful rewarder and what they lay out in works of charity shall be abundantly made up to them.
1. God will surprise them with the return of mercy after great affliction, which shall be as welcome as the "light breaking out like the dawn" (verse 8).
2. God will put honour upon them. Good works shall be compensated with a good name; this is included in that light which "rises out of darkness" (verse 10).
The mathematical and scientific discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) are astronomical. Some of the most notable of his achievements include the invention of calculus, the discovery of the laws of motion and the law of gravitation, and the construction of the first reflecting telescope.
On the Bible he said:
"I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily." At the time of his death, he left more than a million words of notes on the Bible.
Sir Isaac Newton made enormous advances in life, but when I read about him, it seemed there was more to say about his faith and generosity than his achievements in life. Six years after his death, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and The Apocalypse of St. John was published. Not only was Isaac a great scientist but also a dedicated student of the Bible.
Why would anyone bring up a scientist like Sir Isaac Newton in a devotion. Well, I did because before our achievements, before our accomplishments in life, before our successes (or failures), there is a people surrounding us who are in real need. They struggle in life until we recognize the calling of God on our hearts to step in and help.
Who will pen the next commentary on prophecy or perhaps the next Apocalyptic allegory? We don't know. However, we do know those in need and God, in all of His infinate wisdom has chosen us to "stand in the gap". Someone needs you tonight! Can you hear their plea?
Dave
Here is the benefit which follows the performance of this ministry. If a person, a family, a people, steer themselves to things that help their fellow man, they find God, their bountiful rewarder and what they lay out in works of charity shall be abundantly made up to them.
1. God will surprise them with the return of mercy after great affliction, which shall be as welcome as the "light breaking out like the dawn" (verse 8).
2. God will put honour upon them. Good works shall be compensated with a good name; this is included in that light which "rises out of darkness" (verse 10).
The mathematical and scientific discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) are astronomical. Some of the most notable of his achievements include the invention of calculus, the discovery of the laws of motion and the law of gravitation, and the construction of the first reflecting telescope.
On the Bible he said:
"I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily." At the time of his death, he left more than a million words of notes on the Bible.
Sir Isaac Newton made enormous advances in life, but when I read about him, it seemed there was more to say about his faith and generosity than his achievements in life. Six years after his death, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and The Apocalypse of St. John was published. Not only was Isaac a great scientist but also a dedicated student of the Bible.
Why would anyone bring up a scientist like Sir Isaac Newton in a devotion. Well, I did because before our achievements, before our accomplishments in life, before our successes (or failures), there is a people surrounding us who are in real need. They struggle in life until we recognize the calling of God on our hearts to step in and help.
Who will pen the next commentary on prophecy or perhaps the next Apocalyptic allegory? We don't know. However, we do know those in need and God, in all of His infinate wisdom has chosen us to "stand in the gap". Someone needs you tonight! Can you hear their plea?
Dave
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tell them I AM sent you!
You remember the holy ground "burning bush" experience of Moses' back in Exodus Chapter 3? This is where Moses met God and was told what his mission was to be. Moses stood in awe at the very presence of the Lord God as He explains His concern for the "affliction" of His people.
And Moses begins to ask questions of God saying, "who am I that you should send me" and then Moses asked one of the most thought provoking questions in God's Holy Word. He said in verse 13 "...Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, What is His name? What shall I say to them?" Not an unreasonable question. If I go to someone and give instruction from another, most likely they will want to know who this instruction comes from so Moses is saying, "Who do I tell them you are?"
"And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM; and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you" (v. 14). I AM sent me! Hummm. What a profound response for a finite being to have to discern. God had already told Moses back in verse 6 that "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." So God says, "tell them, I AM sent you..."
But what does that mean exactly? Well I'll tell you from years of listening and studying what I think it means! I think it means, "you need strength, I AM strength, you need courage, I AM courage, you need wisdom, I AM wisdom, you need peace, I AM peace! Whatever it is that you need Moses, I AM! And then in verse 15, God tells Moses "This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations." And all throughout the Bible we see "I AM", one of the most powerful names given to our Lord God.
We see in the New Testament places where Jesus used the name "I AM". In the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verses 24, 28, 58, and then again when it is proclaimed in Hebrews 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and yes forever." The most famous usage of the name was in the garden when the Roman guards came to Jesus as He prayed and Jesus asked them "Whom do you seek?" (Jn 18:4) and Jesus told them, "I am He," and upon Him just speaking His name, the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground. Two more times in the garden Jesus referred to Himself as "I AM"!
What does all of this mean and where is God going with such a profound use of the phrase "I AM" as His name? Well, here's what I think. You are standing beside someone who had just lost their spouse to cancer, or perhaps a little child to an accident and the grief is so "entrenched" that there are no words to offer to bring peace. Maybe they just lost their job or one spouse has decided "enough is enough" and has packed up and walked away from the family. They don't care to hear a busy dissertation on who God is or why this happened. They just need to know that "I AM" the most powerful source in the universe is "standing in the gap" and when they want to share their grief, He (I AM) will not fail them. He will be there to be for them, whatever it is they need, so they can get through their trial. What do you need? I AM peace, I AM love, I AM grace, I AM your Father and I loved you enough to send My Son to Calvary so you would not have to go.
Are you being "eaten up" from the inside today because of a trial that is SO MUCH bigger than you and you think you just can't take it anymore? I AM, the God of Creation waits patiently, as He did way back with Moses, to assure you that HE has you in His hands.
Dave
And Moses begins to ask questions of God saying, "who am I that you should send me" and then Moses asked one of the most thought provoking questions in God's Holy Word. He said in verse 13 "...Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, What is His name? What shall I say to them?" Not an unreasonable question. If I go to someone and give instruction from another, most likely they will want to know who this instruction comes from so Moses is saying, "Who do I tell them you are?"
"And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM; and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you" (v. 14). I AM sent me! Hummm. What a profound response for a finite being to have to discern. God had already told Moses back in verse 6 that "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." So God says, "tell them, I AM sent you..."
But what does that mean exactly? Well I'll tell you from years of listening and studying what I think it means! I think it means, "you need strength, I AM strength, you need courage, I AM courage, you need wisdom, I AM wisdom, you need peace, I AM peace! Whatever it is that you need Moses, I AM! And then in verse 15, God tells Moses "This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations." And all throughout the Bible we see "I AM", one of the most powerful names given to our Lord God.
We see in the New Testament places where Jesus used the name "I AM". In the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verses 24, 28, 58, and then again when it is proclaimed in Hebrews 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and yes forever." The most famous usage of the name was in the garden when the Roman guards came to Jesus as He prayed and Jesus asked them "Whom do you seek?" (Jn 18:4) and Jesus told them, "I am He," and upon Him just speaking His name, the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground. Two more times in the garden Jesus referred to Himself as "I AM"!
What does all of this mean and where is God going with such a profound use of the phrase "I AM" as His name? Well, here's what I think. You are standing beside someone who had just lost their spouse to cancer, or perhaps a little child to an accident and the grief is so "entrenched" that there are no words to offer to bring peace. Maybe they just lost their job or one spouse has decided "enough is enough" and has packed up and walked away from the family. They don't care to hear a busy dissertation on who God is or why this happened. They just need to know that "I AM" the most powerful source in the universe is "standing in the gap" and when they want to share their grief, He (I AM) will not fail them. He will be there to be for them, whatever it is they need, so they can get through their trial. What do you need? I AM peace, I AM love, I AM grace, I AM your Father and I loved you enough to send My Son to Calvary so you would not have to go.
Are you being "eaten up" from the inside today because of a trial that is SO MUCH bigger than you and you think you just can't take it anymore? I AM, the God of Creation waits patiently, as He did way back with Moses, to assure you that HE has you in His hands.
Dave
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Heaven Is NOT Good Enough
Now please, before the hair on the back of your necks, starts on fire, please continue reading. I am trying to make a point and I am sure it will surface within this devotion. Over 58 years of life, I have heard my share of complaints. In fact, I've had a lot of complaints and temper tantrums myself. For twenty-five years I was in the Insurance Industry and then I was a Regional Sales Manager for a car rental company so I have heard, what seems to me to be "every possible" complaint and even more than two sides, from time to time.
We in America, live in a "lush" continually producing country. Granted, we have our share of problems but consider the alternatives. Each of us could have been born in a "3rd World" country and not privileged to the things and opportunities that we currently have. Now those of you thinking from a political point of view, take a deep breath and clear your mind of what is happening in the world today because it has nothing to do with what I want to discuss (maybe some of the people but none of the current events).
Take myself for example. After all, if I cannot laugh at myself, why would I be allowed to laugh at you. Some time back, my wife listed and sold for me a perfectly good laptop computer on eBay and the reason she did was because I saw one with more "bells and whistles" than that one so I needed, quickly to get rid of it and purchase the one I am currently typing on (by the way, "It Is Awesome"). But I had the other one for almost a year and it was becoming "less than new" and less of a novelty for me so I wanted this new one, and I wanted it NOW! Well, I have it and honestly, it does the exact same things the older one did, perhaps a little faster and with the ability to store a little bit more stuff, but for the most part, it is the same thing.
In the world, we are like this very much of the time. "The soup is too cold", "the pizza is too hot", "I wasn't thinking the job would be this hard"...etc. We are a world of complainers. "I hurt over here and just yesterday a guy in the store stepped on my foot right where I already have a sore and I just cannot get it to stop throbbing"! I don't know if we have enough food for the rest of the week, I'm not sure but I think we have more month left than money, if only God would let me have this thing or that thing I truly believe the entire family would be much more happy. The doctor said it was "cancer" and I believe I could have handled it better if I just new what was going to happen to me now. How do I tell my wife I lost my job today? Especially when that guy in the next cubical has been a screw-off for years and he is still working there. Why did that car have to stop so quickly in front of me? Get the picture? I'm sure I don't need to go any further. We have it all, but we want more of "it"! So, getting the "jest" of the kind of complainers we really are, why would we believe that Heaven IS good enough?
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 15:13,14 "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up. Let them alone (speaking of the Pharisees); they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (my point here is these complaints are ones NOT planted by God but created in our own minds). I think that I actually fall into this category sometimes, like "the blind leading the blind". I have a complaint for every category. In fact, I am good at creating "spreadsheets" in Microsoft Excel. I should create one to keep track of all the times I complain and then all the times I fail to recognize that I have been blessed by God.
Check out this passage of scripture in John 8:12-19 which says "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying. "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." ("the light of the life"...just take a moment to think of that issue alone). The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "you are bearing witness of Yourself; (your mind seems to be fix on yourself; what about the rest of us. Your only thinking of yourself). Your witness is not true." Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or where I am going. You people judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and He who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written, that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of me." (so we not only create all of our own complaints but we also look for others to help back up our complaints). And so they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" and Jesus answered, "You know neither Me, nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." BINGO!!! But I DO know the Father, so what is my complaint?
You don't know Me so why do you complain about me? For three years these Pharisees walked around complaining about Jesus and continually tried to find something to "pin" on Him so they could have Him put to death. They new the law; they were in charge and "they" had all the answers to eternity, so why would this heaven that Jesus spoke of be better than what they had in mind?
Sometimes I get a little "deep" in my thinking so slow me down when you need to. I'm just trying to say that, just like the Pharisees, we gripe and complain, sometimes about the smallest things (one laptop over another - I should probably be glad I have one...not everybody does), when there is so much more and so much "better" in store for us as children of the King. The Pharisees were working toward a kingdom of mankind. Jesus was securing our very souls.
Every since being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, I feel like I have been fairly "upbeat" about the prospects of a shorter life here on good old planet earth but I still really have my share of complaints.
Let me remind everyone of what Paul said. We all know about Paul and some of the discomforts he experienced. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 he said, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." I've got a feeling that the Pharisees could only see the "temporal" and had a real problem with the "eternal"! (BTW, it's sometimes a pain typing as slow as I do). Oops, there I go again.
Well heaven may not have been good enough for some of these guys in the Bible, but it sure is good enough for a guy like me who's only act toward earning entrance was accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thanks for enduring this one. Hope it made sense to you.
Dave
We in America, live in a "lush" continually producing country. Granted, we have our share of problems but consider the alternatives. Each of us could have been born in a "3rd World" country and not privileged to the things and opportunities that we currently have. Now those of you thinking from a political point of view, take a deep breath and clear your mind of what is happening in the world today because it has nothing to do with what I want to discuss (maybe some of the people but none of the current events).
Take myself for example. After all, if I cannot laugh at myself, why would I be allowed to laugh at you. Some time back, my wife listed and sold for me a perfectly good laptop computer on eBay and the reason she did was because I saw one with more "bells and whistles" than that one so I needed, quickly to get rid of it and purchase the one I am currently typing on (by the way, "It Is Awesome"). But I had the other one for almost a year and it was becoming "less than new" and less of a novelty for me so I wanted this new one, and I wanted it NOW! Well, I have it and honestly, it does the exact same things the older one did, perhaps a little faster and with the ability to store a little bit more stuff, but for the most part, it is the same thing.
In the world, we are like this very much of the time. "The soup is too cold", "the pizza is too hot", "I wasn't thinking the job would be this hard"...etc. We are a world of complainers. "I hurt over here and just yesterday a guy in the store stepped on my foot right where I already have a sore and I just cannot get it to stop throbbing"! I don't know if we have enough food for the rest of the week, I'm not sure but I think we have more month left than money, if only God would let me have this thing or that thing I truly believe the entire family would be much more happy. The doctor said it was "cancer" and I believe I could have handled it better if I just new what was going to happen to me now. How do I tell my wife I lost my job today? Especially when that guy in the next cubical has been a screw-off for years and he is still working there. Why did that car have to stop so quickly in front of me? Get the picture? I'm sure I don't need to go any further. We have it all, but we want more of "it"! So, getting the "jest" of the kind of complainers we really are, why would we believe that Heaven IS good enough?
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 15:13,14 "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up. Let them alone (speaking of the Pharisees); they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (my point here is these complaints are ones NOT planted by God but created in our own minds). I think that I actually fall into this category sometimes, like "the blind leading the blind". I have a complaint for every category. In fact, I am good at creating "spreadsheets" in Microsoft Excel. I should create one to keep track of all the times I complain and then all the times I fail to recognize that I have been blessed by God.
Check out this passage of scripture in John 8:12-19 which says "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying. "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." ("the light of the life"...just take a moment to think of that issue alone). The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "you are bearing witness of Yourself; (your mind seems to be fix on yourself; what about the rest of us. Your only thinking of yourself). Your witness is not true." Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or where I am going. You people judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and He who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written, that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of me." (so we not only create all of our own complaints but we also look for others to help back up our complaints). And so they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" and Jesus answered, "You know neither Me, nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." BINGO!!! But I DO know the Father, so what is my complaint?
You don't know Me so why do you complain about me? For three years these Pharisees walked around complaining about Jesus and continually tried to find something to "pin" on Him so they could have Him put to death. They new the law; they were in charge and "they" had all the answers to eternity, so why would this heaven that Jesus spoke of be better than what they had in mind?
Sometimes I get a little "deep" in my thinking so slow me down when you need to. I'm just trying to say that, just like the Pharisees, we gripe and complain, sometimes about the smallest things (one laptop over another - I should probably be glad I have one...not everybody does), when there is so much more and so much "better" in store for us as children of the King. The Pharisees were working toward a kingdom of mankind. Jesus was securing our very souls.
Every since being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, I feel like I have been fairly "upbeat" about the prospects of a shorter life here on good old planet earth but I still really have my share of complaints.
Let me remind everyone of what Paul said. We all know about Paul and some of the discomforts he experienced. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 he said, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." I've got a feeling that the Pharisees could only see the "temporal" and had a real problem with the "eternal"! (BTW, it's sometimes a pain typing as slow as I do). Oops, there I go again.
Well heaven may not have been good enough for some of these guys in the Bible, but it sure is good enough for a guy like me who's only act toward earning entrance was accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thanks for enduring this one. Hope it made sense to you.
Dave
Monday, May 3, 2010
Because He Cares For Us
Peter takes the opportunity to express his heart as he shares important words of wisdom in First Peter 5: 6,7. Please read this passage carefully and see how it applies to you this day:
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you."
I believe that humility is a discipline in one's life. I say that because it is so easy to do something that is wonderful, receive marvelous reviews and immediately find ourselves "puffed up" as a result of the complements. Humility means "the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc." Humility is synonymous with lowliness, meekness, and submissiveness. That "puffed up" feeling is the exact opposite of humility which is better known as "pride in one's self achievements".
Our ministry, as mentioned in this passage operates "under the mighty hand of God..." and therefore places the pride or boastfulness of achievement in the "oneness" of God. When Jesus walked with the disciples He explained that "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work" (Jn. 4:34). And Jesus fully expected that His exaltation would come, "at the proper time".
Also here, Peter implores us to "cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us." I think that by using all of my fingers and toes, I can count the number of people on this earth that I know "care for me" and I could possibly have some "digits" left over. That doesn't mean that there are NOT a lot of people who care for me but Peter is telling us that this "care of the Father" is not earthly and it took sending His Son, Jesus Christ to the cross at Calvary, to show how much He did, indeed care for us. So our anxiety, our worry, our concerns about day to day trivial matters, are very low on God's list of concerns for us. He struck ONE BLOW here on earth, using His own Son, to fulfill all of His concerns for us.
So Peter simply says, "you can rest in this"! I rest in this! I know that in the middle of a storm, that I need not be anxious because "HE CARES FOR ME"!
Dave
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you."
I believe that humility is a discipline in one's life. I say that because it is so easy to do something that is wonderful, receive marvelous reviews and immediately find ourselves "puffed up" as a result of the complements. Humility means "the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc." Humility is synonymous with lowliness, meekness, and submissiveness. That "puffed up" feeling is the exact opposite of humility which is better known as "pride in one's self achievements".
Our ministry, as mentioned in this passage operates "under the mighty hand of God..." and therefore places the pride or boastfulness of achievement in the "oneness" of God. When Jesus walked with the disciples He explained that "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work" (Jn. 4:34). And Jesus fully expected that His exaltation would come, "at the proper time".
Also here, Peter implores us to "cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us." I think that by using all of my fingers and toes, I can count the number of people on this earth that I know "care for me" and I could possibly have some "digits" left over. That doesn't mean that there are NOT a lot of people who care for me but Peter is telling us that this "care of the Father" is not earthly and it took sending His Son, Jesus Christ to the cross at Calvary, to show how much He did, indeed care for us. So our anxiety, our worry, our concerns about day to day trivial matters, are very low on God's list of concerns for us. He struck ONE BLOW here on earth, using His own Son, to fulfill all of His concerns for us.
So Peter simply says, "you can rest in this"! I rest in this! I know that in the middle of a storm, that I need not be anxious because "HE CARES FOR ME"!
Dave
Trying To Keep My Commitment
Those of you who have read my blog before know that I tried to write a devotion every single day so that I could have one for every day of the year. My illness, to some extent, has prevented me from making this commitment and tonight I am going to attempt to finish that promise I made to God and myself and complete this project.
I will attempt, beginning tonight, to complete those 365 devotions and hopefully those who have been so faithful in the past will return once again to read God's Word from my heart.
Because my trial is so extremely difficult, I should not "promise" that I can keep up but I am making a firm commitment tonight to try my best. Please read and be blessed as God continues to speak to us through His Holy Word.
God's Richest Blessings,
Dave
I will attempt, beginning tonight, to complete those 365 devotions and hopefully those who have been so faithful in the past will return once again to read God's Word from my heart.
Because my trial is so extremely difficult, I should not "promise" that I can keep up but I am making a firm commitment tonight to try my best. Please read and be blessed as God continues to speak to us through His Holy Word.
God's Richest Blessings,
Dave
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