The Shepherd’s Care for His Sheep

Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. ² He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. ³ He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. ⁴ Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. ⁵ You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. ⁶ For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.

What words come to mind when you think about a valley? The first part of Psalm 23 paints a picture of green pastures and abundant waters. It’s a restful, sheltered, and restorative place where every need is met and God’s care is evident. Some valleys, however, are inhospitable passages with deep shadows and restricted views of what lies ahead. In the “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4), travelers feel vulnerable to all sorts of dangers.

For the Christian, green pastures and dark valleys are both a part of life. There are times when God’s abundant outward blessings are obvious, and we respond in joy and gratitude. But on other occasions, we’re surrounded by darkness, loss, and pain. Obscured by shadows, the path to the future is filled with fearful uncertainties—the way seems long, with no end in sight.

However, the same Shepherd who cares for us in the green pasture also remains by our side in the dismal valley and leads us though. No circumstance can keep His goodness and lovingkindness from us. We can count on His comfort and protection throughout life’s journey—until we safely reach our Father’s house. 

Getting Rid of Guilt

Philippians 3:13
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead

Over the years – I’ve known a number of people who have had a hard time dealing with the guilt of the past – the guilt of past sins. Several have talked to me about it. This is one of the biggest issues many of us face – forgetting the past and straining toward the future. Some of us tend to live in the past and the past – most often – will only hold us down and hold us back. Forgiving ourselves is often the problem. Long after we have confessed our sin to God and repented (grieved and turned away from our sin) of our sins – and God has offered grace and mercy – we still tend to hang on to the guilt – at times. Anyone with me this morning? How about Sunday – did the message speak to this subject? (Listen to the service here.)

Read more: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2021/01/26/getting-rid-of-guilt/

How to Deal with Anxiety

A Broadcast with R.C. Sproul

Nothing dispels our fears like a renewed understanding of the promises and presence of God. Today, R.C. Sproul gives insight into our fears and presents the Bible’s means of acquiring peace.

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Prayer when God is Silent

by Michael Summers

A call for fire signals a longing for rescue, a desperate need for security and evidence that we are not alone in the battle. Whether a soldier sends out a request for artillery fire, close air support, or reinforcements, or a hurting individual or group prays for relief, the caller for fire craves a quick response, an acknowledgement that they are not alone in the battle. They want a sign that help is coming, that there is purpose in continuing to fight.

The lament that we call Psalm 28 is that kind of call for fire. Its sender (composer) confesses fear that no response will come, that God will ignore the message. The psalmist addresses God as the root of security. God is a Rock, but the prayer reveals uncertainty as to whether footing will be secure. A sense of desperation is tangible:

“To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place” (Psalm 28:1-2).

In radio communication, a frantic call for aid may not be heard if it is sent out on the wrong frequency. The sender waits vainly for a response to a message that his or her headquarters never heard. In prayer, our expectations may be so firmly defined that we refuse to acknowledge any other indication that our God answered our request. We may be so convinced of the justice of our own cause that we ignore evidence to the contrary and so plead for something that is contrary to God’s will. In this prayer, the psalmist signals his fear of hearing no answer by urging God not to ignore him, by identifying God’s silence as a death sentence, by stressing repeatedly his need for his cry for mercy to be heard.

He fears that God will ignore him and punish him as if he were one of their common enemy, the wicked. He fears being taken out by divine “friendly fire.” In good call for fire format, he identifies the enemy, asks for specific appropriate action against them, and explains the reason for such action. He prays,

“Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve” (Psalm 28:3-4).

Continue at: https://callforfireseminar.wordpress.com/2021/01/29/prayer-when-god-is-silent/

Handling God’s Word Accurately

2 Timothy 2:14-15 ¹⁴ Tell your people about these things again. In the name of the Lord, tell them not to argue over words that are not important. It helps no one and it hurts the faith of those who are listening. ¹⁵ Do your best to know that God is pleased with you. Be as a workman who has nothing to be ashamed of. Teach the words of truth in the right way.

The Bible is an amazing book because it is God’s words given to mankind in written form. Yet many people misinterpret it. Instead of diligently studying Scripture to discover what God means and how He wants us to live, some people search the Bible to find passages to support their preconceived ideas or preferred lifestyles.

Today’s passage was written to a young pastor named Timothy. Of all the duties a pastor has, the central one is to present the Word of God accurately to the church. But that doesn’t mean nobody else can—knowing how to properly interpret the Bible is a skill every believer should develop. Consider the diligence of the Bereans, who were commended for examining Scripture regularly to gauge the truth of messages preached to them (¹⁰ At once the Christians sent Paul and Silas away at night to the city of Berea. When they got there, they went to the Jewish place of worship. ¹¹ These Jews were more willing to understand than those in the city of Thessalonica. They were very glad to hear the Word of God, and they looked into the Scriptures daily to see if those things were true. Acts 17:10-11).

We aren’t free to interpret the Bible any way we want. The goal is to discover what God meant rather than to find a meaning we like. Remember, it’s our Father’s approval we are seeking—not our own or that of others. Therefore, let’s devote time to studying Scripture, use our resources to learn about context, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to the truth.

What Does It Look Like to Be a Cross Bearer?

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2021/01/look-like-cross-bearer/

Four Biblical Questions to Help You Better Study the Bible

The Bible has long fascinated (and rightfully so) Christians for 2000 years. But how can you study it better? How do you get the most out of what God has revealed about Himself, creation, sin, the human condition, and so many other things in Scripture? While there are a number of helpful ways to dig into and get the most out of Scripture, there are four biblical questions you can ask that come from Scripture itself.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:6-17

Let’s key in on those four words that Paul used: teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. Paul says Scripture is incredibly useful and profitable in these four areas. What do those words mean in the original language?

Teaching – to impart knowledge or skill
Rebuking – an act or expression of criticism or censure
Correcting – the act of offering an improvement (according to a standard) to replace a mistake
Training – the whole education and instruction of a disciple (both the cultivation of mind and morals); understood as the rearing and education of children

 

Read the whole blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/newwineskins/four-biblical-questions-to-ask-when-youre-studying-the-bible/

Our God Is Able

Jude 1:24-25

²⁴ There is One Who can keep you from falling and can bring you before Himself free from all sin. He can give you great joy as you stand before Him in His glory. ²⁵ He is the only God. He is the One Who saves from the punishment of sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. May He have glory and honor and power and the right to do all things. He had this before the world began, He has it now, and He will have this forever. Let it be so.

Unfortunately, there are times when, no matter how hard we try or how talented we may be, we fail. How are we to succeed when the odds are against us? For believers in Christ Jesus, the answer is to live with the knowledge that God works despite our weaknesses.

In Genesis, Sarah doubted when the Lord prophesied the birth of her son. “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” He replied (Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Gen. 18:14). Within a year, Sarah gave birth to baby Isaac. She saw that God was able.

Moses was scared when God sent him to Pharaoh to demand that the Hebrew slaves be released. “Who am I,” he asked, “that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11). God replied that He Himself would release Israel, which He did in a miraculous way. Moses saw that God was able.

On our own, we can accomplish nothing ( I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me. John 15:5). But with God, we have access to power beyond our comprehension (Both riches and honor come from You. You rule over all. Power and strength are in Your hand. The power is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:12). If you are overcome by burdens in your life, it is time to trust the only One who can carry your heavy load (²⁸ “Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. ²⁹ Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.” Matt. 11:28-30). Then you will see for yourself that He is able.

Be Passionate, Not Passive

From David Jeremiah He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6 Years ago when Brad Hathaway of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, was in his mid-fifties, his doctor suggested he start walking as a way to deal with his diabetes and heart problems. Hathaway took the advice seriously and determined to walk around the circumference of the earth—not literally, but in equivalent distance. Day after day and year after year, Hathaway walked through rain and shine, anywhere from three to ten miles every day. Last fall, he finished mile number 24,901. To great local fanfare, he had walked the exact distance of the equator’s band around the earth. His current age is 88.

“As time went on, walking got a little harder,” he said. “I had a walking stick for a few years and now I have this walker to help me walk.”[1] It’s impossible to make progress in our Christian walk if we don’t make the effort to live with discipline, obedience, holiness, love, the input of truth, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We have to work on our Christian walk. We’re God’s channels on earth, but we’re not simply passive pipelines. We are onward-bound servants. If you walk with God, and keep close to him, you will be sure to go in the right way. Henry Scudder

4 Misconceptions about Contentment

Wandering in Unbelief

One of our greatest struggles with contentment is that we often have an incorrect picture of what it means to be content. It’s helpful to understand what something is not in order to have a more correct understanding of what it is. Paul learned contentment, but we can gain a better picture of what that really looked like from what he shared about his life with the churches to whom he wrote. From Paul’s letters, below are four things contentment is not.

The blog to read is at: https://www.crossway.org/articles/4-misconceptions-about-contentment/