Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
July 2004
July 9, 2004
After a grueling, tiring trip to Louisiana where Ruth and I attempted
to get my recently deceased brother's 'estate' in order, Psalm 9:9 is
refreshing: The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times
of trouble.
In one of the Southern States, we passed a correctional facility with
enough barbed wire to fence in Texas (it seemed!), and enough guard towers
to watch over Jerusalem (it seemed!)! David's description of the Lord
as a 'refuge' refers to a high tower; a secure height from where all potential
enemies could easily be spotted, allowing time for warning the people,
and giving time to plan any offensive and/or defensive measures to be
taken. The Lord is definitely such a refuge for us, isn't He? We find
refuge not only in Him, but in His name as well (John 16:24). This is
of great importance for the child of God who is in need of help or intervention;
for hopefully, we have already realized that the help of man is worthless
(Psalm 108:12).
In the fuller context of revealed scriptures, however, there is also a
responsibility to be carried out on our part: .....I will deliver you,
and you will honor me. (Psalm 50:15)
Gracious Father, seated with You in the secure heights of heavenly
places (Colossians 3:1-3), we find our refuge and grace to help in our
times of need (Hebrews 4:16). Oh, how we love You! Grant us grace to honor
You through lives lived for Your glory! In Jesus' name, Amen.
July 12, 2004
Psalm 12:1 reveals a frighteningly sad scenario: Help, Lord, for the godly
are not more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
Actually, those could be the words of the comparatively faithful 'few'
of God's people today, couldn't they? When I think back to my childhood
and how freely my brothers and I sang Christian songs and gave personal
testimonies in the public school auditorium of what Jesus meant to us,
I am almost stunned at how far we have gone in the opposite direction
from that freedom. Some Christians today won't even get involved in 'religious'
conversation lest charges be brought against them for violating someone
else's 'freedom'. Solomon said, Many a man claims to have unfailing love,
but a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6). What if there were no
righteous people left who called for justice? None who pleaded cases with
integrity? None who spoke wisely and relied on the truth? None from whom
blessing and good flowed by the power of God? (See Jeremiah 59:4) What
if there were only rebellion and treachery, some turning their backs on
the Lord, others fomenting oppression and revolt, and uttering lies? (See
Jeremiah 59:13). Praise God that by His grace, He still has His faithful
godly ones on earth, spreading truth and righteousness through His power
and for His glory! Are you one of them?
Father of unparalleled help in time of trouble, keep each of us faithful
to You regardless of how many or 'few' it may appear there are who truly
and faithfully follow You. For the sake of the gospel I pray, Amen.
July 14, 2004
Psalm 14:5 says: There they (evildoers; see verse 4) are, overwhelmed
with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
After the glorious deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt by
blood (on the door posts) and by power (dividing the Red Sea), Moses and
Miriam sang this incredible duet rehearsing the power of God that had
just been demonstrated among Pharaoh and his thugs: in your strength you
will guide your people to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and
tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom
will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall upon them.
By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone.... until your
people pass by, O Lord, until the people you bought pass by (Exodus 15:14-16).
You see, when God is at work, the wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1). When God is free
to 'do His thing' on behalf of His children and we don't get in the way
by opposing His powerful intervention through complaint or lack of faith,
you hear the excited testimonies of His people: Wow! there they were (the
evildoers), overwhelmed with dread where there was nothing to dread (Psalm
53:5).
Powerful Father of glory and grace, thank You for thwarting the strategies
of the wicked on our behalf! (Isaiah 8:10) How profoundly and humbly thankful
we are that You are present in the company of the righteous! Amen.
July 16, 2004
Psalm 16:11 says: You have made known to me the path of life; you will
fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right
hand.
Aren't you impressed with the scope of God's attention and care over us
as His children? First He tracked us down. Then, He drew us to Himself.
Then, He brought us to the point of saving faith in Jesus. Then, He made
known us to us the way of righteousness; the way to walk; the manner of
life to live in such a way as to please Him. And, all of this is only
a preview of what is to come. If we think we're happy and delighted in
Him today, fasten your seat belt: He will fill us with an even greater
joy in His presence! No wonder Solomon says that the path of the righteous
is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light
of day (Proverbs 4:18)! What a glorious thought, to wake up one day and
be incomparably, absolutely, and totally satisfied with seeing His likeness
(Psalm 17:15). That's why we never give up. Though our bodies today are
dying, our spirits are being renewed every day, because our present troubles
are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably
great glory that will last forever! So, we don't look at the troubles
we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet
seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over....but the joys to come
will last forever (II Corinthians 4:16,17 TLB).
Glorious Father, we long for heaven, our eternal home! Amen.
July 19, 2004
Psalm 19:13 says: Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not
rule over me.
The word 'willful' refers to insolence, arrogance, and presumption. In
my quiet time this morning, I was reading of how Jehoshaphat, king of
Judah, aligned himself with Ahab, king of Israel, by marriage. Later (did
he lose his senses?) he was drawn into Ahab's plan to war against Ramoth
Gilead. Jehoshaphat wanted confirmation from the Lord, which was right
for him to do. So 400 (!) prophets of Ahab OK'd the decision to go to
war. But Jehoshaphat asked for a "prophet of the Lord", Micaiah,
whom Ahab 'hated' because Micaiah's prophecies from the Lord never confirmed
anything 'good' about Ahab, only 'bad', according to Ahab's own mouth.
Sure enough! Micaiah's words confirm, on behalf of the Lord, that the
400 prophets have been enticed by a lying spirit and their approval of
the two kings to go to battle is not really approved by the Lord; they
will lose the battle. Micaiah is thrown into prison for his truthfulness,
and Jehoshaphat goes with Ahab anyway (go figure!). Later, he is rebuked
by a prophet of the Lord: should you help the wicked and love those who
hate the Lord? (See II Chronicles 18 and 19:2) What Jehoshaphat did was
presumptuous and ultimately very 'controlling' of his emotions and his
will; and it almost cost him his life.
Father, just like Jehoshaphat in a moment of 'weakness', I too am
so prone to arrogance, insolence, and presumption, all of which feed an
unhealthy, independent spirit. May my will be submitted to Your gracious
superintendence, that You and Your wisdom might rule in my heart and life.
Amen.
July 21, 2004
Psalm 21:5 is a wonderful, humbling reminder: Through
the victories you gave, his (the king's) glory is great; you have bestowed
on him splendor and majesty.
Some of us are 'exalted' (well-known; praised; recognized)
because of physical beauty. Some because of intellectual prowess. Some
because of great skill in technology or medicine or aeronautics or education
or economics or maintenance or landscaping or engineering or government
or jurisprudence or law enforcement or child care or business or metal
work or stock trading or some other area of expertise. In other words,
in one way or another, our 'glory' may be great, and we may be achieving
great levels of advancement, even world-wide recognition.
The wise recipient of such skills, proficiency, or expertise
will quickly recognize that the Creator God, the Source of all wisdom
and skill, is the One Who has bestowed such 'glory', and will be quick
to acknowledge: Lord, it is You who gives such blessing. You have bestowed
upon me such 'splendor' and 'majesty'. May all the kings and peoples of
the earth "sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord
is great"! (Psalm 138:5)
Glorious Father, to You be glory for ever and ever!
Amen.
July 23, 2004
Psalm 53:2 says: God looks down from heaven on the son of men to see if
there are any who understand, any who seek God.
From Psalm 11:4 and 33:15, I am impressed with God's practice of observation,
examination, and consideration. Of course, there are no secret places
to which I can flee to escape this penchant of His to oversee my life,
my words, my thoughts, my actions, and my attitudes (Jeremiah 23:24).
But I am encouraged to know that He is concerned for my well-being. One
of His goals for me, for sure, is that I simply walk in the obedience
from which flows wisdom and understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6).
Look at your own life for a moment. Observe it, examine it, consider it.
OK, now ask yourself: on which side of the fence am I? With which group
am I aligned? Am I with those who seek God and understand His ways? Or,
have I abandoned Him and His ways and, for the most part, am I digging
my own cisterns, cisterns which cannot hold water? (Jeremiah 2:13)
Father of mercy, oh how I pray that when you look down from heaven
and see me, there will be some clear evidence that my heart is Yours and
that I long to understand Your ways! For Jesus' sake, I pray. Amen.
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