Proper Fear

Psalm 56:4 - "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?"

One day, when time is swallowed up by eternity, we will understand the foolishness regarding the times we feared what man thought about our faith. Or, how we worried about finances or insignificant things that matter not in the light of heaven!

Often, the way we react to others publicly is according to the way we act privately in our devotion to Jesus. When we are in love, we care little who knows or who cares.

Lord, may we understand how transitory we are and seek to understand how to fear and reverence you above all!

What Are You Looking At?

Galatians 5:13 - "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Selfishness will always cause our gaze to turn into morbid introspection. It is our responsibility in Christ to remove our attention from ourselves and fix it upon Jesus. When we do, the love of God is once again shed abroad in our hearts. As the eyes of a servant looks toward their master, so our eyes look to the Lord until he is gracious to us (Psalm 123:2). This is fundamental regarding our love for Jesus Christ.

Beware of serving God with human sentimentality. It only reinforces the power of self. Abandonment toward God is not meant to focus us on a cause, but on Jesus. A fixed gaze upon His Person will ensure our love will grow for Him and ultimately for others, providing no “opportunity for the flesh.”

Privilege of the Lowly

Psalm 138:6 - "For though the Lord is exalted, yet He regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar."

In another psalm it states how the Lord humbles Himself even to look at heaven (Psalm 113:6). How much more mortal flesh? Yet, He loves and adores us, seeking our companionship in all things. He sees those who have trusted in His Son as robed with His righteousness.

Shall we know the Lord intimately through humility and obedience in all things? Or, shall we know Him as an acquaintance from a far off? It is possible to be saved and going to heaven with this nominal relationship. However, may we all desire to stand before the Great King on that wonderful day when time surrenders to eternity, knowing Him in our lowly state as He exalts us in the presence of all.

A God Who is Near

Jeremiah 23:23 - “'Am I a God who is near,' declares the Lord, 'And not a God far off?'"

God's rhetorical questioning is meant as soft interrogation, allowing the nation of Israel to come to their senses regarding God's ability to save. Throughout scripture, we see a pleading Father addressing His children with a sorrowful heart. His one and only desire is for reconciliation through the redemption of His Son, Jesus Christ.

There are many today who have similar deist beliefs. They see God as way out there in the Universe somewhere with little concern about the affairs of mankind. However, either God is a liar or He speaks words of sober truth when He states His desire is to come to our aid. The greatest expression of love–putting His action to words–was sending the Son to earth to redeem us. How much more could a loving God do to show us His nearness?

Dominion Authority

Psalm 119:133 – “Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me."

Dominion is a legal term that implies ownership. The Psalmist understood that how we walk and where we allow our footsteps to take us will inevitably determine who owns us. Only the naive believe they are their own lord and master. The prudent know that God's word empowers Christ's dominion to rule where the flesh and the devil would otherwise be enthroned.

Jesus told us to pray that we would not be lead into temptation, but to be delivered from evil (Matthew 6:13). The only way this will happen is to give ourselves to what God's word says about us. We are overcomers and victorious if we are in Christ, whether we believe it or not. However, believing what God says will inevitably allow Him to rule with power and dominion through those who would but trust.

Test Yourselves

II Corinthians 13:5 - "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless indeed you fail the test?"

I trust that none of us would fail the test. However, it would be foolish not to check ourselves from time to time. We do many self-exams on things such as cancers or strokes. Why would it seem strange to check whether we are in the faith?

Some might say, "I don't need to check because by faith I am saved, now and forever more in Christ!" That may be true, but John and Jesus told us to bring forth fruits with our repentance. If the fruit is there (Galatians 5:22-23), then we have correctly judged ourselves. The word will always accurately reveal our thoughts and intentions if we will hold ourselves to its scrutiny.

My High Places

II Samuel 22:34 - “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places."

God will always lead us to higher ground. In so doing, He will always equip us to be there and to overcome the heights. The sure-footedness of the Ibex is certainly a sight to behold as they effortlessly ascend and descend sheer mountainsides in the Judean Wilderness. Similarly, God has given those He leads higher the necessary gifts and the callings to succeed. He will never lead us beyond what we are able (I Corinthians 10:13).

Know this, beloved, that God will only lead us to "my high places." We should not look with envy or disdain at another's high place where God is leading them. When we do, we put ourselves in jeopardy of falling from the height He has brought us to.