Tag: Bible

Redemption, Encouragement and Comfort, Psalm 34 Has it All!

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Psalm 34 has some of the most encouraging verses David ever penned, my opinion. He was under stress and seeking God’s deliverance from Abimelech the Philistine king. He even pretended to be insane to escape his clutches. David is pouring out his heart and troubles to God and I find great encouragement in his words.

Verse 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears. How many of us have been so fearful at times that we needed God’s deliverance? David knew His God would answer if he cried out to him both physically and mentally. Do you have the same assurance?

Verses 7-10 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. I love the visual of God’s protection in verse 7. We know God has angels to watch over us. One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament of God’s power and protection is found in 2 Kings 6 where the king of Aram is pursuing Elisha. He tells his servant to not be afraid “as those who are with us are more than those who are with them” ” O LORD open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariot of of fire all around Elisha.” The servant saw they were surrounded by an army of angels. God watches over us just as He did his servant Elisha.

The command in verse 8 is to taste and see that the Lord is good! Knowing Him is something we can feel within our souls like we were tasting a good food. Verses 9 and 10 talk about fearing the Lord. The promise is if we fear the Lord we will have no lack. Fear here is not trepidation but awe, admiration, trust, faith and commitment too. Putting our trust in God removes all else from consideration and we do not need to be afraid of worldly things.

Verse 17-18 are very reassuring. ” When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears  and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.” These verse bring hope and comfort to our souls. When we are disheartened or brokenhearted God knows our pain and brings us comfort.

Lastly, verse 22 is David’s crowning conclusion. “The Lord redeems the life of his servants;  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” What a wonderful promise to those who love the Lord.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we are assured of redemption and a declaration by Jesus that we are NOT GUILTY when we stand before Him. Thank you Jesus that the promise of redemption and refuge can always be found in Jesus for those who love Him.

Linda

Entire Psalm 34 below

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

A New Look at a Beloved Psalm

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In Psalms 23-28 there is a theme of the Shepherd King. Psalm 23 is one that has been memorized for ages and brings great comfort in times of trouble. A friend of mine was a bomber pilot in WWII and he used Psalm 23 in a personal way each time he had to go into battle. From verse 4, “Even though I fly through the skies of death, I will fear no evil.” Today I want to apply Jesus to this psalm so we can see how He does all these things for us and more.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Isaiah 58:11 “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.” Mark 8:5“Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” Romans 3:22 “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me. Luke 8:50 “But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace.” John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows. 1 John 5:18 “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.“


6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever. Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 14:12 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can claim His power in my life through faith in Him. He is my shepherd, guide, restorer, protector, provider of abundant life, merciful, eternal and has prepared a place for me to dwell with Him in the future. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

I pray this different look at Psalm 23 encourages you in your walk with Jesus.

Creation Testifies to God

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I love Psalm 19 and it’s message about God’s glory and the majesty of His Creation. Both creation and His Word testify to who God is and His sovereignty. Today we’ll concentrate on Psalm 19:1-4.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,

Verses 1 and 2 speak of the unrelenting witness of creation to God’s power, might and majesty. Majesty is defined as grandeur, greatness, authority , sovereignty and is associated with a royal personage. When one looks a beautiful sunset, the Grand Canyon, a raging river or the oceans waves, you are witnessing the greatness of God and His power to create such things. They bear witness to Him and His awesome power. They continue to witness of Him night and day year after year reminding us of the eternality of God. No language is needed to see these truths as they do not speak in words but in sights, sounds, smells and touch. All people of the earth can see and experience the power of God and the wonder of His creation. They can also see God’s faithfulness to His creation as each day leads to the next and the seasons unfold annually.

The Apostle Paul used verse 4 when preaching in Rome. He was making a case for preaching the gospel to those who have never heard of Jesus or God and his conclusion is in Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Then Paul uses verse 4. “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” What I think he was saying is that man is without excuse. They many not have heard the gospel preached and yet they know there is God because all creation testifies to His power, might and being. If they missed it, they were not looking. Such was the case with the Israelites as God was there holding out His hand, speaking to them, wooing them through creation, His Word and His prophets.

What about you? Are you looking for God? Are you listening for His voice each day? He is there just as the sun rises and sets, God is there. Will you open yourself to look and listen?

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can clearly see God in Jesus the Son. We don’t have to just look at creation as we have the indwelling Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus to point us to God. Thankfully we have Jesus, the Holy Spirit, His Word and all creation to witness to us about God! Thanks you God for making yourself known to me.

Linda

David’s Glimpse of God Aligns with Scripture

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Psalm 18 has a wonderful middle section for us today verses 30-36. As you read picture the blessings David attributes to knowing the Lord. God is amazing!!

God’s way is perfect.
    All the Lord’s promises prove true. God only makes true promises.
    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. God protects those are his.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
    Who but our God is a solid rock? God is immovable.
32 God arms me with strength, God equips and motivates us.
    and he makes my way perfect.
33 He makes me as surefooted as a deer, God makes us able to endure.
    enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle; God prepares and gives us weapons.
    he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35 You have given me your shield of victory.
    Your right hand supports me; God has given us Jesus, his right hand
    your help has made me great. for support.
36 You have made a wide path for my feet God has provided a firm foundation
    to keep them from slipping. through Jesus and His Word.

All of these attributes David attributed to God we can have in our lives too through faith in Jesus. We can know David’s promise keeping God! God protects his own. A favorite verse I claim for this is Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” God is immovable not changing his mind. Hebrews 6:18 “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.” God will equip us for every good work as promised in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 through his Word. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” God enables us to persevere and endure for Him. Colossians 1:11 “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,” He gives us weapons for the battles we’ll fight. Ephesians 6:13-17 describes God’s armor which He gives us for the spiritual battles we’ll face. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ” God’s greatest gift to us was Jesus who intercedes for us and supports us 100%. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Lastly, David mentions our firm foundation. God has given us a firm foundation which is based on our faith in Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have all these blessed assurances in Christ! Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Knowing God’s Character is Essential

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Psalm 18 is rich and we’ll spend 2 days here. Psalm 18:1-6 show us David’s dependence upon God and how God always responds to those who love Him. Here it is in the New Living Translation:

I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.

What does David know about God? He is the one who gives him strength, stability, salvation, protection, safety, and is totally worthy of praise!

4 The ropes of death entangled me;
    floods of destruction swept over me.
5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
    death laid a trap in my path.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears.

David continues and tells us God has untangled very difficult situations for him, kept him from natural disasters and mortal enemies, and God has heard his prayers. God is accessible to David as his cries reach up to the heavens.

Looking at David’s list of the things he knows about God, I ask myself do I know those things too? Through faith in Jesus, I have all of that and more, but am I realizing it in my life? Do I depend upon God for strength when times are hard or when I’m hurting? Is my faith in Jesus a stabilizing factor in my life? If not, how do I make it so? Colossians 2:6-7 tells us it is all dependent upon Christ, “ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Is Christ my savior? Have I done as Romans 10:9-10 says? “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Be assured it will work as verse 13 goes on to say, “ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Do I call on God for protection? Simple things like praying before I travel or during my travels, as I go to sleep at night, or as I’m are off to work. God can and will be with me 24/7 so do I acknowledge this and pray for protection? If disaster should come am I living assured that He will be there? How about prayer for difficult circumstances or problems? God can and will listen to my cries for help and the anguish of my soul. I may see his answer in ways of protection, healing, encouragement, comfort, uplifting, fellowship, etc. His answers are not always immediate but if it is in His will the answer will come. That calls for patience, and you can hear David’s anguish as he waits for God’s response. And yet, he does not lose hope as He knows the nature of God.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know God and depend upon His character. Thank you Jesus for the knowledge of God’s faithfulness and His indwelling Holy Spirit that confirms these truths within my being. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Praise God!

Linda

Keeping Eternal Pleasures in Mind

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Today we are looking at the remainder of Psalm 16 verses 7-11. I read this in various translations but I really felt the Message was the most direct.

The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. Do you ever go to bed with a problem and think you’ll sleep on it and maybe in the morning you will know your mind and decided what to do? The psalmist is identifying with this, saying God is directing him during the day and then confirms his directions while he sleeps. So night and day, God is his guiding light. I find this both comforting and encouraging and it reaffirms Deuteronomy 31:6 “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” That means God is with us day and night!

9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination! David, the psalmist, was convinced that God had his eternity secure and that he had a heavenly home with God. His faith in God had cancelled his sin and assured him of a heavenly home. We can be assured of this too as faith in Christ and his work on the cross confirms our gift of eternal life with Him. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
    all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
    I’m on the right way. David knows his pathway is assured and it is lifelong. He is on the right pathway in life walking hand and hand with God.

We too can say we have a heavenly home, God is our light and guide, and we do not need to fear death and punishment in Hell. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of life eternal and walking with him day by day. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Looking for God’s Pleasant Lines

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I plan to take Psalm 16 in two pieces. Today verses 1-6 and tomorrow the remainder of the psalm. Psalm 16 has one of my favorite verses,6, which holds a very dear promise.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

Jesus said this too in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Without Christ me can accomplish nothing with eternal value.

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips. Are you seeking to please God and be his delight or are you chasing after other gods? 2 Corinthians 1:19-21 “ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,” Christ is the answer all else leads to No’s.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Can you say this promise is true for your life? Do you see lines drawn in places, relationships, jobs, etc. that were of God’s making? What would be a pleasant place for you? Does it involve a beautiful climate? Does it have perfect relationships? Is it driven with excellent purpose? All of those can be said of the Christian life. Our climate is with Him. His Holy Spirit indwells us and can and will work in all our relationship and jobs. What of our inheritance? Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Our purpose it to glorify God as David expresses in Psalm 86:12 “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” We also have a commission from the Lord Jesus given in Matthew 28:19-20  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Glory is the sum total of all God’s attributes. So showing mercy, compassion, love, humility, patience, hope, etc. in His name brings Him glory. Telling other about Jesus also brings Him glory.

So, if following Jesus is your chosen ‘cup’ as the psalmist says, then look for God’s lines to be drawn in pleasant places in your life now and into the future! Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can be assured of pleasant lines of God in our lives. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Is Being Good Enough?

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We’ll start our week with Psalm 15 in which David describes what defines the actions of a man who could live with God.

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.

We know David’s picture of the ‘good’ man is well defined by how they act towards others. Micah 6:8 describes one who God loves as “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” David’s good man would live up to the Micah 6:8 criteria.

However, Hebrews 11:6 adds another dimension this as it is not all words and actions but has to involve faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” One cannot ‘earn’ your way to heaven to live in his presence without faith and it is specific faith that is outlined in 1 Timothy 2:2-4 , “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Faith in the truth of Jesus is what is needed. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is our only access to the Father.

One can have all the ‘right’ actions and word and yet without faith it is impossible to please God, and without Jesus and his work on the cross you are still sinful. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Today consider your actions, words and faith. Do you act rightly and seek to do good towards others? What about your faith? Is your faith firmly placed in Jesus? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be clean before God. Good deeds and great words need faith in Jesus to make a difference for you in God’s eyes. Remember without faith in Jesus it is impossible to please God. Take that leap of faith today and trust in Him.

Linda

Realigned Focus during Adversity

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How do you deal with Nay Sayers or those that would desire to cast doubt on your faith? Believe it or not, the psalmist David had the same issues when he wrote Psalm 3. He did not want to listen his many foes who were telling him God was not going to rescue him or do anything to help him solve his problems. This was written when he was struggling with his son Absalom who was trying to take over David’s throne and kill him. David talked to the Lord about this, laying it before Him. Then, he set about remembering the times God had rescued him!

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
2 So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4 I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

5 I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

7 Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
8 Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. Interlude

David’s conclusion, after remembering who God is and what He had done for him during his lifetime, was that God holds the victory. Victory comes from Him. He can defeat any foe as He is sovereign. David was reminded that God will bring victory and blessing.

David is our example for how to react to those who would discourage our faith saying it is worthless, that God will not help us. We too can change our focus from the Nay Sayers to Jesus. The right perspective will bring us to Jesus. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have a permanent advocate in Jesus. He intercedes for us and sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. Romans 8:27 “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Focusing on Jesus will put everything in perspective as it did for King David.

Let thanks be on you tongue and praises in your heart as you look to Jesus. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Living the Life God Intends

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I am so looking forward to our Lenten Journey through the Psalms. There will be much to reflect upon as we dive into these precious poems or songs, as many were sung in the temple for worship. We too can worship God as we read them. Let’s begin at the beginning with Psalm 1. It is truly as favorite of mine as it clearly shows the contrast between the believer and the unbeliever.

It is a bit unconventional but the Message translation hits the mark and the words jar us into understanding God’s intended message.

How well God must like you—
    you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,
    you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,
    you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.

2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.

4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked,
    who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
    unfit company for innocent people.

6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take leads to nowhere.

God shows us how fortunate we are to know and follow Him. We are refreshed by scripture continually, bear fruit for the Lord and are always blooming. Jesus shows this contrast in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Life with Christ is meant to be full and abundant. He allows us to bloom right where we are. I love the picture from Isaiah of us as a well-watered garden. Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,  like a spring whose waters never fail.“

The contrasting life, the one of the unbeliever is also pictured here.  They have no anchor, no defense and their road leads no where. Jesus told us in John 15:5 that unless we are connected to Him we can do nothing of eternal value. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  Many unbelievers have very productive lives accomplishing much good. However, their accomplishments apart of Jesus have no eternal value and will ‘burn up’. You cannot earn your way to heaven with good works. Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.“ 

With a life based on faith in Jesus, we can know His abundance. We can read and understand scripture. His Word will enrich and guide our lives. Our works done in His name have eternal value and bring honor and glory to God. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can live with an abundance of love, hope and peace. Thank you Jesus.

Linda