To paraphrase Proverbs 27:20, “The eyes of man are never satisfied.” From the moment in the Garden of Eden when Eve’s selfish desire outweighed her rational thinking, we’ve been battling our own corrupt habits and appetites. We are never content with what we have…never happy until we have more. And sadly, this cycle just repeats itself over and over again.
Tag: god s love
Joshua 6:16 ” Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!”
Jericho was a formidable Canaanite city, filled with smug, godless people who weren’t afraid of this Israelite army or their God. And then we have Joshua and his troops, who were simply obeying the Lord by dutifully marching around Jericho for six days. But on that seventh day, God’s display of miraculous power had a two-fold purpose. First to the idol worshiping people of Jericho, the Lord’s judgment was pronounced in one explosive moment as the walls fell. Secondly, as the Jewish people shouted, they watched in awe as Jericho became a heap of rubble before them…demonstrating that God was in control, He was abiding by His covenant with them, and that nothing was impossible when they trusted in Him .
Romans 12:18 ” If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
When it comes to living in harmony with others – the only control we have, is over ourselves. The Lord wants us to make every effort to do what leads to peace. (Romans 14:19) I remember a song we sang in High School Choir…”Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” Peace has to start with each of us determining that we will live a life of reconciliation with our fellow man.
II Corinthians 12:15 ” …though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”
We as humans love, expecting something in return. But If we look at Jesus, He was a servant to everyone…always denying Himself, and teaching others that they should follow His example. To make an impact in the world today, we can’t just proclaim the Gospel, but we must be willing to become broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of our Savior for the sake of others.
Psalm 112: 1 ” Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.”
To stand in awe of the Lord and all His glory is motivation enough to live a godly life before Him. To find that inexpressible joy and comfort within His Word is once more motivation to follow Him.
Ezekiel 37:3 ” He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘ O Sovereign Lord, You alone know.’ “
We all have that someone in our lives…that person we’ve been praying for forever…that person we shake our heads in dismay when they continue to mess up their life. Sometimes thinking – they’ll never get right with God. But we don’t know do we? Only God knows the forces working in that person’s life. Only He knows the end of their story. Only God knows.
Romans 8:28 ” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
In other manuscripts this well-known verse is translated…”And we know that all things work together for good, (or bring about what is good) to those who love God.” The Lord can bring about something useful, profitable, and beneficial from the most dire and serious situation…when our simple human minds can only see the bad, He is still working for the good. Joseph’s brothers sold him off to a passing caravan, and though their intentions were evil, the Lord was still in control of the final outcome. In Genesis 50:20, by then in charge of the whole land of Egypt, Joseph told his brothers…” You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” No matter what it looks like right now…the final result is solely the Lord’s.
Psalm 33: 2 ” Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to Him…”
Years back, I was the Director of Nursing at a large Alzheimer’s Unit in Washington State. It was a very demanding, but yet very gratifying job. We had just admitted a lady with end-stage Alzheimer’s as well as many other serious medical problems.
She was not eating well, so I took it upon myself to sit with her during meals in the Dining Room to encourage her to eat. Music was an important part of our day in the Building…depending on the time of day, different types, rhythms, and tempos were played. Music Therapy can be used to help calm, motivate, and engage those lost to this Disease process known as Alzheimer’s. Lunch was over, everyone had left the Dining Room ,except this lady and me. I went over to the CD Player and selected an instrumental CD of Celtic harp music. As the music filled the empty space, she suddenly looked, pointed and smiled. I asked her what she was looking at…she asked me if I couldn’t see the angels playing the beautiful music?? Oh, I wish I could have, but from the look on her face it was a wonderful performance…she died a day later… and I can only imagine with those same angels welcoming her home with heavenly music.
Luke 24:5 ” Why do you look for the living among the dead? “
The angel asked this query of the women who had come to the tomb of Jesus…but, I would ask you the same question. Have you been trying to fill your life with empty, useless things of the world…ever searching, but never filling that emptiness inside. The stagnant and futile things of the world will never compare to the breathing, living things of God. So, I would ask you again this question…Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Psalm 9: 9-10 ” The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
God is that shelter from danger…He is that fortress where we can flee to be safe from attack. If we have a relationship with the Lord, our trust and confidence will be in Him and Him alone…knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will never abandon us in the middle of the turmoil. Trust Him to be that citadel of strength and power when worries and distress come into your life…seek Him always as your safe haven.
Safetypinlove 