House Rules – If you can write in it…dust it.

Psalm 38:18 says, ” I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.”  We need to be grieved by our disobedience, but sometimes our sin is obvious to everyone else, but us.  We see it as something well hidden, when in actuality, its conspicuous to all others.  Self-awareness must be the starting point of our journey with God.

House Rules – If its dirty…wash it.

Psalm 51:2 states, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”   The meaning of sin in this verse is habitual sinfulness…the kind of wrongdoing that takes over in a slow, gradual way until we’re so accustomed to it, we  can’t see a way out.  When this type of ingrained, continual sin is allowed to fester and grow, it can only lead to serious consequences such as depression and suicidal thoughts.   Habitual sin can be overcome, but we have to first own up to it.  I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”    If you have a habit that has ownership over you today…confess it to the Lord and allow Him to cleanse you from that guilt and shame.

Psalm 68:20 ” Our God is a God Who saves; from the sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”

The Lord saves us from what?  In a single word – condemnation.   John 3:18 tells us that from the womb we are condemned already…destined to Hell.  No amount of good works will ever save you.  Nor will you ever make it to Heaven on your believing Grandmother’s shirt-tails. But most strikingly, you will never be able to save yourself.   Only the Lord Jesus Christ can deliver you from the wrath that is to come.  Only He can offer you freedom from an eternal sentence of Hell.

Psalm 107: 8-9 ” Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. “

We all need spiritual sustenance, because we all have a God-shaped hole inside that needs to be filled.  This inner hunger and thirst for God propels us forward in His Way and supports us in times of trials.  Life is sustained by food…but our spiritual life is nourished and maintained by the word of God.

Luke 2: 49 ” ‘Why were you searching for Me?’ He asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?’ “

The 12 year-old Jesus wasn’t being disrespectful to His parents when He asked  this question.  He was simply incredulous that they had not realized where He was destined to be.  For this young Jesus had already taken on the obligation and duty of His  Heavenly Father…as seen in Psalm 69:9, “…for the zeal for Your House consumes Me…”

Psalm 145: 13 “…the Lord is faithful to all His promises.”

There’s no one else we can trust…no one else that we can believe in .  For it says in Joshua 23:14, ” God is faithful, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.”   We then can stand firmly on that promise…for God keeps His word.

Psalm 53:1 ” The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ “

That’s probably one of the most dangerous statements anyone could say…”There is no God.”   To treat the Lord with such contempt is the pinnacle of human rebellion.  For people who think there is no God also have the false delusion that judgment for their wicked behavior will never occur  either.  Lord,  help them to see the error of their way before it’s too late.

Psalm 102: 26-27 “They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them and they will be discarded. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

We live in a very disposable world.  There is nothing we own that will last forever…everything will eventually  be thrown away.  But as the Psalmist proclaims here, there is one thing that will last forever…and His name is the Lord Almighty.  For God’s reign is everlasting.  His throne is firmly  established in justice,  and He will reign without ceasing…for eternity.

Numbers 10:35 ” Rise up, O Lord! May Your enemies be scattered; may Your foes flee before You.”

Lord, we know of Your intense hatred of idolatry and hypocrisy, and that You will repay Your foes according to what they have done. (Isaiah 59:18)  As we look at all the evil in the world, we remember the words of the Psalmist who said, “…as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.” (Psalm 68:2)   So we echo this verse and say,  “Rise up, O Lord!  May Your actions be immediate and dramatic…may Your enemies be scattered.”

Psalm 39:5 ” You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man’s life is but a breath. “

Take a deep breath…inhale and exhale slowly.  Without breath, you’re dead.  Your life force is gone, your body shut down.  This verse looks at the very fleeting nature of one’s existence.  That life is but one breath away from dying…and that our life span is measured as a blink of the eye in the eternal scheme of things. Let us then determine that while we’re  here on earth for such a short duration,  our focus should be on what we can do to better the world, rather than just exist in it.