Month: April 2013

Proverbs 3:7&8:  “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.”

Very strange use of words—expressions not common to us. Let’s define these words. To be wise in my own eyes sounds like I have a healthy self-image. What the verse is implying is more akin to our terms conceited, prideful, self-reliant, etc.  While the first two terms are annoying, the third—self-reliant—is esteemed in our culture.  It is viewed as a positive; however, when an individual, because of his or her “wisdom” or “self-reliance,” fails to see the greatness of God and his or her own need of Him, then these attributes have become marred. An individual with true wisdom “fears” the Lord, meaning to give Him “reverence” or to “revere” Him.  To see Him as Creator and Lord is to have true wisdom. Anything less is not as great as the purpose for which God gave man and woman his and her ability to reason, think, and ponder.  To have the wisdom, therefore, that causes us to see God as God with reverence for Him is true wisdom. He is the center of the universe, not us. He deserves our worship, not us.  In like manner, he holds our every breath, not us. This is the fruit of true wisdom, and it leads us “to depart from evil.”

In this context, evil originates spiritually, affects us morally, and then is acted out in the physical arena of life. Just like the bad fruit on a tree is not the fault of the fruit but of the tree—down into the roots—so evil, whether it is an immoral thought or a terrible action, originates from deep within, resulting from a disconnect with a Holy God. Not to have reverence for God is not to recognize His rightful claim over us as Creator, Lord, and Father. To lack this, therefore, means that we are the judge and jury of our lives, determining what we believe is right or wrong. There is a proverb that is rather sobering, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is death.” This is a proverb that literally freaked me out as a young man. How is it that I can believe I am doing the right things but find out, when it’s too late, that I missed the mark?  Was this some cruel joke where God changed the rules and did not tell anyone? These were my early thoughts before I learned about Christ and His sacrifice, so that we could be redeemed from our own sinful nature’s inability to truly follow God’s laws. Once I understood and saw His sacrificial action to redeem me, then it became clear that He is a God of great love and that it is up to me to accept or reject His offer of salvation. The action of rejecting His rightful claim over us is the very core and root of sin. Spiritually speaking, this poisons the soul, because from this comes all that is immoral, prideful, and self-focused.

In context, therefore, a correct relationship with a Holy God causes in me a desire to be holy. Just like children growinWig up want to be like their parents, so I want (we should want) to be like my Heavenly Father. Though this takes time, and often we fall short, the Holy Spirit is like a steady stream of righteousness that if given His time with us will wash away all that is not holy and replace it with the graces of the Spirit.  It’s not “rocket science.”  It’s “relational science” (to invent a phrase). The more time I spend with Him, the more I become like Him, and “it shall be health to my navel and marrow to my bones.” This is an unusual way, at least to us, to say that strength and health—spiritual, emotional, and physical—will grow in us. The “navel” and “marrow” were considered sources of life and strength in the Hebrew culture, and though these are unusual choices of words, one can understand the reasoning behind it.

The nature of sin in us tears us down through the years due to our having to justify our actions and deal with a guilty conscience or ignore it until it no longer speaks.  These are all negative effects (and there are many more) of being ruled by our sinful nature. So why would we not want righteousness or right living according to God’s design for our life?  Remember the proverb, “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is death.” Just as a blind man cannot see the physical world, we are spiritually blinded without the insight of the Holy Spirit and cannot see or comprehend the “expanse of God” and His righteousness. So we are in need of His help, for no man or woman can live a life that mirrors the holiness of God. We all fall short. His life must be infused within us via faith in Christ’s atonement for us—something we have discussed many times. As someone very close to me said, “I can hear the same message all my life and not get it, but one day, when it is said just a little differently and when my heart is quieted, I hear it and it makes sense.” So repetition is useful because our journeys are all unique.

Father God,

Help me to understand that whatever wisdom I might attain, it is nothing in comparison to the wisdom of God. True wisdom makes You big and makes me small.  A big God equals smaller problems.  A big me and a small God equals larger problems. I am more free when You are big and I am small. Also thank you that when I see us being big, as in times of crisis when we think of others first, I see how we were “created in your image” and were meant to live. Please give strength and hope to those families who lost their loved ones in these recent tragedies. Thank you and Amen.

Proverbs 3:1-2:  “My son (or daughter), forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments, for length of days and long life and peace shalt they add to thee.”

We are going to start a new series in the Book of Proverbs, starting with my favorite verse of all scripture.  The one we just read sets the stage for us, as we read King Solomon’s advice to his son—instructions that I personally have sown into the fabric of my life since my youth. The verses that we will study during this series have been my teachers, counselors, and trusted friends.

Proverbs 3:5-6:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

The definition of some key words will bring insight into these verses. To “trust” is to confide in someone to the extent that all worry or care is removed. It implies an intimate knowledge of that person that you are trusting. Said in the reverse, it is hard, if not impossible, to trust someone you do not know. There are also levels of trust. The extent to which I would trust a friend is not to the same level that I would trust my wife. The use of trust in this verse implies the deepest of all levels, “with all thine heart.”  This is complete transparency, where all fears, joys, and concerns are shared. This is even beyond the level I would have with my wife. As most of us know, incidents or concerns happen in life that would cause our spouses to worry. So, at any given time, there could be one or two things that are weighing on me that I would only bring to the Lord, until I have more clarity, or I can see the issue being resolved before I would share it without causing undue worry.  So my transparency level is 110 percent with the Lord, meaning that my relationship with Him is “tight,” to use common language. If you struggle with trusting the Lord, ask yourself, “How much time do I spend in prayer or reading the scriptures?”  If it is little to no time, then that is your root cause of lacking faith to trust Him. Simply put, you don’t know Him. Relationships are built through time spent together. We know that, yet for some reason, we do not apply that same knowledge to our walk with God. Both God, who longs to share His life with us, and us miss out by not taking at least 20 minutes a day to read and quiet ourselves before Him.

I used to spend time trying to figure out how a problem could be resolved, leaning (or relying) on my own understanding, and hence seeking to resolve it myself. I have learned many times over that it is a waste of time and emotional energy. As my relationship with the Lord deepened, I found it much easier to just pray about the concern and leave it with Him. It’s like a mouse trying to carry the “burdens of the world,” while this huge elephant is just waiting for you to give him the burden—a burden that is nothing for him. So leaning on my own understanding—seeing maybe one or two ways that a problem could work out based on my limited resources, compared to God’s infinite ways a problem could be resolved because His resources are limitless—was not wise.

To “acknowledge God in all thy ways” could be different for each of us. For me, I have developed the habit of praying before I start the day, praying before I start a new landscape job, praying as we move through the phases to completion, praying before I meet my next appointment, and praying as I feel the burdens or stresses of work and life weighing me down. I have learned to step back from life and to see it from God’s perspective and have often realized that things are not as serious or as hopeless as they initially appear—that with God in the equation, there is much hope. And in those moments that life is extremely serious—illnesses or accidents, especially involving our children—faith in God’s ability to conquer such moments is critical. From where will our children find hope if they do not see it in us first?  Remember, He promised, “He shall direct (to make straight) thy paths.” That is a promise, and just as sure as we do not see the sun behind the storm, even though it is there, so it is with God. Whatever the storm, know that God is bigger still.  In difficult times, I quiet my soul and start listening to what He would say, or look for circumstances to unfold during my day to get an idea of what He is doing but mixing the “unknown” with the confidence that one way or another, he is guiding me—this keeps me very positive. He also knows how to get my attention, especially when I am “tuned in” to seeking his guidance. Life then becomes more like an adventure. I used to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys in Junior High, and they were always going on these adventures.  Mystery and intrigue were involved in solving each case. Life with God, especially if praying for others is part of your life, is like that. As mentioned, life can become very serious. You and/or people you know could be diagnosed with cancer; couples (friends) could be contemplating divorce; you could be helping a young person who has been mistreated by his/her parents; you could just be trying to get your own kids through the school system morally intact; or you could be working on your marriage. All aforementioned problems are serious challenges—life changing and potentially scary—but I have learned that God’s love and ability to make right the wrongs in this life far exceeds all the pain and “junk” that comes at us. As Joseph in the Old Testament said to his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God used it for good.”  With Him in the equation, the answer is not hopeless but extremely hopeful. I will end my journey here, not only a much better man than I would otherwise have become, but a sanctified and a redeemed man. Those whom I am blessed to influence and help will as well, as the life of Christ in me is infused into their life and faith. It’s a win-win situation, and I love that!  And it can be the same for you!

Father God,

We can wonder at the beauty of life by taking You by the hand, or we can see all the ugly and sad things and fear. It’s the same field of vision.  The only difference is with one, I am alone, and with the other, I have you teaching me to see life through your eyes—to view life knowing that in You all wrongs will be made right in your love; therefore, help me to always choose you. Thank you and Amen.

Dios lo Bendiga – Arthur

Matthew 27:50-52 & 54: “And Jesus again cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit…and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (split). The graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose…. Now when the Centurion and they that were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly (vehemently terrified) and said, ‘Truly (as in a fact), this was the Son of God.’”

Matthew 28:1-4 & 11-15: “At the end of the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week (Sunday), came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Jesus’s mother) to see the tomb, and behold, there was a great earthquake….  And the stone (sealing the tomb) was rolled away, and an angel sat upon it. His countenance was like lighting, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him, the soldiers did shake (tremble for fear) and became as dead (corpse) men. Later that morning (after the event, they revived), some of the soldiers returned and told the Pharisees what had occurred.  They (the Pharisees) gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and said, ‘Tell people, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep,’ and the soldiers took the money and did as they were directed.” (somewhat paraphrased)

This study is unavoidably personal to me, so please forgive my emotions. This story can be entitled, “The tale of two hearts.” The soldiers, whose hearts were harded and calloused by war, yet acknowledged Christ as the Son of God, and the Pharisees, who were supposed to be God’s representatives—leading the people in ways of truth and faith—fully knowing the occurrences at the Cross and in addition hearing the report of the soldiers from the tomb, refused to believe in Christ as their Messiah. Rather, they paid off the soldiers so that they would lie—a lie that would surely cost the soldiers their life for falling asleep at their post. Also disappointing is that truth could be bought. How hard can the human heart become—like cement: that all truth, as water, just rolls off of it; that for the love and praise of the people, the Pharisees held on tenaciously to their positions of power. Engulfed in pride, and so in love with themselves, they failed to lead the people in paths of righteousness, and utterly and shamefully missed their most important calling—to point the people to their Messiah.

To live in such times and to not believe that which one can see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears is astounding to me, but what about today?  Does time change truth? Just because these things occurred approximately two thousand years ago, does it make it less factual or does it erase these occurrences and their significance from history? Gravity is as old as the world, and yet it is just as relevant today as it was then. The tides of the oceans are equally as old, and we believe in them. Why then is the question of faith different? Just as in the days of Christ, the Pharisees had a choice, and they chose not to believe. We have the same choice and are faced with the same question, “Do we believe?”  With gravity, there is no choice; if you chose not to believe, the consequences are immediate and painful. With the tides, it is the same thing. I enjoy running on the beach near a bed and breakfast we go to from time to time. When the tide is in, most of the beach is underwater. If I was not mindful of the tide, I could potentially become trapped or end up swimming.

So, why is faith different?  Is it because the “consequences” are delayed? To think of faith in terms of “consequences,” as one would with gravity and ocean tides, is an incorrect understanding of faith. Faith is likened more to our relationships. We seek to be in relationships, because we enjoy having companionship. They add to our life, because we like to do things with our spouse, etc.  It is not fundamentally based on “consequences,” but on a desire to have companionship with others and to love and be loved. Faith is the same. Factually, all the evidence of Christ existence—his miracles, the crucifixion, his appearances afterwards, including his resurrection—is all there, recorded for us and verified in other historical books such as with the historian, Josephus. So, evidence is there, yet even with evidence, the Pharisees refused to believe, as many of us do today. Our sense of pride and our unwillingness to seek forgiveness and to forsake the passions (idols) of this world, is that which separates us from the Creator and Savior of our soul.

Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement alone has angered many, but what religion or prophet has ever made the claim to redeem man from his sins by his own blood? What prophet has done the miracles, risen from the dead, appeared to many afterwards, ascended unto heaven and then infused his believers with the Holy Spirit? There is none. Christ alone has redeemed man. Our choice is to believe or not to believe. To believe because we fear the consequences is the wrong motive, but to believe because we seek to be in a relationship with our Heavenly Father is the correct and only motive. God help us to see clearly, understanding that though the Cross speaks of our need to repent, it shouts out of the LOVE that put Jesus there for our redemption.

Father God,

I do not want a calloused heart—a heart that only thinks of its temporal good. Grant me a noble heart—one that seeks truth, even if it means sacrificing my pride and the castles and idols I have built for myself. To really live life in fellowship with the God who created life and who loves me is, and will always be, the right choice. Thank you and Amen.

As I again read the gospel account of Christ’s passion for myself, two more truths seem so relevant that I wanted to share them.

Matthew 26:31:  “Then, Jesus said unto the disciples, all ye shall be offended because of me this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall flee.”  Vs.33:  “Peter answered and said, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”  Vs.34:  “Jesus said to Peter, this night, Peter, before the rooster crows, you will have denied me three times.” “Peter said, though I should die with thee, I will never deny thee. And all the others said the same.”

We know from the gospel accounts that Peter did deny the Lord, as did all the other disciples, except for John. We also know that upon hearing the rooster crow three times, Peter realized that Jesus’s words came true; that he had denied the man that he swore he would be willing to die for, and the accounts read, “And he went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61).”  What happened?  Did Peter, as well as the other disciples, lie, or do we really lack knowledge of ourselves? I do not believe that the disciples lied—they meant it.  So, what happened?  Do we, like them, believe we can predict our actions in a given situation? Can we really be so sure of ourselves? I believe that until we actually face the challenge, we really don’t know our response. There is a saying that is fairly accurate, “Until the fire burns, we really do not know its pain or our response to it.”  Trials, difficulties, and frustrations introduce ourselves to ourselves. That may sound a little strange, but what about our phrase, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to say that or do that.”  What about our own sense of personal wrong, whether the action occurred at work or at home?  We do not know ourselves as well as we think we do.  King David prayed this prayer, “Search me, Oh Lord, and know my ways and see if there be any wickedness within me.”  David acknowledged a gap in his knowledge of himself, and later he asked the Lord, “Heal my ways.”  These are both great prayers.

Do you think that the Lord was disappointed or angry at Peter for denying him, for surely he was not “the Rock” that Christ had named him prior? By all appearances, Peter failed. There is an intimate exchange between Peter and Jesus in John 21, after the resurrection. The disciples went fishing per Peter’s suggestion, toiled all night catching nothing, and as they were coming in from a frustrating night, Jesus, unrecognized by them, called out to them to cast out their net on the right side of their boat. With the sun rising, causing the fish to go out into deeper water, this was a foolish suggestion. Their net only caught surface fish, but they did it—maybe with a flicker of hope and against their better knowledge. The account reads, “So they cast it (their net), and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple (most likely was John), whom Jesus loved, therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!'”  From a fisherman’s perspective, this was a miracle—sun equals no fish. That was the rule by which they lived. What was Jesus saying to them? What is Jesus saying to us? We are not fishermen, but work is work, and failure is common to us all, so what can we learn?

There is still one more part to this before we can draw application. Once the men were at shore with their catch, they find Jesus around a fire with fish already cooking and bread warming. Jesus invited them to sit down and eat. This is now the third time Jesus had appeared to them after his physical death. After they had eaten, Jesus has a very specific dialogue with Peter. It appears on the surface that Jesus is asking the same question three times, but is he?  “Simon (using his prior name), do you love (Agapao: self-sacrificing love) me more than these (maybe referring to the other disciples or maybe pointing to the fish, representing his career)?  Peter said, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you (Phileo: love you as a friend).”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  This goes on two more times and by the third time, it says, “Peter was grieved (to afflict with sorrow) and said, ‘Lord thou knowest everything; thou knowest that I Phileo you.'”  Prior to Peter’s response and the reason why Peter was so grieved was when Jesus asked the third time, he changed the word Agapao, a superior love, to Phileo, and in a sense asked, “Do you really even Phileo me?” Now, we can understand why Peter was grieved. It is bad enough to know you failed, but to have the one thing you believe you are sure of brought into question is to make the failure that much more pronounced. Yet, given Peter’s failure, Jesus does not change his response to Peter. He still says, “Feed my lambs.”

Let’s make application. Often when we fail, we get labelled or label ourselves, or an opportunity is missed because of our failure. With Christ, failure is our entrance into Divine Grace—the beginning of a walk built on trust, not works. It is no longer what I can do for God or what I can do by my strength, because I know I can’t. I failed, and more than likely will fail again. If I am to be pleasing to God, it is now what he can do through me. All I can give him is a willing vessel, and I am not even sure of that. Failure causes humility; humility causes dependence upon the arm of the Spirit, not the arm of the flesh. And failure makes Grace that much more precious. How do you think Peter felt, when even in his failure, Jesus calling upon him does not change, “Even if you just Phileo me Peter, and questionable at that, still feed my lambs.” Peter preached the first sermon of the church in an open square and 3,000 people were converted—from failure to victory; from trusting in my ability to trusting in God’s ability through me. We must learn that this is the path of faith—the path of victory.

Father God,

Thank you for Peter’s failure, for in it I see myself, and in it, I see your love, noncondemning but always pressing us forward to mature faith. Let me learn to get out of the way and yield to you a willing heart and mind for you to use. Thank you and Amen.

Matthew 26:26-28:  “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the New Testament (New Covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’”

Matthew 27:50-51:  “Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit (crucifixion).  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth did quake, and the rocks were split….”

Aside from Christmas, Easter is the next greatest religious holiday. Its significance to faith and to man cannot be overstated, and this short devotional is very limited in discussing all of the significance of Christ’s passion; however, just in these verses alone, we find enough at which to learn and marvel. The significance of the first Passover, which Christ had with his disciples, was not understood by the disciples until after His resurrection. From that point forward, all but one would give their lives for Christ and for the message that so radically changed them.

“For this is my blood of the New Testament (New Covenant)”:  In the day and age in which Jesus lived, animal sacrifice, even human sacrifice in pagan cultures, was practiced. So the concept of shedding blood to atone for one’s sins, as was the purpose in the Jewish culture, or to appease an angry deity, as was the purpose in the pagan cultures, was something known. To us, this practice is cruel and unnecessary; however, it probably would still be a practice if it were not for the Cross. The Cross represents a “complete work”; once and for all, Christ became the Sacrificial Lamb, our Ransom Redeemer. The transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament acknowledges this. The word “Kaine” is the Greek word for “New,” and it implies “qualitatively new.” It will always be new, as in a “New Dispensation.” It implies something not known before, newly introduced, and not impaired by time or use. This is contrasted against the other definition that means “temporarily new,” e.g., a new car or a new pair of slacks or shoes—they can only be new once. So with a new dispensation or era, we will never need to go back to animal sacrifices. Christ’s passion atones more than enough for the sins of each repentant soul and the advent of His resurrection is enough “Life” to enable us to live a qualitatively new life. The energies of my life progressively change from doing what pleases me to doing what pleases Him, which in so doing, I am rewarded with joy and peace.

The term “Testament” speaks of a Covenant: an agreement between two parties. We can have a Will or a Trust that once the maker of it dies, it cannot be ratified or changed if such provision was not written beforehand into the Covenant—it stands uncontested.  So, too, salvation, forgiveness, and redemption are all new provisions in the New Testament that were not a part of the Old Testament. Faith on our part in these provisions and Christ’s work on the Cross are what “ratifies” the Covenant for us, making us receivers or “beneficiaries” of such treasures.

“For the remission of sins”: There cannot be a more beautiful word for those who are seeking a second chance. In the world, we get labeled because of our past failures. In Christ, remission means that all of my past offenses, shortcomings, etc., are released. Literally, it means “to cause to stand away.” They are no longer a part of my record, and I am free to start anew. We may still face physical or relational consequences for our mistakes, but between God and me, I am renewed and have the hope of change. And, furthermore, God will not leave me to face my consequences alone—through them and by them, I will see the faithfulness of God.

God’s grace is so vast that at the Passover, the cup and bread did not pass over Judas, who was going to betray Christ that night—such is God’s grace. How is it that we get doubtful or fearful that we are beyond His help? Or how is it that we seek not God’s grace, but we live on our own terms, believing that God is distant? The scripture teaches that the veil, which separated the presence of God from man, was torn in two, from top to bottom. This was not the action of a man’s hand. The veil was so woven and heavy that no human hands could have torn it.  It was God proclaiming, “I am not a God that is distant, but nigh, even abiding within your soul to those who welcome me in.”

This Easter, if you have not considered Christ, would you take time to consider this message? It would be one of the best changes ever to benefit you and your family. It is said that the shortest distance between us and eternity is the distance between our knees and the floor.

Father God,

I will never understand all that occurred between the Cross and your Resurrection, but what I do understand is that my sins have been atoned for and, consequently, forgiveness has been granted. My life, now, benefits greatly from the energizing life that is in the Holy Spirit that revives me even beyond this life, granting me eternal life. Even this is beyond my comprehension. Thank you for such a gift.  Amen

Dios lo bendiga

Psalm 119:44-45: “So shall I keep Thy law continually, forever and ever, and I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts.”

To appreciate the truth hidden in this verse, I am going to contrast it with other verses in Proverbs 5:21-23: “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the transgressor himself, and he shall be held fast (in the sense of being trapped) with the cords of his sin. He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly, he shall go astray (to wander, to be deceived).”  In context, this verse follows several verses that speak to the entrapment of sexual lust. I have witnessed this as a young man with my friend’s dad, and since then, many times over. My dad’s friend had given himself over to sexual lust, and his cords had bound him till he became a slave to that which had promised him freedom, life, and pleasure.

So in contrasting these two verses, we now have a clearer understanding of “liberty,” for many see “liberty” the other way—that obeying God takes away my freedom, not understanding that seeking God and His precepts sets the soul free. Following our own ways, seeking life by our limited resources and driven by emotional hunger, we entrap ourselves, never really sure if we have found the truth. We hope that the happiness we have found will last and not “wear off” like other pursuits, but there is no guarantee. Or as mentioned in the last devotional, we settle for something much less than what God would have for us.

True Christian life is walked out where God gives us freedom to choose—to say “no” to our own desires and “yes” to God’s. He does not force obedience. Obedience is chosen, and obedience is not legalism with all its “rituals.” Obedience comes from the heart, a real “fresh and blood” struggle, which may be hard at first. However, in time, it becomes a natural choice as the Holy Spirit “takes more ground” in our soul. An example I have is to liken our soul to a hotel. When we accept Christ, we are saved and forgiven, but there is still much in us that has not changed. So like our example, the Holy Spirit needs to go into each and every room and clean it, even the closets that no one knows about but us. This is the process of sanctification, which will last our entire life here. To not allow the Holy Spirit in a room stops the process; therefore, God waits. There’s a neat verse that speaks to this truth, but before I share it, let me ask a question. What  is your attitude when you are waiting on someone, especially when to you, the choice is so obvious? Do you get impatient? Is God the same way? After all, he has a very busy schedule being God. Isaiah 30:18:  “… and therefore the Lord will wait that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore He will be exalted…”  So, there is no impatience with God. He waits with the intent purpose to be gracious (kind) to us. If we could only get this, that God’s ways argue for our freedom and for our good, even when it may appear to the contrary.

“And I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts.”  Liberty, as we are discussing, is an interesting word. We define it as being able to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, but is that true liberty?  It sounds more like a two-year-old child. “Rahab” is the Hebrew word, and by definition means a broad, open space—freedom to walk and live; not confined or restricted; not to be ruled over to our harm. In context, it gives the understanding that as God’s laws become a part of my being, the vices—selfishness, pride, lust, etc.—those weaknesses that entrap us will be overcome. In God’s laws, there is freedom, and the very person of God indwells us, bringing freedom with Him. Jesus gave unto us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that represents to us the love of God. As we follow Him, denying ourselves and saying yes to Him, “the ground of liberty” is won.

Father God,

I have much yet to learn, but I understand that within me is the means to self-destruct and the means to choose righteousness. God grant me the strength and wisdom to choose righteousness. Thank you and Amen.