Pastor Mary Haley

It is a constant battle to separate the petty in life from the holy. The Bible defines pettiness as “small trivial matters that cause division and start arguments.” We can all be petty at times, but Jesus is never involved in it. That comes from our flesh; a sinful attitude and behavior that surfaces when we have to prove we are “right!” Some stuff in life we try to champion can be really petty and useless. There are much more valuable ways to spend our time and efforts. Little foxes can spoil the vine; can cause damage to our relationships, hinder our personal growth, and set us up for negative consequences in life.

In our passage today from the gospel of Mark, Jesus is dealing with the petty when he wants to share the holy. The Pharisees rewrite God’s Word, because they champion their teachings over the mitzvahs or commandments of God. They miss the valuable lessons from God, because they are focused on minutiae. Think about how petty the Pharisees focus is in this moment. These leaders want to be right and are willing to take a stand and prove to the Living Word of God their interpretation of God’s Word is biblical. Jesus sets them straight.

When a prideful ego and pettiness become inseparable friends, disaster is sure to follow. Jesus tells the Pharisees they are using their teachings to mislead and manipulate the people causing them to neglect their responsibilities to care for their aging parents. The Pharisees care about petty things; Jesus cares about the heart being filled with holiness.

We do not take care of our families, friends, or those in need, because they deserve it. We take care of each other, because God commands it. We love each other the way God loves us. If we stayed focused on the holy love of God, our sin would have no room to grow or gain power through our actions. Never forget, sin starts as a thought in the mind and soon develops into messy and miserable lives.

Mark 7:9-23 NLV 9 Jesus said to them, “You put away laws of God but keep your own teaching. 10 Moses said, ‘Respect your father and mother.’ ‘He who curses his father and mother will be put to death!’ 11 But you say that it is right if a man does not help his father and mother because he says he has given to God what he could have given to them. 12 You are not making him do anything for his father and mother. 13 You are putting away the Word of God to keep your own teaching. You are doing many other things like this.”

14 Jesus called the people to Him again. He said, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand this. 15 It is not what goes into a man’s mouth from the outside that makes his mind and heart sinful. It is what comes out from the inside that makes him sinful. 16 You have ears, then listen!”

17 He went into the house away from all the people. His followers began to ask about the picture-story. 18 He said to them, “Do you not understand yet? Do you not understand that whatever goes into a man cannot make him sinful? 19 It does not go into his heart, but into his stomach and then on out of his body.” In this way, He was saying that all food is clean. 20 He said, “Whatever comes out of a man is what makes the man sinful. 21 From the inside, out of the heart of men come bad thoughts, sex sins of a married person, sex sins of a person not married, killing other people, 22 stealing, wanting something that belongs to someone else, doing wrong, lying, having a desire for sex sins, having a mind that is always looking for sin, speaking against God, thinking you are better than you are and doing foolish things. 23 All these bad things come from the inside and make the man sinful.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us understand the power of the petty that leads to sin and rebellion against your holiness. We need help with our thoughts, so please continue to renew our minds with the Word. Fill us with your love, so we have no room to wander into sin and selfishness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Everyday we must remember believers are like temporary residents in this world; we actually belong to Father God as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven and we are learning to live as sons and daughters in Christ (1 Pet 2:11). Once Jesus came to live in our hearts, we shifted our greatest allegiance to our eternal King, his Kingdom, and his care; a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the power of the Spirit (Ro 14:17). The way we live becomes very different as our Father writes our lives anew in the Truth. Honestly, we find ourselves denying self as we travel against cultural norms.

Yesterday, Jen laid before us Paul’s charge to Timothy encouraging him to live as a servant of Jesus Christ—the Truth. To live as an example of the Truth is about following the narrow and difficult path of our Savior; we pick up our cross and allow him to lead us into Kingdom living. As Christ’s servants, we are to live in his integrity by holding fast to God’s principles; in this way we advance God’s will for humanity. While the world’s human leaders fight for power and authority and culture demands allegiance, Christ teaches loyalty to God and respect for others as we entrust ourselves to God’s hands.

In the midst of everything that is happening across the globe, servants must carefully choose their master. Surely, we are becoming aware we cannot serve both God and man, because man has chosen a whole other set of self-enthroned principles. To take a stand in Christ is to act differently than the world when presented with choices each day; those choices can bring pressure to conform which results in suffering.

Today in our passage from Peter, we are reminded Jesus is our example when we experience suffering. Suffering was a part of Christ’s life; unjust suffering occupied much of his ministry. Jesus could be terribly misunderstood by others in every area of his life: family, friends, disciples, religious leaders, government officials, culture, etc. Yet, he chose to serve the Father perfectly [in integrity] every time, because he trusted God. And, friends, Jesus has promised any distress we face actually leads to the pathway of joy; the joy of our salvation because Jesus shows up with his strength in exchange for our weakness (2 Cor 12:10).

So, retaliating against others who unjustly mistreat us is not an option. Instead, we are to trust God’s wisdom that he will make everything work for our good (Ro 8:28). We are to endure patiently while we wait for the good to arrive. So, if you have been suffering loss or mistreatment, take time to pray and keep entrusting yourself to Jesus. As believers seeking to live in the integrity of Christ, we may find ourselves weeping. We may struggle. We may experience pressure and stress. But, God is good and his goodness will prevail.

1 Peter 2:19-25 VOICE 19 For grace is clearly at work when a person accepts undeserved pain and suffering and does so because he is mindful of God. 20 For what credit is there in enduring punishment you deserve? But if you do what is right and yet are punished and endure it patiently, God will be pleased with you. 21-22 For you were called to this kind of life, as Isaiah said,

He did no wrong deed,
    and no evil word came from His mouth.

The Anointed One suffered for us and left us His example so that we could follow in His steps. 23 When He was verbally abused, He didn’t return the abuse; when He suffered, He didn’t make threats to cause suffering in return; instead, He trusted that all would be put right by the One who is just when He judges. 24 He took on our sins in His body when He died on the cross so that we, being dead to sin, can live for righteousness. As the Scripture says, “Through His wounds, you were healed.” 25 For there was a time when you were like sheep that wandered from the fold, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us live in your righteousness as we live in a fallen world. We cannot be a proper example of your integrity in our strength, Lord, so we entrust ourselves to you and call for the promise of grace in our weakness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Whether or not humanity actually understands the Truth and embraces it, the purpose of life is to discover and know God and His infinite love for us, as well as love Him in return and be known as God’s children. Paul reiterates this for the believers in Corinth, “But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved] (1 Cor 8:3 AMP). And, here is the cherry on God’s infinite love sundae; God created humanity and gave us the ability to recognize and know Him through everything He has done in creation (Ro 1:19-20). Everyone has the ability to take in the creative work of God, as it speaks love to human our souls, and know it was no accident.

Years ago, one of my seminary professors at Asbury said in a lecture, “Scripture is God’s self-revelation to His creatures.” It stuck with me. Our minds cannot comprehend the living God of all creation; we will never be able to grasp a comprehensive knowledge of God on our own. So, God uses natural and supernatural ways to help us make the journey of discovering the Truth about Himself and ourselves. Of course, the greatest self-revelation we have ever received of God is Jesus and His work of salvation to save us from sin, death, and eternal separation from our loving Creator’s presence.

Because of Jesus, God reveals and illumines Truth in the hearts of believers to bring infinite [unlimited] understanding to finite [limited] human beings. We will never be god, but my goodness it always amazing me that this mysterious and incomprehensible God lives in believing hearts! If you believe in the work of Jesus Christ to save you from sin, death, and separation, then this is the God who lives in you.

In our passage today, James wants us to remember this life of revelation with God requires the use of faith and endurance. If we never face things we cannot handle in our human strength, we will never know and recognize the power of God working from within. One of two things will happen: 1) We [our flesh] will take credit for it, or 2) We will run from every hard place and miss an opportunity to know God’s saving love for us. The testing of our faith is how God brings greater revelation to us. Grow in loyalty and trust, because there are no limits to what God wants to do in and through you. Receive this love from God, today…

James 1:1-8 NLT Greetings from James
1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.
Greetings!

Faith and Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the self-revelation of your Word to our hearts. We need to take the blinders off that hinder our ability to see you in unlimited ways. We want to be people of faith and we know it means we endure the testing that reveals you in greater ways. Holy Spirit, develop endurance within us and help us hold onto our joy! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s purpose is to save the world through Christ and, if we honestly allow the Word of God to read our hearts, we know we all need the work of the Righteous One in us. How deep in selfishness can humanity go and still have an awareness of God’s perspective? How far can human beings distance themselves from the principles and standards of God and still say they know him? Satan’s lies have flooded human thought; some have grown roots making the Truth difficult to discern. We cannot serve two masters; we must choose and align our lives with One (Mat 6:24). Jesus did addressed this fallen pattern of human thinking with one sentence, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me” (Mat 12:30).

If we are willing to come to the Truth and allow it to read us, we will see humanity has consistently exalted created man above Creator God. Actually, throughout time human beings have demanded their own way and dishonored the Word of the Lord; we have all exchanged the Truth for a lie at some point. This sin has been costly. Yet, God continues to be patient and compassionate with humanity as he desires to redeem creation and recreate human beings in his image once again; this time from the inside out. As we shared in a devotion last week, this is the believer’s day to day journey…

In our passage for today, I want you to focus on the first five words of Truth from the mouth of Christ, “You did not choose Me.” Now, pause to consider the magnitude of these words coming from God who has chosen the temple of your heart as the dwelling place for his eternal living Word. He wants to speak Truth to our hearts and minds, shape our understanding of the spirit world and the battle for power, as well as help us take dominion over our sin nature. He wants us to bear the fruit of his character!

Now, pause to consider how the world hated Jesus for speaking the truth while he ministered about human sin, the redemption God offers, the existence of hell, and the need for a Savior. Some times people want to claim God and live in sin simultaneously…it will never work. Therefore, when as believers we live humbly in the love of God, bear righteous fruit while loving others, and cling to the standards of God, the world will hate us too. We must do it anyway! Glory be to God…we have been chosen for such a time as this!

John 15:16-25 VOICE
16 You did not choose Me. I chose you, and I orchestrated all of this so that you would be sent out and bear great and perpetual fruit. As you do this, anything you ask the Father in My name will be done. 17 This is My command to you: love one another.

18 If you find that the world despises you, remember that before it despised you, it first despised Me. 19 If you were a product of the world order, then it would love you. But you are not a product of the world because I have taken you out of it, and it despises you for that very reason. 20 Don’t forget what I have spoken to you: “a servant is not greater than the master.” If I was mistreated, you should expect nothing less. If they accepted what I have spoken, they will also hear you. 21 Everything they do to you they will do on My account because they do not know the One who has sent Me. 22 If I had not spoken within their hearing, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for ignoring My voice.

23 If someone despises Me, he also despises My Father. 24 If I had not demonstrated things for them that have never been done, they would not be guilty of sin. But the reality is they have stared Me in the face, and they have despised Me and the Father nonetheless. 25 Yet their law, which says, “They despised Me without any cause,” has again been proven true.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for choosing our hearts for your miraculous work of redemption. Help us to grow in your character. Continue to use us in bringing healing and reconciliation to others. We are your grateful servants. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

According to Scripture, it is in Christ we as believers live, move, and have our being; so, at no time are we separated from the grace and power of God for taking the indwelling Spirit of Christ into the world (Acts 17:28). In fact, by the Spirit, Christ should be influencing every area of life through his sons and daughters (Ro 8:14). I frequently hear folks say they want to stay away from political topics with others—certainly it is a challenge to navigate some topics without a battle—but when we are concerned about supporting an accurate vision of justice—one from God’s perspective—someone has to be willing to share the Truth in love, because justice is rooted in the character of God (Is. 40:14). Justice is defined as the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. Who would guide and fulfill justice better than God?

The Bible clearly reveals God’s perspective of justice: in the Old Testament Pentateuch, Book of Psalms, writings of the Prophets, as well as in the New Testament Gospels and Epistles. God’s justice involves the efforts to help all people flourish through the right order of power. Chaos and a lack of order—subsequent to the laws of the land not being enforced—is NEVER from God or associated with true justice. Actually, a “just” law is a law that reflects God’s standards. In the United States we pledge our allegiance to be One Nation Under God. To me that means we were established as a nation to recognize and honor God’s standards. So, we need to remember our foundation at voting time and research the stand of justice taken by our representatives and leaders.

In our passage today, David reminds us everyone can count on God’s standards of justice because it is righteous, fair, and moral. David writes this song as wickedness brings vicious attacks, as well as a collapse of law and order to Israel. He prays and encourages himself and others to trust God to bring justice even if it must come in the form of judgment.

God’s justice becomes a refuge or shelter for everyone living in the righteousness of God even when the foundations of the world’s justice systems collapse. In this world, we can face all kinds of challenges to our health, joblessness, family feuds, injustice, economic instability, and government corruption, but never forget God will always have the last Word. Creation began with his Word and will end with his Word (Gen 1:3; Rev 22:12). So, whether or not justice mirrors God’s standards, you and I can still take our refuge in God who remains the Standard for eternity! Amen!

Psalm 11 For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 
I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
    “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
2 
The wicked are stringing their bows
    and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
    at those whose hearts are right.
3 
The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
    What can the righteous do?”
4 
But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
    the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
    examining every person on earth.
5 
The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.
    He hates those who love violence.
6 
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
    punishing them with scorching winds.
7 
For the righteous Lord loves justice.
    The virtuous will see his face.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our perfect justice and for leading your sons and daughters to understand your standards; we hunger for your righteousness! We pray, Lord, for our country and every elected official; we ask for your justice to overshadow the corruption and wickedness of this fallen world. We know you see everything and we trust your plan to bring redemption. Protect and deliver us from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Biblical theology [the study of the whole Bible that forms the redemption story] guards and guides the Church [believers] toward God’s full nature and character, as well as reveals what it means to be his people living his way. For the past seventeen weeks, I have been teaching a Bible Study based on the doctrines of Grace [the divine nature and power working in us] and Faith [the substance of things we hope for and the evidence of things not yet seen] (Heb 11:1). We must learn how to balance these two extraordinary gifts from God, because our very lives rest in the love of God who provided them for our growth and well-being [wholeness].

Grace and Faith work because of God’s unconditional and perfect love. We have been saved by grace through faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross. At that intersection of grace, faith, and repentance God bestows the gift of eternal life and calls the believing sinner righteous even in his or her present sinful state; this gift is called justification.

As wonderful as this gift is, it does not mean our souls (mind/will/emotions) are suddenly perpetually perfect. It is only a beginning. Now, the justified sinner lives by grace [God’s empowerment] through faith [believing] in God’s love to bring day by day transformation; this is called sanctification (Phil 2:12-15). We cannot create a holy nature in ourselves—holiness is the opposite of our sinful nature—but God’s grace and love can and will if we believe!
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the Church in Rome about their need for the day to day transformation of their flesh or sin nature—sanctification. Paul is talking to believers who have accepted Christ, they just have not fully understood the true gift and work of grace through faith. He reminds these believers to live each day as though Jesus was arriving; the One who said, “If you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself the things you think you want; You must pick up your cross and follow Me” (Mat 16:24).

According to our faith in Christ alone, as believers we are learning to share the love of God with others in practical ways and learning to love ourselves in humble ways. In this way, we are emulating the life of Christ who gave up his perfect flesh for our sinful one, so our souls could now be made mature by God’s divine nature and power working in us. When we really love God and others as Christ has loved us, it’s incredible what that does to purify our eyes, our tongues, and our motives. Have a blessed weekend…

Romans 13:11-14 VOICE
11 And now consider this. You know well the times you are living in. It is time for you to wake up and see what is right before your eyes: for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The darkness of night is dissolving as dawn’s light draws near, so walk out on your old dark life and put on the armor of light. 13 May we all act as good and respectable people, living today the same way as we will in the day of His coming. Do not fall into patterns of dark living: wild partying, drunkenness, sexual depravity, decadent gratification, quarreling, and jealousy. 14 Instead, wrap yourselves in the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, and do not fuel your sinful imagination by indulging your self-seeking desire for the pleasures of the flesh.

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand the times in which we are living. Help us to put aside the weight and guilt of past-living that tries to hold us back, as well as deny our present self-seeking desires. Your grace is what we need and by faith help us believe in the change we long to see in ourselves. We want to further your Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy with our very lives. So, fill us with love and make us lights in the darkness who are grateful for the transformation you have sent grace to accomplish in our ongoing salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Because God has gifted me as a visionary and planner, the unknown is a place of discovery for me. It is both exciting and unsettling. I have to work to find my place in the “rest” (Heb. nuach—calmness) of God. I seek to spiritually help others do the same.

Life can bring many uncomfortable places; our circumstances can change in a moment and we must find a solid place to regain our peace and stability. I like to make decisions and start working on what needs to be done. Yet, there can be aspects of achieving a vision goal that I may not see or understand at the beginning. God may give a vision, but his time and process may not look exactly the way I have anticipated or perceived it. I have to remain obedient and flexible as I trust God and discover the next step.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the Church in Thessalonica (and all believers) they belong to God and even though they feel unsettled about the future, God will provide his grace and peace. Paul goes on to remind us trying to plan for or know the day or time of Christ’s return is foolish. Only the Father knows; EVERYONE will be surprised.

Therefore, humanity must be ready every single day for the Lord’s return. We can remain calm while we wait, because Jesus said his return would upset worldly affairs that will take place prior to destruction. Believers have not been created for destruction, we are children of the Light and we are destined for an amazing reunion with our King Jesus.

So, with the help of the Spirit, let’s keep our souls obedient to God’s fruit-producing Word [self-control] and encourage each other to press on as we seek to use grace to enlarge our King’s Kingdom. Controlling life is impossible; but, controlling our souls is possible if we lean on the strength of God. We have to choose the rest and calm of our Savior for the unsettling places in life, but fear does not have to be our dwelling place—choose today to be sons and daughters of the day!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 VOICE
1 Now, brothers and sisters, you don’t need further instruction from us or anyone else for that matter regarding how the seasons and times will play out. 2 That’s because you know the truth well enough. The day of the Lord will race onto the scene and surprise us like a thief in the night. 3 People will be going about their business chanting, “All is well! All is at peace!” and in the next moment, ruin and destruction will suddenly seize them as labor pains grip a woman about to give birth; for them there will be no escape. 4 My brothers and sisters, it will be different for you. You do not dwell in the darkness, so that day will not surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light. You are sons and daughters of the day. We are not created of night, nor are we owned by darkness. 6 So then let’s not give in to sleep or wander around in a stupor as some do, but let’s stay awake and in control. 7 You see, sleepers sleep through the night, and drunkards drink the night away; 8 but since we belong to the day, we should stay sober and in control, covered with a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us, His chosen, to face His wrath but to be the heirs of salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, 10 who died for us. So regardless of whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing.

Prayer: Lord, let our plan today be to remain in your rest and allow the calmness of your Spirit and strength to carry us through any uncomfortable challenges. Making plans in this world is something we will continue to do, but help us make our relationship with you our greatest quest, do our best to live for you, and trust you with the rest. We wait for your return and we long for the day when we can be reunited to enjoy life with you in the eternal realm. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When you hear the word “defilement,” or dirty does it make you think about something that happens outside of you? Defilement actually has to do with impurity and God mentioned it frequently; it is a biblical issue. Jesus tells his disciples and the crowds gathering near him that a person cannot be defiled by what goes into him or her; it does not enter the heart but the stomach and then exits (Mark 17:14).

On the other hand whatever proceeds out of a man or women is what defiles him or her, because out of the heart comes evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness (Mark 7:14-15, 18-23). Jesus teaches we must be able to distinguish between defiled or righteous thoughts and act accordingly. We need to listen carefully and pay attention to our hearts and the people we empower.

The Apostle Paul—a Pharisee and religious leader—was very proud of his work and reputation. In fact, he described himself as blameless, zealous, kosher, and an ardent keeper of the law (Phil 3:5-6). His ignorance about his own heart enabled him to justify sinning against others and orchestrating horrendous and murderous actions without any conflict to his conscience. How was it possible that he was blind to the defilement of his heart to the point he persecuted the Church and thought he was living as a pure leader?

When Paul came to the end of himself—met Jesus on the road to Damascus—he got a taste of how blind and lost he actually was in his heart (Acts 9:1-9). He needed Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit to be a godly leader. That day changed everything for Paul; Jesus has a way of doing that to defiled hearts.

In our passage today, Jesus uses symbolism to teach a valuable lesson. He refers to yeast as evil; that which causes something to rise up against the Truth—Jesus the Word of God. In the same way, Jesus wanted people to know a hard-hearted leader—religious or political—could rise to power by evil, permeate and contaminate an entire society, and turn it against Jesus—the Creator of all (John 1:3-5). The disciples and many in the crowds had already tasted the Truth of Christ’s power, but due to preconceived attitudes and desires, their hard hearts did not allow the Word to be bread or food that fed righteous thinking and courageous faith. They remained defiled.

Ridding ourselves of the temptation to make God in our image or rewrite his Word, is the challenge before believers, as well as unbelievers. It is tempting to think religion makes us new; it does not. Jesus makes us new and he begins to renew our minds to catch up with Truth as we follow him. Humility is essential to see the Truth which presents an obstacle for most leaders. We all go through trials and tribulations, but God is faithful to those who stay the course with him. We learn about who is actually pure—Jesus—and the more time we spend with him the more we see our own hearts in need of ongoing transformation. May God be praised for purifying our souls. Do you understand?

Mark 8:14-21 NLT Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
“Twelve,” they said.
20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

Prayer: Lord, please draw us closer to you, so we are closer to the Truth. Cleanse and purify our hearts, Lord! Help us take in everything you desire to teach us, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Each day brings to our attention a great contrast between the world’s ways and the Word’s way. For example, the world is focused on that which is temporary and making everything pleasing to human flesh—self-centered. Wisdom and restraint are absent, because many people have no fear of the Lord [no reverence toward God or concern of His judgment]. In contrast, the eternal Word teaches Christ-followers to be focused on denying self in order to live in His righteousness, peace, and joy as we serve God and others—God-centered. Wisdom is present and enthroned, because believers understand the fear of the Lord brings protection and blessings in His care. God welcomes all into this covenant place, but it requires humble submission that leads to an eternal relationship.

In our passage today, David—servant of the Lord—proclaims the faithfulness of God and he contrasts it with those who live foolishly. God’s servants turn from sin, because he or she hates iniquity [the residue sin leaves behind in the soul that dishonors God]. Believers understand sin diminishes the character of a person, while wisdom increases character and positions a person at the table of the Lord’s loving and protective care. For this reason, the wise will praise God and seek His help through prayer. God’s unfailing love reaches to those who desire divine wisdom; those who ask for his guidance toward truth and strength for the journey.

Today, a journey sets before us. Even if we never leave the house, our souls will travel one of two paths—the path of the righteous or the path of the wicked (Ps 1:6). There is no middle ground. May we pray for the Wisdom and courage to walk in the character of Christ as a servant of the Lord.

Psalm 36
1
Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts [the core of one’s being].
    They have no fear of God at all.
2 
In their blind conceit,
    they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 
Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
    They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 
They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
    Their actions are never good.
    They make no attempt to turn from evil.
5 
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
7 
    How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
    in the shadow of your wings.
8 
You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
    letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 
For you are the fountain of life,
    the light by which we see.
10 
Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
    give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 
Don’t let the proud trample me
    or the wicked push me around.
12 
Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
    They are thrown down, never to rise again.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for removing the scales from our eyes, so we can see and examine our own hearts. We run to find shelter in the shadow of your wings, today. Feed us truth from your Word and help us drink of the Spirit, so we can grow in the wisdom of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

To be a faithful worshiper of God requires a decision, devotion, dedication, and development. Obviously, passivity is not the role of a worshiper; we must be actively engaged in our relationship with God. We must come with a passionate desire for God, learn to depend upon divine goodness and grace, be determined to sow what we want to reap, and accept that every difficulty is an opportunity for growth.

Therefore, believers will have to choose to “rest” (Heb. nuack or calmly dwell and remain) in the strength of the Lord. The devil will serve up temptation and deliver spiritual battles to keep us from this place of worship or oneness for the purpose of distancing us from God’s promised blessings. We must remain fixed on our decision, because the devil’s goal for us is destruction, but God’s goal for us is abundant transformation (John 10:10).

In our passage today, David reminds us of the great blessings God has for those who fear [reverence] and trust the Lord. When we really trust the Lord we rest the weight of salvation upon him; we don’t try to save ourselves by putting on a religious image or trying to fix the surface level of our brokenness. Instead, we use our faith in a positive way to obediently navigate new spiritual life with God.

Only God can bring the healing and help we need to become worshipers in Christ—Spirit and in Truth. Our attitudes need holy help. Our tongues need holy help. Our actions need holy help. We need our Teacher and the work of the Spirit to produce the fruit of self-control in order to fulfill the new creation design Father has for us. We no longer belong to the world; we belong to Christ. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor 5:17). Becoming one with God is the most exciting journey anyone can ever make and the goodness of the Lord and the spiritual prosperity of his Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy awaits you, today! (Romans 14:17).

Psalm 34:9-14 NLT
9
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
    for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
11 
Come, my children, and listen to me,
    and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12 
Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
13 
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
14 
Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Prayer: Lord, we make a decision today to rest in your promise to impart wisdom and strength for our spiritual journey. Thank you for providing the direction and power we need to resist the evil permeating the world by turning toward you with sincere devotion. Today, we dedicate ourselves to your plan and the work of the Spirit for the spiritual transformation of our souls. Bring growth to the new life in Christ we have been given. May your will be done. In Jesus’ name. Amen.