Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!No matter our circumstances, He is worthy of our praise - all day long!
This Psalm also demonstrates God's concern for the poor and oppressed. A person's value has nothing to do with their wealth or position in society. How do we treat those society perceives as less than? This reminds me again of the atrocities being revealed in the recently released Planned Parenthood videos. The moral depravity that our nations have sunk to is heart shattering. We must speak up and we must be His hands and feet.
Psalm 114 speaks to God's awesome power as demonstrated in creation. It is fitting that there are thunderstorms raging while I write this. God's power is awesome in the truest sense of the word.
How many of us can pray this verse and mean it?
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!Talk about a motive check!
2 Corinthians 2:4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
My Life Application Bible says this...
Paul did not enjoy reprimanding his friends and fellow believers, but he cared enough about the Corinthians to confront them with their wrongdoing. Proverbs 27:6 says: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiples kisses." Sometimes our friends make choices that we know are wrong. If we ignore their behaviour and let them continue in it, we won't be showing love to them. We show love by honestly sharing our concerns in order to help these friends do and be their very best for God. When we don't make any move to help, we show that we are more concerned about being well liked than about what will happen to them.
2 Corinthians 2: 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
Again, from my Life Application Bible....
In a Roman triumphal procession, the Roman general would display his treasures and captives amidst a cloud of incense burned for the gods. To the victors, the aroma was sweet; to the captives in the parade, it was the smell of slavery and death. When Christians preach the gospel, it is good news to some and repulsive news to others. Believers recognize the life-giving fragrance of the message. To nonbelievers, however, it smells foul, like death - their own.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Psalms 116-118; 2 Corinthians 3
3 comments:
Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
This verse also stood out to me. I need to give God all the glory for all He has given me and done for me. Too often I'm silent when an opportunity arises where I could give God the glory, especially when talking to others. I pray for wisdom in knowing how to do this better and more often.
"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them." Psalm 115:4-8
This verse reminded me that what we choose to idolize will shape us. Idols made by man are dead, while Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.
Conrad, that same portion stood out to me for the same reason.
And Tammy, this verse also stood out for me:
4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
Today we had a frank discussion with our children...mainly our 18 year old but it will apply to our other two as well...that as they reach adulthood their responsibilities (as far as paying for stuff) will increase and our fiscal responsibility to care for them will decrease. This seems like we are setting out some harsh punishments as we will discontinue paying for cell phone, clothing, bus fare, etc. but it is in love that we want our children to grow up to be independent members of society and not lazy people waiting for handouts. It is in love that we must step back and encourage independence and we are not not doing our job if we don't.
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