Tag: trouble

48.w. Wilderness – 13.b. “And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”

 

Num 33:50-56  And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”

God had a special role for the nation of Israel regarding the people of Canaan. He used them as a unique instrument of judgment against the Canaanites. Israel was not to tolerate a co-existence with the depraved idolatry and immorality of the Canaanites, which included even human sacrifice. “No false pity or selfish motive was to operate in such fashion as to leave any corrupting influence behind. The unequivocal command to drive out all, was based on the tenderest regard of God for the well-being of the chosen people, and through them, the whole [human] race.” God’s intent was not only to bring judgment on the corrupt culture of the Canaanites but also to give the land to Israel to possess.  If Israel failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land, they could still occupy the Promised Land. However, the idolatry and immorality of the Canaanites would find a place among Israel and be a source of constant trouble and irritation.

 It shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them: This warning was eventually fulfilled in Israel’s history. Though they possessed the land, they did not fully drive out the Canaanites or destroy their influence. By following the Canaanite idolatry and immorality, eventually God drove Israel out of the land in exile.

The abiding spiritual principle teaches us that it is of no use for the church to succeed in the eyes of man – as Israel had succeeded when they occupied the land and became a legitimate nation, instead of an enslaved people – if it merely allows the corrupt practices and attitudes of the Canaanites to take root among God’s people. If, spiritually speaking, a similar thing happens among God’s people today, they should expect to be eventually driven from their place of apparent success or influence. (Guzik)

Do you ever give thought to cultural influences in the church today in the name of tolerance or co-existence or acceptance? People who live lukewarm to God’s Word and things of God will find it comforting to be a body that embraces cultural acceptance of sins and lifestyles that clearly defy God’s Word and expectations from those whom Jesus died to redeem. Being tolerant of sins and not calling them out as sins, but rather trying to make room in God-honoring lives for those with alternative lifestyles and ideas of what it means to follow and obey God. 

When there is no concern or thoughts of the sinfulness of sin in the light of the holiness of God people will become blind to things of God and drift through life on the waves of cultural norms whenever they present themselves. There used to be a time when pastors would call out cultural norms for what they were. There was a time when: 

Divorce was considered a bad thing and it was sin

LGBQT was just called homosexuality and it was sin 

Abortion was the murder of babies and it was sin

Working on Sunday and not having a day of rest “In the Lord” was sin. 

Not working when jobs were available was sin

Pornography was sin

History was studied not abolished

The Church met on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, and numerous home bible studies during the week. It was a community of believers that met, prayed, studied the Word of God, and encouraged holy living.

Movies and TV shows promote of sinful acts were made known and avoided

Home visitation by the elders and pastor was common

Knowing what is either right or wrong in the eyes of God is very good to know and essential for a believer to identify the things of this world that are creeping into the Church. When the Word of God is not cherished, desired, or studied the minds of people will be led by the influences of “Cultural Norms”. Soon the believer is weakened and the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit fall on deaf ears. They are just content with being born-again believers with very little growth or knowledge and understanding of the things of God. They are confused by those who defend sinful life choices and styles and find it easier to be non-committed one way or the other towards them. Clearly, a charismatic speaker can persuade those who are weak and lukewarm in their commitment to honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ to think a sinful act is acceptable. 

I find this to be true – social media, news outlets, TV, and the busyness of life have eroded the hearts and minds of believers. These have watered down and diluted if not washed away what it means to be godly, holy, faithful, and committed. I am not saying that spending time on social media, listening to news outlets, or watching TV is all bad. However, when there is a lack of desire for growth and understanding of God’s Word so that you can better live in such a way that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ in all of your thoughts, words, and actions, then the cultural norms will become more and more acceptable. Sin becomes tolerated because right and wrong are allowed to co-mingle. 

How is a person to gain understanding and knowledge of the things of God and what is pleasing in His sight if there is only but a weak commitment to it while at the same time, their lives are being filled with whatever is the new cultural norm being proclaimed? How is a person to hear the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit when their time is being occupied and filled with whatever the culture (social media, news outlets, and TV) deems important for the day? It would be far better for a believer to shut these influences out of their lives. I wonder if your TV and internet were broken and you could not afford to get another  one for 6 months if anything would really change in your life by not having listened? I am pretty sure life would go on and you might even find time for God’s Word and things of God. You might talk more as a family. You might spend more time attentive to your family. You might spend time with friends. You might get more things done around the house. Children might find time to read. 

The lives of believers are being too easily influenced by cultural norms because?????????

48.m. “Wilderness” – 12.s. Men – Vows

 

Num 30:1-2  Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the LORD has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Psalms 56:12     I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.

 Psalms 76:11   Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared,

 Psalms 119:106    I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.

 Job 22:27     You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

 Psalms 22:25     From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

 Ecclesiastes 5:4-5   When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

 Psalms 66:13-14    I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,  that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

 Psalms 50:14    Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,

Matthew 5:33-37 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

A vow made to God is no small thing. God commanded that His people should be careful to keep their vows and to fulfill every oath they made. Psalm 15:4 describes the godly man as the one who swears to his own hurt and does not change. “Vows either took the form of a promise to give something to God, usually a sacrifice, or a pledge to abstain from something.”  Wenham also notes the common tendency: “But when the crisis passes and the prayer is answered, there is a temptation to forget the vow.”

A commonly overlooked and unappreciated sin among God’s people is the sin of broken vows – promising things to God and failing to live up to the vow. Under the old covenant, it was commanded to make an offering to atone for the breaking of vows (Leviticus 5:4). Therefore, those who honor God:

· Will not be quick to make vows to God, especially unwise vows.

· Will be serious about fulfilling vows that they do make.

· Will regard broken vows as sins to be confessed and to be repented of. (Guzik)

The “vow” was positive; the “bond” negative or restrictive. By a vow a man engaged to dedicate something to God, or to accomplish some work for Him: by a bond he debarred himself from some privilege or enjoyment. A vow involved an obligation to do: a bond. (Barnes)

 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord—A mere secret purpose of the mind was not enough to constitute a vow; it had to be actually expressed in words; and though a purely voluntary act, yet when once the vow was made, the performance of it, like that of every other promise, became an indispensable duty—all the more because, referring to a sacred thing, it could not be neglected without the guilt of prevarication and unfaithfulness to God. (Brown)

If a man vow a vow unto the Lord,…. Which must be in a thing that is lawful to be done, which is not contrary to the revealed will and mind of God, and which may tend to the glory of God, the honour of religion, the service of the sanctuary, the good of a man’s self or of his neighbour; or in things purely indifferent, which may, or may not be done, without offence to God or man; as that he will not eat such a thing for such a time, or he will do this or the other thing, as Jarchi observes; who moreover says, that he may forbid himself what is forbidden, and forbid what is free and lawful; but he may not make free or lawful what is forbidden, that is, he may not vow to do a thing which is contrary to the law of God, such a vow will not stand. (Gill)

I think we sometimes think of vows to God like New Year’s resolutions. In the moment of having a date of starting we make a resolution to do something or to stop doing something with full intent upon completion. The first week may be squarely focused and set in our mind, but then something alters the normality of our life and the resolution is not easily maintained. Soon the resolution is nothing more than words written or spoken and the commitment to continue with unwavering focus is no longer there. 

Vows to God were not resolutions. They were solemn acts of devotion and commitment without a hint of not performing. The thought of not fulfilling a vow to God or to another person was not an option or thought. Vow or not to vow – Jesus Said – “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no”

44.s. “Wilderness” – 8.y. “herefore they shall eat the fruit of their way”

 

Exo 32:20  He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.

 Proverbs 1:31   therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

 Proverbs 14:14   The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

 Job 4:8    As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.

 Isaiah 3:10-11    Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.  Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

 Galatians 6:7-8   Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Jeremiah 6:19    Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

Ecclesiastes 11:9.   Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

 Proverbs 1:33  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

There is much in the attitude of professing Christians in this day which fills me with concern, and makes me full of fear for the future. There is an amazing ignorance of Scripture among many, and a consequent want of established, solid religion. In no other way can I account for the ease with which people are, like children, “ tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” (Ryles)

“One great concern I have is that many of today’s Christians are not taking the Word of God seriously. For whatever reason, the Scriptures do not have authority in the Christian’s life in the way that is necessary for him or her to live a life to the glory of God.” (Tozer)

The longer I am in ministry, the more convinced I am that the church is filled with atheists. Now, I am not talking about theological atheists; I am talking about practical atheists. Many of us live our lives, conduct our relationships, and formulate our plans without ever once even thinking, “What would God have me do in this situation?” We live our lives as if there were no God. (Jeffress)

There is not much talk about sin and the sinfulness of man in light of the holiness of God. It is in this absence that a shallow approach is revealed to things of God and the wholeness of His Word. Where is repentance discussed? Where is sin called out? Where is holiness a pursuit? Where is the desire to live Holy? Where is the desire to be Holy Spirit led? Where is there separation from worldly and heavenly pursuits? Where is the desire to grow in understanding of God’s Holiness and our sinfulness so that we might repent and honor and glorify Him? 

There is so much more to a Christian life than living “Justified by Christ” – Granted all must come to the place of redemption through Jesus Christ, but the Christian life that begins (born again) as a baby is expected to grow and mature – “Sanctification”.  We can rest our salvation in our justification in Jesus Christ, but there should never be a moment where we are not seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Him in all we think, say, and do.  Being complacent and neglectful in this desire will leave us void of the Word of God in our lives and of little value to bringing honor and glory to Jesus. How empty is the appreciation that says; “I repent and trust you Jesus” and then does not seek to live each moment desiring to honor and glorify Him? 

We can rest in being justified but should never rest in our growth and desire to grow so that we can speak the word of truth and live so that honor and glory are given in all we think, say, and do, to Jesus Christ. Though we might start our Christian walk as a babe, let us not be content but rather seek to grow and mature in God’s Word. 

41.k. “Why did you ever send me?”

 

 

Exodus 5:10  So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Moses went to the Israelites as directed by God and spoke what god directed him to say.  The people bowed and worshipped God because of these words. Moses went to Pharaoh and spoke the words God gave him to speak. Pharaoh was pretty upset that these slave people would even think to come to him with such a request. Pharaoh, in turn, says, “obviously you have to much time on your hands and because of that you are having too much time to think about anything other than serving me, so now you will gather your own straw to make the quota of bricks you are assigned. This was impossible but Pharaoh never withdrew this requirement and beat the foreman of those making the bricks for falling short. The foreman went to Pharaoh and said why do you treat us like this. Pharaoh said; “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD. Go now and work.”  The foreman saw they were in trouble and when they met Moses after speaking with Pharaoh they said to Moses. The Lord look on you and judge you for what you have caused upon us.

Moses turned to the Lord and asks why have you done evil to these people and why did you send him. You have not delivered them.

The foreman wanted judgment against Moses and Moses wanted to blame God. Both expected God’s promise of deliverance to be handled immediately and they reacted with doubt and blame. Would we have been any different? We might look at this and think in our hearts we would not, but we are not being treated harshly after being given the words of encouragement and the promise of deliverance by God through Moses. I wonder how close this lack of faith in God and His promises hits home in our hearts and minds. Any Christian who is walking with God and seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Jesus Christ will encounter times of trials and troubles as they are being led by the Holy Spirit. The point to remember is that we have been given the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, direct, teach, and comfort us through these times. The problem is that far too many “Christians” are not seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and do.  It would seem their hope is built on the comforts of life rather than the Word of God. They have no hope because there is no growth upon the foundation of salvation.  Shallowness, complacency, and neglecting God’s Word will never increase our reliance and dependence upon Him, but rather cause us to become judgmental and blaming. 

We are without excuse in light of all that has been given to this generation. We live in a time that knows with historical and biblical truth that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, sent to redeem mankind, die and rose again, and is coming again. We have been given God’s Word in written form and it has been made available through every means possible with technology.  No one has any excuse for the neglect it is given. No one has any excuse to live ignorant of it. 

We are to be a Holy people that live for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do, a light in the darkness, and able to give witness to the hope that is within us. How do we know what it means to honor and glorify Jesus Christ when we lack in desire for this very purpose? 

40.p. “He will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.”

 

 

Exodus 2:23  During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

 Nehemiah 9:9   “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea,

 Psalms 18:6    In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

 Psalms 81:7  In distress you called, and I delivered you;

 Psalms 107:19-20   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

 Isaiah 19:20   It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

God did not turn His attention to Israel because they were such good people, but because of the covenant He made with them.  (Guzik)

Probably the murdering of their infants did not continue; that part of their affliction only attended the birth of Moses, to signalize that. And now they were content with their increase, finding that Egypt was enriched by their labour; so they might have them for their slaves, they cared not how many they were. On this therefore they were intent, to keep them all at work, and make the best hand they could of their labour. When one Pharaoh died, another rose up in his place, that was as cruel to Israel as his predecessors. And they cried — Now at last they began to think of God under their troubles, and to return to him from the idols they had served, Ezekiel 20:8. Hitherto they had fretted at the instruments of their trouble, but God was not in all their thoughts. But before God unbound them, he put it into their hearts to cry unto him. It is a sign God is coming to us with deliverance when he inclines us to cry to him for it. (Benson)

How much do we suffer without taking it to Jesus? How long do we wait before we see Him as our hope? Jesus is ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful and is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can even imagine. His power and knowledge have no end.  Why is it that we try to resolve our trials and troubles in our own reliance and limited knowledge and understanding? How much peace and rest have we forfeited because we choose not to cry out to Him?  I fear way too many times.  Let us draw near and never choose to leave the presence of our savior for even a single minute of every moment.  Purpose in your heart to stay close and honor and glorify Him in all thoughts, words, and deeds.

37.h. “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.”

 

 

Genesis 25:19  These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

 1 Samuel 1:11     And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

 1 Samuel 1:27  For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.

 Psalms 50:15  and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

 Psalms 65:2    O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.

 Psalms 91:15    When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

 Isaiah 45:11     Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

 Isaiah 65:24    Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

 Isaiah 58:9    Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

 Luke 1:13    But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Isaac prayed and even the son of promise did not come into the promise easily. It only came through waiting and prayer. We can trust that the prayers of a husband for his wife have a special effectiveness. This prayer was answered, but some 20 years after Isaac and Rebekah first married. Their faith and persistence in prayer was tested and invited to grow through many years. As well, these were the only children born to Isaac and Rebekah. (Guzik)

Though God had promised to multiply his family, he prayed for it; for God’s promises must not supersede, but encourage our prayers, and be improved as the ground of our faith. Though he had prayed for this mercy many years, and it was not granted, yet he did not leave off praying for it. (Benson)

Isaac seems not to have been much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness. Jacob and Esau were prayed for; their parents, after being long childless, obtained them by prayer. The fulfilment of God’s promise is always sure, yet it is often slow. The faith of believers is tried, their patience exercised, and mercies long waited for are more welcome when they come. Isaac and Rebekah kept in view the promise of all nations being blessed in their posterity, therefore were not only desirous of children, but anxious concerning every thing which seemed to mark their future character. In all our doubts we should inquire of the Lord by prayer. (Henry)

Isaac’s marriage, like Abraham’s, was for a long time unfruitful; not to extreme old age, however, but only for 20 years. The seed of the promise was to be prayed for from the Lord, that it might not be regarded merely as a fruit of nature, but be received and recognised as a gift of grace. At the same time Isaac was to be exercised in the patience of faith in the promise of God. After this lengthened test, Jehovah heard his prayer in relation to his wife. (Keil and Delitzsch Biblical)

It is important to recognize that our prayers are heard by God and answered howbeit in His timing, not ours, in His purpose and will not ours. Abraham faithfully waited 25 years believing in God. Isaac waited 20 years believing in God. Do not let God’s timing of His answer to your prayers weaken your faith in Him and His ability to answer. He hears your prayer before the words leave your lips. Grow in patient-reliant faith and do not allow Satan to have any ground towards unbelief. God can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

31.m. “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

 

Matthew 6:25  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 Philippians 4:6   do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

 1 Peter 5:7    casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 Luke 12:5    But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

We are to be concerned with the right things; the ultimate issues of life – and we then leave the management (and the worry) over material things with our heavenly Father. 

“You cannot say that Jesus Christ ever troubled about what he should eat, or what he should drink; his food and his water consisted in doing his Father’s will.” (Spurgeon)

 We are to be concerned with the right things; the ultimate issues of life – and we then leave the management (and the worry) over material things with our heavenly Father. Do not worry about tomorrow: If you must worry, worry only about the things of today. Most of our worry is over things that we have absolutely no control over anyway and is therefore foolish as well as harmful. Jesus reminds us of the importance of living for the present day. It isn’t wrong to remember the past or plan for the future; to some degree both of those are good. Yet it is easy to become too focused on either the past or the future and to let the day and its own trouble be ignored. God wants us to remember the past, plan for the future, but live in the present and not to be anxious.

What causes us to become worried, anxious, fearful, troubled, disturbed, nervous, tense, and afraid? Is our focus on things we have no control over and our lack of faith in God having control over them? Belief, trust, and reliance in the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present one and only God will consume the anxiousness, worry, and fear in your life and fill you with love, peace, hope, faith, strength, joy, and courage, to face any challenge today may bring.  We have a choice. We can take our eyes off of Jesus Christ and try to face the trials of the day in our own self-reliant way knowing we are not truly capable. When we choose to face whatever trial or trouble that comes our way in our own power, wisdom, and strength there will be anxiousness, worry, fear, etc…. 

Turn your eyes to Jesus, look full into His wonderful face and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

30.t. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

 

Matthew 5:7  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

 Psalms 37:26   He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Psalms 112:4 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

 Proverbs 11:17    A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

 Proverbs 14:21    Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

 Proverbs 19:17   Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

 Daniel 4:27    Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

 Micah 6:8   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

 Colossians 3:12     Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

 James 3:17     But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

 Hebrews 4:16     Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When this beatitude addresses those who will show mercy, it speaks to those who have already received mercy. It is mercy to be emptied of your pride and brought to poverty of spirit. It is mercy to be brought to mourning over your spiritual condition. It is mercy to receive the grace of meekness and to become gentle. It is mercy to be made hungry and thirsty after righteousness. Therefore, this one who is expected to show mercy is one who has already received it. The merciful one will show it to those who are weaker and poorer. The merciful one will always look for those who weep and mourn. The merciful one will be forgiving to others, and always looking to restore broken relationships. The merciful one will be merciful to the character of other people, and choose to think the best of them whenever possible. The merciful one will not expect too much from others. The merciful one will be compassionate to those who are outwardly sinful. The merciful one will have a care for the souls of all men. If you want mercy from others – especially God – then you should take care to be merciful to others.

To be merciful is a choice. We have a choice on how we act towards and treat others. What is bouncing around in your head when given an opportunity to show mercy. I was right and have been wronged. I was cheated. I was not chosen. I was cursed at. I was not listened to. I was not invited. I was not asked. You are wrong. You are lazy. It is your own fault. You have two legs and two arms – use them. You choose to live like this. The list of things we allow to bounce around in our head when we are in a situation that should or could allow us to show mercy could go on and on. The fact is that we don’t spend a single day whereby we could show mercy to someone. Why should we, because God showed mercy and grace on us while we were still sinners.  He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we would have eternal life. We did nothing deserving this grace and mercy. It was out of the love of God who reached out to a lost and fallen world. Rejecting to show mercy when opportunities arise says a lot about the condition of the heart of the soul. To recognize and understand that you were given mercy when you deserved none opens up our heart and mind to choose to show mercy in the like matter. Why? Because Jesus Christ is honored and glorified.  There is no other reason. When our heart, mind, and soul desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ we will continue to find opportunities to show grace, mercy, and love.

30.k. “To open the eyes that are blind”

 

Matthew 4:12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 Psalms 107:10-14   Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,  for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.  So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.

 Isaiah 42:6-7    “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

 Luke 1:78-79   because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high  to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 Jeremiah 13:16   Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.

 2 Timothy 2:25-26    correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Spiritual darkness, separated from God, and yet, able to see what God the Creator created. Blind to righteousness, holiness, and things of God. For over 400 years no prophet of God had been sent to proclaim the will of God to the Israelites.  It is not as though the Israelites sat idly by.  They perfected a means of holiness and righteousness based on what a person should and could do to be right before God. They had a form of godliness but not in line with true worship, surrender, and reliance on God alone. Though they thought they had godly wisdom and were a bright light for all to follow, they were foolish in their understanding and though their eyes were open they perceived nothing. They were in utter darkness to true worship, honor, and glory of God. 

Imagine being deep into in a very rocky and dangerous cave without light – utter darkness.  Every step taken could be your last. There is no light to help guide the next step, no light to keep you from harm, let alone a pathway forward. Darkness becomes the way of life. It is just the way life is. Though no one can see they will speak as if they can. Shouts will be heard in the darkness, “over here is the way”, “It is safe to come this way”, “I have found the path”, “Listen to me”, etc…. so as many that hear these voices of direction, they follow them blindly. It does not matter that the person or voice or idea they are following will lead them further into darkness, closer to danger, and further away from God. Into darkness, they were born and seem satisfied away from the light. And then there was the light of Jesus, the Son of God, the light of the world, bringing light into the darkness. As then and as now, there were those who saw the light and willingly believed, repented, and followed it, but there were many who shielded their eyes and turned away from it. They saw the light and chose darkness. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is light unto salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life.

28.u. “For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content”

 

Philippians 4:11   Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 Genesis 28:20   Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,

 Matthew 6:31-34    Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 Hebrews 13:5-6   Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

 1 Timothy 6:6-9   But godliness with contentment is great gain,  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

How do we know contentment, happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, peace in all circumstances? Where is it to be found? How is it demonstrated? When our circumstances place us in a time of prosperity and plenty we think this is how and where we find contentment. Not true at all.  Ease of life, prosperity, abundance, peace, and comfort is no guarantee of contentment.  In fact, it is where neglect and complacency of God’s Word, more times than not, takes place in our lives. Think about a trial or troubled time in your life.  Did you grow closer to God and seek Him more fervently?  Was your trust and belief in Him alone firm and trusting?  Did you come to a place where you were beyond self-reliance or reliance on others and placed your heavy burden into His hands, relying on Him alone? Did you experience contentment and peace placing it in His hands?   Godly contentment, happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, and peace are not based on the circumstances of life.  They reside in our hearts and minds. It is when we surrender and yield our lives, days, minutes, and seconds of every day to the will and purpose of God, knowing and trusting in Him alone, and where we live seeking and desiring all we think, say, and do for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ, is where we find contentment.  Paul learned it.  He lived trusting God was in total control of everything.  Whatever situation, in plenty and in want, Jesus strengthened Him. If our commitment is shallow and surrender of self to the purpose and will of God each day is non-existent, we will find ourselves missing out on contentment, happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace.