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Month: June 2012 Page 1 of 3

Psalm 1 :: Meditate in God’s law continually

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On June 29, 2012

In Christian, Psalm 1, Psalm Ponderings

How are the blessed? The blessed are the ones who meditate in the law of the Lord, day and night. In other words, the minds of the blessed is pondering over God’s expectation of them continually, lest they fail in any one of them and cause him displeasure (Exodus 20:13-14; 2 Samuel 11:27). How is it that those who continually meditate in the law of God are blessed? This is because, God keeps in perfect peace, all those whose minds are fixed on him (Isaiah 26:3)

Points to ponder:
Do you meditate in the law of the Lord, day and night (continually)? Do you have perfect peace? When our minds are fixed on Jesus and his words, then there is no room for anything else that can distract us and cause him displeasure.

Psalm 1:2 (KJV)
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

Psalm 1 :: Delight in the law of the Lord

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On June 28, 2012

In Christian, Psalm 1, Psalm Ponderings

How are the blessed? The blessed are the ones who delight in the law of the Lord, for in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:9-11). In other words, their source of joy is in fearing God and keeping his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13), which is the whole duty of man. Their delight is in “THE LIGHT” of the world, Jesus Christ, who will reward everyone, according as their work shall be (Revelation 22:12).

Points to ponder:
Who (not what) is your source of joy? Do yo delight in the law of the LORD? Do you delight in “THE LIGHT” of the world, Jesus Christ? 

Psalm 1:2 (KJV)
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

Psalm 1 :: Blessed is he who sits …

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On June 27, 2012

In Christian, Psalm 1, Psalm Ponderings

Who is the one that is blessed? Psalm 1 states Blessed is the one who sits not in the seat of the scornful. Thesaurus lists the words “humble” and “meek” as antonyms to the word “scornful. Who is the one who sits not in the seat of the scornful? It is he/she that sits in the seat of the humble. In other words, “Blessed is the one who sits in the seat of the humble.”  The humble are those who have the very mind of Jesus Christ, who being God, thought that it was not right to be made equal with God and so humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on the Cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

Points to ponder:
Are you seated with the mind of Jesus Christ, obedient with all humility? Are you blessed in the seat you sit  …? Blessed is he/she who sits in the seat of the humble.

Psalm 1:1 (KJV)
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalm 1 :: Blessed is he who stands …

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On June 26, 2012

In Christian, Psalm 1, Psalm Ponderings

Who is the one that is blessed? Psalm 1 states Blessed is the one who stands not in the way of sinners. Who is the one who stands not in the way of sinners? It is he/she that stands in the way of the sanctified; the saints. In other words, “Blessed is the one who stands in the way of the saints.”  The way of the saints is the antithesis to the ways of the world, for the faithful who are saved by faith, live a life that does not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2). They chose the way that only a few find; the narrow way that leads to life over the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Points to ponder:
What is the stand that you have taken? It is a stand to stand not in the way of sinners, but to stand in the way of the saints! Do you stand in the way of the saints? Are you blessed in the stand you take  …? Blessed is he/she who stands in the way of the saints.

Psalm 1:1 (KJV) 
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalm 1 :: Blessed is he who walks …

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On June 25, 2012

In Christian, Psalm 1, Psalm Ponderings

Who is the one that is blessed? Psalm 1 states Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Who is the one who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly? It is he/she that walks in Godly counsel. In other words, “Blessed is the one who walks in Godly counsel.” Note, it is Godly counsel (counsel from God through his word and his people) and not necessarily the counsel of the godly that we must be seeking, because man can be wrong, but God can never be wrong. We see this in the life of Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather, who had the reputation of giving counsel that was godly to King David and his son Absalom (2 Samuel 16:23), but due to bitterness in his heart and an unforgiving spirit, he gave ungodly counsel to Absalom (2 Samuel 16:21), eventually having to end his own life (commit suicide by  hanging) when one of his counsel against God’s anointed did not come to fruition (2 Samuel 17:23).

Points to ponder:
Have you sought the counsel of God, first? Are you blessed in your walk …? Blessed is he/she who walks in GODLY counsel.

Psalm 1:1 (KJV) 
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

1 Kings 22:5 (KJV)
5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

Jesus Calls :: Known, Know and Follow

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On June 22, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd and his people as the sheep who know him and are known by him (John 10:14) and then he went on to add that “my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). When Jesus calls, his people hear his voice and he knows them and his people respond by following him. They follow him because they know him. What does it mean to know Jesus? To know Jesus is to believe in him, the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), which is eternal life (John 17:3).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as he expressed. He knows his sheep and he calls them. His sheep know him, hear his voice and follow him.

Points to ponder:
Does Jesus, the chief and good Shepherd, know you/me? Do you/I hear the voice of Jesus, the chief Shepherd? Do you/I know him? i.e., Are you/I assured of eternal life? If you/I know him and you/I hear his voice, do you/I respond by FOLLOWING him. Jesus calls – “Follow me”.

John 10:14 , 27-28 (KJV)
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
…
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Jesus Calls :: Finding

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On June 21, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called Philip, the Bible records that he found him (John 1:3). Jesus sought out and found Philip before telling him, “Follow me.”

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today to follow him and to be his disciple is very similar. He seeks you and me out and he finds you and me, before he asks us to follow him. Imagine this, that the God of the universe is seeking you to find you as a good shepherd seeks out the sheep that is lost (Luke 15:4).

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he seeks you to find you. The question that remains, which demands an answer is, Have you in turn sought Jesus and found him and when you find him, are you willing to follow him, as he has concisely and precisely commanded?

John 1:43 (KJV)
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Luke 15:2-7 (KJV)
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus Calls :: Precisely

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On June 20, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called his disciples, he was very precise. When he saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, the fishermen, he called them by saying “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). He was very specific about what he wanted his followers to be – fishers of men.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as precise as it was when he called Simon Peter and Andrew. His call today for you and me is “Follow him” so that he can make us fishers of men.

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he has precisely commanded us to be made “fishers of men”, when we follow him.

Matthew 4:18-20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Jesus Calls :: Concisely

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On June 19, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called his disciples, he was very concise, often using just a few words. When he saw Matthew, the tax collector (who was despised by his own people for his profession and deemed a sinner), he concisely commanded “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9). He isn’t garrulous in his call and is very direct. Jesus did not see Matthew for who he was (a sinful tax collector) but who he was going to be (his disciple).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as direct and concise as it was when he called Matthew, to be his disciple. He does not see us today for who we are, but who we are going to be as his disciple. His call today for you and me is concise – “Follow me” (to be his disciple).

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he has concisely commanded – “Follow me.”

Matthew 9:9 (KJV)
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 

A sacrificial (loving) Father; A heart transplant

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On June 18, 2012

In Christian

We all celebrated Father’s day 2012 on June 17, 2012 and I spent the day with my family. When our beloved  firstborn son, Reuben (now 6 years old), was brushing his teeth, I was talking to him about some good “Father’s day” movies, calling out “The Lion King”, “Finding Nemo” and “John Q”. Since he had not watched the movie, John Q, I told him the synopsis of the movie, which goes on something like this. A father (played by Denzel Washington) who dearly loves his son (who is in need of a heart transplant) is planning and willing to sacrifice himself so that his son could have his heart.

As I pondered on the depth of this father’s love for his son, in this heart-warming movie, I quickly realized that even greater love had God the Father for each of us, his children. We all needed a heart transplant – so that our hearts of stone (rebellion against God, reviling in sin) could be replaced with a heart of flesh (one that loves God wholeheartedly) (Ezekiel 36:26). God the Father, loved us so much that he not only planned our salvation (1 Peter 1:20) and was willing (1 Timothy 2:3-4), but he actually had his heart broken forsaking his Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, (Matthew 27:46) to be the acceptable sacrifice for us (Hebrews 10:1-18)

Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon each one of us – that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1). And the lyrics of the song “How deep the Father’s love for us” by Stuart Townend beautifully expresses this –

How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?  I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom

Points to ponder:
Have you had your heart transplant?

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (KJV)
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

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