The Lord is our Assurance.  No matter how many promises we might make to the Lord, we can never fulfill them. But in His death on the cross, Jesus has paid the debt for us, and in His ministry of intercession at the throne in heaven, He is our living, blessed assurance. As long as He lives, our salvation is secure, and He lives by “the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). So, no matter what people do to us and no matter how we feel, our blessed assurance is secure and we remain in the family of God. Jesus has taken the responsibility for our salvation, and He will never fail.  This is blessed assurance.  This is true justice.  Jesus is the Way.

The Lord is our Master (vv. 123-125). Whenever people attack us, they also attack the Lord, for we belong to Him. When Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians on earth, He also persecuted their Lord in heaven (Acts 9:1-5). God cares for His servants. He does not always prevent us from being oppressed, but He always has a good reason for permitting it to happen. He is a loving Master who teaches us His will and gives us the discernment we need to handle the problems of life. Even more, He gives us promises that we can claim and thereby find the strength and wisdom we need. God’s servants do not live by explanations; they live by promises.  Jesus is the Truth.

The Lord is the Final Judge (vv. 126-128). In our impatience, we sometimes want God to work immediately and set everything right, but His ways and times are not always the same as ours. Faith and patience go together (Heb. 6:12), and God’s delays are not God’s denials. The day will come when the truth will be revealed and sin will be judged; meanwhile, instead of complaining about what we have paid or lost, let us rejoice in the wealth that we have in God’s Word, wealth that can never be taken from us. All of God’s precepts concerning all things are always right, so we can depend on the Scriptures and have the guidance that we need. If we love the Word, we will hate the wrong paths of sinners and stay away from them. We do not even put one foot on the path of the wicked (Prov. 1:15)!  We avoid the deceitful path that leads to death.  Jesus is Life!

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –Jesus (John 14:6)

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 16 – Psalm 119

^121-128 I stood up for justice and the right;
    don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.
Take the side of your servant, good God;
    don’t let the godless take advantage of me.
I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you
    to keep your promise to set everything right.
Let your love dictate how you deal with me;
    teach me from your textbook on life.
I’m your servant—help me understand what that means,
    the inner meaning of your instructions.
It’s time to act, God;
    they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!
Yea-Saying God, I love what you command,
    I love it better than gold and gemstones;
Yea-Saying God, I honor everything you tell me,
    I despise every deceitful detour.

TRUTH: “God, I honor everything you tell me, I despise every deceitful detour.”  Deceitful detours from the path God lays before us looks easy and delightful, tempting our senses but soon become hard, rocky, full of dangerous pitfalls that lead to death.  Taking the road God has for us isn’t easy either, but on this road, God takes us by the hand and walks with us, pointing out all the obstacles that cause us to stumble.  Both roads are hard, but I choose the path God chooses for me.  He knows what is best.  I choose the Way, Truth and Life.  I choose Jesus.

Proverbs 1, The Message

A Manual (Wisdom) for Living

1 ^1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
    David’s son, Israel’s king—
Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right,
    to understand what life means and where it’s going;
A manual for living,
    for learning what’s right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
    and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,
    still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
    the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name.  Your Kingdom come and reign in us and all around us.  May Your Will be done in every detail of my life today as it is done in heaven.  Give us this day all YOU know we will need, what we need to avoid and what path to follow.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to bring us down and destroy us.  For you have all power, to you be all glory, honor and praise.  Nothing is too hard for you.  No one is like you.  You are the Way, Truth and Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen