Tag: benefits
All God’s Benefits!
Scripture reading for September 21: Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””
King David wrote this psalm as a worship prayer and aid to remembering and focusing on God and His many benefits. David was thankful for God’s forgiveness of many besetting sins. He had asked for mercy when he committed adultery and then had his partner’s husband purposely killed. (Psalm 51) David had suffered sickness and God had healed him many times. David also realized that his sins would lead to eternal suffering in the pit and that God’s great mercy had spared him and given him what he did not deserve, steadfast love and mercy. (Psalm 40) David declared his faith in eternal life and joy in God’s presence forever. (Psalm 16) This is possibly the reason behind his declaration that his strength would be renewed to youth like the eagle. This was a powerful metaphor taken from nature and God’s restoration of the eagle.
As Mary and Martha were dejected at the passing of their brother Lazarus, Jesus came and declared that He was the resurrection and the life eternal in God’s presence. Jesus said this at the grave of His friend Lazarus who had been dead four days. He then called Lazarus out of the grave, renewing his strength as a testimony that still speaks to us today. Jesus is the source of all God’s benefits and blessings. He deserves our worship and total trust.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the blessings and provisions given me by grace through believing in Jesus Christ. He has forgiven all my sins, healed all my diseases, redeemed my life from the pit and destruction and given me eternal life in His presence! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Amen!
Pay it Forward!
Scripture reading for September 2: Psalm 41:1-3 “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him: the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness You restore him to full health.”
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
God is merciful to the poor and needy. His example should flow to those who love Him and are filled with His Holy Spirit. In most societies, the poor are neglected or taken advantage of. They are often judged by others for their state of poverty. They are often called ‘lazy’ or labeled as bums or beggars. Sometimes they are homeless and many suffer from addiction and the consequences of their own sins. Some have physical deformities and others mental illness. But even in the covenant of law, God called His people to be kind and generous to the poor and Jesus was always mindful of the poor and needy.
King David spoke prophetically of the faithful believer who was blessed by considering the poor. He plainly stated that in their day of trouble the Lord would deliver them. It was kind of like paying it forward. If you cared for the poor and helped them, then God would assure that in your need, you would find help. If your enemy was bent on killing you, God would keep you alive. If you were cursed by your enemy, God would make you blessed and not give you up to the destructive purposes of your enemy. Finally, if you were attacked by sickness, disease, or plague, God would sustain you during the illness and restore you to full health. That sounds like the kind of deal I want in on!
Prayer: Lord, thank You for showing us Your heart of mercy for the poor and the incentives You offer Your people to care for them as an extension of Your hand. I want to receive Your blessings and say ‘Amen’ to the promises of protection, deliverance, and healing. Show me what You want me to do for the poor in my life. Amen.
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Week 21–Day 1–EMS Encouragement
Scripture reading for May 18: Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
King David loved to worship God and composed many of the psalms, including this one. This psalm extols the blessing of God, encouraging each believer to remember and worship God Who alone can bring these benefits. This song of blessing to God comes from deep inside of David’s heart and the blessing are tied to personal experience of each one. We note that David blesses God’s holy Name. God’s Names in the Old Testament reveal these benefits and are part of His revelation to man of His merciful character and desire to see man made in His image made whole and fully reflecting Him.
First, God forgives us of all our iniquity. Iniquity is a term used to describe not just a transgression of God’s law, but a pattern of living outside of God’s law. When we confess and repent, God not only forgives us our sins but has the ability to help us live victorious over the patterns of sin that beset us.
God also heals all our diseases. Disease and sickness are part of living in a fallen world. They are part of Satan’s plan to kill, steal from us and destroy our bodies and souls. God revealed Himself as His people’s healer in Exodus 15:26 and the psalmist declares this as a benefit of trusting God. Jesus came doing miracles of healing to show His Father’s compassion for sick and hurting people.
As first responders who are believers, God wants us to allow His love and mercy to flow through us to those we respond to. We are to bless people by our competence and care, trusting God to do the healing. As medical professionals, we can only show compassion and treat disease and injury. God can bring healing and renew strength like an eagle.
Prayer: Father God, we bless You for all Your many benefits and Your steadfast love and mercy. We willingly give ourselves to You to minister Your love and mercy to those You send us to. Amen.
Crucified with Christ
Scripture reading for August 16th: Psalm 101-104, Galatians 2
Key Scriptures: Galatians 2:20-21 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
Paul was writing to the Galatian church in response to some false teachers that were trying to get the church to add law-keeping to their faith in Jesus. He explained how his identification with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion brought new life to him through faith, not trying to keep the law. In fact, if he went back to trying to keep the law, Christ died in vain and grace would be nullified.
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Prayer: Thank You Lord, for salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection. I bless You for all Your benefits today! Amen!