Tag: path of life
God Reveals the Path of Life!
Scripture reading for August 31: Psalm 16:7-11 “I bless the Lord Who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You have made known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one come to the Father except through Me.”
The psalmist was worshiping God with this psalm of declaration. He declared God as his Counselor, who is instructing him in the night seasons when darkness seeks to overwhelm. He declared that God is his “right hand” and that makes him secure in the darkness and shaking of the enemy. He declared that his flesh would dwell secure and that he lived a life of rejoicing because of God’s presence. In his rejoicing, he declared his belief that God would not abandon him to the place of the departed dead or allow his flesh to see decay. In God, he has found the path of eternal life leading to God’s presence and fullness of joy forever.
Our health and mental well-being are tied to our faith in God. When we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the sufficiency of God to meet our deepest needs, our faith brings vision and revelation of God’s ‘path of life’ available to all through faith. Jesus declared that He Alone was the Way to the Father and in Him was eternal life. These truths reveal to those who will believe that the path of life eternal is found in a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is raised from the dead and now seated at God’s right hand. In Him we are seated there as well and find eternal pleasures forever!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing the only path to Life eternal and joy forever in Your Son Jesus, our Lord! I bless the Lord at all times and His praise is in my heart and mouth. Amen!
Setting a trap!
Scripture reading for April 7th: Judges 1-3, Psalm 16, Luke 20
Luke 20: 19-25 “The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched Him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch Him in something He said, so as to deliver Him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked Him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.””
The scribes and chief priests thought that they were the very picture of righteousness. Their pride in their knowledge of Scripture and position of authority caused them to be puffed up. They viewed Jesus as a threat to their power and position and felt they must do something to expose Him and do away with Him. Notice that they ‘feared the people.’ The fear of man is a snare. (Proverbs 29:25) The people loved Jesus and were following Him and listening to His teachings. They sent spies, who ‘pretended to be sincere.’ They were bent on trapping Jesus in some act of rebellion against the government. They questioned Jesus about giving tribute to Caesar. Jesus in turn asked them a question–who’s inscription was on the coin? As they answered, Jesus told them to render to Caesar the things that were his, and to God likewise! Jesus answered with wisdom and avoided their trap.
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Prayer: Father, Thank You for making known to me the path of life, in Jesus Christ our Lord. I give to God praise, honor and worship as well as my body as a living sacrifice. Keep me from the fear of man and from pretense and deception. Open my ears to Your truth and prompt me to obedience through the Holy Spirit. Help me to pass each test of my devotion and love for Jesus through faith and grace!
Judges 2:21-23 “I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua.”
Giving God His Due!
Scripture reading for April 7th: Judges 1-3, Psalm 16, Luke 20
Key Scriptures: Luke 20:21-25 “So they asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have? They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”
Some religious Scribes came to Jesus to try and trap Him by asking a leading question concerning paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus was not fooled by their trickery, but turned the tables on them, asking them for a Roman coin, the denarius. He asked them to read the inscription and state what likeness it contained. It was a likeness of Caesar, the Roman ruler. He then instructed them to give to Caesar what belonged to Him and to God what He rightfully had coming. That would be respect and obedience!
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, thank You for Your precious Word, teaching me truth to live by. May I always please God my Father by giving Him what is due and respect earthly authorities He ordained.
Judges 3:1,4 “Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars of Canaan. . . .They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”
Jesus is the Christ, Son of God!
Scripture reading for January 22nd: Matthew 16, Psalm 16, Prov. 16
Key Scriptures: Matthew 16:13-17 “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus had been with His disciples for some time and they had beheld the miracles and heard His wisdom. He had created a buzz among all who had met Him. Asking His disciples who the people said He was, there was a variety of answers. Then He asked them directly who they thought He was. Simon Peter spoke out in simplicity of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus commended Peter, telling him that His answer came from the Father.
Faith’s Confession: Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Christ, Son of the Living God, my Savior. (Action step: If you have never confessed Jesus as Lord and Christ, do so today. Make it personal and from your heart!) Your Father in Heaven is drawing you because He love you.
Psalm 16:1-2 “Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.” vs 16 “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
The Holy City from Heaven!
Scripture reading for December 30th: Revelation 21:1-27
After the punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire, John watched the passing away of the first heaven and earth and a new heaven and earth appeared! What an experience that must have been! The view from heaven of this drama unfolding must have amazed and frightened John.
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” God’s desire has always been to dwell in the midst of His people. Sin brought separation of man from God, but God’s Son overcame and holds the key of death and Hades! (Revelation 1:18)
Now John saw a new heaven and earth and a Holy City, the New Jerusalem. This would be the dwelling place of man with God Himself. Death, sin, crying, and pain will be gone forever! God would wipe away all tears and fill each one with eternal joy in His presence! “You have made know to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)
“He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and he will be My son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolater, and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”” (Revelation 21:6-8) There are two possible outcomes for any man. Those who overcome Satan and his lies will inherit the New Jerusalem and new heaven and earth. Those who don’t believe will get the Lake of Fire!