Tag: Psalm 30:11-12
Joy and encouragement in tribulation!
Scripture reading for February 10: Acts 14, Psalm 30, Proverbs 30
Acts 14:19-24 “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the Gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had believed.”
Paul certainly suffered for the sake of the Gospel, as Jesus had told him at his conversion. God’s Word is truth! Preaching the Gospel often brings persecution and it also brings salvation to those who receive the Good News! The mourning of sinners is turned into joy and rejoicing in eternal life and freedom from the bondage of sin. This brings praise to God and thanksgiving from the saved and also from those sharing the Good News! The job of elders in the church is encouragement, teaching of all of God’s Word, and building the faith in new disciples through prayer, fasting, preaching, and teaching! Rejoicing follows!
Psalm 30:11-12 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to Your forever!”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for Your amazing plan of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I will praise You more and more, and not be silent! I will sing of Your glory and tell of Your Good News to all peoples. Fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit that I might powerfully preach to those still lost and make disciples who will be clothed in gladness and the white garments of salvation!
Proverbs 30:5-6 “Every Word of God proves true; He is a Shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His Words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.”
The great mystery of godliness!
Scripture reading for June 29th: 1st Kings 8, Psalm 30, 1st Timothy 3
1st Timothy 3:14-16 “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the Truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
Paul had just laid out for Timothy the qualifications for those in leadership in the church where he was pastoring. Timothy was Paul’s ‘son in the faith’ and a close associate in some of Paul’s missionary journeys. Paul told Timothy that the church was the ‘household of God’ and a ‘pillar and buttress’ of the Truth. The new ‘building’ of God was the lives of believers both individually and corporately. God had given the Holy Spirit to indwell them and to form them into God’s image of righteousness and holiness through godliness. Godliness was not just keeping the rules of do’s and don’ts, but was a manifestation of the Son of God in human flesh, crucified, resurrected, and proclaimed and believed on among Jew and Gentile!
Psalm 30:11-12 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!”
Prayer: Father God, as I came home to You as a prodigal, you turned my mourning into dancing and clothed me with gladness! As a member now of Your household, the Church, I will praise You and not be silent. I will proclaim among the nations the ‘mystery of godliness’, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified, raised to glory and coming again for His Bride!
1st Kings 8:56 “Blessed be the Lord Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all He has promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke by Moses His servant. The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us or forsake us, . .”