Tag: Psalm 45:6-7
Not ashamed, fully convinced!
Scripture reading for July 5th: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Psalm 45, 2nd Timothy 1
2nd Timothy 1: 8-12 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the Gospel by the power of God, Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”
This would be Paul’s last letter kept for us the Church. Paul was in prison facing certain execution and he wrote passionately and with purpose to his young protégé, Timothy. He encouraged him not to be ashamed of the testimony of Jesus Christ, which had gotten Paul in the place he was. He was also not to be ashamed of Paul, but to be willing to share in suffering for the Gospel. Paul’s reason was God’s great grace given to each believer and Jesus’ holy calling and appointment as a minister of the Gospel. The message of the cross and Jesus Christ alone has the power to bring abolish death and bring life and immortality to light to all who would hear and believe. Paul was also sharing his conviction that Jesus would fulfill His promise to him of life and immortality as well!
Psalm 45:6-7 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions, . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the assurances of Scripture and through Your apostles and prophets as they lived by faith and boldly testified of Your great love and promises. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and boldness today to share this message without shame or fear in a culture that is hopeless and lost in the darkness and sin. May Your glorious light shine into this darkness through Your appointed ones!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted.”
God’s amazing promises!
Scripture reading for July 25th: Psalm 44-47, 1st Corinthians 15
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 15:50-52 “I tell you this, brothers; flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
Death looks permanent. It is common to all flesh. But through Jesus Christ, we are promised eternal life in the kingdom of God through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. Instead of eternal sleep, we are promised changed bodies that will live with Christ in the kingdom forever. This will happen when the last trumpet will sound announcing the coming of our King Jesus Christ to rule eternally.
Psalm 47:6-7 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions. . . .”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the amazing promises of eternal life, transformed bodies, and eternal joy. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever! Amen.
Rejoicing in the oil of joy!
Scripture reading for December 14th: Philemon, Hebrews 1-4
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 1:8-9 “But about the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.“ (a quote from Psalm 45:6-7)
The writer to the Hebrews pointed out that God spoke prophetically through the sons of Korah concerning Jesus Christ. Christ would be God’s Son and rule on an eternal throne. Righteousness would be the scepter of His kingdom and rule. The Son, like God the Father, loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Because of this integrity of character, God anointed Jesus with the oil of joy! Hallelujah for a joy-anointed Savior who anoints His people with the Holy Spirit and joy!
Rejoicing in the anointed Jesus: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, . .” (Isaiah 61:1-3)