Tag: Psalm 67:1-3
Jesus’ Shining Face!
Scripture reading for September 8: Psalm 67:1-3, 6-7 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!” . . . “The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him.”
John 20:21-22 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.“
Today’s psalm comes from a worshiper in Israel and was sent to the choirmaster as a song. It was a prayer for God’s grace and favor to be made known among His people. The Aaronic blessing was part of this song, and asked God to turn His shining and glorious face towards His people. This wasn’t just for a supernatural experience, but to fulfill God’s stated purpose of showing His saving and healing power to all the nations of the earth. As Israel sang praises to their Lord, Who was smiling on them and pleased with them, they would enjoy the blessings of His grace in salvation and forgiveness of sins, deliverance from their enemies, and healing of their sicknesses and diseases. All the ends of the earth would be drawn to the God Who smiles and blesses His people. The earth would yield its increase and God would pour out more blessings on all who praised Him. As praises go up, blessings come down.
God answered the prayer of this worshiper in the sending of His Son to reveal the smiling and gracious face of the Father Who wanted to pour out blessing on His people. God the Father sent His Son to heal the sick, deliver the bound, and seek and save the lost. He recruited disciples who would take His blessing to the ends of the earth. To equip them, He looked each one in the face and breathed on them, giving them the Father’s blessing–the Holy Spirit. They were sent in His peace to do as Jesus did!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for turning Your smiling face upon us and giving us grace and blessings. May we who have believed obey Your simple instructions to take this Good News to all the earth! Amen.
Grace to the humble!
Scripture reading for April 4th: James 4, Psalm 67, Proverbs 5
James 4: 6-10 “But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.”
Our world operates on pride and is centered on getting what we want when we want it. This causes strife and quarrels, even in the church of Jesus Christ! James, as a wise pastor, was emphasizing to the church the need for God’s grace in each person and in the church family. God gives grace in abundance, but there is the requirement of humility. When we are in a prideful attitude, putting ourselves first, God actually is opposing us! Who can be blessed or find grace when God is opposing them? This pride is demonic in nature, because it is the devil’s nature. The simple solution, according to James, is to resist the devil and draw near to God. The devil will flee and God will then draw near to you. True humility brings repentance first and then exaltation and the joy of God’s grace and smile in our life.
Psalm 67:1-3 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!”
Prayer: Father God, I pray the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 67. Be gracious to us and bless us and make Your face shine on us, that through Your smile and favor, we may reflect Your ways to those on earth and Your saving power among all peoples. I humble myself to draw nearer to You each day that I may learn Your ways and become more like You in the humility of You amazing grace.
Proverbs 5:1-2 “My son, be attentive to My wisdom; incline your ear to My understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.”
Believers basic behavior
Scripture reading for October 30th: Hebrews 13, Psalm 67, Proverbs 1
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 13:1-5 “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Since Christ Jesus is with us now and forever, we have an obligation to live a life that pleases Him in our basic relationships. We must love our brothers and sisters in Christ, part of our family now and forever. We must also show hospitality to strangers, because they may be angels of God sent to minister to us or others. Prisoners are also to be remembered and visited as well as the persecuted for their faith. Above all, marriage is sacred and to be honored as God has decreed that godly children are to be raised up in the family. Finally, love God, not money!
Faith Confession: Jesus Christ is my constant companion and friend. I choose to live a life of love for God and others that reflects my love for Jesus Christ. I will be with Him forever!
Psalm 67:1-3 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.”