BibleJournal.net

Psalm 124

God is such a great help in time of need. In this psalm David is calling on Israel to think about what would have happened if God was not their defense. David uses imagery of a beast swallowing them alive or of a raging torrent overwhelming them. But blessed be the Lord who did not allow this to happen to His people! The psalm concludes saying “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

How often do you find yourself in need? I can speak for myself; it is nearly every single day. I’ll give you an example. I looked down at my wallet to pay for my emissions test this morning and my credit card wasn’t in its normal spot. This is seemingly a minor issue, but what was my first reaction? Where did I leave it? What time does that restaurant open so I can find it? What if it’s not there? How do I lock my card? I should have called on the name of my God. The One who created everything and is therefore the most powerful being, who is my defense. This is a minor incident where I need help.

Let’s take it up a notch. What do you do when you get that diagnosis, or worse when a loved one gets a diagnosis? Who do you call on when your spouse passes? Who do you call on when your boss calls you into the office and tells you to pack your things? I urge you to call on the name of your God. The One who is outside of space, time, and matter, yet He is within it at the same time.

Jesus Christ told His disciples that He had to go away so that he could send the Helper. The Helper is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who comes alongside us as individuals and works through the Church as a whole. Another way to translate the Greek word for helper (parakletos) is comforter. The Holy Spirit will be a comfort to you if you would just call on Him.

Did you know that in Romans 8 Paul is encouraging the believers that when you don’t know how to pray as you ought to, the Holy Spirit will intercede for you with groanings too deep for understanding? When you find yourself in times of trouble, don’t fall for the temptation to think that God caused this. Remember what His word says in Romans 8, “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

When life gets messy and you need help, call on the name of Jesus. Don’t call on your earthly wisdom or knowledge, call on the One who gave you the wisdom and knowledge.

I’m reflecting on my day and taking inventory of the decisions I have made with my use of technology. Our phones, computers, TVs, video games, and other technological tools are used for personal or work-related purposes. Either purpose can leave you distracted at the end of the day. In my own research, I found that the average person spends 6.5-7 hours a day on some form of technology.  These hours add up to about 20+ years.  Wow!

Psalm 123 reminds me to set aside the distractions that keep my head down and to “look up”.  It helps me think about how the world’s negativity shows up in everything we do—discussing the news, weather, politics, comparisons, and our favorite judgment of everything and everyone.

Psalm 123 reminds me to look to Him. To be resilient in the face of the hard things and turn my focus to Him.

³ Show loving-kindness to us, O Lord. Show loving-kindness to us. For we have had our fill of hate. ⁴ The proud have laughed at us too long. We have had more than enough of their hate.

1. I lift up my eyes to You, O You Whose throne is in the heavens.

Let’s take the vertical view of this world, looking up, in all we do. Avoid the horizontal approach, which looks at everything wrong.

 

Today’s Reading : Psalms 122

Contrary to popular belief, peace is not the absence of chaos, but the relationship that you have for God in the midst of the chaos. 

Sanctuary can be a place or a time in our lives where we are at peace.  Sometimes we have to have a particular place or a time so that we are able to be grounded and have peace. David is using this passage to show us that we can have peace by where we are and what we are doing. 

“ I was glad when they said to me,

    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Our feet have been standing

    within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

    “May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls

    and security within your towers!”

8 For my brothers and companions’ sake

    I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek your good.

Psalms 1-2;6-9

David is showing two things here:  The first thing that David is showing us he is standing. When you’re standing, you are still and you are not in motion. So many times in David’s life he was moving and he was continuously searching or escaping or evading. In this particular passage, he says that “ Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem” David is still. David is at rest. David is not running or moving. He has found peace in his body, and he has found peace in his person.

David is at a particular place, Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the epicenter of the Jewish faith. It is still the epicenter of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic faith. It is the city in which David ruled and the kings of Israel ruled. 

When you step into the gates, you are free from harm and danger. You are free from attacks. You are surrounded by protection. We are at a place where we can feel at peace. This is the sanctuary that many people searched for.

As we have completed our Advent season and are celebrating our Christmas season and beginning of a new year, many people will be in the state of flux and unrest.

Many people will have ideas of what they wanted and those ideas were not fulfilled. 

Many people will have memories of past hurts or past grief and are not at peace. 

But this passage shows us that when we have a relationship with God and we are able to be rested and be in a place of protection, we can find peace. Sometimes we don’t need these things to find peace, but it gives us a reassurance of peace in the midst of this chaos.

As we journey into this next year, let us ask God for his continuous relationship with us to grow and allow us to find peace within Him. In the Christmas story, the angels come upon the shepherds and say peace beyond to you.

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.  – Luke 2:13-14

In a mist of the storms, Jesus told the waves “peace be still”

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. – Mark 4:39

Allow our next year to give us a fraction of these proclamations of peace.

Be blessed.

Philemon 1

When my kids were young and had a cold, I would bring them cough syrup. It comes with that neat little cup that will deliver the perfect dose to make them feel better. But they wouldn’t drink it. Maybe it was the taste, maybe it was the burn, it was probably both. Despite the attempts of the manufacturer at a delicious cherry flavor, my daughter would grit her teeth and clench her lips tightly inside her teeth to avoid whatever unpleasantness would follow.  I had to develop a new technique to deliver this much needed elixir.  That method came in the form of a syringe.  The small plastic tip was small enough to pierce its way between her lips so that the medicine could be delivered into her mouth.  Once in, I had to cover her mouth so that she wouldn’t spit it back out.  It was a painful process, but a necessary one.

I think of that process as I read Philemon.  Paul, has someone, Onesimus, that would benefit Philemon. But, Onesimus was a bitter pill for Philemon.  A runaway slave that had already cost him time and money, not to mention his authority.  Convincing Philemon to take him back would not be easy. Even tougher is convincing Philemon to take him back, not to work, but to set him free.

Paul uses every persuasion tactic he can, challenging him with reciprocity, providing social proof, revealing scarcity and urgency.  Paul skillfully reframes the narrative and illustrates stark contrasts.  While those may be formal persuasion techniques, each one can be easily seen in this story.  No matter the technique, there is something bigger going on here.  What effect do Pauls efforts have on Philemon’s heart?

The Bible does not record Philemon’s response. But I know what mine would have been. In fact, it jumps out of my chest as I read this book.  

“Heck no! Why would I do that? And, thanks for the guilt trip, Paul!”

That response puts my pride and arrogance on full display. But, if I sit with it just a little longer,  I begin to see a bigger opportunity – an opportunity to participate in the redemption of Jesus. 

Paul was offering Philemon had an opportunity to welcome Onesimus back, despite the hurt and financial loss he caused. But, remember, Paul was asking for more.  He wanted Philemon to welcome him back, then free him. That would cost him even more!  I am hearing the footsteps of Jesus in that.

What about Jesus? Did Philemon remember that Christ gave up everything for him? That he welcomed him back and gave his life in the most costly and dreadful way, so that he could be free, so that he could live, so that he could share in the joy, peace, and love of God?  Do You?

It may have taken Philemon a minute to digest Paul’s letter. He had to overcome the bitter taste and make a hard swallow. I bet he was relieved after he did.  I bet we will be relieved too.  Yes, that hard swallow takes humility, and sometimes a forced feeding.  Thankfully, Jesus will do whatever it takes to get His sweet elixir grace and love into our soul.  

Psalm 18

When David proclaims, “His mercy endures forever,” he is not making a sentimental statement; he is testifying from his experience. David’s life was marked by dramatic highs and devastating lows—victory and failure, faithfulness and sin, confidence and fear. Yet through every season, one truth remained constant: God did not abandon him. David understood mercy not as a fleeting emotion, but as God’s covenant faithfulness—His steadfast love that persists even when human obedience falters. Mercy endured when enemies surrounded him, when guilt weighed on his conscience, and when consequences followed his choices. David praised God because mercy, not merit, defined his relationship with the Lord.

Thousands of years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, this truth applies even more profoundly to us. In Christ, God’s enduring mercy has been fully revealed. The cross stands as the ultimate declaration that God’s mercy does not expire, weaken, or run out. Jesus bore the weight of sin once and for all, proving that mercy is not reactive but intentional—planned before the foundation of the world and secured through resurrection power.

For us today, “His mercy endures forever” means we live with confidence, not condemnation. When we fail, mercy invites repentance rather than despair. When we struggle, mercy offers grace rather than rejection. When circumstances change, mercy remains unchanged. God’s mercy is not anchored to our performance but to His character.  No matter what we have done, no matter how bad we think we are, God still loves us and demonstrated that through the birth, death, and resurrection of His son Jesus.

As we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth, let’s remind ourselves and our families why we celebrate.  We celebrate the birth of our Savior that provided the path to our salvation. And like believers before us, we carry this confession forward—trusting that the same mercy that saved us will sustain us, guide us, and one day bring us home.

Today’s Reading: Titus 3 

“Be the most generous person that you know“.  – S. Doran 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Be Ready for Every Good Work

3 Remind them to be … to be ready for every good work,… 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, … 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people….14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. – Titus 3: 1;4-5;8;14

Longsuffering is the part of the fruit of the Spirit that puzzles me for quite some time.  When I was younger,  I always thought it had a negative connotation.  As I grow and mature, the word that I have seen take on the whole meaning.  In other bible versions, longsuffering is referred to as patience.  I wondered “Why would a loving Father would allow longsuffering?”  

But I’ve had a revelation this week. It’s not longsuffering that is the fruit but what does it produce?

It goes back to the relationship. Your relationship with God and the Spirit will create how you will see longsuffering.  What is a relationship that you have with God and Spirit?

There are two examples of how longsuffering can be used by God with you.   You can use the long suffering for the better or you can begrudge the suffering.  

As an example, you can use longsuffering and be miserable. For instance, if you had a divorce, a death of a loved one, or a breakdown in your entire life; you could see these as ways of God punishing you and allowing devastation to rule. You can become so absorbed in the actions and not allow the relationship that God has with you to grow and to allow you to see past that point of despair.

I have witnessed the most amazing testament that is the full example of  how long suffering produces a generous heart and abilities to do good in spite of everything.  

A close and great friend of mine experienced longsuffering that has created one of the most generous hearts that I know.  He has allowed it to produce good works for others.  This friend had one of the most amazing days of his life, juxtaposed with one of the most tragic days of his life. He had just proposed to his fiancé and they were excited about the new life that they were about to embark.  They got engaged and three days later they were celebrating their engagement with a trip. On this trip, his new fiancé had a tragic accident that almost left her completely paralyzed. She fell off his back and landed 15 feet below on the ground on her back and crushed part of her spine.  This changed the trajectory of their life.

She had to do extensive surgeries and excessive therapy to recoup. This created a piece of longsuffering for my friend. He felt despair… loneliness… heartache… and overall pain. He could allow this to consume him and be isolated and upset with the world. But he decided to see this as an opportunity to live life to the fullest and to cherish each and every moment with his family, friends, and those he cares about. He then transformed this longsuffering into becoming a generous person. He took this inner gut punch and was able to relate to others who were going through something similar.

Because of the longsuffering, he has created joy and peace and connection with so many individuals who are not able to see that silver lighting. He shared with me that “Whenever I  see somebody who is in the situation, I  actually internalize their hurt and if I can help to eliminate some of that, ‘punch in the stomach hurt’ he knows he’s done some good for that individual.”

It takes a strong person to be able to see how God can use them in other people’s lives. In Titus, we are shown to do good work and continue to do these good work all the time. When I see these good work, I attempt to be generous and be more generous than I can ever imagine. 

As my friend, S. Doran, at the beginning of the passage, states “be the most generous person that you can be.”

You are not trying to outdo anybody except for yourself.

Let’s see if we are able to get more than we can even expect ourselves to do.

Be blessed and be generous.

 

Titus 2

“Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” Titus 2:15

What exactly is Paul telling Titus to “proclaim?”  Everything that he has just written.  It’s both the practical instructions for living, and the Gospel that empowers and motivates our behavior.  My natural tendencies, however, are to modify my behavior through discipline and lounge in the comfort of grace. While I work to keep them separate, Paul shows us that theology and practice are never separated. So, when he tells Titus to ‘proclaim these things’ in verse 15, he means both the practical instructions for living AND the gospel that empowers them.Titus 2 is not about behavior modification; it’s rooted in the reality of Christ’s redemption and the transforming power of grace.

Do you feel the motivating power of God’s grace, or does it just make you comfortable?
Grace is more than a comforting idea; grace is the manifested reality of Jesus Christ entering human history.

• Grace saves us
• Grace teaches us
• Grace transforms us

Paul roots every command that follows in this truth: what we do flows from what Christ has done.  I love the way Timothy Keller says it.  He writes, “grace does not merely forgive, it changes us.  It is not opposed to effort, but to earning.”

Because of Christ’s redeeming work, we are now His people, purified, treasured, and eager for good works (Titus 2:14). Our obedience is not the cause of His acceptance, but the result of His transforming grace.

As much as I’d like to lounge in the comfort of God’s grace, Paul won’t allow it.  He couples practical instruction with it, that is powered by grace.

• Grace calls us to renounce ungodliness
• Grace enables us to turn from worldly passions
• Grace helps us live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives
• Grace points us toward Christ’s return
• Grace gives us confidence to walk as a purified people as His possession
• Grace compels us to do good works

This is not self-improvement. It is Spirit-empowered formation, through grace. We live differently because we are different.  We are redeemed and renewed in Christ.