November 17, 2016 Year C Psalm 141:1-10 Jesus saved me from the eternal consequences of sin. The punishment for my sin has been paid for on the cross. Yet, while I still live and breathe in this world, I am responsible to protect myself from sin. The best way to protect myself from sin is to continue building my relationship with Christ. In this psalm, David reminds me that I can take an effort to protect myself from sin. Just... Read more
Psalm 91:1-16 The Promise of God’s Protection Actor Jimmy Stewart found comfort in Psalm 91. When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps and prepared to go overseas. Stewart’s father, Alex, choked up when he tried to bid him farewell, so he wrote a note for his son to read en route. After being shipped out, Jimmy read the words his father had been unable to say aloud: My dear Jim... Read more
Proverbs 21:1 Don’t Worry, God’s Got This! “A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.” (Proverbs 21:1, HCSB) In the early nineties, the leaning Tower of Pisa began to lean too far. Seeing that the 180-foot-high tower would soon become dangerous, engineers designed a system to salvage the twelfth-century landmark by holding the lean constant. First, the engineers injected super cold liquid nitrogen into the ground to freeze it and... Read more
Revelation 16:17-21 The Judgment on Satan’s System Revelation 16:17-21 The Judgement on Satan’s System – is the seventh bowl is the final bowl judgment. It is the final set of events against Satan’s system. Everything about this bowl judgment asserts finality. Commentator James Resseguie points to British literary critic Frank Kermode’s understanding of the importance of endings. Kermode, he points out, uses what is often called the tick tock of a clock to illustrate the influence of an ending: Although... Read more
Looking for God’s Favor October 8, 2016 Year C Psalm 123:1-4 Many people today are asking for God’s favor in the United States election. They will go to the polls to vote, hoping that their candidates win. Some Christians will argue that the only hope for America will happen if only their candidate would win. It is arrogant to assume that the President of the United States can change the spiritual condition of this country. At the same time, I... Read more
‘Twas the Night Before the Election ‘Twas the night before the election And all through the land Neither candidate for President Was what I had planned The Democrats chose Clinton The Republicans chose Trump With the last year of politicking Making their long-winded stump. The neighbors had signs Planted in the front lawn Small red white and blue ads Broadcasting their choices beyond I had followed the campaign Watching CNN, FOX, and MSNBC Seeing which of the pollsters Could claim... Read more
Psalm 32:1-11 How to Experience The Joy of Forgiveness John Stott wrote about Marghanita Laski, one of England’s best-known secular humanists and novelists. Just before she died in 1988, she said in a television interview, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.” Psalm 32 shows God’s blessings for those who are forgiven. This psalm gives us the forgotten secret of happiness, telling us that sin brings sorrow, but confession brings forgiveness... Read more
Psalm 27:1-14 How to Have Confidence Over My Fears There is a famous phrase on t-shirts entitled “No Fear.” It represents a philosophy that says that I won’t fear anything in life. Here, David describes his “No Fear” philosophy. He has no fear because of his salvation. Because God is his light and salvation and stronghold, he has no fear. When bad people and had things happen, his heart will not be afraid. He fears nothing. Yet, he enjoys being... Read more
The Reliability of God and God’s Word October 28, 2016 Year C Psalm 119:137-144 There is a connection between God and the Bible. God is just as reliable as God’s Word. This section of Psalm 119 describes the relationship between the Bible and God. God is righteous and just. Therefore, God’s Word is right and trustworthy (Psalm 119:137-138). What angers the psalmist is the fact that people forget God’s Word and therefore won’t trust God (Psalm 119:139). Why does this... Read more
God’s Future Promises Will Never Be Broken October 27, 2016 Year C Jeremiah 33:14-26 Politicians make promises and often break them. People make promises that they intend to keep, but sometimes they are broken. Promises are meant to be kept. It takes a strong amount of personal fortitude and will to keep a promise. A person who keeps promises is a person who can be trusted. Promises that are made reflect on the character of the person who makes them.... Read more
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