A GREAT TEXT FOR OUR JOURNEY

As your days, so shall your strength be  Deuteronomy 33:25

As we journey on the long trek through life we need help along the way. In our text Moses is giving his last words of instruction to Israel as they move toward the promised land. They form a kind of benediction and prophesy for God’s people.

In a modern day application of the text, someone has pointed out that there are two ways of reading these words:

1.One common interpretation is that they promise strength that is equal to each day’s need. We live one day at a time and discover his strength is always sufficient. His strength maintains us fully for each 24 hour period. We will never lack strength for whatever demands each day may bring. That is very good and most encouraging.

2.But a more careful look at the text will reveal that we are looking not at a single day but rather “days.” When we think of all of our days we think of our old age and the weaknesses and infirmities that come with the aging process. But what a blessing to be assured that our natural weakness will be replaced with God’s supernatural strength! We must not therefore dread old age but rather believe that in those advanced years we shall enjoy some of our strongest days…..A closing text:  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, The Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary….He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.  Isaiah 40:28-29    

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INSIGNFICANT

We must learn the significance of the insignificant.  Not all of life is dramatic or spectacular. We do not see miracles everyday. Most of our hours are filled with the ordinary and routine. This does not mean, however, that this part of life has no meaning. Paul says, “All things are yours.”  We must believe then that all things are working together for our good. See Romans 8:28….That all things, even small things, have value and significance.  We fall back on this great text in the crises of life, but it seems to me that we need it more often when we are plodding along without any exciting things happening.

Very often God tests us and trains in ordinary things…the extraordinary will come later. Joseph sat in prison and interpreted the butler’s dream before he stood in the palace to interpret Pharaoh’s  dream…. Moses went to the backside of the desert and the dreary discipline of herding sheep before he went down to Egypt and the dramatic experience of delivering the Israelites…Hauling out rubbish was a part of the rebuilding program of Nehemiah’s day. It was as important as laying new stones in the walls of Jerusalem, although it was certainly not as interesting,..Filling water pots was pretty routine work for the servants in Cana, but it was no dull thing for them to see that water turned to wine by the miracle of Christ…Paul wove tent cloth by night and preached the gospel by day, but there is not the slightest suggestion in any of his writings that he considered the former secular and the latter sacred– they were both the work of God.  He said something to some slaves once which may help us as we think about this issue:

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24        Amen!

DEFINITIONS OF FAITH (file)

It is not necessary to possess great faith to be spiritually productive, but you must possess genuine faith.  Small faith (mustard seed size) will move mountains simply because our great God always responds to the sincere trust of His child. The quality of faith, not the quantity of faith is what matters most….To sharpen and stimulate our thinking about faith, here are some practical definitions:

Faith is driving on when others are dropping out….faith looks at human impossibilities as God’s greatest opportunities….faith is doing the common job in an uncommon manner….faith waits in the dark and walks in the light….faith is getting God’s viewpoint…faith will wait for God, knowing that delays are not denials….faith is resting confidently on the Lord’s flawless integrity and illimitable ability…..faith never sacrifices the ultimate on the altars of the immediate…..faith looks at promises while unbelief looks at problems…..faith draws on God’s never-failing resources rather than my diminishing reserves…..faith that justifies us before God expresses itself always  by works that justify us before men….faith never interprets providence as a release from responsibility but rather as a definition of responsibility…..faith always distinguishes between Divine Truth and human thought; it trusts the Truth and tests the thought….faith builds bridges for advance but never for retreat….faith in the promises of God is power; faith without them is presumption….faith feeds not on human wisdom, human ways, human will, human works  or human wealth–it feeds only on God’s Word….faith never makes allowances for God to fail or for Satan to triumph….faith is giving what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose…faith never triumphs without trials…faith and patience are always hitched together in the work of God…faith functions in the parenthesis between the promise of God and the performance of God….And now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but he greatest of these is love.  I Corinthians 13:13.     Amen!

DO POLITICIANS HAVE THE ANSWERS?

The problems we face as a nation are quite obvious. With the government shut down now for several weeks and no end in sight for a resolution to the problem. With our southern border unsecured against illegal criminal aliens and hard drugs. With many thousands of unborn infants being murdered every year. With half our marriages ending in divorce. With both political parties strongly opposing each other and no negotiations planned.

With all of the above, I urge us to consider the wisdom of God’s Word in the following text:  Do not put your trust in princes, (presidents) in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.   Psalm 146:3-4.   Little comment is necessary. Political leaders cannot save. Political leaders are mortal and will certainly pass away. Political leaders have plans that will end it nothing. Failure is obvious in what ever way we look at politicians.

In the same Psalm we read, Blessed is he whose help is in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them– the Lord, who remains faithful forever.   God is not a Democrat or Republican, He is the sovereign Lord of the universe!  He knows how to bring good out of evil and over-rule failing politicians!  Not all politicians are evil but they have obvious limitations and we must pray for them. See I Timothy 2:1-2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” Amen.

 

FAMILY BLESSING

Many of you know that Leila and I were in Maple Grove, MN. earlier this month to attend the wedding of our grandson Joey and his bride Megan. It was a very happy time and I share some of the things that remain in my heart today:

1.I saw again the great blessing of “Household Salvation”. (See Acts 16:31) Joey’s father, Dan, grew up in our home where daily Bible reading and prayer and regular church attendance were a vital part of our family life. Dan and his wife Delores continued all of this in their home. Now, Joey is establishing a new household where these same spiritual values will be experienced and perpetuated.

2.While we were eating meals or just hanging out together, there was much hearty laughter among our children and grandchildren. It was obvious that they enjoyed being together. There is no fun  equal to family fun! (In contrast to family fights!)

3.Our son James, an ordained minister, heard the wedding vows. Like father like son?

4.Although they did not know the meaning of all that was going on, even our great-grandchildren enthusiastically joined in the  celebration, especially on the dance floor!

Amen.

LOOK!

The dictionary definition of the word ” look” is simply, “to exercise the power of vision upon…” It requires little effort and we do it many times each day. It may be casual or very focused. Please think with me about some of the profound uses of this little word in the Holy Scriptures:   Look to Me and be saved, All the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other   Isaiah 45:22….Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which you have given us, just as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.   Deuteronomy 26:15….My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.   Psalm 5:3….Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.   Psalm 119:132…..Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.  Proverbs 4:25….Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around; At last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.  Proverbs 23:31-32…..Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn…Isaiah 51:1….But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.  Isaiah 66:2….Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.   Micah 7:7…..Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.   Luke 21:28….Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!  John 4:35….For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 3:20….So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who look for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.   Hebrews 9:28….Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.   II Peter 3:13….Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.   II John 8.

So, I shall LOOK for your response. Amen. 

GOD’S WORD FOR TIMES OF TROUBLE

We all agree with Job when he says, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”  Job 14:1  All of us, high or low, rich or poor and black, brown or white experience trouble. The trouble may be physical or financial or emotional  or marital or related to the work place, but in whatever form it comes, we shall all know it sooner or later.

Without comment, I share the following passages from God’s Word that have helped me in my times of trouble:  My times are in Your hand…Psalm 31:15….Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  John 14:1….for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’  Acts 17:28…..And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose  Romans 8:28……Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6…..Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39……Joseph said to them (his evil brothers) ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…Genesis 50:19-20…..Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20……AMEN.

Please share any thoughts you have on this subject.  Thanks.  WKG   wkgrout@comcast.net    970-613-8588

AN ENCOURAGING WORD FOR THE NEW YEAR

Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.  Isaiah 46:3-3.

As I grow older, I feel weaker physically and mentally. But I am encouraged in knowing that it has pleased my heavenly Father to use many in old age. I think of Abraham and Caleb and Joshua and even the Apostle Paul was retirement age when he began his great ministry.      Please think with me about the truth in the text from Isaiah:

1.God has carried me all of my life. My spiritual experience began at birth. Paul speaks about being separated from his mother’s womb. Of course, I later entered God’s family  when I was “born again”.

2.In our Western culture we tend to think that our most important years are before “gray hairs.”  But our text assures us that God is with us as much when we are old as when we were young.

3.Finally, God promised through Isaiah that He would carry me and deliver me through all of my days. Underneath are the everlasting arms! Amen…….A related text:  They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing.. Psalm 92:14.