# 16 2020 Dev. Psalm 84:2. Yearning! Read all of Ps. 84. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ps. 84:2 “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

Psalm 84 is the first Psalm of a series of six (84-89) that end book thee of Psalms. This Psalm is a communal prayer expressing the desire to worship God in His Temple. There was perhaps a time of conflict in the land that prevented people from traveling to the temple in Jerusalem.

The first (vs.1-4) of three sections expresses the desire for fellowship with God, “my soul yearns, even faints, my heart and my flesh cry out. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”

Are you starting to feel the pain of not being able to worship together at our churches for over a month? If not what are you feeling? Are you feeling the violation of our religious rights?  We may go buy liquor and groceries but we can’t worship in a drive in Church! If we read this Psalm in that light, worship is life, worship is revival, worship is restoration for soul and body, Amen! What is God teaching us?

Worship is a blessing, the second section (vs. 5-7) “blessed are those whose strength is in you”, Lord Almighty! If we ever needed to search our hearts it is now, if we ever needed refreshment physically like drinking from a cold mountain spring, it is now, if we ever needed God’s strength for our hearts and souls, it is now. if we ever needed your Word, it is now “Lord God Almighty!”

Request and praise, the third section (vs.8-11). “Hear my (our) prayer, Lord God almighty, listen to me (us).” Praise, “better is one day in your courts (church) than a thousand elsewhere”, Are we crying “out for the living God”?  But better days are on the way; vs.11“For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” In times like we are in now so often we fall short but followers of Jesus are blameless in Jesus Christ.                                                                                    

Verse 12 stands alone and ties this prayer and our prayers together as well; “Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” This is where we must be today, trust God for all things while we work through this difficulty, Amen!

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# 15 2020 Dev. Heb.6:9. Salvation! Read all of Ch. 6-7. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Hebrews 6:9 “Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” 

This week is Holy week, it is difficult to feel the peace and joy of Easter without the build up of the season of lent and Palm Sunday services. This year we have missed that as the whole world has missed it. Yet, Easter is much more than going to church all dressed up. Even so, Easter is coming and we may celebrate in our homes and with our families, I pray that it will be a blessed day.

The author of Hebrews continues with his theme of becoming mature; “not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death”. He wants us to have faith in God, not our works. He wants to give us “instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting, we will do so” in subsequent Chapters. But he begins with a warning: if you “have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age” and in the end reject God and His word it is imposable to be brought back to faith. That is true but only in this sense: God will forgive any and every sin but not the sin of rejecting and grieving the Holy Spirit. I have been asked that question many times when working as a missionary, I answer with: the fact that you are concerned about grieving the Holy Spirit shows me you have not, because if you did, you would not bother to ask.

The author moves on to the certainty of God’s promises and he begins with Abraham. God swore with an oath that Abram would have as many offspring as stars in the sky, against all odds Abraham believed God and “it is reckoned unto him as righteousness.” This same righteousness we have as believers and followers of Jesus. The author shows us that Jesus took our place on the cross to pay all debt we have accrued, as our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Ch.7 compares for us Jesus as High Priest and Melchizedek as High Priest.God’s dealing with His people as “covenantal people” begins here with Abraham and Melchizedek.

Melchizedek: established by God’s oath, Priest of God Most High, King of righteousness, King of peace, High Priest forever. He has life, blessed Abraham whom God chose, and gave Abraham bread and wine. He is a mysterious figure; some commenters think he is the pre- incarnate Christ. Melchizedek pre-figures Jesus, who by God’s word is declared a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Therefore, Jesus is the final sacrifice to God for the whole world and “because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely ^[c] those who come to God through him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”

Praise God, have a blessed Easter.

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 14 2020 Dev. Heb.4:12. Rest! Read all of Ch. 4-5. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Again, the author points back to the last verse of chapter three, concerning unbelief. Unbelief puts God’s intended rest for us in jeopardy. The author brings the example of the people of God in the desert, traveling toward the promised land: again and again they disobeyed right up to the time they stood at the border of Canaan. They refused to believe God would give them the land because of the report of giants in the land, even after the many miracles God brought on their behalf, they still did not believe. God had been patient, even forgiving this last rebellion, but that was the last straw, God said: “so I declared on oath in my anger, ‘they shall never enter my rest.’”  God made them wander in the desert for 40 years until everyone over 19 yrs. old died, except Joshua and Caleb because they believed. 

The promised land is the foreshadowing of God’s eternal rest; our home in heaven, assured for believers by Christ himself, as the author points out in the last part of Ch. 4 and in all of Ch. 5.  In the mean time we are in the desert but we are not wandering aimlessly like those who do not believe. If we ever needed God’s assurance of His rest it is now, during this difficult time.

As in the past, God is patient, God is willing to forgive, willing to take anyone who has faith, but is God starting to loose His patience with this world, with the injustice, with the disregard for life, for the disregard for God’s Sabbath rest and the disregard for God and God’s Word. Given the situation in our country and in our world I am starting to think along those lines. But it is not to late. Turn to Him!  Ch. 5 ends with: “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” How do we become mature followers of Jesus? By devouring God’s Word, putting it into practice and being willing to discern good from evil.

God is good all of the time! By faith we live in the arms of Jesus!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 13 2020 Dev. Heb.3:1. Believe! Read all of Ch. 3. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.”

Again, the author points back to what he wrote in chapter 2. Let’s review what he wrote about Christ’s humanity: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Christ is the living sacrifice, the final sacrifice foreshadowed in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament who makes atonement for us and for all those who have believed, all those who will believe. Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, we can do nothing to earn it and our shortcomings do not negate it as long as we believe.

The author also gives us his second warning about unbelief: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” The only condition that negates God’s grace is: “a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” In our situation today we are tempted to ask: God where are you, how is it that a loving God allows this virus and economic devastation around the world? There may be a lot of different reasons. Does God want to get our attention, does God want us to call on Him, does God want us to turn back to Jesus, and to prayer? I am asking the question but I do not have a definitive answer.

God’s ways are not our ways, nor are His thought our thoughts but I know that if you hear His voice today: believe. I also know that in the situation we are in we do not how we should pray but “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Ro. 8:26-27) Those who believe are in good hands, we are in the very hands of Jesus! Praise be to God.

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 12 2020 Dev. Heb.2:3-4. Pay Attention! Read all of Ch. 2. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Hebrews 2:3-4 “how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

Chapter two begins with the first of five warnings in the book, highlighting the fact of Jesus’ superiority and “so great a salvation, ushered in by the new covenant of Jesus’ blood. (New Test.) Let us take this as the back story for today: what else must happen for people of the world and of this country to “pay attention”. Instead of a commentator trashing prayer on the air (last week), we now hear more calls for prayer and calls for calm in a situation that is beyond human control. But thankfully, the impact of this virus may be minimized with positive action by listening to our leaders and with faith instead of fear and prayer instead of deviance.

The author points back to the first four verses of chapter one: pay “careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”He is referring to the amazing and complete omnipotent Jesus. In the next section he refers to passages of the Old Testament to show us that Jesus is “made fully human, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Our Savior made “perfect through what he suffered”. Jesus is perfect but now experiencing suffering, He is made perfect as the God Man carrying with Him His “sons and daughters” who by faith are holy as God is holy. “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Again the author quotes Old Testament passages to make his point. (see footnotes)

Christ shares in our humanity “so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” We no longer fear death, we no longer fear the future, we no longer fear the current events in our world and in our country.

Ro. 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.” Amen?

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 11 2020 Dev. Heb.1:1-2. The Living Word of God! Read all of Ch. 1. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Hebrews 1:1-2 “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.”

In this Easter season it is good to be reading the book of Hebrews. The book’s author is anonymous but appears to be well known to the recipients of this letter. Some commentators think Barnabas wrote the book but most think it was Apollos, it is however universally accepted as part of Scripture.  It is a letter sent to Hebrews who are Christians but may be subject to the influences of the Judaizers. The author calls his letter: “a word of exhortation (13:22)” He knows the Old testament well and expounds on eight different passages.

The first four verses are the prologue and sets the theme of the whole letter. The author begins with: “God’s Final Word: His Son”, Jesus Christ, His incarnation, His ministry on earth, His sacrifice and His resurrection is God’s final revelation to human kind and God’s final revelation to reconcile all things back to Him.

The first four verses are an amazing statement about Jesus: He is the “heir of all things, all of creation was through Him. He “is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being”. He upholds “all things by His powerful word”. His sacrifice “provided purification for sin”. He sits at The Father’s right hand as our intercessor and He is much “superior to angels.” Amen! Get your head around the above statements if you can, and let us meditate on the attributes of Jesus during this Easter season.

Verses 5-13 are given as proof of Jesus’ superiority as the incarnate Son of God. See the footnotes of chapter 1.

Verse 14 stands alone and validates the work of God’s angels: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” This rhetorical question shows that guardian angels are considered as part of God’s care for His people while we are on this earth. May all true followers of Jesus praise Him!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 10 2020 Dev. Psalm 83:1. Opposition! Read all of Ps. 83. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ps. 83:1 “O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.”

Ps. 83 is the last of the series Ps 79-83. They are Prayers (songs) of requests for God to intervene into what is happening to the nation of Israel, which is under attack. The on going situation, particularly in the time of the Judges but at other times as well, is Israel’s unfaithfulness, their repentance, God’s restoration and peace again and again. This series of Psalms may have have been prayed and sung at one of those times. The theme of this series is restoration, forgiveness, anticipating God’s mercy, God’s promise of peace and wellbeing. God is the judge of the nations.

The Psalm is divided into four sections: vs. 1-8 are the people’s request, in the first person, and describes who is against them. Put into the context, “See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.” There is a long history in scripture, that we also understand today, those who oppose God’s people are actually apposing God.

The next section is vs. 9-12 is a reminder to God of His merciful dealing with them, by opposing those who attacked them in the past.

The third section is vs. 13-16. Here the psalmist moves into the immediate presence of those praying, using metaphoric language for God to deal with the attackers. But the sections end with a request for God to glorify Himself: “Cover their faces with shame, Lord, so that they will seek your name.”

The last section is vs. 17-18. The Psalmist glorifies God: “Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth”.

Today, there is much opposition to true followers of Jesus. I recently heard a commentator expressing her disappointment that Vice President is leading the fight on the corona virus with the comments: “prayer has no place in modern society”. Our country is full of unfaithfulness, rejecting God and full of gross sin.

The fact is that, because of the fervent prayers of God’s people, God blesses our country. Along with the Psalmist we say: “O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.” Our God is faithful!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 10 2020 Dev. Psalm 83:1. Opposition! Read all of Ps. 83. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ps. 83:1 “O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.”

Ps. 83 is the last of the series Ps 79-83. They are Prayers (songs) of requests for God to intervene into what is happening to the nation of Israel, which is under attack. The on going situation, particularly in the time of the Judges but at other times as well, is Israel’s unfaithfulness, their repentance, God’s restoration and peace again and again. This series of Psalms may have have been prayed and sung at one of those times. The theme of this series is restoration, forgiveness, anticipating God’s mercy, God’s promise of peace and wellbeing. God is the judge of the nations.

The Psalm is divided into four sections: vs. 1-8 are the people’s request, in the first person, and describes who is against them. Put into the context, “See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.” There is a long history in scripture, that we also understand today, those who oppose God’s people are actually apposing God.

The next section is vs. 9-12 is a reminder to God of His merciful dealing with them, by opposing those who attacked them in the past.

The third section is vs. 13-16. Here the psalmist moves into the immediate presence of those praying, using metaphoric language for God to deal with the attackers. But the sections end with a request for God to glorify Himself: “Cover their faces with shame, Lord, so that they will seek your name.”

The last section is vs. 17-18. The Psalmist glorifies God: “Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth”.

Today, there is much opposition to true followers of Jesus. I recently heard a commentator expressing her disappointment that Vice President is leading the fight on the corona virus with the comments: “prayer has no place in modern society”. Our country is full of unfaithfulness, rejecting God and full of gross sin.

The fact is that, because of the fervent prayers of God’s people, God blesses our country. Along with the Psalmist we say: “O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.” Our God is faithful!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved                

# 9 2020 Devotion, Philemon 1. Forgiveness! Read all of chapter 1. The purpose of these devotionals is to be drawn closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Philemon 1:6 “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”

Philemon is a short personal letter to what appears to be a leader in the church of Colosse. The letter is about a domestic matter; Onesimus is Philemon’s slave, who stole from him and ran away. In Roman times his crime demanded a death sentence. However, there is a twist in the story, Onesimus has become a follower of Jesus, I assume, through the efforts of Paul and his fellow workers whom Paul mentions in his letter.

Paul is in prison, not house arrest but in a dungeon, literally chained. Yet, it seems he is allowed visitors and is able to write letters. Paul petitions Philemon to forgive Onesimus who has now become Paul’s son. Before Paul makes his requests he starts with thanksgiving and prayer, he thanks God for Philemon and for his work on behalf of the brothers and sisters of the faith, he is encouraged; “because brother, you have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”

Paul writes a personal and intimate letter as if writing to a close family member and is, as should be, among real followers of Jesus, there is to be joy and excitement for the faith. Paul emphasizes his partnership in the faith with Philemon and that partnership “may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” This should be how we do church: celebrating God’s good gifts to us as a community of which forgiveness is the greatest of gifts. First, forgiveness in Christ is what makes us brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Second, God’s forgiveness demands we forgive each other, even if we are not asked to forgive and even if the person does not know you forgave him or her. Third, forgiveness is for ourselves, for our own peace of mind and our own well being. Forgive because God forgives us! Amen

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 8 2020 Dev. Psalm 82:5. Understanding Love! Read all of Ps. 82. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ps. 82:5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
    They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”

Ps. 82 addresses the issue of unjust rulers. God is the one who rules the rulers, “gods”, they are to rule in God’s place and God judges the rulers of the earth. The cry of the Psalmist: how long rulers “will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked”? He calls instead “defend the cause of the weak and fatherless.” Rescue the poor and needy, deliver them from exploitation.

The New Testament confirms the universal truth of supporting the repressed, the underdog, as Jesus did, James tells us: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (Jas.1:27). This is the understanding that the psalmist is teaching us: the poor, the disenfranchised, the repressed, the rejected, the disabled are those God wants followers of Jesus to pay attention to, to help, to support and comfort, that is what the Bible calls justice!

The issue of justice is misunderstood in many churches; justice has become political but the Scriptures tells us it is spiritual. God’s intention is to reconcile all people and creation back to Himself; what is unjust is when we are not committed to God’s program of reconciliation. We agree with the Psalmist: “rise up, O God, judge the earth”.  We, the church are in danger of judgment as well.  Amen!

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