# 29. 2018 Dev. Ps. 40:1,2. A firm Place to Stand!  Read all of Ps. 40. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Psalm 40:1,2 “I waited patiently  for the Lord;  he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit  out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

 In Ps.38, 39, David despaired for his life and his salvation. We also have times that we are overwhelmed with life, not just sin necessarily but with the things that happen to us and to loved ones, the things that are happening in the world but certainly sin is included because sin is never far from us. Satan accuses us, often falsely, sometimes he sows doubt, we despair of our faith, we question our salvation, how does God love the likes of me?

 How? Ps. 40 shows us another side of God dealing with us. David waited patiently for God.  God answered him! “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord”. Those who do not look to the world and the things of this world. God places their feet on solid ground, on the rock that is Jesus Christ.

 David speaks for us: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.” Good works is not what God wants but a willing heart, that pounders on his law. God wants those willing to speak of His deeds in their lives, ones who speak of God’s faithfulness and of his salvation, those who witness to God’s love and faithfulness to all.

 Again David speaks for us: “Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me;” Yet we are encouraged: “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The Lord is great!”

Along with David we are dependent on God: “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.” Whether we admit it or not we all need a firm place to stand and Jesus the rock is the place to Stand. “Make sure to place your feet in the right place then Stand firm” (Abraham Lincoln). Thanks be to God!

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# 28 2018 Dev. Eph. 5:21 Submission!  Read verses 21-33. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Eph. 5:21 “²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 Chapter 5 of Ephesians is the way of love and a call to live the light of Christ in our daily living. Verses 1,2 of this Ch. sets the tone for Paul’s exhortation: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”. We have looked at being the light and now we look at submission. That concept has very negative connotation in today’s world but the way of Jesus sees this concept as the power of the Gospel. Christ, though all powerful, submitted to die in love for us and Jesus tells us that we will be great in His Kingdom if we become the least and serve others. In verse 21, Paul is talking about the Christian life and about the married life of Christians. In both cases it is not about people, but this is about Jesus, about honoring and glorifying Him in all our relationships. It seems that Christ-centeredness is easily forgotten and the result is that our actions in the church and in our marriages are all about us!

 Wives submit to your husbands and husbands sacrifice yourselves for your wives; actual headship is much more demanding than submission. Vs 24-25 summarizes the submission concept: “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”. Submission does not designate lesser or weaker or stronger and dominating, no, it goes back to Gen.2:18 “God said:’ it is not good for man to be alone I will make a helper suitable for him.” From the beginning there was equality but differing roles obviously.  A suitable helper can only mean that men and women complete each other in relationship. Who really would want to live in a world with only one or the other? The difference of the sexes is what makes life worth living and is only enhance with the blessings of children, and as Christians, marriage is sanctified by the the love of God and the salvation of Christ in our lives. Our marital relations are equated with the relationship of Christ and His church, His body. Submission = “love and Faithfulness”! (Prov. 3:3)

 Paul tells us, marital relationship as equated with divine relationship to the church (the body of Christ) is a mystery. Marriage is physical and spiritual. Marriage is one of God’s blessings we enjoy but do not fully understand. The bottom line is that marriage in God’s eyes is on the level of the divine, ordained by God and sanctioned by His love, and is the example of His love for us! Praise be to God!

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# 27. 2018 Dev. Ps. 39:4. Long Life! Read all of Ps 39.The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Psalm 39:4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is”.

 This set of 4 Psalms are complicated in that they all speak to a different aspect of David dealing with his sin. In Psalm 38, David keeps his silence before God, he sees himself as a deaf / mute. He is overwhelmed with pain, real or imagined, but real non the less. In Ps. 39 he keeps silent before enemies for as long as he is able. His pain / Illness progresses to the point he is in fear for his life. And he speaks to God.

 We may identify with David when there are times that all seems lost, even life after death seems too much to hope for. Illness comes upon us, or on a loved one, terminal Illness is real and present among God’s people as well as people of the world. Along with David we despair and say: v.5 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be”. It is proven over and over again, wealth or possessions do not satisfy. Serving God with what He has blessed us with – talents, funds, personality, is the great privilege of our life on earth. Satan wants to deter us and sin is never far away, but thanks be to God for His mercy, and His compassion, and His salvation.

 When we put life in the context of serving Jesus, length of life is no longer important. We trust God for calling us and equipping us and we thank God for every day given to us. Life is a gift! As we read in this Psalm, our hope is in You, Lord Jesus. David keeps asking God for an answer but David knows and we know, God, that You listen to and answer our prayers.

 I am writing this on the 4^th of July. As we read this, life is being cut short for many service men and women, many of whom are not even citizens of the US. Non citizenship makes no difference in terms of commitment to this great land. I know, it happened to me, sent to war as a non-citizen I was prepared to have my life cut short, that did not happen but even if it had my life would not have been less meaningful, in God’s eyes or in mine. Praise God!  We commit to You, Father God, all those who are suffering from war, suffering from illness, suffering from disillusionment, suffering from loss. Stay close Lord Jesus, Amen and Amen!

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# 26 2018 Dev. Eph. 5:8-10. People of Light! Read verses 1-20. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Eph. 5:8-10 “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord.”

 Chapter 5 is a continuation of what Paul has written in Ch.4, a continuation of his advice on living a Jesus lifestyle. In this section vs.1-7 he addresses our personal lives: obscenity, immorality, impurity, being greedy “such a person is an Idolater and has no inheritance in the Kingdom of God”. It is a description of living in darkness.

 No one wants to think about darkness, particularly what Paul is talking about; namely people who are without Jesus are in darkness and are darkness. Sadly, those in darkness are not aware of their precarious situation. People have no Idea that there is no in-between. In life there is no idling in place; either you serve Jesus or you serve yourself, either you move closer to the light or you stay in increasing darkness.  Many of us have been blessed by believing parents and families, but even so, all who belong to Jesus must make a commitment to serve Him, a decision we make every day. Therefor, believers are people of the light of Jesus Christ.

 In this section, vs 8-20, Paul addresses living in the light. “Light consists of all goodness”. How do we define “all goodness”? There is no end to it; a goodness that includes everything good in heaven and on earth. For so many people, believers and unbelievers, see the darkness all around, but for many others that darkness is overwhelmed by the light of God, Amen!

 Secondly, Light is “righteousness and truth”, which includes justice, law and obedience, civility, naked truth unspun, reality and purity in our thoughts.

 Thirdly, wisdom and self-control. What is included here is the fruit of the Holy Spirt (Gal. 5:22-23).

 What do we take away from this section of Ephesians? We read: “Find out what pleases the Lord” and “understand what the Lord’s will is”. What does all this mean for those of us who believe?  Know God’s Word! Read it, ponder it, meditate on it daily, apply it to your every day living and by the power of the Holy Spirit let your light shine! Thank God, Jesus lives in us!

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# 25. 2018 Dev. Ps. 38:4. Repentance!  Read all of Ps. 38. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Psalm 38:4 “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”

 The next four Psalms share the theme of David committing a sin, the consequences, and his confession to God. These four Psalms are the last stanzas of Book One, it is a Book of instruction.

 Sin is always against God’s will for us and sometimes it involves sin against other people. All of Scripture is a guide to God’s will for us but a more specific passage is Ex.20, the Ten Commandments. Obeying the Ten Commandment can’t save us, neither do they condemn us when we accept life by the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

 The Law has two sections: # 1-4 our relationship to God and # 6-10 our relationship to each other. Today we use the Law in three ways: one, the Law teaches us God’s righteousness and shows us where we may have fallen short. It shows us what sin is. Two, the Law restrains sin in society. Three, the Law teaches us how to live as followers of Jesus, obedience builds our faith and we experience God’s grace.

 Like David, our conscience brings on guilt that must be resolved, guilt drags us into dark places as we see with David. Praise be to God that confession and repentance brings back the light. I find public confession as it was practiced in the past not helpful and given our broken selves, detrimental. Confess to God and if a person is involved, to that person. If there is a problem in the church, go to Matt. 18:15-19.

 As long as we live in this broken world sin will be a reality in our lives, but as followers of Jesus we are forgiven.  I John 2 comforts us: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Confession and repentance heals!  Praise be to God!

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# 24 2018 Dev. Eph. 4:22-24. A Jesus Lifestyle! Read verses 17-32. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Eph. 4: 22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”.

 Paul in this passage sets direction for a righteous and holy life style; he draws a stark contrast of life without Christ and a life with Christ. It goes without saying that Paul is talking about our daily actions, our lifestyle as followers of Jesus.

 Paul of course is writing to former Gentiles as described by their former lifestyles. Does what Paul is saying connect with followers of Jesus today?  

A second question: does Paul have something to say to people like myself: born and raised in the church and considered himself a Christian at the beginning? The answer to these questions is: Yes! Absolutely!

 Paul begins with describing a lifestyle of those separated from God, those who do not and cannot understand due to the hardening of their hearts. That is not the lifestyle we have learned that is “the truth that is in Jesus”. We have been recreated “to be like God in righteousness and holiness”. However, sanctification begins with Jesus and ends with His return, it is on going in our lives. For everyone, redemption begins with turning to Jesus, accepting His love and putting our trust in Him, it is a matter of faith. Even so Paul continues to warn us “do not grieve the Holy Spirit”, get rid of bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” We may think that we are not subject to that sort of lifestyle and Paul’s warning is not for us, but if that is our attitude we are living a “la la land” life.

 So, do build people up as needed, may your conversations benefit others: v 32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Good advice for how to live and how not to live in a Jesus lifestyle!

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# 23. 2018 Dev. Ps.37:3 Trust, vs.5 Commit, vs.7 Be Still. Read all of Ps. 37. 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 N

Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the Lord… vs.5. Commit your way to the Lord vs.7. Be still before the Lord”  

Ps. 37 is an acrostic poem of David and it is the last stanzas in this series (34-37). In Ps. 37 David gives us a long comparison of the actions of the wicked and the actions of the righteous. Ps. 34 and 37 both are acrostic psalms that bracket two prayers; Ps. 35 asks for God’s intervention into David’s life and Ps. 36 praises God for the love He has for creation and warns us about the evil intentions of Satan.  

In Ps 37: 3-8 David guides the righteous to do what is pleasing to God; “Trust in the Lord and do good”, trust and action go together. “Delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit to the Lord” and our righteousness will shine like the sun. “Wait patiently for God, hope in the Lord” and God will give “peace and prosperity”. Vs. 11 “The meek will inherit the earth”. Vs. 18,19 The Lords cares for us, “they will enjoy plenty”. Vs.23 the Lord makes firm our steps, “he upholds us with His hand.” Vs. 27 “turn from evil and do good” Vs. 39 “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord”.

 “Not so the wicked”: they will wither. They will be no more, they will be destroyed, never to be found on earth or in heaven. This is what David has observed in his time and that is what we will observe in out time today “God is not mocked”.

 Today our comfort is as it was for David. Vs, 39,40 “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them he delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him.” Lord, Jesus comfort your followers “and deliver us from evil” that is among us today. Lord Jesus help us to commit to you and by it to trust you and may we not run ahead, but be still and wait for You, amen!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved

 

# 22 2018 Dev. Eph. 4:4-6. Unity in Christ! Read verses 1-16. 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.

 Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 

 Paul ended Ch. 3 with: ^“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” To God be glory in the church along with the glory of Christ, setting the church on a high plane. Therefore, Paul urges the Ephesians to live up to their calling, be worthy of what God is doing through you. And Paul is the example “as a prisoner for the Lord.” Paul is not blowing his own horn but he is saying to the Ephesians and to us be worthy, “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love,” making every effort at peace. Be willing to suffer to keep the peace and if necessary, be willing to suffer to fulfill your call from God.

 God calls us and He gives us the gifts we need to fulfill His call on our lives. Paul mentions only a few gifts but all gifts come from God by way of the Holy Spirit.Paul here quotes Ps. 68:18 signifying Christ’s triumphal ascension back to the Father as one who has conquered all evil and now fills the whole universe. He is the one who gives gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

 That is the goal, we leave our worldly ways behind, Paul mentions those ways but let us put this in our own context. How are we worldly today?  What is preventing our growth “to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ “? You know, you are the only one to know if you are living up to the calling received from God. Thanks be to God for the gifts He has given all of us, His Spirit guides us and prepares the way for us to be built up in love as we build up others, brothers, sisters and those who have not yet experienced the love of Christ. Let us pray for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we live out God’s love for us, Amen!

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# 21. 2018 Dev. Ps.36:5. God’s Love!! Read all of Ps. 36. 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.

Psalm 36: 5 “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.”

 Ps. 36 lays out a radical opposition and contradiction of what the world believes. David sets up an extreme contrast of evil and good; what he is talking about is the influence of Satan on society and God’s plan for creation.

 Evil and Satan is something most people do not want to talk about; many people do not believe in the spiritual being of Satan, yet do believe there is evil in the world. Whether you believe in Jesus or do not believe, how do we come to grips with evil that confronts us daily and how do we keep it out of our lives? I realize that some Christians feel that they are isolated from evil and Its influence but that does not reflect the reality of life on earth. There is good reason Jesus taught us to pray: “And forgive us our debts  as we also have forgiven our debtors.¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]  but deliver us from the evil one” (Mt. 6:12-14).

How then do we deal with evil? The Old Testament and the New Testament has the same answer: Know God! Knowing God is much more than knowing about God; the power of God’s love in Christ must be rooted deep in our hearts and control our lives. David’s prayer: “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

 Paul prays in Eph. 3:18 that we “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”. The power of the Holy Spirit must move from our heads into our hearts, into our inner being, driving our faith and our lives as followers of Jesus.

 The line between good and evil is very thin, there is no space in between, it’s either good or bad but that is not always obvious. Unbelievers also do good things but only what is done in the name of Christ will last into eternity. The difference is that we are forgiven sinners because we believe in God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Along with David we pray: “with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Amen! Today we are blessed with the light of His Word.  

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# 20 2018 Dev. Eph.3:16. Prayer! Read verses 14-21. 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.

 Eph. 3:16 “^I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” 

 This is Paul’s second prayer for the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (see Dev. # 12, 2018 Dev. Eph.1:17. Prayer!). This prayer points back to what he says before, “for this reason”: verses 10-12 summarized here: His intent through the church is that the wisdom of God should be made known in the Universe: “according to his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” That is the power of prayer; we may seek God at any time, in any situation, and in any condition and He will listen to us! And if we are so overwhelmed that we cannot pray or know not what to pray the Spirit prays for us (Ro. 28:22-27).

 This is a prayer every follower of Jesus should be praying for himself as well as for others. We need the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing it and experiencing that power in our hearts. So Paul encourages us: “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Are we able to understand the fullness of God? It is beyond our understanding but not beyond our experience!

 By faith we experience forgiveness, we experience God’s love in Christ and in our human relationships extend it to others. We experience God’s grace in a broken world. We experience peace and security knowing that God has chosen us before the foundation of creation. As we journey through our lives on earth we should not underestimate the incredible gift of the love of God in Christ.

 Paul ends this chapter with a summary of this prayer we may do well to memorize: ^20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Pray and then pray some more! Amen and Amen!

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