Meditation

I dedicate this Meditation to my Grandaughter Emma, on the occasion of her birthday. Happy Birthday, Emma, you are and always have been, the joy of my life!

10/29/2020

“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, and who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” (Psalm 15:1-5)

Who will truly worship God? The psalmist answers that with one of the many character portrayals straight out of the Old Testament. You will see that several references to treatment of other people which are given as direct proofs of a relationship with God.

Here the psalmist sought instruction from God as to who may dwell as His guest. Verses 2-5 describe what God searched for in 14:2 (“The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”), and who are invited to worship. Beloved, public worship ceremonies include prayers which help God’s people learn God’s expectations of His worshipers. In short, He wants us and invites us into a relationship with Him.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, each day is another opportunity to get to know You, and for You to get to know us better, and our relationship with You to become closer and more personal than the previous day. Let our words and actions with others in our daily lives, be a witness of our relationship with You, that they too, may desire to have the same relationship. Help us to be more like You every day, Abba, that we might let Your Light shine in our lives and that others might come closer to You. It is in Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed!”

KNOWING GOD:

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke23:42–43)

Beloved, it is not too late to pray this prayer while the body has breath. The criminal’s prayer was answered. You can pray the same prayer in faith and be sure He will answer you. The anointed Child of Bethlehem has the power to declare a man forgiven and safe immediately.

Dying on a cross, He revealed God’s love at its highest measure: to offer love and compassion when He hurts the most. Jesus offered paradise which is the place of glorification. It is another word for heaven. God in salvation gives us more that we ask, hope, or think.

I AM:

“God whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.” (Romans 1:9–10)

Virtually all of Paul’s recorded prayers are for the single purpose of advancing God’s work and kingdom. Even his petition to go to Rome, personal as it may seem, had spiritual purposes in view.

Paul had been known as a religious zealot and after his encounter with Christ, he didn’t lose or diminish his zealousness; indeed, he simply added Christianity to his desire to serve God. He expressed to his brothers in Christ in Rome, that he prayed for them fervently, and that together, they could become even stronger in their faith, to further the cause for Christ.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Go and inquire of the lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about wheat is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book. Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.” (2^nd Chronicles34:21-22)

The recorded history of God’s will is also the written record of man’s rejection of His revelation. Hilkiah’s discovery of the written law called God’s people to remember what they had long forgotten—-God’s revealed truth was to live in their hearts and wills.

The remnant are not simply those left behind by political exile or the few faithful living among the worshipers of others gods. The remnant are faithful, obedient worshipers. The live among those who, though they claim to be people of God, do not remain loyal to Him. Thus Josiah spoke of a remnant in Israel, the exiled Northern Kingdom, and a remnant of Judah, the remaining kingdom for God’s people.