Kiss the Son
Today’s Passage – Psalms 1 – 8
Second Milers also read – Hebrews 10 – 13; Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17
“[11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” – (Psalm 2:11-12)
I have enjoyed our reading in the Book of Job but I am also excited now that we are exploring the Psalms. My though this morning comes from the second Psalm. In this Psalm we get a glimpse into Heaven and we hear from the throne of God; but we also have a view into the earth where we see that the rulers of this world have set themselves in rebellion against God. In verse 4 we see that God laughs at this. Who does little man think he is in comparison to an almighty God. The rulers of this world may think that they have power and authority, but few of them realize that it was God that gave them their power, and God could remove it at any time.
As we get closer to the end of this present age we will see the mighty men of this earth become more brazen in their fight against God. At times it may seem that God is absent or even powerless to fight back; but don’t lose heart, He is in full control of His universe, and His patience with the rulers of this present world is quickly running out.
God’s warning to the kings of the earth holds true for the common man as well. He tells us to “serve the Lord with fear” and to “kiss the Son”. If you have not yet received Christ as your Savior you need to “kiss the Son” by receiving the forgiveness that only He can give you through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. If you are saved, you still need to “kiss the Son” by living your live in complete submission to His will.
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And I Caused The Widow’s Heart To Sing For Joy – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Good morning! My wife was listening to, and reading, her Bible a few days ago. It’s good to have a wife who loves God, and loves His Word. As I listened, Job chapter 29 was being read. The narrator said, “…and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.”
Now losing a child is the second devastating event that could happen to a person. If you lose a child, you don’t go through that pain alone. But, if you lose a spouse… that has to be the number one bummer of a lifetime. But Job caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
Chapter 29 gives us a little glimpse of the type of man Job was. Verses 12 through 17 tell us, “Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.”
God called Job, His servant. How the Lord described Job is found in Job 1:8: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
There was nobody like Job. He was complete, and upright. He feared God, and hated evil. How would God describe you? Would He call you His servant? I think about the example that Jesus gave us in John chapter 13, “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:4-17).
We should be more like Job, who caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. We should be more like Jesus in our attitude towards others: our servitude. Can you imagine what the world would be like if Christians cared about each other? Lifted each other up? Edified each other? There would be an abundance of hearts singing for joy.
Peace. (John 13:17).
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Gird Up Thy Loins Like A Man
Today’s Passage – Job 36 – 38
Second Milers also read – Hebrews 2 – 5; Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34:6
“Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” – (Job 38:3)
It is now God’s turn to speak. God hasn’t said anything in this book since His earlier conversation with Satan; and the humans in the story were not privy to that conversation. All of this talk that has been going on since chapter 2 has been by people who really had no idea of the true circumstances regarding the calamity that Job was facing. They were clueless. Job’s friends were accusing Job, and Job was defending himself. They were all speaking on behalf of God; yet much of what they said was not true. However, now we will hear from the Source. God is speaking, and we know that everything that God says is true. By the way, you get the idea from the tone of this passage that God is not very happy about all that has been said. It kind of reminds me of a time when I was much younger and I was rebuked by an authority figure in my life. He had some things to say to me, and I was going to listen. God will take 4 chapters to basically remind Job and his friends that He is God, and they are merely humans.
As we read chapters 39 – 42 together tomorrow, pay close attention to God describing Himself, and His magnificent, omnipotent power. Between now and then, however, think a little bit of how much we are like Job and His friends. We are just little humans, trying to understand an infinite God. Let’s start thinking of ourselves as we really are. We are not much. We are pretty small and insignificant in the big scheme of things. And while we are at it, let us also start trusting God’s wisdom in allowing the things that have happened to us in our lives.
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That Which I See Not
Today’s Passage – Job 33 – 35
Second Milers also read – Titus 2 – Hebrews 1; Psalms 66 – 70; Proverbs 14
“Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” – (Job 34:31-32)
While reading this morning, my attention was drawn to the phrase made by Elihu in Job 34:32 – “That which I see not, teach thou me.” That is a great little nugget of truth, and I believe it is something we should pray to God on a regular basis. There is so much about ourselves that we do not see. We are quick to spot, and point out, the flaws of others; but the truth is, we are often blind to our own faults. I think that the first step to recognizing and correcting specific things about ourselves is to acknowledge in a general way that we have a problem with self-perception. We often have a much higher opinion of ourselves than reality would justify. We need to be open to allowing God, and some trustworthy friends perhaps, to help us with our spiritual eyesight.
A passage in the New Testament that speaks somewhat about this subject is James 1:22 – 25
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
I think it would be a good practice for us to come to God on a regular basis, and confess to him the sins that we already know about, and are fully aware of; but I also think it is wise to ask God to reveal to us some things that perhaps we do not see. His Word, of course, is the greatest exposer of these hidden truths about ourselves:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – (Hebrews 4:12)
We will never be without fault, but we can allow the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit of God, and some godly counselors, to point out and correct some things about our lives that are interfering with our ability to relate to others, and may possibly be hindering our effectiveness in fulfilling His will.
Just a thought.
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What Are You Looking At?
Today’s Passage – Job 30 – 32
Second Milers also read – 2 Timothy 2 – Titus 1; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25
“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1)
In our reading we have been following the conversation between Job and his friends. Job has been declaring hi innocence: not that he claims sinlessness; but he does contend that his sins were open and confessed to God, and that he was not living a double life. His friends, however, are sure that Job must have some heinous secret sin in his life. In this chapter Job seems to be answering a charge regarding his fidelity. Perhaps the underlying accusation was that Job was an adulterer. Job’s answer in chapter 31 is that he had been faithful, not only in not touching that which is forbidden, but in not looking on another woman besides his wife.
In our culture the accepted instruction is, “you can look, but you just can’t touch”. Funny, my wife never bought into that line of reasoning. The fact of the matter is that looking might just lead to touching. Job said that he made a covenant, a commitment to himself and his eyes not to think (let alone look) upon a maid. David said something similar when he said that he would set no wicked thing before his eyes.
Men, we need to do the same thing regarding the opposite sex. We need to determine to keep our eyes and our minds on that which is pleasing to the Lord. Turn off the TV if you have to; get rid of the internet if you must, but do what you have to do to keep yourself from sinning against your God and your wife. It is wise to know your limitations and put up some fences to protect yourself. A little accountability will go a long way. And ladies, your not exempt from this either. Your lusting may not be for the opposite sex per say, but I am sure you have your weak areas as well. Maybe with you the struggle involves seeing things at the mall that you can’t afford. We all need to make this same covenant that Job made to keep us from seeing and thinking about the things that we know are not part of God’s perfect will for our lives.
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THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE By Camille Stahl
Today’s Passage – Job 27 – 29
Second Milers also read – 1 Timothy 4 – 2 Timothy 1 ; Psalm 56 – 60; Proverbs 12
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25
Listen to the Sunday Evening message by Evangelist William Jeffcoat.
Good morning. For the next few months, on Tuesday’s, I will be blogging about women of the Bible. I pray that you would continue to follow the Preacher’s blog each day as we study God’s word. Today we will start at the beginning with Eve
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” – (Genesis 1:27-28)
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” – (Genesis 3:1-20)
Eve. Her name is only mentioned four times in the Bible, but so many lessons can be learned by her life. She drank pure water and breathed the cleanest air. She had a perfect relationship with her husband. She lived in a beautiful garden and ate the best food. Every animal live in harmony. No death, sickness or any other problems. God walked with them everyday, and there was nothing to distract her from learning God’s word. God supplied for ALL their needs. Both Adam and Eve knew how much God loved and took care of them. But did Eve really learn God’s word? Did she really understand what God had provided for her and her husband?
I think Eve was crushed when Cain killed Abel. She realized that she had brought a sinful man into the world. Her terrible deed in the garden became even more clear to her. Each person born would sin, not only by choice, but also because of an inner urging. Everyone would face an unending battle between good and evil, all because she couldn’t resist the devil’s woo.
As I stated at the first, we are starting at the beginning and we can learn many different lessons from Eve, so let me leave you with these basic thoughts:
1. Read your Bible everyday. We need to know what God says. It’s us walking with God as Adam and Eve did. We need to stay close to God. Just like the sheep who stray away from the shepherd are easy targets, so are we when we stray to far from God.
2. Memorize God’s word. The devil is always tempting us with his crafty ways. He twisted scripture not only with Eve, but also Jesus when Jesus was in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6). If he did with them, he will with us.
3. When tempted by satan, go to God immediately. I believe if Eve would have called on God when satan came by, God would have fought the battle for her.
4. Pray everyday. Besides our spouses, our children are the most important people in our lives. We should lay them on the altar before the Lord each day and try to be the best example we can be. Remember Cain, Eve’s first born. He had a rebellious spirit like mom and dad.
5. Attend all church services. Adam and Eve were with God everyday.
We say that God is not there like he was with them, but the Bible says in Matthew 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
In closing, I want to encourage you to strengthen your relationship with the Lord with these basic steps. Encourage others to do the same. There is no better blessing then to live for the Lord.
Thank You
I John 5:13
Posted in Guest Posts by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Gold
Today’s Passage – Job 22 – 26
Second Milers also read – 2 Thessalonians 3 – 1 Timothy 3; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Lisen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25
Read an older post from this passage – “Did You Have Your Breakfast This Morning?”
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” – (Job 23:10)
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” – (1 Peter 1:6-7)
There are several great, golden nuggets of truth in the Book of Job, and many of them are in today’s passage. I thought this morning about the statement made by Job in chapter 23, and verse 10. Job is going through the worst trial in his life. I think it would be safe to say that no other man in history was put to the test like Job. Many people have suffered the loss of health, and many others have endured the death of a child, and still more have gone through tough financial situations; but who can say that they have had to face the loss of everything they owned, and all of the children they loved, and then had to suffer through perhaps the most painful health condition known to man, all within the same time frame. Job could certainly stand alongside any man on earth, and win the “pity party” comparison. Yet, Job knew that when it was all over,that God would bring him through to the other side of the trial; and he also knew that the trial would make him a better man.
All men will endure the hardships of trials, but to experience suffering for no apparent reason can be especially difficult. Job did nothing to deserve the treatment that he was receiving at the hand of Satan, but God would use Job’s suffering to accomplish a few wonderful things. First, He would prove to Satan that there are some men who will retain their integrity, even under the most difficult of circumstances. Second, though Job was a good man, even a great man when compared among men, this trial would make him a still better man. I believe Job had a better understanding of the greatness of his Creator, and also a better grasp of his own frail humanity, as a result of this ordeal. But perhaps the greatest thing that God would reveal to us through Job’s trial, is that we can trust God. He won’t allow us to go through something that is greater than our ability to glorify Him through. He loves us. He doesn’t punish, but He does correct us at times through the trials and sufferings of life. Sometimes the trials are a direct result of sin, but they are often just God’s way of bringing us to the next level of faith. And if we will allow God to have His way in our lives, we too can come forth as gold; better servants, and better sons: more equipped to represent Him as the ambassadors of His glorious gospel.
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The Words of My Mouth
Today’s Passage – Job 19 – 21
Second Milers also read – 1 Thessalonians 4 – 2 Thessalonians 2; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 19
“Then Job answered and said, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?” (Job 19:1 & 2)
You didn’t have to read long this morning to find a great truth from today’s passage. Job is in the middle of the discourse with his three ‘friends’ who are accusing him of all kinds of wickedness; adding sorrow on top of sorrows. He is already as low as he can go, but these guys continue to beat him and kick him when he is down; and their weapons are their tongues.
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. … But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:6, 8 )
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)
The Bible has so much to say about the deadly nature of the tongue. Why are we so quick to run our mouths when God tells us very plainly that we are to be slow to speak. We all could avoid much of our problems with our mouth by simply not saying anything unless it is absolutely necessary, or unless we are sure we are saying something that is edifying. If we have to speak at all maybe it would be best if we paused and prayed about what would be the best thing to say.
Job’s friends were not helping him at all; they were making him worse. Remember, the purpose for their visit was to ‘comfort’ him. Maybe they should have just listened to him; even let him vent a little. Maybe, I should try the same thing. As a pastor I need to learn to listen more; pray before speaking; and, as much as possible, tell people what God said instead of what I think.
Lord, help me not to kill or maim any more people with my tongue.
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Amos – The Last Call To Personal Holiness Part 6: Getting Enabled – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Good morning. In our quest for personal holiness, we learned to treat everyone the same. We learned to be thankful. We learned we should obey God. In part 4, we learned that we should choose our words wisely. And in part 5, last week, we learned that we should believe God’s truth, and not the devil’s lies: it’s a sin, not an alternate life-style. Today, I want to wrap this series up; but we may re-visit Amos again in the future.
Be ye holy, for I Am holy. God said to do that. If God said to do that, which He did, don’t you think we should do that? You can see that Amos was enabled when He spoke to Amaziah…
“Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land. Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court. Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD…” (Amos 7:10-16).
Amos was enabled. We can read this today because he was enabled. 2Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The one who enables is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the Power that God has given us (Acts 1:8). The Holy Ghost is the one who will enable us to be holy. But the choice is still up to you. The Scriptures tell us that we can grieve the Holy Ghost (Eph. 4:30) in doing the things we should not be doing, and we can quench the Holy Ghost (1Thes. 5:19) by not doing the things we should be doing. You have a choice when it comes to sin: you can say no. You have a choice when it comes to obedience: you can say yes. You see if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). We can be holy for God. The choice is yours.
Peace. (Eph. 4:30)
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I Will Trust In Him
Today’s Passage – Job 12 – 14
Second Milers also read – Philippians 4 – Colossians 1 – 3; Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8
Scripture Memory for June – Psalm 139
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15)
In this statement we see Job’s declaration of faith in God. Though Job certainly has not figured out why God has allowed all of this tragedy to come into his life, he plainly declares here that no matter what God does to him (or allows to be done to him), he will continue to trust Him. When you and I read this book of the Bible it is easy for us, from the perspective of history, to identify with what Job has stated here. But think for a minute with me. If it were you or me going through what Job went through, how would we be feeling about God? If God were to allow us to lose everything all at once; and then to have excruciating physical pain be placed on top of it all, how would we react? Could we say, truthfully, “yet will I trust in Him”?
A few years back, I watched a movie/documentary called Amish Grace about the Nickle Mines tragedy in Lancaster, PA a few years ago. The movie recounts the true story of a troubled man who went into an Amish school house, shooting 10 little girls and killing 5 of them. The amazing thing is that the Amish people chose to trust God’s wisdom in allowing what happened. Though it was very painful; though it took a little time for all of them to come to this decision: they chose to forgive the man that shot their children. This was certainly a modern day picture of the what Job went through. These Amish folks did not understand why God had allowed it to happened, yet they continued to keep their trust in the Lord.
Most of the time I feel that my faith is so weak, I doubt whether it could stand up to such intense suffering. I guess it will have to be the grace of God that will sustain me through those dark days. I know that difficult days lie ahead. I want to prepare for them now by getting so close to God that it will be easier to trust Him when it doesn’t seem like He is even there.
I also wanted to make a comment about the second half of verse 15. Job says that he will maintain [his] ways before him (God). I believe what Job was saying here is that though he was being severely tested by the Lord, he was still going to continue to do what he had always done. In other words, he wasn’t going to quit. He was going to keep on living for the Lord through the difficult trial. I know that when we are going through trials in life it can be very difficult to “maintain” your walk with the Lord; but it is especially important to stay close to God during the tough times. Don’t quit.
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