We must never forget that God’s nature is uncompromisingly set against sin. We may tolerate it; He never.
From Psalm 2:5-6: “Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His fury, saying, ‘I have set My king on Zion, My holy hill.'”
Selwyn Hughes (1928-2006) was a Welsh-born Christian minister and author. One of his best known works was the daily devotional EVERY DAY WITH JESUS.
From Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Life’s inevitable storms
Sweeping tides against mankind
Surging within, Father’s love
Mercy arrives, never blind
Darkness blocking out daylight
Masking goodness of mankind
Surging within, Father’s truth
Savior’s light fully aligned
Faith overwhelmed, strength waning
Subduing trust in mankind
Surging within, Father’s voice
Peace returns as he designed
Angry river waters flow
Raging in hearts of mankind
Surging within, Father’s grace
Heavenly spirit assigned
One more trial challenges
Flipping conscience of mankind
Surging within, Father’s Word
Life’s purpose better defined
From John 16:33: “I have said this to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”
Refresh your commitment today to test everything by the Word of God. The surest defense against spiritual deception is knowledge of spiritual truth.
From 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”
This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him–I will give thee thy life. What more does a man want than his life?
From Jeremiah 45:5: “And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them, for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord, but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
From Revelation 21:23: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
Shrouded in darkness
Surrounded with gloom
World living with sin
Light beams from death’s tomb
Found in Father’s Word
Filled with His Good News
Enduring light shines
Life’s anchor, now choose
Blessed kingdom waits
Focused light brings more
Seeing faithful road
Jesus, faith’s mentor
Lighted lamp confirms
Revealed through His grace
Lamb bears every sin
Jesus takes our place
Harvested mercy
Completed, finished
Light forever leads
Love undiminished
From James 3:17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”
At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God’s hand until we learn to hear Him.
From Matthew 10:27: “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.“
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Being obedient to the truth means that we don’t have to look at others through the distorted lens of our own biases. We can see them as God sees them and love them as He loves them.
From 1 Peter 1:22-23: “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.”
From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7: “So we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Living by faith in Christ
Conscious of His nearness
Walking daily with trust
Spirit breathes with clearness
Groaning from burdens’ weight
Confident in His Word
Giving all to Jesus
Faith’s insight undeterred
Aiming to please Father
Answers found in Son’s love
Pursuing duty’s faith
Called to seek Him above
Receiving mercy’s touch
Inspiration from grace
Believing divine truth
Faith’s eternal birthplace
Being born from above
Behold, journey awaits
Embracing Lord’s judgment
Redemption’s faithful date
From 2 Corinthians 5:14: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.”
Choosing to align our thoughts with God’s Word will move us toward the abundant life our Creator designed.
From 1 Corinthians 2:15-16: “Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com
The text used for this poem is based upon Proverbs Chapter 10, with the 10th verse taking center stage: “The wise lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin.”
Seeks God’s wisdom
His words bring wealth
A benevolent father
Welcomes a wise child
Virtue always delivers
Never going hungry
The judicious of heart
Follows the Commandments
Always walks in integrity
Makes for a secure life
Boldly calls out trouble
Brings peace to life
Use righteous words
Builds a fountain of life
Hate stirs up trouble
Love heals our offenses
Craves absorbing wisdom
Ignores a blathering fool
Leads an honorable life
Shuns sinful behaviors
Be prudent when speaking
Uses a blameless tongue
Seeks the Lord’s blessings
Comes in reverent prayer
Follows our heavenly Father
His stronghold protects us
Originally published June, 2019.
Big Sky Buckeye 