A Warning & A Blessing - Psalm 127

 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. - Psalm 127:1

    The psalm begins with a certain warning. In plain English, the psalmist is warning us that if the Lord is not the foundation of our homes, the very foundation of our lives, we are wasting our time in its construction. It will not stand; it cannot stand - “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7: 26-27.
    He then goes on to tell us that unless God is our protector, via our commitment to faith in Him, we’re wasting our time building the battlements. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1-2.
    The course is clear. The direction, divine. Make God the foundation of our lives. Make God the protector of our lives. If God is the foundation and protector of our lives, we shall have nothing to fear. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:31.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. - Psalm 127:3

    The psalmist goes on to speak of children being our heritage and reward from God. The word for heritage in Hebrew (Nachălâh) also means “inheritance.” God has been keeping our children as an inheritance for us until the blessed day we enjoy the privilege of giving birth to them. Think of an heirloom given to us by our earthly mother or father. Would we treat it with contempt? Spit on it? Or toss it into the trash? How can we . . . how dare we do as much with the child God is bequeathing to us? We must see children as what they are: a gift, a reward given to us by God. And we must treat them as such. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” - James 1:17.

    Psalm 127 is a wonderful example of how God approaches us. He comes to us as our awe-inspiring Lord, giving us fair warning of a life lived in the fruitless pursuit of blessings without Him. Then He turns and gives us the promise, the reward, the inheritance we receive when we turn our lives over to Him and to His will for us and accept the blessing of giving life to a child made in His image.
    We would do well to heed both the warnings and the rewards God offers us.

The Day Is Coming - Psalm 119:126

It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void. - Psalm 119:126

    How much further can we fall? Talking to some old friends the other night, the question arose - “How long and how low will this country continue to fall?” It’s a fair question. The concern has always faced humanity. Even twenty-six hundred years ago, the prophet Habakkuk asked the same question. “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.” - Habakkuk 1:2.
    I could produce a litany of reasons why God should act decisively in the world today. From people committing the most atrocious crimes against humanity to people dragging God’s holy name through the mud. Without even stretching my imagination I could sit down and list the number of good reasons for God to step in, raise His mighty hands, and literally deal us a judgment of Biblical proportions. But just as in Habakkuk’s time, God acts at His own leisure and some would say, “With good reason.” 2 Peter 3:9 makes the case - “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” The Apostle makes a good point.
    Can you imagine for a moment what the world would be like if God dealt His immediate judgment every time His creatures acted defiantly or committed a transgression against His laws? Where would you and I be at this very moment? Certainly, for most of us, the sins we commit on a daily basis are not as heinous as committing genocide, aborting a living human being, or engaging in human trafficking, but . . . that is not to say that God would merrily skip over our transgressions either.
    We know what the Ten Commandments are. We know both the negatives and the positives that each one describes. We have no excuse. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.” - Act 17:30-31. And when God comes to judge the world, every sinful act will be disclosed and every transgression will be judged. Every thought, word, and deed will be illuminated by the blazing light of God’s righteous judgment. Naked, we will stand before Him and like Adam and Eve, we will feel the oppressive weight of our shame! “So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’”- Genesis 3:10.
    Make no mistake: there will be no hiding from the wrath of God. There will be no fig leaf large enough to cover our sins. There will be no obfuscation on our part for our God is omniscient: all-knowing. It will be like standing before an inquisitor who already knows we are guilty as accused. What will we say? What can we say? Our hearts will be revealed without mitigation or reprieve. We will be without excuse or explanation for God has already revealed to us that He will one day judge us. “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” - 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.
    Let us remember then that if God seems “irrelevant” or “disconnected” from the world and the human struggle, it is only because we don’t understand the decretive will of God, that which remains unknown to us because of our human limitations. But be certain; God’s will, will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. On God’s day of reckoning, the evil that has persisted throughout human time will all be judged by Jesus Christ. “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” - John 5:22.
    While we should make every attempt to alleviate human suffering (it is our Christian duty), our chief concern today should be that we resist sin and error. Our concern should be for our own souls. We cannot stop the sins of the world no matter how hard we try. And Jesus Christ has revealed to us that it will get worse before it gets better - “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” - Matthew 24:21.
    Let us all be vigilant for the salvation of our own souls, promised to us by the Holy Word of God - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16. Believe in Christ. Believe in Him now. Believe in Him today. The time is fast approaching. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” - Matthew 25:13.
Amen, He is coming, amen.

No God, No Master - Psalm 106:37-38

They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood. - Psalm 106:37-38

    Just as surely as one who pledges blind allegiance to a superior can be said to be “possessed” by that entity, the promoters of abortion on demand are possessed by demonic entities. No matter who their spokespersons may be they will never convince me that the pro-abortion crowd does not worship at the altar of Molech. With that being said, we must remember the words of our Lord, speaking to the those wandering in the wilderness. “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” - Leviticus 18:21.  We owe our God and our children that much and more.
    Consider this: why are we unwilling to watch videos and look at glossy color photographs of an abortion procedure in all its graphic and profane horror? Furthermore, how is it that we can lend our full support to a grisly and murderous procedure that we are unwilling to voluntarily witness for ourselves? Yet we can gather in massive crowds to defend such wanton slaughter. Declaring our autonomy. How often are we willing to battle in the streets for the sake of what we declare our Constitutional right to sacrifice living children as though they were of no more value than a common house fly. “Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” - 1 Samuel 2:3.
    There is a reckoning coming and no one who worships at the altar of Molech will be spared. God’s wrath is aflame and His righteous judgment awaits those who defy Him and His commandments. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” - James 4:17. Those who continue in this heinous sin know they are violating God’s declaration that we have been made in His image. It is why they seek to hide behind man’s imperfect law. It is why they prefer to operate in the dark. It is why they don’t want their horrific crimes against humanity recorded and exposed. How far have we fallen from Eden, that we still seek to hide from God’s very presence? Those demon worshipers will continue to reject God’s perfect law. They will continue to avoid discussion and conversation, preferring rather to issue their shrill cries of  “My body- my rights,” “No God, No Master,” and “Abortion is a civil right.” “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” - Romans 1:22-23.
    Just as certainly as those wandering in the wilderness offered their infant babes to the demon Molech, those wandering today do the same. The blood of babes can never be washed away. Not even the heaviest rains of time will scrub the viscous red shame from the hands of cold-blooded murderers claiming to be on the “right side of history!” Still, they shall all one day witness the voice of the Lord declaring, “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” - Deuteronomy 32:35.
    Let us pray for the souls of the infants and those who would profane God’s holy decrees. Let the worshipers of Molech see the error of their hearts and return to the Lord before His patience runs out.

What Sin? - Psalm 103:10

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. - Psalm 103:10

    If we were to sit down with a pen and a pad of paper, and we took our time; could we list all the ways in which we have sinned in the past week or day? Most folks wouldn’t even know how to start counting the many ways we sin in our daily lives; after all, what is sin? “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent . . . .” - Acts 17:30.
    In response to the question, we see the look of confusion. What is he talking about? What sin? From the unbelieving, it is easy to understand such a question. But if you are a saved Christian, how could such words ever part your lips?
    As per definition - Sin is the breaking of God’s law, failing to do what God wills, or rebellion against God. Still confused? Jesus Christ said that it is not only the overt act of deliberately breaking God’s Commandments which results in sin but even the thoughts associated with such violations. Sin manifests itself first in the heart and the mind even if we never follow through with the acts. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” - Matthew 5:27-28.
    Ever had unkind thoughts about someone? Ever envied anyone? How about wasted time or stolen time at work? Ever told a “fib?” Ever “compromised” your heart by considering a wrong deed even though you didn’t act on it? I know it sounds daunting when you look at it this way. One might ask the question, “Well, who hasn’t committed a sin when you use these criteria?” It’s a good question and a fair question. The answer is just as transparent: there is no one who hasn’t sinned. “ . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23.
    A reasonable follow-up might be, “If everyone sins why doesn’t God immediately punish them?” That is nearly as dangerous an approach to the holiness of God as suggesting God isn’t “fair.” Trust me, brothers and sisters - when it comes to God’s judgment, you don’t want what’s fair; you want God’s mercy! Which is precisely why we should be “down on our knees grateful” that He hasn’t dealt with us according to our sins and iniquities.
    Speaking only for myself, I praise God for His merciful patience with me. I am thankful for His bountiful love for me as His wayward child. The “Prodigal Son,” has nothing on me. I have broken every Commandment, if not in action, then in spirit. When I see Christ Jesus hanging on His cross, I know that my sins helped make up His crown of thorns. I know that my sins helped push Him along the road to Golgotha. My sins helped drive the nails into His flesh. And my sins were upon that pointed spear. Dare I ask, “What sin?” And in so doing, am I not crucifying Christ again? “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” - Hebrews 10:29.
    Obviously, as long as we remain in this life we will be prone to sin. While we are still in this world, on this side of glory, we will still have to deal with our sin nature. But rather than ignore our sins or pretend that we don’t “really sin,” we need to remember the words of 1 John 1:8 - “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  We only deceive ourselves! God is not fooled and His righteous anger is inflamed. Yet we can still feel the mercy of God. In Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, his number one position should be the life of every believer - “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Let us never ask in our ignorance, “What sin?” A life of repentance is a life lived acknowledging the holiness of our heavenly Father and a life lived in His mercy.
  

Mission Field or Killing Field? - Joel 3:9-10

Proclaim this among the nations: consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” - Joel 3:9-10

    We often hear contemporary pastors and ministers talk about our “mission fields.” A mission field could be anything from our workplace (though most employers frown on sharing the Gospel on company time), to school, to our neighborhoods, to the sports team we play on ( see Tim Tebow), to the homeless shelter or prison ministries. In fact, our mission fields could come from any variety of sources. And we have been commanded to -  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19.
    Unfortunately, contemporary evangelical churches most often fail to meet the criteria set by Jesus for the preaching of the Word, focusing on the singularity of love for everyone rather than focusing on the Cross. Even Jesus recognized that there would be areas of the mission field where the Word would be scattered atop barren ground. “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” - Matthew 10:14.
    I differ from many of the pastors when it comes to referring to the most dangerous places on earth for Christians as our mission field. When faced with imminent threat of bodily harm or death I think it prudent to consider the value of allowing ourselves to be murdered merely for our identity as Christians. Yes! There will be times when our lives are required of us for the sake of the Gospel and the holy name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And when such a time may come upon us I would pray we all have the fortitude of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us for the persecution. But not all the time nor every time. Even Christ foresaw times when we would be less than judicious if we were to throw all caution to the wind. “Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.’” - Luke 22:36.
    There are plenty of ministers who will claim this passage was meant by our Lord in a figurative manner, a most convenient exegesis to avoid the possibility of misinterpretation. When we read the whole of the passage from 22:35-38, we see that Christ was clearly telling His disciples that they would indeed need some worldly supplies after He left them. The sword was included. Period. It is not that Jesus was advocating for aggression and violence. He was merely informing the disciples that there may indeed come a time when weapons of war would be called for in the life of a Christian! “He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” - Psalm 18:34.
    As Christians, we are not under any command to willingly sacrifice the lives of our loved ones and our own lives as long as we can defend them and ourselves from physical violence. The painfully difficult act of becoming a martyr is being carried out across the world as we speak. And the exemplary blood of our martyred brothers and sisters is to be admired and commended, not re-mixed with our own blood unless absolutely and unavoidably necessary. But as long as we have the Spirit of God coursing through our souls we have a responsibility to do all in our power to avoid being murdered by the godless forces assaulting us. “A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.” - Proverbs 25:26.
    We must remember that God has given us both the power and the ability to defend ourselves from physical assault and we are to use both rather than squander the gifts that He has given us in time of need. “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” - Psalm 144:1.
    God has used men to further His decrees since the dawn of time. Dare we think the unchanging God of the Bible has changed? Will we go so far as to say, “God doesn’t work that way anymore?”“For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” - Malachi 3:6.
    So in what manner are we destined by God to defend ourselves when necessary? How are we to discern between the mission field where we preach the Gospel and the killing field where we lay down our lives in the name of Jesus Christ? Let us remember the great and Godly men of the Bible when we view the field in question. Men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and David. And remember most of all that God has ordained our actions from before the beginning of time. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: . . .  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8.
    There is no further need for self-sacrifice in the name of God. Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ made the final sacrifice that guarantees the believer’s salvation. We can add nothing to the loving act of our Savior. Our actions can in no way assist in our salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9. May we always know the difference between our mission field and a killing field.

Faith Stronger Than Fear - Psalm 11:3

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? - Psalm 11:3

    Indeed. We are at once assaulted by the possibility “If” the foundations be destroyed, what can we do? When the truth and the basic moral fabric of our society fall to those who would seek our harm, what are we able to do? When the very foundations are perverted, inverted, and subverted, where can a righteous man or woman turn to seek remedy? At first look, we are confronted with the implausible, the impossible, the improbable, yet there it is, staring us in the face. What are we to do? David knew what to do.
    “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.” - Psalm 11:4-7. David looked to heaven where he beheld God in His glory testing the righteous and punishing the wicked. David held tight to the one true thing of his faith - trust in the Lord. Despite the calamity surrounding him at every turn, David knew the righteousness of God would triumph. “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness.” - Psalm 31:1.
    This is where our trust must be today - in the Lord. Despite what is happening around us, we must never lose hope in the righteousness of God. He will always prevail! For us to lose hope and faith in the righteousness of God is sinful and will not go unpunished. Our faith must be stronger than our fear! “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4.
    Our heavenly Father has not left us in a state of perpetual fear. He has not abandoned us even in these last days. We are forever protected by His promises and because we have received His promise we can believe Him. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10.
    In this godless day and age, we are prone to see and hear the very worst the world has to say both about us and our sovereign God. If the world mocks us it is because they mocked God first. If the world insults us it is because they insulted God first. And let us never forget the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” - John15:18.
    God’s truth is what provides us with our strength. It is His truth and His truth alone that inspires our faith. It is the same strength that inspired Joshua to drive the Israelites across the mighty Jordan and conquer the Canaanite tribes in the Promised land. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” - Joshua 1:5. God’s word is the truth and feeds the faith that is stronger than fear! Even when the foundations are destroyed, the Lord is sovereign upon His throne in heaven. And this alone is enough for the faithful in Jesus Christ!
    We must constantly remind ourselves that God has not given us up to confusion or fear. He has, in fact, done just the opposite - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7
    As we walk with God in our present lives we walk with the greatest power in the universe. What have we to fear? What could possibly shake our faith? “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” - Psalm 56:11. Where we have placed our trust is where we place our faith. And if we place faith front and center then what do we have to fear?

Blessed Conclusions - Psalm 31:14

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” - Psalm 31:14

    I have been asked by some, “But what are we to do when things just don’t work out to our benefit?” I asked them to elaborate just a bit. They responded, “You know, when after all our prayers our loved one still dies.” I agree that during these times our faith is truly tested.  During these times our faith can suffer bruising and unexpected damage. We can become shocked by the outcomes we prayed would be different. “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.” - Job 3:25. Though not to lend doubt to God’s beneficence, it is easy to understand the bewilderment that accompanies such conclusions.
    I’m not talking about the events that transpire in a lukewarm Christian’s life.  I am talking about the tribulations that true believers will face in their lifetimes. I am talking about those events where blessed conclusions were prayed for diligently and with great fervor by Christians of the strongest faith and yet, the end results were not what we so diligently prayed for. It is during times like these that many sound Christians question the purpose for praying at all. “What was the point?’ They ask. “I prayed for the very best and look at what I received.” Such tribulation will send even the strongest Christian into the valley of doubt. “And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?’” - Luke 24:38.
    We call on Christ and weep out in our pain and discomfort - “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?” - Psalm 22:1. And I know that for most us, even the most devout Christian, we can become truly distressed and question the very foundations of our faith when the very worst thing we can imagine happening takes place in seeming spite of our prayers. It is at these times that even our very assurance of salvation leaves us in a bitter hurry along with our faith - “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” - John 6:66.  What those who turn from faith in Christ have either failed to learn or never held in their hearts is this: God has a plan and whether we trust Him or not, His plan will come to pass exactly as determined. His will cannot be limited by our desires or our prayers. This is certainly a hard thing to accept, especially in light of some of our deepest longings. But make no mistake: God will not be denied.
    What so many of us have erroneously come to believe is that our faith in God promises us a life free from tribulation and loss. We come to the false conclusions that God will empower us, enrich us, give us boundless prosperity and a life full of milk and honey. But Christ, being the only begotten Son of God, was not spared the pain of death by crucifixion, and we take offense at picking up our own crosses to follow Him into eternal glory? “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” - Luke 14:27.
    The late and great R& B artist, Ray Charles, penned a song called “Drown In My Own Tears.” And in even such a secular setting, the sense of loss permeates everyone’s life at some point, even that of the Christian. Charles sings, “I know it's true into each life some rain, rain must pour.” The sentiment is not lost on nor does it fail to reach into the life of a prayerful Christian as well as that of unbelievers. So with the knowledge that none of us will escape pain and loss in our lives, it becomes more a question of how we will deal with such pain and loss.
    The answer to this perennial question lies at the heart of our faith in God. Christians must understand and accept one of the Bible’s hardest sayings - “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” - Romans 8:28.  No matter what pain or loss befalls the believer, it is because God has determined to bring good out of it. We may not know how or why but that again is where faith plays a vital roll in such losses. And our job, our requirement? “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7. The faithful must remember: God is not finished with us in this lifetime. No matter what befalls us, as believers, we can only try to imagine what great and wonderful things God has in store for us. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9. We must simply trust in God to bring our lives and the lives of those whom we love to a blessed conclusion.
    As for the bitterness and rancor of the unbeliever? In truth, they didn’t have faith in God in the first place so any remonstrance coming from them is merely a display of their anger and hopelessness. Let us pray they see and take the patience of God as a profound blessing and come to Jesus Christ before it truly is too late for them to reach the blessed conclusion of their lives.