But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). A royal priesthood. It’s been on my mind since I mentioned it in a recent…
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Praise In All Times and Seasons
God never says to be sad, or miserable, or irritable, or to feel sorry for ourselves. He only ever says to praise Him and thank Him and to call on Him. He is faithful and good. Our moods and feelings come and go, but the Lord is steadfast. His mercies are new every morning. His…
Thanks and Praise Continually
And he [David] appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, even to celebrate and to thank and to praise the Lord God of Israel (1 Chronicles 16:4). I would do well to remember that there were priests of my holy God continually thanking Him and praising Him. When there’s…
Unchanging and Changing
God never changes, but I do. Both of these are good things. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). He’s the same forever. His promises are sure. He doesn’t say one thing today and another tomorrow (Numbers 23:19). He’s not growing and changing. He’s not learning and maturing. He’s not influenced by…
Flood of God
Of Noah it was said, this one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed (Genesis 5:29). Washing of the water. Baptism. Cleansing from sin. Repentance. These all give us rest. We rest from our works when we get cleansed…
Seeking Success
And the Lord was with Joseph so he became a successful man (Genesis 39:2). First, the Lord was with Joseph. Second, he became successful. Joseph did not seek success. Joseph lived his life obedient to his father and apparently obedient to God. He had dreams. He wondered at their meaning. Did he tell his brothers…
Questions, Answers, and Seeking Jesus
Questions, questions, questions. So many questions about what I should do, what’s right, what about this, and what about that. I praise the Lord. I seek His face. I ask, I knock, I seek. What am I seeking? Am I seeking answers, or am I seeking Jesus? Jesus is the answer. He is what I…
God is Faithful
God is faithful. I know this. I know it well. Yet, I confess, sometimes it sounds like a shallow platitude. When someone is hurting from major distress or hurting from minor, constant pervasive trials, I wonder if my answer sounds pat, or too simple. When I’m struggling with big or little problems, for the long…
My Birthright
Thus Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34). Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He was hungry. He wanted satisfaction right away. He wanted the here and now. He wanted what he could see. He wanted the physical. He wanted his immediate needs satisfied. He was willing to give up everything. He effectively…
Fear, Redemption, and My Faithful God
Lot was a righteous man living in a wicked time and city (2 Peter 2:7). Yet when it was time for the city to be destroyed, he was afraid. He hesitated to leave (Genesis 19:16). And once God got him out of Sodom, he was afraid again. Lot was afraid to flee to the mountains…