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…
Reflections
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…
Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord with all my heart. Oh, that I would trust my God. Lord, that I would trust You, that You are leading me. My life may look quite different from those around me. It may look quite different from those in and of the world. It may look quite different from Christians…
God’s Initiative: Seeking His Own
God came to Abraham. God made the covenant with Abraham. God took the initiative. It was God’s idea. It’s all laid out in Genesis 17. We don’t see much about Abraham. He gave his tithe to Melchizedek. He let Lot pick the land. He didn’t take any spoils when he rescued Lot. He seems like…