“25 Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal, and you are good to those who are good. 26 You are pure to those who are pure, but you are against those who are bad. 27 You save the humble, but you bring down those who are proud. 28 Lord, you give light to my lamp. My God brightens the darkness around me. 29 With your help I can attack an army. With God’s help I can jump over a wall.” (Psalm 18:25-29 NCV).
The Lord’s help is with those who sincerely seek His help. Operative word: sincerely. So often I find people who desperately seek God’s help in an effort to get them out of the messes they’ve gotten themselves into through their own rebellion. They look for loyalty from a God they have been consistently disloyal towards and they expect good from God in as expected payment for actions they know were not good in the first place. This Psalm reminds us of the simple principle of you reap what you sow.
If you want to experience God’s loyalty, show yourself loyal to Him–act like a child of the King. If you want to experience God’s good pleasure on your life, live a good life for Him–live as a child of the King. If you what God’s purity, fill you mind with pure thoughts. You get the picture.
How wonderful the promise of God. When our ways are right, the darkness around us becomes light, and God Himself supplies the power to keep our lights burning brightly in testimony to Him. “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV).
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Take the Long Term View
In our last TFTD we looked at Psalm 18:4-6 “4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” (NIV).
David was in a mess. He felt so bad he thought the sentence of death itself was upon him! Ever felt that way? Maybe not that death had you in its grip, but certainly that maybe you'd be better off dead. I hate to admit it, but been there done that. That is where David finds himself in this Psalm.
He does what all of us do in such situations, he cries out. But notice that his outcry has a purpose. He cries out in a prayer to God. Cries of frustration, anger, fear, may bring us temporary relief; they may be cathartic, but only the cry of faith brings deliverance!
Now, I say all of this to point you to today's thought: "16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:16-19 NIV).
On the authority of God’s Word I can tell you, God wants to do that for you today. How can I say such a thing? How do I know God wants to deliver you?
First I can say that because the Bible teaches that God is changeless. The same God that rescued David is the same God who can rescue us when we cry to Him.
Second I can say this because the Bible teaches that those of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior are now beloved children in the family of God and the Bible says in light of that relationship, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).
Third I can say this because the Bible tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV).
Fourth I can say this because God promises to hear the cry of everyone who will call out to Him and “he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.” (1 Peter 2:6 NASB). You have God’s promise on that!
But let me quickly add something here. This promise does not mean that there will be no battles, no floods, no tears or heartaches or struggles. This promise does not mean, as so many want to make it mean today, that your reward is here on this sin-scared earth.
Never forget that God’s choice people suffered; not everything worked out “happily ever after” on this earth. Even our Lord’s victory came only through His willingness to trust the Father’s guidance even as He went to the cross. That was not a pleasant road.
The fact of the matter is, this world is not our final destination and as such, God is not about to grant our every temporal desire at the expense of our eternal well-being. He is not.
The reason some become disillusioned with God and His promises is because they are myopic–short-sighted. They are only looking to the “now” and they’ve lost sight of eternity. God hasn’t and He won’t. He will not sacrifice your eternal good for a momentary happiness no matter how much you may plead.
Don’t think this is an all is well message in terms of God’s immediate deliverance. It is not. However, understand that it is an all is well message in terms of God’s gracious and eternal plan. We win. You can count on that because you have God’s Word–in writing with His signature–on it.
Doubt any of that? Look at the cross. “32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV). There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a train, nor is it simply better days ahead, it is the light of the glory of God! Won’t you come to Him? Trade your burdens for the joy of the Lord. Give it up. Come and receive the mercy you know you need.
David was in a mess. He felt so bad he thought the sentence of death itself was upon him! Ever felt that way? Maybe not that death had you in its grip, but certainly that maybe you'd be better off dead. I hate to admit it, but been there done that. That is where David finds himself in this Psalm.
He does what all of us do in such situations, he cries out. But notice that his outcry has a purpose. He cries out in a prayer to God. Cries of frustration, anger, fear, may bring us temporary relief; they may be cathartic, but only the cry of faith brings deliverance!
Now, I say all of this to point you to today's thought: "16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:16-19 NIV).
On the authority of God’s Word I can tell you, God wants to do that for you today. How can I say such a thing? How do I know God wants to deliver you?
First I can say that because the Bible teaches that God is changeless. The same God that rescued David is the same God who can rescue us when we cry to Him.
Second I can say this because the Bible teaches that those of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior are now beloved children in the family of God and the Bible says in light of that relationship, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).
Third I can say this because the Bible tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV).
Fourth I can say this because God promises to hear the cry of everyone who will call out to Him and “he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.” (1 Peter 2:6 NASB). You have God’s promise on that!
But let me quickly add something here. This promise does not mean that there will be no battles, no floods, no tears or heartaches or struggles. This promise does not mean, as so many want to make it mean today, that your reward is here on this sin-scared earth.
Never forget that God’s choice people suffered; not everything worked out “happily ever after” on this earth. Even our Lord’s victory came only through His willingness to trust the Father’s guidance even as He went to the cross. That was not a pleasant road.
The fact of the matter is, this world is not our final destination and as such, God is not about to grant our every temporal desire at the expense of our eternal well-being. He is not.
The reason some become disillusioned with God and His promises is because they are myopic–short-sighted. They are only looking to the “now” and they’ve lost sight of eternity. God hasn’t and He won’t. He will not sacrifice your eternal good for a momentary happiness no matter how much you may plead.
Don’t think this is an all is well message in terms of God’s immediate deliverance. It is not. However, understand that it is an all is well message in terms of God’s gracious and eternal plan. We win. You can count on that because you have God’s Word–in writing with His signature–on it.
Doubt any of that? Look at the cross. “32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV). There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a train, nor is it simply better days ahead, it is the light of the glory of God! Won’t you come to Him? Trade your burdens for the joy of the Lord. Give it up. Come and receive the mercy you know you need.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Almost Gone
“4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” (Psalm 18:4-6 NIV).
David was in a mess. Look at verses 4 & 5 again and consider their impact. David was convinced that he was standing on the edge of death door, toes curled over the stoop in a desperate effort to maintain his balance. One can picture him on the edge of a precipice, leaning out over the abyss, arms wildly swinging to regain his lost balance, and a flood quickly rushing up from behind to finish the fall. Bottom line: it was over. He was done for, the grave had already reached up for him; death had him in its grip. All was lost. . . .
But wait! David doesn’t simply fall to oblivion, he doesn’t cry out in sheer panic, his cries have purpose; his cries are a prayer and God hears him!
God always hears the prayers of His people. Always. He hears the cry of your heart today. He loves you and He longs to rescue you. He is only waiting for your cry for help.
David was in a mess. Look at verses 4 & 5 again and consider their impact. David was convinced that he was standing on the edge of death door, toes curled over the stoop in a desperate effort to maintain his balance. One can picture him on the edge of a precipice, leaning out over the abyss, arms wildly swinging to regain his lost balance, and a flood quickly rushing up from behind to finish the fall. Bottom line: it was over. He was done for, the grave had already reached up for him; death had him in its grip. All was lost. . . .
But wait! David doesn’t simply fall to oblivion, he doesn’t cry out in sheer panic, his cries have purpose; his cries are a prayer and God hears him!
God always hears the prayers of His people. Always. He hears the cry of your heart today. He loves you and He longs to rescue you. He is only waiting for your cry for help.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Life's Valleys
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3 NIV).
What a great way to start the morning, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” There are times when it doesn’t seem there is much to shout about; there are other times when we want to shout God’s praise at the top of our lungs. According to the forward this Psalm is a Psalm of David when God delivered him from the hand of Saul.
Have you ever stopped to consider that the valleys in life are necessary for the mountain top experiences? All of us want the mountain tops but we don’t want the valleys or the climbs necessary to get there.
What does David thank God for? For deliverance; for protection. However, it seems we sometimes forget that such responses of praise come only after hard fought battles. In this case, David is running from the King and Army of Israel, God’s anointed and God’s Army! How would you like to be in that situation? A fugitive being hunted by those who considered themselves the people of God. Tack onto the normal fear of such a hunted man the self-doubt that had to come knowing God’s man (which is how David viewed Saul) was after him. Think too of the isolation he must have felt. People are people, and whether or not the believed in David’s innocence the haunting reality was an underlying suspicion. Had to be.
Perhaps you are going through a difficult time as you read this thought. Let me encourage you, “Hang in there.” You may not see it now, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel, because at the end of the tunnel stands an all-powerful God. Look to Him and find the strength you need.
What a great way to start the morning, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” There are times when it doesn’t seem there is much to shout about; there are other times when we want to shout God’s praise at the top of our lungs. According to the forward this Psalm is a Psalm of David when God delivered him from the hand of Saul.
Have you ever stopped to consider that the valleys in life are necessary for the mountain top experiences? All of us want the mountain tops but we don’t want the valleys or the climbs necessary to get there.
What does David thank God for? For deliverance; for protection. However, it seems we sometimes forget that such responses of praise come only after hard fought battles. In this case, David is running from the King and Army of Israel, God’s anointed and God’s Army! How would you like to be in that situation? A fugitive being hunted by those who considered themselves the people of God. Tack onto the normal fear of such a hunted man the self-doubt that had to come knowing God’s man (which is how David viewed Saul) was after him. Think too of the isolation he must have felt. People are people, and whether or not the believed in David’s innocence the haunting reality was an underlying suspicion. Had to be.
Perhaps you are going through a difficult time as you read this thought. Let me encourage you, “Hang in there.” You may not see it now, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel, because at the end of the tunnel stands an all-powerful God. Look to Him and find the strength you need.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Are You for Real?
“1 Listen while I build my case, God, the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear. 2 Show the world I’m innocent— in your heart you know I am. 3 Go ahead, examine me from inside out, surprise me in the middle of the night— You’ll find I’m just what I say I am. My words don’t run loose. 4 I’m not trying to get my way in the world’s way. I’m trying to get your way, your Word’s way. 5 I’m staying on your trail; I’m putting one foot In front of the other. I’m not giving up.” (Psalm 17:1-5 MSG).
Good words. James wrote, “1 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. 2 You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? 3 And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.” (James 4:1-3 MSG). Contrast that with our text, “1 Listen while I build my case, God, the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear. . . 4 I’m not trying to get my way in the world’s way. I’m trying to get your way, your Word’s way.”
I have to hand it to David, these are bold words. I wonder how many of us could honestly say to the God who knows everything about us, sees everything, knows even our intentions, “Go ahead, examine me from inside out, surprise me in the middle of the night— You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.” David wrote these words while running for his life from Saul. Later, David would discover that he was not so innocent, yet even in his guilt he, like us, would discover God’s mercy and grace that picks us up, dusts us off, and gets us started again on the right path.
I don’t know were you are as you read these words. Perhaps you are in a state of grace, and you identify with David, “I’m true through and through! A person of genuine integrity.” Or maybe you’ve read these words and thought, “Man, if only this were true of me!” In ether case, know this, God loves you, Christ died for you, and the Holy Spirit longs to help you become such a person. There is hope. If you’ve fallen, allow the Wonderful Counselor to pick you up. If you’re wounded, allow the Great Physician to tend to those wounds. If you are standing, praise God (but don’t forget it is by Him you stand), and like David say, “5 I’m staying on your trail; I’m putting one foot In front of the other. I’m not giving up.”
Good words. James wrote, “1 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. 2 You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? 3 And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.” (James 4:1-3 MSG). Contrast that with our text, “1 Listen while I build my case, God, the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear. . . 4 I’m not trying to get my way in the world’s way. I’m trying to get your way, your Word’s way.”
I have to hand it to David, these are bold words. I wonder how many of us could honestly say to the God who knows everything about us, sees everything, knows even our intentions, “Go ahead, examine me from inside out, surprise me in the middle of the night— You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.” David wrote these words while running for his life from Saul. Later, David would discover that he was not so innocent, yet even in his guilt he, like us, would discover God’s mercy and grace that picks us up, dusts us off, and gets us started again on the right path.
I don’t know were you are as you read these words. Perhaps you are in a state of grace, and you identify with David, “I’m true through and through! A person of genuine integrity.” Or maybe you’ve read these words and thought, “Man, if only this were true of me!” In ether case, know this, God loves you, Christ died for you, and the Holy Spirit longs to help you become such a person. There is hope. If you’ve fallen, allow the Wonderful Counselor to pick you up. If you’re wounded, allow the Great Physician to tend to those wounds. If you are standing, praise God (but don’t forget it is by Him you stand), and like David say, “5 I’m staying on your trail; I’m putting one foot In front of the other. I’m not giving up.”
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Are You Seeking Advice or Agreement?
“I will praise the Lord who counsels me–even at night my heart instructs me.” (Psalm 16:7 NIV).
Who do you go to for advice? Family? Friends? What if the advice they give you is not what you want to hear? What do you do then? Truth be known, most of us don’t look for “advice” we want agreement. We want someone to tell us exactly what we want to hear.
The story is told of a little monkey who desperately wanted to go swimming in a forbidden lake. He had seen the lake from a distant, and its waters looked cool and inviting in that hot-humid climate, and its setting was serene. But he had heard stories about that lake and he wasn’t quite sure.
He went to the owl, who told him, “Cotton. You can’t swim in that lake! There are crocodiles there and they are sure to eat you!”
“Crocodiles? What’s a crocodile?” asked the little monkey.
“Crocodiles are huge amphibious reptiles. They have thick skin, huge teeth, strong jaws and they just love to eat little monkeys!” The Owl answered.
Cotton went away concerned, but undeterred. He wondered, “Do crocodiles really exist, or is the Owl trying to keep me from having fun?”
He went to a friend, a Baboon, and asked him about that lake. The Baboon told Cotton, “Cotton, you cannot go to that lake. There are crocodiles there and they will surely eat you!” “Ha! responded a nervous Cotton, “You are just trying to scare me! Crocodiles do not exist!” And off the little monkey scampered.
Animal after animal warned Cotton of the danger until he came to the Hyena. “Mr. Hyena,” Cotton queried, “Do crocodiles exist? I want to swim in Forbidden Lake, but everyone tells me a crocodile might eat me!”
“Hogwash!” the Hyena replied with a grin. “There are no such animals as crocodiles! That’s a story made up to keep little monkeys like you from having fun!”
“I knew it!” shrieked Cotton with delight. “Crocodiles do not exist! Crocodiles do not exist!” And off he swung through the trees, heading with delight and full abandoned to that inviting lake.
Cotton swam in that lake. He jumped from trees, did, back-strokes, enjoyed the cool water, confident that the hyena had steered him right. Suddenly there was a splash. An instant later the crocodile swam contentedly away saying, “Cotton the monkey does not exist.”
This is not my usual devotional. But the story makes a point. God gives us clear advice in His Word, through His people, and in our hearts. He is the wonderful counselor who will never steer us wrong, yet how often do we persist in wanting to have things our way. Wanting to hear only what we want to hear so that we can do what we want to do? I promise you, based on the authority of God’s Word, such thinking will get you into trouble! Such thinking will end in disaster.
Listen to God and don’t seek “further clarification” from those who do not know Him.
Who do you go to for advice? Family? Friends? What if the advice they give you is not what you want to hear? What do you do then? Truth be known, most of us don’t look for “advice” we want agreement. We want someone to tell us exactly what we want to hear.
The story is told of a little monkey who desperately wanted to go swimming in a forbidden lake. He had seen the lake from a distant, and its waters looked cool and inviting in that hot-humid climate, and its setting was serene. But he had heard stories about that lake and he wasn’t quite sure.
He went to the owl, who told him, “Cotton. You can’t swim in that lake! There are crocodiles there and they are sure to eat you!”
“Crocodiles? What’s a crocodile?” asked the little monkey.
“Crocodiles are huge amphibious reptiles. They have thick skin, huge teeth, strong jaws and they just love to eat little monkeys!” The Owl answered.
Cotton went away concerned, but undeterred. He wondered, “Do crocodiles really exist, or is the Owl trying to keep me from having fun?”
He went to a friend, a Baboon, and asked him about that lake. The Baboon told Cotton, “Cotton, you cannot go to that lake. There are crocodiles there and they will surely eat you!” “Ha! responded a nervous Cotton, “You are just trying to scare me! Crocodiles do not exist!” And off the little monkey scampered.
Animal after animal warned Cotton of the danger until he came to the Hyena. “Mr. Hyena,” Cotton queried, “Do crocodiles exist? I want to swim in Forbidden Lake, but everyone tells me a crocodile might eat me!”
“Hogwash!” the Hyena replied with a grin. “There are no such animals as crocodiles! That’s a story made up to keep little monkeys like you from having fun!”
“I knew it!” shrieked Cotton with delight. “Crocodiles do not exist! Crocodiles do not exist!” And off he swung through the trees, heading with delight and full abandoned to that inviting lake.
Cotton swam in that lake. He jumped from trees, did, back-strokes, enjoyed the cool water, confident that the hyena had steered him right. Suddenly there was a splash. An instant later the crocodile swam contentedly away saying, “Cotton the monkey does not exist.”
This is not my usual devotional. But the story makes a point. God gives us clear advice in His Word, through His people, and in our hearts. He is the wonderful counselor who will never steer us wrong, yet how often do we persist in wanting to have things our way. Wanting to hear only what we want to hear so that we can do what we want to do? I promise you, based on the authority of God’s Word, such thinking will get you into trouble! Such thinking will end in disaster.
Listen to God and don’t seek “further clarification” from those who do not know Him.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Benefits of Belief
“7 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. 8 Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. 9 I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. 10 You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination! 11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.” (Psalm 16:7-11 MSG)
When God takes hold of a person, watch out! The excitement’s just begun! Notice the benefits to those who walk with God. First, we are priviledged to receive the wise counsel of the Wonderful Counselor. Second, we have a happiness that is deep within, a happiness “from the inside out, and from the outside in.” The happiness God gives is not a temporary fleeting happiness, but a happiness that wells up from within.
Years ago, I had the privilege of making my first visit to the British Isles. I was a student at Moody Bible Institute and President George Sweeting, the Moody Chorale, and a group of us evangelism majors retraced the footsteps of D.L. Moody, marking the centennial anniversary of his work there. It was a wonderful experience.
While we were there I was enamored by the castles. They were not at all like I expected, single buildings, but some were huge walled cities within the city. Most castles we saw on that trip were in ruin, but some remained as strong as the day they were built. I began to wonder why. The answer was not long in coming.
The castles that were in ruin had their water supply located outside of the castle walls. In time of war, all the enemy had to do was cut their water supply. Under siege the castle would have to surrender and the enemy would dismantle it to keep it from being a problem in the future. Those castles that were still standing had built their structures right on top of the water supply! No enemy could cut it off.
Those who are in Christ find a “water supply” that springs up from within (See John 4:14). They have a true happiness. A happiness “from the inside out.”
There’s more. Not only does the Lord Jesus provide for us in this life, but our eternal destination is covered! “You canceled my ticket to hell . . .now you’ve got my feet on the life path.” Wonderful! What more could anyone want?
The late great Christian and Missionary Alliance Pastor, A.W. Tozer wrote, “Bible reading Christians should be the last persons on earth to give way to hysteria. They are redeemed from their past offenses and kept in their present circumstances by an all-powerful God, and their future is safe in his hands. God has promised to support them in the flood, protect them in the fire, feed them in the famine, shield them against their enemies, hide them in His safe chambers until the indignation is past and receive them into eternal tabernacles.” (Tozer: This World: Playground or Battleground).
Those of you who know Christ. Smile. You have everything in the world to be happy about! Those who receive these thoughts who may not yet have that personal commitment to Christ, what is keeping you from it? You have nothing to lose but your guilt, shame, sin, and load.
When God takes hold of a person, watch out! The excitement’s just begun! Notice the benefits to those who walk with God. First, we are priviledged to receive the wise counsel of the Wonderful Counselor. Second, we have a happiness that is deep within, a happiness “from the inside out, and from the outside in.” The happiness God gives is not a temporary fleeting happiness, but a happiness that wells up from within.
Years ago, I had the privilege of making my first visit to the British Isles. I was a student at Moody Bible Institute and President George Sweeting, the Moody Chorale, and a group of us evangelism majors retraced the footsteps of D.L. Moody, marking the centennial anniversary of his work there. It was a wonderful experience.
While we were there I was enamored by the castles. They were not at all like I expected, single buildings, but some were huge walled cities within the city. Most castles we saw on that trip were in ruin, but some remained as strong as the day they were built. I began to wonder why. The answer was not long in coming.
The castles that were in ruin had their water supply located outside of the castle walls. In time of war, all the enemy had to do was cut their water supply. Under siege the castle would have to surrender and the enemy would dismantle it to keep it from being a problem in the future. Those castles that were still standing had built their structures right on top of the water supply! No enemy could cut it off.
Those who are in Christ find a “water supply” that springs up from within (See John 4:14). They have a true happiness. A happiness “from the inside out.”
There’s more. Not only does the Lord Jesus provide for us in this life, but our eternal destination is covered! “You canceled my ticket to hell . . .now you’ve got my feet on the life path.” Wonderful! What more could anyone want?
The late great Christian and Missionary Alliance Pastor, A.W. Tozer wrote, “Bible reading Christians should be the last persons on earth to give way to hysteria. They are redeemed from their past offenses and kept in their present circumstances by an all-powerful God, and their future is safe in his hands. God has promised to support them in the flood, protect them in the fire, feed them in the famine, shield them against their enemies, hide them in His safe chambers until the indignation is past and receive them into eternal tabernacles.” (Tozer: This World: Playground or Battleground).
Those of you who know Christ. Smile. You have everything in the world to be happy about! Those who receive these thoughts who may not yet have that personal commitment to Christ, what is keeping you from it? You have nothing to lose but your guilt, shame, sin, and load.
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