Psalms 119:15-16 – “I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”  NKJV

I told someone a few years ago that I liked to mediate on God’s Word and you would have thought I had just confessed to being a mass murder or something the way they reacted to the word meditate.  All they could conceive in their mind was ‘Transcendental Meditation’ and were appalled that I would practice any form of meditation.  Never mind that the Word of God encouraged what I was talking about.

The word, ‘meditate’ in the Hebrew means ‘to muse’ which is simply to think about something carefully and thoroughly.  It is to become absorbed in thought and to turn that thought over and over in the mind.  It would be akin to ‘unpicking’ a knitted sweater until it falls apart or opens up and becomes clear.  I have, at times, spent hours thinking about a few words used in a passage as I focused on the potential and possible meanings.  I have found that, at times, I could not shake a particular passage from my mind for weeks as I thought about it.  In so doing I have found that, often a passage will become such a part of me that it transformed some aspect of my life.  It is to ‘ponder’ and the implication is that you will carry on a conversation with yourself although it may be completely silent and in your mind.  You talk with yourself about it as you examine it deeply and carefully.

Then he said, ‘contemplate’ God’s ways which is again to ‘think deeply’ or ‘carefully’ about something.  It is to ‘regard’ or look at in detail.  The Psalmist is thinking deeply on the precepts and ways of God.  It is to look at the ways or paths of God intently.  I have found that many grasp the ‘Acts of God’ but many fail to understand the ‘Ways of God’.  Psalms 103 declares that God made His ‘ways’ known to Moses and His ‘acts’ to the sons of Israel.  Moses had a deeper level of understanding of the precepts and paths of the Lord than did the children of Israel.  God help us to seek to know His Ways not just His Acts!

The result of meditation and contemplation is DELIGHT in God’s statutes.  Some almost grudgingly follow the directives and commandments of God’s Word but the Psalmist engaged in deep thought on God’s precepts and ways and found that the Statutes or Laws of God brought delight to his heart and mind.  He understood that it was not just a rule but a principle with purpose.

Then the declaration I will not ‘forget’ Your Word.  The Hebrew usage means “I will not mislay Your Word”.  I will not fail to remember.  I have found that the Word hidden in my heart is not hidden but filed away for future reference and guidance.  It becomes an anchor in my life that motivates and leads me in right paths.  It becomes a pillar and anchor in my life.  I have mediated upon it until I understood the precept, grasped the purpose in the ways or paths, delighted in the statutes and therefore it is virtually impossible for me to forget the Word.

That is what I’m talking about when I say I MEDITATE on the Word of God!  May God be with you as you go through your day!

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  NKJV

I’ve heard people say, “I can tell you the time, and take you to the place where I was saved”.  I can for it was so monumental and revolutionary in my life that it is indelibly imprinted on my heart and mind.  I had been running without really knowing I was running from God.  I had developed many erroneous ideas regarding acceptance to God justifying my lifestyle and mentality by comparing myself to others who identified themselves as Christians.  I went to Vietnam with that mentality and thankfully God spared my life allowing me time to hear and heed His call to faith and repentance.

I know some who tell me, “I don’t remember not being a Christian” and while that was not my experience I wish it were.  I had a young man tell me once, “Preacher, I need to sow my wild oats so when I come to Christ I’ll have a testimony.”  I tried in vain to help him see that it would be an even greater testimony, in my view, to have committed to Christ at an early age and remained true and faithful throughout his entire life.  Then there is the additional danger of something happening to end his life on earth before He heeded God’s call and the reality that such presumption might leave him as Esau weeping without acceptance. I shudder to even think of such presumption in predetermining that one would push God away until a time of their choosing and somehow expect Him to respond to their timeline.

Fascination with sin has always been something in the hearts of many and frequently when someone who has lived in wretchedness and been redeemed gives their public testimony I hear people idolizing the sin rather than the salvation and that troubles me.  Glamorizing sin is not a positive thing but a detriment, in my view.

Here the apostle tells us that when we come to Christ we are ‘newly created’.  He is not suggesting as Nicodemus that this would somehow be a new physical birth but an inward and spiritual one.  What we were is no longer and what we are, in Christ is not the testimony we offer.  I was wicked and He transformed me into something completely other than what I was.  I was hell bound and His love changed my course 180 degrees.  I was a citizen of darkness and His shed blood on Calvary made me a citizen of the light.  I am a NEW CREATION in CHRIST JESUS!

The Roy Beaird that was died that night in Palestine, Texas and the newly created Roy Beaird came to life.  I did not instantly find that all the past was forgotten and troubled me no longer but I found that the hold the past had on my heart and mind was broken and now I had a faithful advocate who would empower me to overcome and inspire me to continue moving toward the prize.  Thank God I was saved, am saved, and am being saved! This new creation that I am is a pilgrim on Earth waiting the time of transition to the Eternal.  It is Christ in me the hope of glory!

            May God be with you as you go through your day!

Revelation 3:15-17 – “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” NASU

I am passionate about whatever I commit to and that most assuredly includes my faith.  I have experienced the anticipation of a hot cup of coffee only to find that it was tepid and my natural inclination was to spit it out if possible.  I have had the experience of anticipating a cold only to find it lukewarm. The experience was not desirable and when I read these words of our Lord regarding the church of Laodicea they resonated with me.

I understand that one can become such a zealot that they become obnoxious but indifference in matters of faith is not something I consider commendable.  I am passionate about my faith, family, freedom, and friends.  I can think of few times when I felt indifference regarding any of those four.  I have been indifferent about what type of food to seek when going out to eat with family or friends but not about my faith.

I recall the old story of a soldier in one of the world wars asking his chaplain, “Do you believe in hell?”  The chaplain reportedly was stunned and emphatically declared, “Of course!”  The soldier responded saying, “No you do not for if I believed in hell though Europe were covered with broken glass I’d crawl on my hands and knees to warn everyone to flee the wrath to come.  You sir are telling no one therefore I do not think you believe in hell.”  Jesus said if we were ashamed of Him in this present world He would be ashamed of us before the Father.

I am not suggesting that you have to carry a large Bible and button-hole everyone you meet trying to arm twist them into accepting Jesus but I do hope you are passionate enough about your faith that you readily declare Him when opportunity presents itself.  I have often said that I am completely comfortable speaking to a crowd that is enthusiastically for or against me but one that is apathetic is distasteful.  If you are with me it inspires me and if you are against me it inspires and challenges me but if you are indifferent it leaves me with the sensation that John described in the above passage.

I cannot imagine standing before God and answering for my indifference when so much is at stake for the human family.  If I fail to warn the wicked of his wickedness I have erred as much as if I had failed to sound the alarm in a burning building.  If anything is remembered about me when I depart this life I want people to remember I was passionate and committed not lukewarm.

I pray that God stir up the embers of faith inside each heart and elevate your passion to white hot regarding your faith.  Blessings as you go through your day!

Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  NASU

There is a song “What Am I Living For” that comes to mind and the questions the singer asks are: “What Am I Living for if not for you?”  It then declares that nobody else will do and the object of affection is the total focus and desire.  I ask that regarding our spiritual lives?  What are we living for if not for Christ?  What are we long for if not for Christ?  If anything else will do then I would suggest that our lives come up short of the prize that God has set before us.

Steven J. Cole wrote in a blog post in 2013 asking my question and related a story from English history and lore.  It seems that a young man came to W.E. Gladstone when he was Prime Minister of England and said, “Mr. Gladstone, I would appreciate your giving me a few minutes in which I might lay before you my plans for the future.  I would like to study law.”  “Yes,” said the great statesman, “and then what?”  “Then, sir, I would like to gain entrance to the Bar of England.” “Yes, young man, and what then?”  “Then, sir, I hope to have a place in Parliament, in the House of Lords.”  “Yes, young man, what then?” pressed Gladstone.  “Then I hope to do great things for Britain.”  “Yes, young man, and what then?”  “Then, sir, I hope to retire and take life easy.”  “Yes, young man, and what then?” he tenaciously asked.  “Well, then, Mr. Gladstone, I suppose I will die.”  “Yes, young man, and what then?”  The young man hesitated and then said, “I never though any further than that, sir.”  Looking at the young man sternly and steadily, Gladstone said, “Young man, you are a fool.  Go home and think life through!”  (Told by Leonard Griffith, This is Living [Abingdon Press], pp. 48, 49.)

What are we living for?  How much thought have you given to your life?  The past, present, future, and eternity must be brought into focus.  Paul addresses this issue in the text above saying, “to live is Christ…”  I am living to LIVE CHRIST!  I am living to MANIFEST CHRIST!  I am living to be an EPISTLE KNOW AND READ OF MEN!  My focus is Christ!  My hope is Christ!  My life is Christ!  For in Him I live and move and have being!

If I am living primarily for me my focus is wrong.  If I am living primarily to have financial success my focus is wrong.  If I am living to advance a particular cause my focus is wrong.  Jesus instructed us in Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” NASU If I have God first in my life and am actively and diligently seeking Him then He will care for all else in my life.  I am LIVING TO LIVE CHRIST!

I do not want to be remembered for my activism, my speaking or writing, my accomplishments in life (whatever they might be).  I want to be remembered for LIVING CHRIST!  I want to be remembered as one who manifested and demonstrated Christ in my words and deeds.  I do not care if anyone remembers my name so long as they remember the Christ of and in my life.

May God be with you as you go through your day!  I encourage you to begin LIVING CHRIST!  Blessings!

James 1:1-8 – “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NASU

 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” NASU

Picking up where we left off yesterday I must repeat something that many have heard me say, God’s ultimate desire for His children is ‘conformity’ with the Person & Image of Jesus Christ.  He wants us to have ‘full salvation’ and ‘complete deliverance’.  He wants us to enjoy and manifest His abundant provisions and to walk in victory PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS!

LIFE is a process from infancy, to adolescence, to adulthood.  Our spiritual life and walk involves numerous tests and various encounters which help to shape and develop our character.  They also provide a barometer by which we can identify where we are on the thermometer of life.   Hosea 4:6 – “My people perish for a lack of knowledge…”

That is applicable today even in the face of the exponential expansion of knowledge. If we do not know God’s will, we are incredibly unlikely to do God’s will.  If we do not understand what He is doing we may and likely will resist and even rebel rather than resting and learning.  BUT, if we understand the principles, then we know not only what to look for but what to do.  Victory comes in ‘understanding’ and ‘obedience’.

In the text above James tells us to ‘count it all joy when you encounter various trials (temptations)…’ Frankly, that is not only difficult it is impossible WITHOUT some understanding of the Purpose of Temptation in our lives.   Have you been tempted?  Have you or are you now facing a temptation?  Have you succumbed to temptation?  If you have you know the sense of guilt that frequently accompanies that stumble although some just shrug it off and declare ‘I’m only human.’

TEMPTATION is something that is ‘common to man’ It does not matter how old or how young, how spiritual or carnal IT COMES!  I am reminded of a story I heard on this about a young man and the keys to the family car.

            “Dad, while you were away I came very close to breaking my promise to you about not driving the car during your absence.  You left the keys on the kitchen counter and I carried them in my pocket for 3 days fighting temptation.  The father replied, “Son, there is nothing like temptation to show you what you WILL DO if you are given the opportunity.”

Temptation can be viewed from three standpoints!

SATAN’S – – He sees it as an opportunity to defeat God’s Purpose.  He can only succeed in tempting us in those areas in which we have something in common with him.  Jesus said in John 14:30 that the devil had NO CLAIM on Him or on us.

             MAN’S – – We see it as a severe test and an attempt to destroy our faith and commitment.  We view it as a totally BAD THING.  James 1:13-14 is inspirational if we will allow it to be and explains this perfectly.

             GOD’S – – It serves a valuable and vital service in the lives of men/women.  It reveals at least three things about us – – What we are.  Where we stand.  What we will be.

             TEMPTATION is a factor in both the psychological and spiritual growth process and each of us MUST go through the mountains and valleys of life if we are to become mature individuals capable of living a full, meaningful, and victorious life.  Therefore TEMPTATION’S real purpose is ‘always’ to trigger a choice and prove a definitive stand or action.  What is your choice?

            May God be with you as you go through your day and may your choices be inspired of the Holy Spirit.  BLESSINGS!

James 1:1-8 – “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NASU 

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” NASU

 As believers we have some clear promises in Scripture that we can expect to be realities in our lives:

• GUIDANCE – – The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.
• INSTRUCTION – – The Holy Spirit will Teach and we have All Scripture.
• PROVISION – – But my God shall supply all your need.
• COMFORT – – He will never leave you nor forsake you.
• DEFENSE – – The battle is not yours it is the Lord’s. We know not how to pray as we ought but God….

             The Word of God firmly and emphatically declares that it is due to a lack of knowledge that people are defeated and destroyed.  We have the promise that IF we walk in the light as He is in the light we can ask what we will.  The motive and the request are to be wholesome and pure.  If we ASK anything according to His will IT IS DONE! 

Therefore, it is of significant importance to know: 

• The Will of God.
• The Principles by which He Works.
• What God is trying to do in and through us.

That is a colossal undertaking and not one to be considered lightly or frivolously.   One principle which affects us greatly in our walk and warfare spiritually and upon which much of our success hinges is – God’s Tool of Temptation!  I do not want you to think I’m saying that ‘God tempts’ for that would violate scripture but He uses temptation for our good.  There is a Principle that I like to call ‘The Wilderness Principle’ that could be beneficial in our consideration of this matter.  It is important to be aware of:

• Temptation’s Purpose.
• How to Receive God’s Promises.
• How to Stand Steadfast when Facing the Problem.
• How to Enter Into God’s Provisions.

Realizing the need for brevity I am going to press the pause button here and pick this up again next post.  I truly hope that your appetite for considering the work and effect of temptation is whetted.  May God be with you as you go through this day!  BLESSINGS!

Psalms 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”  NASU

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”  NASU

Picking up where we left off I have found that there are five separate words translated TRUST in Scripture.  Let’s consider them:

• Psalm 22:8 – – “He Trusted on the Lord.”   The word is [galal] = to roll.  It speaks of Christ in the hours of His crucifixion and David wrote, “He rolled Himself on the Lord.”  He TRUSTED and that is a picture of ‘complete confidence and dependence.’

• Job 35:14 – – “Therefore trust thou in Him…”   The word is [chul] = to wait or stay upon.  It depicts confidence and patience.  Elihu said to Job – – ‘Wait for Him.’  

• Job 35:15 – – “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”   In answering his friends, Job used the Hebrew word for Hope – [yachal].  Even in the face of death Job would not give up his Hope, Confidence, and Trust in God.

• Psalm 91:4 – – “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust…”   The word is [chasah] = To flee for refuge. 

• The most frequently used word is [batach] = to confide in or lean upon.

Therefore, TRUST seems to be a rolling of our needs upon God followed by patiently waiting upon Him to act and is hope even when things seem to be hopeless and means to flee to God and His promises for refuge when doubt and fear make a frontal assault.

        We find that David and Isaiah are both correct!  Their difference is not in the fact that they trusted it is WHEN they trusted.  We all have TRUST inherent in our natures.  We could not live without it.  Consider the chair you are sitting in as you read this.  You trust it to hold you up and not let you crash to the floor.  You did not think about it you simply sat down in it demonstrating your trust!

The issue is not TRUST but the object of our TRUST.   2 Corinthians 1:9 advises that we are to trust God not self and 1 Timothy 6:17 warns not to trust riches but God.

Dwight L. Moody said:  

• Trust Self and you are doomed to disappointment.
• Trust Friends and they will leave you.
• Trust Money and you’ll have it taken away.
• Trust Reputation and some slanderous tongue may blast it.
• Trust God and you will never be confounded in time or eternity.

        Excellent advice!  We should TRUST God’s self-existence and eternality.  We can assuredly rest in his dependability and infallibility.  We can confidently depend upon His Omnipotence for you see God is not only ALIVE but ACTIVE!  His love, mercy, grace, and peace is extended to us and we can REST in Him.

            May God be with you as you go through your day!

Psalms 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”  NASU

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”  NASU

As I study Scripture I sometimes find statements by different people that seem diametrically opposite and yet are so intricately linked it is amazing.  I find these two passages fascinating.  David, the man God described as being ‘after His own heart’ and the prophet Isaiah who gave us a prophetic picture of the Messiah that is incredible both spoke on FEAR and TRUST.  Yet, it was David that said, “when I am afraid, I will trust’ and Isaiah that said, “I will trust and not be afraid.”  I would have thought it would be the exact opposite but both provide some valuable insight.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “All who get on board Heaven’s train will arrive in heaven, but those who join David in this incidence will ride third class and those who walk with Isaiah will ride first class.”  I didn’t say that Spurgeon did and it opens the door for us to examine FEAR and TRUST.   If you can accept it I suggest that ‘Trust is not a product of fear; it is a preventative.’

Let me give you a couple of illustrations I heard years ago that helped and help me.

There was an airliner flying in a terrible storm and the passengers began to panic in fear.  The stewardesses were reaching for air bags for terror had gripped all the passengers. Some cried, some cursed, and some prayed but everyone but one lady in first class was terror struck.  When asked why she was not fearful she replied, “My husband is the pilot of this plane and he is well qualified to get us to the airport.”  She trusted!

It is reported that Stonewall Jackson and his sister-in-law were in a small boat crossing the river below Niagara Falls and his sister-in-law became fearful and began questioning the ability and decisions of the boatswain.  Jackson informed her that unless she felt she was better qualified to handle the boat than the man she was to sit down and be quite.  He trusted!

            TRUST – – According to Webster’s is ‘assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of someone or something and lists confidence and dependence as synonyms.’  Isaiah was saying, “I will have assured reliance on the character, strength, and truth of the Almighty and will not be afraid.”  Therefore, FAITH in the general usage of scripture is ‘trusting God’s testimony.’  It is ‘receiving all that God has revealed to us.’

 FAITH is not an Old Testament word it is used only twice but TRUST is used over 140 times and yet Hebrews 11 credits many Old Testament characters with faith and lists them in Faith’s Hall of Fame.  They had ‘complete reliance’ on God and that affected their attitudes and actions demonstrating FAITH of the highest order.

I want to delve into this a little deeper and will pause now and pick this up on the ‘morrow.  Blessings as you go through your day!

Habakkuk 1:1-4 – “The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.  2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save.  3 Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness?  Yes, destruction and violence are before me;  Strife exists and contention arises.  4 Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.”  NASU

Have you ever looked at what is happening in this world and wondered, “What is God doing?” Have you ever been perplexed about injustice, war, murder, drunkenness, drug addiction, abortion, etc.?  Have you ever been deeply concerned because of the world you are living in?  THEN, let me introduce you to the prophet Habakkuk for he shared those sentiments and concerns.

Habakkuk lived about 600 BC in a time when the Jewish nation of Judah was declining at an alarming pace.  Injustice, immorality and violence were prevalent like today’s world.  If you read the newspapers you realize that crime, sin, and injustice are rampant in our world.  Continually we have reports of ‘bad things,’ happening to ‘good people,’ and sometimes want to just throw up your hands and cry out, “Why isn’t God doing something?”  That is exactly how Habakkuk felt.  He was watching the disintegration of his nation a nation he loved.  He was in a position to see the enemy Babylon developing and becoming more and more of a threat.  His nation was oblivious to the danger reveling in ‘selfish absorption’ like today.

Jehoiakim was King in Judah and he had burned Jeremiah’s scroll.  As the Word of God was read to the king he took his knife and cut it to pieces then burned it.  This transpired at the time Nebuchadnezzar was about to take Judah captive.  Habakkuk saw this transpiring with a heart full of grief.  He could not believe that God was allowing this to transpire seemingly inactive.

            Campbell Morgan said of this – – “Men of faith are always men who have to confront problems. Those who are not believers do not have to worry about these problems. If there is not God, then whatever transpired cannot be blamed on or attributed to Him, so why worry or fret.  War is war and crime is crime.  But those of us who have faith in God, who believe in Jesus Christ, have to wrestle with some very difficult problems.  How can a God of love permit those things to happen?  How can a God of justice and holiness not judge those who are committing such evil and heinous acts?”

The name Habakkuk means ‘to wrestle or to embrace’.  He certainly reached out to embrace God and without question wrestled with some very difficult problems in his day.  How do you explain evil in this world if we believe in a God of love, mercy, and justice?  Habakkuk did what many do today he tried to rationalize God for a human perspective and ultimately leveled three accusations toward God.

1.  He Accused God of Being INDIFFERENT – – (v.2)

      Basically saying, God I’m praying but you are doing NOTHING!    Therefore he assumes that God is       indifferent.

2. He Accused God of Being INACTIVE – – (vv.3-4)

       God answered him in verses 5-11 by telling him – I am working and in fact I’m doing things so great and wonderful that you would not believe if you were told what they are.  He then acknowledged that He was going to use the Babylonians to chastise His people for their sin. 

3. That Resulted in Him accusing God of being INCONSISTENT – – (vv. 12-17)

       How could a Holy God use a wicked nation like Babylon to chastise Israel?  Habakkuk faced a dilemma and became despondent, discouraged, and depressed.

             Before you criticize the prophet to vehemently realize that we sometimes fall into this trap and I have heard people say, “How long do I have to pray about this?”   I often have to deal with people questioning God over evil’s existence.  So what did Habakkuk do?  In Chapter Two we find him going to his ‘watchtower’ or place of prayer and there God opened His eyes and heart to see what was going on.  God gave Habakkuk three assurances that we need to hear and heed.  In Chapter 2:4 we find the promise of God’s Grace.  In Chapter 2:14 we find the promise of God’s Glory and in Chapter 2:20 we find God’s Government.  God tells the prophet, “I’m on the throne and I’m still God.”

So when the temptation to fret over wickedness in this world presses upon your mind lift up your eyes and lift up your heart knowing that God’s Grace is sufficient, His Glory will radiate, and His Government will rule.

            Blessings as you go through your day!