Psalm 1:1-3 – “How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers.  ² Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s  commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.  ³ He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off.  He succeeds in everything he attempts.”

Psalm One has proven time and again to be a launching pad of discovery and comfort.   In Psalm One, God contrasts those who fear, follow, pursue, and serve God and those who do not.   We all have choices and choices, and they always have consequences or results.

Some notable characteristics identify the lover of God.  That person finds pleasure in obeying God’s commandments.   In fact, this person loves God so much and enjoys doing what God desires, so they meditate on His Word continuously.  It fills their hearts and minds.

The result is stability in everything and all the time!  No vacillation or wavering.  They discover the life-giving water of the Word and the fertilizer of the Spirit, which results in an abundance of spiritual fruit manifested and harvested in their lives.  They have the right fruit at the right time for the right reason.

Their leaves do not fall off, indicating that they stay vibrant.  Here is an astounding provision and promise – “He succeeds in EVERYTHING he attempts.”  Do you have that?  Be honest.  Why not if you do not?  In verse six, we have the amazing assurance – “Certainly, the LORD guards the way of the godly…”

In 1 Peter, we read about Salvation!   We read about God’s abundance of life, grace, peace, protection, provision, purpose, and power.  Then, in 1 Peter 1:13-25, the apostle points us to the pathway or entryway to those promises.

It is Grace plus Faith plus Action.  The directive is, Get your mind ready for action, BY… by what?   By being fully sober with our Hope set completely on Grace (Jesus).  Resist evil urges but rather pursue holiness and, through the Holy Spirit, become holy.

Verse 22 is revelatory, “You HAVE purified your souls BY obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love.”   Chapter 2, verse 1 gives us something we are to do and cultivate – “Get rid of ALL evil, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.  Yearn like a newborn longs for its mother’s milk, the milk of God’s Word.”

In that condition and from that position, we both resist the devil, and he has no choice but to flee.   We cast ALL our cares, concerns, and needs upon Jesus, knowing He cares for us and Never Fails!

Therefore, let each of us become an oak of righteousness and a tree whose tap roots are in God’s stream.   We have a world to win.  Let us be trees that never wither, and when the end of this life comes, be vibrant fruit-producing trees in God’s garden.

May your day be bright and your leaves green and flourishing in the presence and power of God!

2 Timothy 1:3-7 – “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.  6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  NKJV

Mother’s Day is a special time set aside each year to recognize and honor our mothers.  Mine has been promoted to heaven, but her influence and memory are fresh and real in my life and our family.  In looking at this passage on this particular day, I find that the one portion that leaps off the page is found in verse 5.   The apostle reminds Timothy of his heritage of faith that was demonstrated in his grandmother and mother, and called it ‘genuine faith.’ 

That distinction is of great value when considering the important role of mothers in our lives.   Timothy’s grandmother and mother manifested ‘genuine faith,’ which speaks of permanence, consistency, and foundation.   They believed and walked out what they believed and instilled that confidence in Timothy, a quality Paul recognized and learned to depend on.

Faith is a critical element in walking with God because the Bible tells us that no person can please the Lord without it.   That speaks to the need to have confidence in God to weather the storms of life without becoming shipwrecked and a castaway. 

If our faith is timid, superficial, and conditioned upon circumstance, we will be an easy target for the devil, and our walk and life will be little more than outward show, noise, and fluff without substance.  If we had a mother who demonstrated consistency, persistence, and continuance of faith, we will have learned that trusting God is not only desirable but possible.

I was blessed to have a mother who consistently demonstrated her faith, faithfulness, and fidelity before the Lord and all who knew her.  Her example was invaluable and instilled in us the confidence that a mortal could walk upright before the Lord in faith.  Her love warmed our hearts, her encouragement inspired us to achieve, and her faith gave us an anchor in life.  As Proverbs declares, the value of a mother who gives a heritage of faith is ‘far above rubies.’

To all the mothers reading this today, I tip my hat to you and say ‘Thank You’ for what you have done, are doing, and will do for your families.    May God give you a special blessing on this day and lift your hearts, so you soar with the eagles.

Blessings on your special day!

Job 19:25-25 – “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last He will stand upon the earth.  ²⁶ And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God, ²⁷ whom I will see for myself, and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another.^”

The words of Job 19:25-27 seemed to leap off the page and capture my focus today.    Job was being treated with contempt by his comforters.   That is ironic, isn’t it?  Those who came to console him became his harshest critics.  They were physicians of no value.  Rather than interceding, they engaged in religious judging.  Today, we find the same either spoken verbally or harbored in the heart.

Job said, “As for me, I KNOW (calm confidence) that my Redeemer lives (He is the Living God), AND that at the last He (God) will stand on the earth (remember this is before the Law and before the incarnation of Jesus.  It was prophetic insight).  26 AND after my skin has been destroyed, yet IN MY FLESH I will SEE GOD, whom I will see for myself, and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another.”

That is amazing!   In Job’s heart, he was certain of eternity!   Before the plan and path of salvation through the Blood of Jesus, it was in His heart.  God’s plan of redemption has been revealed since the Fall in the Garden.

There will be a resurrection, and each will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ or the Great White Throne.   We will either be invited into God’s eternal kingdom or cast into everlasting darkness.  The solution is in the Blood of Jesus.   We, too, can have the confidence of Job – I know He lives, and even after my body goes back to dust, there will be a resurrection, and I will see Him! 

Today, Eternity is on my mind!   Being prepared is my desire.  

Hebrews 9:11-12 reveals that Jesus has made the eternal sacrifice for our sins, and the door is open.

Hebrews 10:35 encourages us not to throw away or lose our confidence (in His Promises) because it has great reward – Eternal Life!  In verse 36, we are reminded, “For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.” Heaven is waiting, don’t lose hope!  Nothing here can compare!

Today is just one more step toward our eternity with Jesus, so have a great day and enjoy every second.    Have a great day as you look for and long for His appearing!  He is coming back!

Job 1:6-12 – “Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them. ⁷ The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” ⁸ So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”

⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? ¹⁰ Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. ¹¹ But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

¹² So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

As I read, prayed, and considered the Word of God today, I was drawn to some things in Job and Hebrews.   In Job 1:9-12, the devil expressed his view of devotion to God, a view held by people.   That is, people serve God so long as the blessings flow.   He argued, “Make it hard, and they recant.”

God granted him permission to test Job and bring tragedy to his life. The devil went whole hog and stripped him of wealth and possessions and killed his kids. That is extreme.

What did Job do?  He demonstrated the truth of God’s description of Him in verse one.  He was blameless and upright, feared God, and turned from evil.   Remember, there was no Mosaic Law on conscience. Job demonstrated completeness in character with reverential fear of God and a true worshipper.   His response to tragedy debunked the devil’s theory about humanity.

Tragically, the devil is right about the mindset of the unregenerant heart. Job said in verses 21-22, “I came into this world with nothing (naked), and I will return to God without earthly possessions.” He expressed God’s sovereignty and ownership and declared that God was to be praised no matter what.

I find it incredible that God pushed the issue further and brought Job up again to the devil.   God purposefully allowed Job to be tested with the loss of the material goods of life, the loss of children.  Even Job’s wife urged him to renounce God; he held firm in his faith.  I see this second attack on his person and his health as God’s example of the power of steadfast faith and devotion to God.  Job went through hell physically.

In Job 4, Eliphaz rehearsed Job’s ministry and compassion to others and then hit him hard with a reality we need to consider.    Job 4:5 – “But now the same thing you helped others face has come to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.”   It is easy to pray for, counsel, and console others in their plight when you are not affected by it, but when it’s you, that’s a different story.    Job’s humanity surfaced. Ultimately, he maintained his confidence in God but struggled with physical trials.

I see a connection in Hebrews 2:1 – “Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard (the gospel) so that we do not drift away.”

If we focus on God, the Gospel, and the Truth, we can endure because our anchor is Christ Jesus. Our hope is ultimate salvation. If we genuinely believe that God is the creator and sustainer of all things and He will never abandon us, we see the present sufferings in light of eternity.

Life sometimes brings bitter pills for us to swallow.  Sometimes, we must endure difficult experiences and unexplainable trials. However, we have a high priest who knows precisely what we are facing and how we feel.  He has been there.    This is something that no other human being can truly understand, but Jesus does.  Therefore, we can be assured that there is light at the end of our tunnel, and it’s not a train coming at us.    It is Jesus being our life!

Lord, help us trust You in all things and at all times. Give us the grace to be and see and the settled confidence that You will NEVER fail us. Thank you! Amen.  No matter what, trust God!

Have a fantastic day and be confident that when the devil goes whole hog against you, God will enable you to stand.