“Now I will rise,” says the Lord; “Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up.” Isaiah 33:10 God rises above the heights of the loftiest mountains. He rises above the ingenuity of the wisest men on the face of the earth. Many who have settled for a level of truth based upon what can enter into the…
“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” James 1:18 It was not as the result of skills or ingenuity that we were presented on the scene possessing the qualities the world is in desperate need. In due time, God presents to the…
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10 The progression that takes place in the life of a Christ-follower begins with the call. He calls us to Himself. Then we can be conformed to the image…
“Let’s decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine.” (MSG) 1 Samuel 24:12 We are in a battle for the souls of men. The opposition has the populous vote and has gained momentum over the years. It often appears as if we are on the losing side while…
“And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it’s all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward.” Dan 12:13 (MSG) There are places to go and things yet to be done by those who have put their trust in the Lord. None can predict the future, but we can rest assured that…
“The field is wasted, the land mourns; for the grain is ruined, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails.” Joel 1:10 There are times when conditions are bleak and the people are called to repentance. Nothing occurs by chance. God withdraws His Hand among a people who think they have the abilities to manage their affairs. It is…
“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 Whatever happens and however it may happen, God ends with the placement of His crown of goodness. That is why He is called good even when things happen that are difficult to explain. When there are valleys there also must be mountains. The deeper the…
“The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open; the earth is shaken exceedingly.” Isaiah 24:17 The earth is violently disturbed as the result of the violent offenses measured against its Creator. It awaits the rule of the sons of God whose aim is to reflect the glory of Jesus Christ. Until then, it is held captive, not willingly…
”The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26 The righteous ought to practice the art of carefully choosing their friends. Once the purpose of friendships is understood, each one can be taken seriously. There are commitments made to each other to be genuine and trustworthy at all times. The character…
“Blessed is he who takes no offense of Me.” Luke 7:23 The offense that occurs among men is the contradistinction between His deity and His humanity. Some would view Him as not being human enough to understand man’s dilemma and the challenges that all men face, while others would reduce Him to being just a man, the son of a…
“Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit?” Psalm 139:7 When we are born of the Spirit, the Spirit remains with us wherever we go. He is there in those moments when we feel alone and abandoned. He is there when our hearts drift in directions that would be far removed from the warmth that comes as result of meditation and…
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13 It appears to be a misnomer to use wisdom and meekness in the same sentence. Wisdom often elevates the pride of many who become even wiser in their own eyes. Godly wisdom is always to…