Not Strength and Weapons

06 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory (Psalm 44:3, CEV).

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Daffodil path, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.

What is the secret to victory in war? In modern warfare often the answer boils down to superior weapons. Superior weapons are the product of superior technology, so whoever has the best technology can be assured of victory. Right?

Don’t count on it. In the final years of the Second World War, Germany had developed fighter jets that were far superior to the turboprops the allies were flying. Similarly, German guided missiles were raining destruction down onto London. But despite these superior weapons, Germany lost the war.

Apparently, according to today’s verse from the Psalms, when it comes to war, God has the final say on who wins.

Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory (Psalm 44:3, CEV).

The secret to victory in war is knowing who is on your side. If the LORD is on your side, the path to victory is certain. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name (Exodus 15:3, NIV).

Response: LORD God, in the spiritual warfare that I face daily, I desperately need you on my side. You are my strength against powerful spiritual enemies. But with you my victory is assured. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you enlisted the Lord to fight for you or are you fighting with him?

Refreshing Showers

05 Tuesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth

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When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it (Psalm 68:9, CEV).

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Azaleas in bloom, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.

Locally, we have had a very dry spring. For both May and June we received only about a third of the normal monthly rainfall. As might be expected, lawns have turned dry and crunchy underfoot. Every other day I’ve been watering the garden and flower beds. Field crops have suffered the most. Corn that should be waist-high is less than knee-high.

But on July first everything changed. We had three significant showers—showers that brought life and growth. That’s the promise in today’s verse from the Psalms.

When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it (Psalm 68:9, CEV).

Just as land goes through periods of drought, so too our spirits can become dry and parched. God can seem to be ten thousand miles away. For such times, Peter provides us with this advice, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus” (Acts 3:19-20, NIV).

Nothing brings refreshing quite like the manifest presence of Jesus. And nothing prepares the way for Jesus like a repentant heart that has turned to God.

Response: LORD God, I am thirsty for you. I repent of my sins and my waywardness. Right now I turn to you. Send your showers of refreshing on the thirsty soil of my soul. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you going through a spiritual dry spell?

Your Heart’s Desire

04 Monday Jul 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Trust the LORD and live right!
    The land will be yours, and you will be safe.
Do what the LORD wants,
    and he will give you your heart’s desire (Psalm 37:3-4, CEV).

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Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.

Are you thankful for the land in which you live? I certainly am. On almost every measurement of prosperity, security, freedom and human development, Canada ranks at the top among the nations of the world. We have a great deal to be thankful for.

But to whom should we be giving thanks? Yes, we can be thankful for those who have gone before us, who built this great land through hard work and sacrifice. They forged partnerships with welcoming hearts that brought the prosperity and success that we now enjoy.

But ultimately, our freedom, security and prosperity come from the LORD. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this truth.

Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire (Psalm 37:3-4, CEV).

Ancient Israel enjoyed freedom and security when the people of the land trusted in God and lived right. The ways of LORD have not changed. If we want to continue to enjoy His blessings, we need to do what He wants and not merely pursue our selfish desires.

Response: LORD God, I thank you for my home and native land. Help the people of this great land turn their hearts toward you. God keep our land glorious and free. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you thankful for the land in which you live?

Yet He Was Merciful

01 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

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Reading:                                       Psalm 78

Verses 32-39

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
So he ended their days in futility
and their years in terror.
Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return (NIV).

Reflection

Psalm 78 is a lengthy indictment against the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that these were the people of God—His chosen people—yet they responded with lies, unbelief and disloyalty. If this is how the people of God conduct themselves, what are we to expect from those who do not know the LORD?

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Autumn in Central Park, New York, NY — photo by David Kitz

Unfortunately, the people of God today are not so different from the people of Israel 3,000 years ago. When we look about the church world, we see a plenty of division, backbiting and sin. All too often hate rules instead of love. We cover ourselves with a fig leaf of self-righteousness and then proceed to attack those who fail to meet our standard. We do all this while we are trapped in our own secret web of sin. We are determined to clean up the world while ignoring our personal pile of filth.

The words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Mount still ring true today, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5).

But given this deplorable state of affairs, what does the LORD do? The psalmist states, “Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.” Like the people of ancient Israel, we are saved not because of our righteousness, but solely because of God’s mercy and grace.

Response: LORD God, I cannot boast because of my righteousness. You know all my shortcomings. I have an impressive pile of personal sin. Forgive me through the mercy of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been guilty of pointing out the faults of others while ignoring your own?

Nations Bow Down

30 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).

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Petrie Island Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.

Before he ascended into heaven Jesus gave his disciples this command:

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20, CEV).

Jesus promised he would be present and engaged with us as we spread the good news of his death and resurrection among the nations. In Psalm 86 we also have the promise that our mission will be successful.

You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).

In this dark world Jesus and the gospel message shine as a light—a light the world and the imps of hell cannot extinguish. As we face the future, we can have great confidence because each nation will bow down to worship and honor you.

Response: LORD God, help me to do my part to bring your gospel message to the nations. I bow before you knowing that all over the world others too will bow to worship you. Amen.

Your Turn: How are you fulfilling Christ’s final command?

Foreign Gods

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

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Don’t worship foreign gods or bow down to gods you know nothing about (Psalm 81:9, CEV).

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Early morning glory — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.

With each passing year it becomes more apparent that we live in a global village. My friendly neighbors across the street speak Arabic and were born in Lebanon. My barber is Chinese. My favorite restaurant serves Indian cuisine. My wife’s best friend is indigenous. The truth is we live in a multicultural society and to be frank, I like it that way.

What are we then to make of this injunction from the Psalms:

Don’t worship foreign gods or bow down to gods you know nothing about (Psalm 81:9, CEV).

In Psalm 81 the LORD, Yahweh, was addressing the wayward people of Israel, who had turned their backs on Him. They were chasing after other gods, rather than the LORD who had saved them from bondage in Egypt.

For many of us who live in countries with a Christian heritage, this command from the Psalms rings true. As a society we too have abandoned the Lord Jesus, who saved us from a cesspool of sin and corruption. I have met many foreigners and immigrants who are more zealous for the Lord Jesus than those who were born here.

When I was born again by the grace of the Spirit of God, I became a citizen of an eternal kingdom that transcends race and national borders. Today I bow before the King of that kingdom.

Response: LORD God, I want to be true to you, worshipping only you. Help me reflect your love to others today. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you a multicultural Christian?

Almost in the Grave

28 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalms

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All who are rich and have more than enough will bow down to you, Lord. Even those who are dying and almost in the grave will come and bow down (Psalm 22:29, CEV).

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Forest glade, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.

A few days ago I heard an acquaintance remark that she was glad that her mother turned to the Lord two weeks before her death. Of course that is very good news, but it’s also unfortunate that this mother put off getting her heart right before God until the very end of her life. She missed out on years of the joy and peace that only Jesus can bring.

Why do so many people stubbornly refuse to bow before God until they are staring death in the face? The psalmist, David wrote about this phenomena.

All who are rich and have more than enough will bow down to you, Lord. Even those who are dying and almost in the grave will come and bow down (Psalm 22:29, CEV).

It seems we want to be the masters of our own destiny, until the only destiny before us is the grave. We wrongly assume that the Lord is a hard taskmaster, but the devil, the world and our selfish nature drive their own hard bargain. They are the real slave masters.

Who will you serve?

Response: LORD God, I bow before you. I want to serve you now and for eternity. Give me a willing heart to serve you and your people with joy for all the days you give me. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you serving yourself or God? Examine your heart for your true motives.

Bowing before Royalty

27 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV).

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Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.

When was the last time you bowed? I don’t mean a slight nod of the head; I mean a deep reverential bow. There’s not much bowing done in western societies unlike in Japan. After living there for a time, bowing became second nature for me. I even remember bowing to other drivers at four-way stops.

I recently saw a picture of ladies curtsying as Queen Elizabeth II passed by on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday celebration. Bending the knee or bowing the head are signs of submission, respect and willingness to serve.

Are we willing to submit and serve the great King? King David was not too great to bow before the LORD. We read of his willing submission in Psalm 5.

Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV).

Consider this. We have the privilege to serve the LORD our King today.

Response: LORD God, I bow before you. I am your servant. Give me ears that hear you calling. Give me a willing heart to serve. You are my eternal King. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you enjoy serving or being served?