Tags
desperate, forgive, forgiveness, generations, glory, God, mercy, nations, Savior, sins
I will praise Him!
Crabapple blossoms in spring — photo by David Kitz
“Where is their God?”
27 Saturday May 2017
Tag Archives: sins
Swiftly Running Words
10 Wednesday May 2017
Tags
blessings, commands, God's word, habits, new life, Ottawa, peace, Rideau Falls, security, sins, unproductive, word of God, words
Reading: Psalm 147
(Verses 13-18)
He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow (NIV).
Reflection
What does a swiftly running word look like? Does it have legs on the bottom of each letter so it can run along, somewhat like a scurrying centipede? Or maybe when words run, they flow like a babbling stream rushing around and over rocks? How do you visualize running words?
The Rideau Falls, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz
Here in Psalm 147, the psalmist uses this metaphor to describe God’s word in action. He [the LORD] sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
We can be sure of one thing. When the word of the LORD is sent forth, it accomplishes its purpose. The prophet Isaiah wrote of that unchanging truth. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11).
God’s word brings blessing. That’s the picture that the psalmist paints. Isaiah uses different brush strokes, but in essence he paints a similar picture. The outpouring of the word of God onto His people brings a bountiful blessing. He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
Wherever God’s word reaches, it brings new life and fullness to life. Yes, it often brings conviction of sins, but those are the dead limbs that need to be cut off so new growth can flourish. God’s word reorients my life from a path that leads to death to the way everlasting.
The inner peace and security that I need are found in the presence of the LORD. I need a constant flow of God’s word into my heart and my mind. True prosperity, healing and strength are found in the swiftly running words of God. I want to be immersed in those running words.
Response: LORD God, I treasure your commands and your words. I want your word to be active within me, cutting off those sins and habits that are unproductive, and then bringing forth new life and the fruits of righteousness, peace and joy. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you allow God’s word to run and play in your mind? Has a Bible verse changed your life?
To You All People Come
06 Thursday Apr 2017
I will praise Him!
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Living in your courts — photo courtesy of Liz Kranz
Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
(Psalm 65:1-4, NIV)
Later this year, Kregel Publishing will be releasing my Passion of Christ novel entitled “The Soldier Who Killed a King.” I was able to meet an editing deadline on this book yesterday, but I was unable to do my regular, full-length Psalms post for today. I hope to resume my devotional posts soon. — David Kitz
A Lost Sheep
27 Friday Jan 2017
Reading: Psalm 119
ת Taw
(Verses 169-176)
May my cry come before you, LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.
May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.
May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, LORD,
and your law gives me delight.
Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.
I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands (NIV).
Reflection
This is the final reading from Psalm 119. Today’s reading features Taw, the final letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Day by day we have been making our way through this acrostic poem—reading as it were from A to Z in the Hebrew language. All of it is written in praise of God’s word and His promises. It is difficult to fully appreciate the structural beauty of this lengthy poem, when it is translated into English.
Lead me on your narrow path — photo by David Kitz
This line from today’s reading is typical of the psalmist’s praise for the word of God: May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.
At times the psalmist appears to be proud, even boastful of his obedience to God’s word, but here at the conclusion of this magnificent poem, he takes on a more humble stance. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.
There is something very human about this prayer—about this ending. We are very prone to stray. The prophet Isaiah reflects on this human characteristic. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
Jesus is our carrier—our iniquity carrier. He carried our sins to the cross where he suffered and died, so that his blood could cover those sins—my sins—your sins. But our sin carrier is also our Good Shepherd, who goes out to find those who are lost. He is the answer to the psalmist’s prayer. This is the purpose for his coming. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Response: Father God, I confess I am prone to stray. Help me to stay to the straight and narrow way that leads to life. I thank you, Jesus, for seeking me and saving me by your shed blood. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you a wandering sheep? Have you been found by the Good Shepherd?
Your Enemies Growl
16 Tuesday Aug 2016
Tags
Reading: Psalm 83
A psalm of Asaph.
Verses 1-8
O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.
With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.
“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
With one mind they plot together;
they form an alliance against you—
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab and the Hagrites,
Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
Even Assyria has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants (NIV).
Reflection
Do you have enemies? Ancient Israel certainly did. Here in Psalm 83, Asaph lists ten traditional enemies of Israel. The psalmist clearly states the objective of these foreign powers. Their objective was the annihilation of Israel as a nation. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
Old threshing machine near MacNutt, SK — photo courtesy of Donald Adam
In the spiritual realm every born-again follower of Jesus has a host of enemies who are trying to tear him down and annihilate his or her faith. Therefore, St. Paul gives us this advice: Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:11-12).
Though they may not have a physical form, our enemies are real. The trap called pornography is real. The idolatrous nature of greed is real. The crippling effects of resentment and bitterness are real. These sins and the demonic forces that continually prompt us to disobey God are real. They are constantly working to annihilate our faith.
Our enemies growl and they rear their heads. But in our hour of need, if we call out to God, He will not stand aloof. He will deliver us. Lord, teach us to pray. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Response: LORD God, we have a powerful opponent, but we have victory through your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I call on your awesome name. Give me victory over sin and the forces of evil that are out to destroy my life. My strength is in you. Amen.
Your Turn: Can you identify the sins and snares the enemy has set for you?
As far as the east is from the west
12 Sunday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms
Tags
Petrie Island Park, ON – photo by David Kitz
How far has the LORD taken
our sins from us?
Farther than the distance
from east to west!
(Psalm 103:12, CEV)
His Love Never Fails
05 Sunday Jun 2016
Forgetting and Remembering
21 Thursday Apr 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
Tags
forgetting, forgiven, forgiveness, God, remembering, sins, the LORD, wrongs
Forget each wrong I did when I was young. Show how truly kind you are and remember me (Psalm 25:7, CEV).
Treed Flood Plain, Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is remembering.
How can God forget? He knows everything. He knows everything I have done and everything I will do, before it has even entered my mind. The petition prayed here in Psalm 25 must be doomed to fail.
Forget each wrong I did when I was young. Show how truly kind you are and remember me (Psalm 25:7, CEV).
Strange as it may seem God can be forgetful. When we repent of our sins, He chooses to forget that those sins ever happened. But don’t take my word on this topic. The prophet Jeremiah declares this word from the LORD, “I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done” (Jeremiah 31:34, CEV).
That’s an amazing promise. If God can forget our sins, maybe we should do the same. We should not allow the guilt of them torment us any longer. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten when we confess them to our gracious heavenly Father.
Response: LORD God, I am so glad that you choose to remember me and forget my sins. You love like no one else can. Thank you for the forgiveness that is available because of the shed blood of Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you spend too much time remembering sins that the Lord has forgiven and forgotten?
The Fruit of Forgiveness
18 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).
Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.
Worship is the fruit of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God worship God. Jesus said this of a sinful woman, “So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love” (Luke 7:47, CEV).
Jesus forgave this woman’s sins and so she poured out her love to him by kissing his feet and washing them with her tears.
Our heartfelt worship is our expression of love for God. Today’s verse from the Psalms captures this thought succinctly.
But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).
Forgiveness is like a heaven-sent love potion. It restores our relationship with God and draws us into His arms of love.
Response: LORD God, a thousand words of thanks are not enough. Your forgiveness draws me to worship you with a grateful heart. I praise you, LORD of heaven and earth. Amen.
Your Turn: Does God’s forgiveness move you to worship?
The Joy of Forgiveness
14 Monday Dec 2015
Posted in Monday Meditation, Psalms
Tags
Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away (Psalm 32:1 CEV).
One falling leaf, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is joy.
What is your greatest joy? For me many things spring to mind. But the more I think about joy, the more the thought of forgiveness presses to the forefront. God through the grace of a babe laid in a manger has forgiven me.
I am accepted. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. Those thoughts bring joy.
Response: LORD God, thank you for the forgiveness you extend to all through Jesus suffering, death and resurrection. Lord Jesus, I find my joy in you. Amen.
Your Turn: Does forgiveness bring you joy?
I love the Psalms 