Tag Archives: the cross

Prophetic Voices for Our Time

28 Sunday Dec 2025

Posted by in The Elisha Code

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Now in the church at Antioch 
there were prophets and teachers: 
Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen
(who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
(Acts 13:1, NIV)

Are there modern-day prophets, or did that all cease when the Bible was completed? Prophecy will cease one day when Jesus the perfect one returns to take us home (1st Corinthians 13:10). But clearly Paul saw a vital role for prophets in the New Testament church. He and Barnabas were sent out on their first missionary journey by the prophets and teachers in Antioch.[i] Paul saw prophets as Christ appointed and ordained.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-13, NIV)

In our time, we have seen evidence of prophets among us. Sometimes, those prophets emerge from unlikely place—from the wilderness—even the Siberian wilderness. A key example is Alexander Solzhenitsyn who challenged both eastern and western regimes and politicians. As Solzhenitsyn became world-renowned, he was being ‘played’ by the politicians and other writers, just like Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Everyone wanted to claim him as their own, without really hearing his prophetic challenge.

Solzhenitsyn was sent to a Siberian prison for ten years, because he dared to question Joseph Stalin in a private letter to a friend. While in prison, he wrote the first book to be published about the communist Siberian prisons: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Not allowed to write due to extreme censorship, he had to store the book in his brain, and only recorded it on paper much later.

The Soviet leader Nikolai Khruschev, who resented Stalin’s abuses, publicly criticized Stalin, and then welcomed Solzhenitsyn’s book since it supported his new stance. His official authorization of this book was mind boggling for the Russians. This was the initial crack in the formidable Iron Curtain.

After Khrushchev was deposed, however, the repression came back, and Solzhenitsyn was shut down again. He had to write in secret, hiding his writings in bottles, buried in the ground. He was in real trouble with the Soviets over the publication of his book Cancer Ward, after he survived terminal cancer. In Russia, everything was supposed to be wonderful. How dare he criticize the perfect socialist society? The KGB poisoned him in 1971, but he miraculously survived it.

When he wrote two copies of The Gulag Archipelago, the KGB stole one of the copies, hidden by a friend. After they tortured her and she gave it up, she hung herself. With the other copy, he could wait no longer, so in 1973, he sent it to be published in the West.

Often the finest gold is refined in the furnace of affliction, and the Siberian gulag was certainly a furnace of affliction.[ii]

Solzhenitsyn was treated as a traitor in Russia. But West Germany accepted him, after he was thrown out of the Soviet Union.

When Solzhenitsyn moved to Vermont, USA, to write in seclusion, the media showered him with unrelenting adulation. The peak of this attention was his speaking at a 1978 commencement event to 20,000 people outside in the rain at Harvard University. It was the largest gathering at Harvard in known history.

The crowd expected that he would give a pleasant talk criticizing Russia and complimenting the West over its stand for freedom. Instead, he spoke about Harvard’s motto Veritas, affirming objective, knowable truth. In his talk, he prophetically critiqued Western culture and the USA for its softness and lack of courage. He shocked them by saying that he could not commend the West to Russia because of its self-indulgence.

He said that because the Russian Christians suffered so deeply under communism, they developed more spiritually. In contrast, the West has worshipped material success, but often ignored its spiritual development. From that point on, the media treated Solzhenitsyn as a non-person, removing any significant media coverage. What was his offence? He failed to endorse the Cold War political narrative, instead he addressed the spiritual poverty in America.

Photo credit: www. billmuehlenberg.com

Solzhenitsyn challenged us prophetically to embrace the cross, rather than western material success. Have we heeded his call? No, individually and as a society we have continued to plunge headlong into a pursuit of happiness through material wealth. Surely the next raise, the next trinket, the next high-tech gadget will bring us happiness.

Often, the church has simply mimicked our society’s worldly pursuit of prosperity. Of course, we have sanctified the language of greed by calling it God’s blessing. But true spiritual wealth is not measured by our bank account, or a nation’s GDP. Spiritual wealth is measured on the scales of eternity by our adherence to God’s truth and God’s will.

The words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea ring true for us today:

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. (Revelation 3:17-19, NIV)

Frequently, throughout history the true prophets have been rejected. Consider the life and ministry of Jeremiah for example.[iii] The true prophet does not tell us what we want to hear, rather he tells us what we need to hear.

Elijah and Elisha called the people of Israel to repent. At the start of the New Testament era, John the Baptist and Jesus did the same.

Are we ready and willing to heed their call to repent? Will we heed the prophets of our time who challenge us to humble ourselves and return to the Lord?

[i] Acts 13:1-3

[ii] Isaiah 48:9-11

[iii] Jeremiah 1:4-6

This is the sixteenth weekly excerpt from the award-winning book 
The Elisha Code & the Coming Revival 

A soul-gripping read.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

The Church and the Third Temptation of Christ

21 Sunday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalms, The Elisha Code

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And He said to them,
“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,
and to God the things that are God’s.” 
(Matthew 22:21b, NKJV)

The church cannot move forward in the right direction unless there is a clear-eyed assessment of where we stand today.

Here then are a few questions to help us assess our current position:

  • Are local churches growing, thriving, and multiplying in your city/community?
  • Are individuals in your community repenting and coming to faith in Christ?
  • Is the message of the gospel transforming society, or is the world transforming the church?
  • Over the last twenty years, has the church become more politically engaged?

We have been keen observers of the church and the impact of the gospel on society for over fifty years. During that time there have been encouraging waves of numerical growth and spiritual renewal, but there have also been seasons of testing and decline. Broadly speaking, over the last decade, decline has been the dominant theme. Yes, there are exceptions to this downward trend, and they should be celebrated, but nevertheless, the trendline is not moving in our favor. Statistical surveys indicate a steady decline in church attendance and self-identification with the Christian faith.

Landestreu Church — photo by Donald Adam

Why is this so?

What has not declined is the church’s level of political engagement. While the embers of spiritual revival have been dying, the fires of political engagement have been burning red hot. And political leaders of all stripes have been eager to fan the flames. After all, they know where the votes lie and how to spark political passions.

The sharp divisions between the political left and right have been mirrored in the church. The theologically liberal have championed social justice issues, while theological conservatives have tried to hold the line against what they see as a creeping socialist sin agenda.

To a degree, these divisions in the church have been present for generations. But in recent years the divisions have grown sharper as political discourse has become more polarized. Throw in some misinformation, a few conspiracy theories, and we have a toxic brew that social media spreads worldwide.

Where is the good news of the gospel in all of this? All too often, it’s been abandoned or drowned out in both camps. A worshipper may attend a Sunday service at a left leaning church and hear a sermon on the merits of caring for the poor and marginalized, but the name of Jesus is never mentioned. Similarly, I have attended so called ‘prayer meetings’ of evangelical pastors where not a single word of prayer is uttered, but the entire conversation is centered on right wing political machinations and strategies.

Is the message of the gospel transforming our society and culture? No. The world is transforming the culture of the church. The glorious light of the gospel has been turned to darkness. Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow him is being ignored—ignored in the house of God while we pursue purely political objectives.

Christ’s admonition rings true:

“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 14:34-35, NKJV)

The church has too often gone down a political rabbit hole thinking it can somehow save this generation by political means. No such salvation exists, nor has it ever existed, and those who promise it are false saviors. Furthermore, Jesus prophesied such false political saviors would arise.

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand (Matthew 24:24-25, NKJV).

Every generation has seen its share of false saviors, but after 2,000 years only one Savior remains standing. His name is Jesus. Let’s cling to him and the message of the cross.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Often politicians use religion for personal gain—to curry favor and capture votes, therefore, leaders in the Christian community need to exercise caution. We believe Christ followers should vote and be politically engaged, but our first loyalty must be to Christ. A life of service in the political realm can be a noble vocation ordained by God.

What blueprint did Jesus follow as he began his earthly ministry and set the foundation for the church? Was he engaged in the politics of his time? His politics was not the politics of this world. It was the politics of humility, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice.

The blueprint our Lord followed can be found in his response to the three temptations of Christ as recorded in the gospels. The third temptation found in Matthew’s gospel specifically addresses the lure of political engagement.

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Matthew 4:8-10)

There is something quite striking, first about the devil’s offer, and then Jesus’ response. Satan offered the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Implied in this offer is the understanding that these kingdoms are currently his—under the devil’s control. Jesus does not refute this. The nations are, in fact, within the devil’s domain. This is in full agreement with Jesus’ teaching on this matter as he identified Satan as the prince of this world. See John 12:30-33.

Similarly, Paul asserts that before their conversion the Ephesians “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

Jesus refused Satan’s offer of political power and reward if he would worship him. He refused to play on the devil’s turf. He turned down the offer of earthly, political kingdoms so he could establish an eternal, spiritual kingdom—the Kingdom of God.

Matthew ends his account of the three temptations of Christ with this statement: Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him (Matthew 4:11, NKJV).

But Luke’s account ends differently: When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time (Luke 4:13, NIV).

Were there other occasions when Jesus was tempted to become politically engaged and establish an earthly kingdom? There may have been numerous occasions, but three are readily identifiable.

John identifies one such occasion immediately after the feeding of the five thousand.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone (John 6:14-15, NKJV).

What a grand opportunity this was! Jesus could become king. Furthermore, it would not appear to be something he sought. He could simply bow to the will of the people, and they would proclaim him king.

Can you hear the devil’s whisper, “Surely, this must be the will of God?”

But what did Jesus do? Did he accept the devil’s latest offer? No. He walked away. Instead of making a deal with the world and the devil, Jesus went to prayer in a lonely place where he met with his Father. He walked away from an earthly political kingdom and all its trappings. Wealth. Fame. Adoration.

Why walk away?

For a second time Jesus walked away from a temporal, material kingdom because he was establishing an eternal, spiritual Kingdom—a Kingdom that exists on a much higher plane than the kingdoms of this world.

And after a time of communion with his Father, what did Christ do?

He walked on water.

The juxtaposition of these events was not due to random chance. Jesus walked out on the Sea of Galilee to visibly demonstrate the spiritual nature of his eternal Kingdom. The disciple’s initial reaction illustrates this perfectly.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear (Matthew 14:25-26, NIV).

Jesus was entirely at home in the spirit world, but we are not. The disciples reacted just as we would. The truth we must lay hold of is the spiritual nature of Christ and his Kingdom. By faith Peter briefly grasped that truth as he stepped out of the boat, and he too walked on water.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Oh, for the faith to do likewise in this day and hour! Are we ready to do as Peter did, step into the supernatural and walk in the Spirit?

The second occasion when Jesus was tempted to take a political position is well known. It occurred within the temple courts during the last week of his earthly ministry.

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus  perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way (Matthew 22:15-22, NKJV).

The Pharisees were certain they could trap Jesus on the horns of this dilemma. Note that to execute their devious scheme, the Pharisees teamed with a political party, the Herodians. In this situation, politics and religion conspire together, and undoubtedly Satan is the one who chaired this meeting.

The exact wording of this question is significant. The question could have been, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Rome, or not?” Or perhaps, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Empire, or not?” Why this direct reference to Caesar?

The question as asked goes to the very heart of the Jewish faith, and the Christian faith as well. Caesar was a deity in the Roman pantheon of gods. By paying taxes to Caesar were Jewish believers violating the first commandment of the law of Moses? Were they participating in the worship of a foreign god? To the devout Jew, the image of Caesar on a Roman coin was a graven image signifying idolatry. For this reason, Roman coinage, the denarius, was not accepted in the temple treasury. It must be converted to Tyrian shekels, hence the need for moneychangers in or near the temple courts.

If Jesus said it was wrong to pay taxes to Caesar, he could be accused of supporting the zealots who advocated rebellion against Rome. If he approved of tax payment, he left himself vulnerable to the charge of violating the first commandment and the worship of a foreign god.

How does Jesus solve the dilemma? His answer can be described as a brilliant sidestep. It allows for tax payment and allegiance to both God and Caesar. But…

But we need to qualify this statement. Supremacy and first allegiance belong to the Lord. To put our allegiance to the nation state on an equal footing with our allegiance to God runs contrary to the counsel of Christ and the Scriptures. Note well our Savior’s words:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24, NKJV).

Though the reference above contrasts service to God and service to mammon (money/material possessions), the implications of having two masters are clear. One master must take precedence. Is it God or money? Is it God or the state? Is it God or the political leader or party?

Far too many believers have divided loyalties when Christ demands our all. A weak-kneed gospel requires little from us, but in truth, Jesus demands our all.

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Matthew 14:25-27, NKJV).

God and Caesar are not on an equal footing. And dual loyalty on an equal basis is not what Christ is advocating for in his discussion with the Pharisees and the Herodians. He is conceding that submission to civil authorities is required.

Photo by Todd Trapani on Pexels.com

In his teaching on the command to honor father and mother, Martin Luther expands the scope of those to whom honor, and obedience are due. He includes masters and goes on to define them as follows: “Masters are all those who by God’s ordinance are placed over us in the home, in the state, at the school and at the place where we work.”[i]

Luther saw in the Ten Commandments a hierarchy of submission and obedience that began with God and extended through the family, the state and the workplace.

Jesus’ answer makes it clear that he is not leading a political rebellion—a rebellion against Rome. He is not taking the devil’s bait or participating in the devil’s rebellion. Since the foundation of the world, the devil has been the author and master of rebellion. For this reason, Christians must exercise due diligence and hear from God before throwing in their lot with those who advocate the overthrow of established authorities. If those authorities are established by God, we may find ourselves working against the God we serve.

There are multiple examples in the Scriptures where God called for submission to authority, even heathen authority, rather than rebellion. The classic example is the Jewish people’s submission to foreign rule during their seventy years of captivity in Babylon. After urging the captives to build homes and raise families, the prophet Jeremiah gave the exiles these instructions:

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7, NIV).

While serving in a position of submission to ungodly autocrats, leaders such as Daniel and Nehemiah laid the groundwork for the return to the holy land, and the restoration of the Jewish state, and temple worship. This is not the outcome one would expect from yielding to the authority of a pagan government. However, we need to recognize there is a much higher authority who oversees the affairs of all humanity. Surely, this proverb holds true: In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him (Proverbs 21:1, NIV).

Jesus displayed impeccable wisdom in his response to the politically charged question of taxation. But his wise response did not prevent his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. And what were the charges brought against him?

Jesus before Pilate

Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king” (Luke 23:1-2, NIV).

The charges before Pontius Pilate were entirely political. Let’s remember another name for Satan is the accuser, and he is only too eager to use human vessels to convey his accusations. Furthermore, why not use an outright lie, since he is the father of lies?[ii]

Following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus rejected the role of an earthly king, and later, he explicitly endorsed the payment of taxes to Caesar, yet the master of lies and distortion accused him of both these political infractions. The devil never plays fair. In Christ’s trial before Pilate, Satan manipulated the high priest, the crowd and all the players to achieve his goal—the death of Jesus.[iii]

Throughout his ministry Jesus steadfastly resisted political entanglement, but in the end, the accusation of political ambition is precisely what Satan used to bring about Christ’s crucifixion.

Finally, let’s examine the third occasion when Jesus was tempted to become politically engaged and establish an earthly kingdom. The location was Gethsemane. After agonizing several hours in prayer, Jesus rises to meet his betrayer. John tells us that Peter rose to Christ’s defense and in the ensuing fracas Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled (Matthew 26:52-56, NIV).

It is clear from the passage above that Jesus was continually tempted to reverse his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Twelve legions of angels were standing ready to do just that. At any moment, by a dramatic show of force, he could overpower any adversary. Why endure the coming humiliation, torture, and death?

Rising on angel wings — photo by David Kitz

Jesus provides the answer to this question in this statement, “But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” He was moving according to a plan established in eternity, revealed by the prophets, and prepared well in advance. Nothing was happening by chance. During this Passover celebration, the sacrificial Lamb of God would lay down his life. His redeeming blood would stain a cross to wash away the stains of our corrosive sin.

Jesus had prepared his heart in prayer. He heard his Father’s voice. He must drink this bitter cup of suffering, and nothing would deter him. Not the comforts of the flesh. Not the temptations of the world. Not the demons of hell.

The temptation for Jesus to call on legions of angels for deliverance combines aspects of the three wilderness temptations as described in Matthew chapter four. It brings comfort to the body rather than excruciating torture—the first temptation. It appeals to the desire for fame, self-promotion, and the spectacular—the second temptation. And it finally, it holds the promise of a political victory over an oppressive enemy. Why not call on the angels? Why not establish Christ’s immediate supremacy over his earthly foes? The angels had ministered to him after his forty-day fast and temptation in the wilderness. Why not call on them now?

The answer lies in the nature of the King and the nature of his Kingdom. Jesus is God by nature and coequal within the Trinity. Yes, he was and is fully human, but he is simultaneously fully eternal and divine. This King has no beginning and no end, and his power and authority have no limits. Holiness is the foundation of his throne.

But this same King—this same Jesus—came to the cross in full submission to his Father. He took the lowest position. Jesus became the least in the Kingdom of God, being willing to suffer humiliation and a criminal’s death on the cross.[iv]

Was Jesus leading a rebellion against the political authorities of his day? The answer is a resounding “No!”

But in his human flesh, he was leading a rebellion to unseat the most powerful earthly ruler of all time, the prince of the power of the air. How did Christ defeat him?

Jesus defeated Satan by becoming the exact opposite of his foe. The chief characteristics of Satan are pride and rebellion. To defeat the master of pride and rebellion Jesus took on the form of a servant.[v] He humbled himself to the lowest place—the place of the cross—and from that position he crushed the head of the ancient serpent.

Mary Comforts Eve

At his Last Supper, Jesus demonstrated his servanthood by washing his disciples’ feet.[vi] He clearly taught the principle of humble submission.

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is
greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
“But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:24-29, NKJV).

How will we defeat and disarm Satan and lay waste to his kingdom? It will not happen through mere political engagement. That is not the route Jesus took. That political rabbit hole is the devil’s lair. We are intruding on Satan’s turf when we head down that hole, and he knows how to fight and win down there. He has been doing it for thousands of years.

We win by using the same tactics as Jesus. It is the surrendered life that wins battles in the spiritual realm. It is the life surrendered to the will of the Father that prepares the way for salvation and world-transforming revival.


[i] Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, A Handbook of Christian Doctrine, Concordia Publishing House, Saint Louis, Missouri, P. 64

[ii] John 8:44

[iii] For a thorough play-by-play account of the trial and crucifixion of Christ, and the political machinations of Herod Antipas, Joseph Caiaphas, and Pontius Pilate read The Soldier Who Killed a King by David Kitz, Kregel Publications, 1917.

[iv] Matthew 11:11

[v] Philippians 2:5-11

[vi] John 13:1-17

This is the fifteenth weekly excerpt from the award-winning book 
The Elisha Code & the Coming Revival 

A soul-gripping read.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

A Horn of Salvation

19 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in Advent

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 24:7-10

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Lord Jesus,
I thank you for coming to this world,
for your suffering and death on the cross.
Your blood cleanses my hands
and purifies my heart.
Today I want to seek you.
In your great mercy reveal yourself to me.
Amen.

— — — —


Zechariah’s Song Praising the Messiah

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
and prophesied:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
  because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
(Luke 1:67-75 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Also available from David Kitz

Holy Week as seen from a soldier’s perspective

American readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King.

Canadian readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King directly from the author.

My Spirit Rejoices in God My Savior

18 Thursday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 24:1-6

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

 Lord Jesus,
I thank you for your suffering
and death on the cross.
Your blood cleanses my hands
and purifies my heart.
Today I want to seek you.
In your great mercy reveal yourself to me
and guide my steps,
my thiughts and my actions.
Amen.

— — — —


Mary Song—The Magnificat 

And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud
in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”
(Luke 1:46-55 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Also available from David Kitz

Holy Week as seen from a soldier’s perspective

American readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King.

Canadian readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King directly from the author.

They Will Call Him Immanuel

11 Thursday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 22, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer


Today’s Reading: Psalm 22:9-15

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Heavenly Father,
thank you for sending your son,
Jesus, to this cruel world to suffer
on my behalf.
Your unconditional love for me
was demonstrated on the cross
for all to see.
I can never thank you enough.
Amen.

— — — —

Photo and design by David Kitz

The Birth of the Messiah Foretold

Then Isaiah said,
“Hear now, you house of David!
Is it not enough to try the patience of humans?
Will you try the patience of my God also?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:
The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel.
(Isaiah 7:13-14 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase this or other books directly from the author click here.

Praise for My Rock

01 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 18, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 18:46-50

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your nam
He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed
to David and to his descendants forever (NIV). *

Reflection:
The joyful exuberance of the opening lines of this final reading from Psalm 18 is well worth reflecting upon. David exults, “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!” (v. 46)

To my thinking, there’s nothing quite as dead as a rock. But here in the same breath, David praises the living LORD, his Rock, and his Savior. Living rock seems to be a contradiction in terms, but our God is very much alive. He was alive and active in David’s life, and He is alive and active in your life as well—as active and alive as you allow Him to be.

But the LORD also wants to be the Rock of stability in your life—the solid foundation from which you draw strength. A life anchored in God can withstand the storms of adversity and the test of time. The LORD is that stalwart mainstay that actively trains us for eternity.

Most importantly, our LORD saves. He saved David from all his troubles. It was God’s intervention in David’s life that brought him the victory time after time. God was not content to sit in heaven and cheer from the sidelines. The LORD got involved in David’s life. He responded repeatedly to David’s cries for mercy and help.

If David had ample reasons to praise God and be thankful, we who live on this side of the cross, under the new covenant, have far more grounds for praise. God intervened directly for us. We have a Savior in Jesus, who left his throne in glory. He put His own skin in the game. The Father sent His one and only Son to live as a man and then suffer and die on our behalf. And Jesus did not remain dead. God the Father raised him from the dead. Now with David we can say, “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!”

Response: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for his life, his death, and his resurrection. I love you, Lord Jesus. You are the living Rock on which I can build my life. Through you I am more than a conqueror. Holy Spirit help me live this day in praise of my Savior. Amen.

Your Turn: Is the LORD your living Rock? How has He been your help? Has Jesus become your Savior? How will you honor Him today?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.


New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase directly from the author click here.

I Lift Up My Eyes

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in Psalm 121, Psalms

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Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forever more.

Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascents, and as such it was a psalm, which was intended for use by pilgrims as they journeyed to Jerusalem. This particular psalm was most often sung or chanted as the pilgrims set out from Jericho. As they lifted up their eyes, the sharply rising hill country of Judah stretched off into the distance. Hill after hill rose up before them.

This final portion of the pilgrimage was truly an ascent. From the Dead Sea plain the road to Jerusalem climbs nearly five thousand feet. This is truly an ascent—an ascent from the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth’s surface, to the heights of Mount Zion.

For the bone-weary pilgrims, who had already walked more than one hundred kilometres (60 miles) from Galilee, the sight of those distant hills must have brought a measure of aching discouragement. Here was a looming challenge. Could they make this final ascent? The opening question of this psalm was not a matter of poetic whimsy. It was spoken in earnest.

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?”

The weary pilgrim may well be asking, “Having come this far, can I complete this journey? Do I have enough energy—enough stamina to climb those hills? Will I be able to reach Zion? I am exhausted now—before I even start the ascent. I can’t do this on my own.”

“Where does my help come from?”

The psalmist’s answer resounds off those ancient hills. Even today, it echoes down through the ages and reverberates through the chambers of the heart. 

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

I cannot make it on my own. Realistically, I am incapable of this final climb. Zion is unreachable in my own strength. But all things are possible with God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth. Surely the Maker of the earth can help me move across this tiny portion of the planet that He has formed. He is my help. My help comes from the LORD!

This bold profession from the psalmist reflects reality for all who have answered our Saviour’s call to walk in faith. We start from the lowest point. Jesus does not call us from the heights. He calls us from the Dead Sea—a place of both physical and spiritual death. Paul, the apostle, makes this perfectly clear.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts (Ephesians 2:1-2).   

It is from this low point that we lift up our eyes. If we look at ourselves—at our sin steeped past—there is no hope. It is just as St. Paul says, we are dead in our transgressions and sins. If we lift up our eyes to the road ahead—to the upward-sloping road of righteousness—we will become discouraged. All we see are hills—obstacles as far as the eye can see. Holiness is not an innate human response. The way is hard; the climb is steep, even impossible. There is no hope there. No, we must lift our eyes higher yet. We must look past the hills, and to the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

How high are you lifting your eyes? If we look to the LORD, there is hope. Through Him, the way becomes possible. In Him there is grace for the journey. Through his love and mercy, we are no longer spiritually dead. We have a new life—a new life in Christ. The road ahead has in fact been prepared for us. It is as Paul asserts, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Having been born again through faith, it is Christ who now walks with us on this earthly pilgrimage. We can leave behind the Dead Sea region with all its life draining futility. We can leave behind the fetid sea of sin. But we are not travelling alone now. Our forerunner, our brother, the King, is walking with us.

He is walking beside me. When I lift up my eyes, He comes into view.

As I walk on, His words are my constant comfort and encouragement. Jesus speaks to the pilgrim, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Here in this psalm, we have our LORD’s sure promise.

“He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

For the weary Jewish pilgrim, a foot slip was no small mishap. If a foot slipped and an ankle twisted, the journey was over. There was no point in proceeding. Why add more agonizing miles to the journey? Why inconvenience others with your injury? The pilgrim would find a safe place to rest and recover, perhaps at an inn, while the others in his party would proceed to Zion.

A pilgrimage to the house of God — MacNutt, Saskatchewan — photo by David Kitz

The Christian pilgrim’s constant prayer should be, “Do not let my foot slip. Let my step be firm; let my path be straight.”

This is why our Lord taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

The LORD is always alert to that prayer. It’s His prayer and it’s His desire to answer it. We can rest assured that He will watch over us. We can rest—yes—truly rest. We can put our minds at ease, because He will not. He will not rest. He will not slumber or sleep. Like a mother keeps vigil over a desperately sick child, so the LORD will watch over every move we make—every time we stir—so constant is His care.

Those, who are saved by grace, can find rest in His grace. He will not let your foot slip. His goal is your goal. He longs to welcome you to Zion, to the House of God, to your eternal home.

So it then follows that “the LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Interestingly, Jesus told one of his best-known parables about this particular journey—the journey from Jerusalem down to Jericho. In truth, it’s the pilgrim’s journey of Psalm 121 done in reverse. We know it as the parable of the Good Samaritan. From this parable we discover that the descent from Jerusalem to Jericho was not only steep and treacherous. It was also fraught with danger. The steep hills, rills and canyons were ideal hideouts for highway robbers. They could pounce on the unsuspecting traveller from behind any one of ten thousand rocks. One never knew what danger might lurk around the next sharp curve in the road. Ambushes on this route were common. It was wise to travel in a group. The lone traveller was an easy target for marauding thieves.

When we decide to follow Christ, we instantly become a target for Satan’s attack. He and his demonic minions lie in wait for the unsuspecting faith pilgrim. The lone-believer can quickly become the wounded-and-dying-believer. The struggling-believer may soon become the fallen-believer—fallen and half dead.

We are our brother’s keeper. There is safety in numbers. We are to journey together. So with this in mind,

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

In addition, we need the LORD’s protective shield round about us. We need His promise. “The LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Roman armor — photo by David Kitz

Pray for the LORD’s round the clock protection. Put on the full armor of God. The LORD’s pilgrim is also the LORD’s warrior against spiritual forces of darkness. The apostle Paul reminds us,

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows   of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With all this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:16-18). 

As you do all these things on your upward journey “the LORD will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.”

It’s amazing how much distance you can cover on foot, when your pace is steady, and when you make a straight path, or a direct line to your objective. I was reminded of this truth just this afternoon. Once again, I am back in Chicago for some drama events. Once again, I went for a walk along scenic Lincoln Park on the shore of Lake Michigan. But unlike my leisurely stroll of last summer, today from the outset, I set a pace—a brisk pace—and I had an objective in mind.

My objective was a lighthouse at the end of a concrete peer that juts out into the aquamarine waters of the lake. Having set my sights on this lighthouse, I made a beeline for it. For me, taking the most direct route, sometimes meant stepping off the well-worn path and heading off across country.  

Following Christ is like that. If we have him in our sights, the well-worn path that others follow may not be for us. Those other paths bring us to other destinations. They may even bring us close to the Lighthouse, but not to the Lighthouse.

When you lift up your eyes, lift them to the one you are following. Lift them to Jesus. Then let your feet follow the most direct path to him, regardless of how others are walking. If your pace is steady and unwavering, and if your course is straight, the miles will fly by.

Cape Breton, N.S. lighthouse — Photo by David Kitz

The distance flew by for me. I reached my objective, the lighthouse, so quickly that I set another objective. This was another lighthouse still farther up the shore. I maintained my pace and again I took the most direct route. Again, I was surprised by the speed at which I covered the distance. When I reached this second objective, a whole new vista opened up. New opportunities presented themselves.

If you fix your eyes on Christ, he will bring you to the summit of the next hill. A new adventure—a new vista awaits.

When I look back over the years of my faith pilgrimage, I can see that my progress has not always been steady or direct. There have been distractions. My pace has been erratic. Other paths—well-worn paths—have intersected with the direct path to Christ. At times I have drifted down those intersecting paths.

But then, I lift up my eyes. I lift my eyes to the hill—the hill of my salvation. There is a cross on that hill. Though Jesus’ hands are pinned, he beckons me closer. I fix my eyes on him. He draws me up—up the round stone hill of Calvary.

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“Jesus, draw me to the summit. I fix my eyes on you.”

A new vista awaits.

Bringing Life to the Psalms

  1. In our urban environment, we live in an artificial world—a world planned for the automobile. It seems many of us have forgotten why the LORD gave us legs, yet we talk about our walk of faith. This week plan a walk. Be sure to take Jesus with you. Ask him to speak to you on the way. Remember the resurrected Christ joined his disciples as they walked to Emmaus.
  2. Have you ever been distracted from the path? Was it immediately obvious that you had left the path God had called you to walk? What brought you back? Did a particular event trigger your return?
  3. In a world of flashing distractions, how do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus? In your walk of faith, when your pace is steady and progress is readily apparent, what sort of things are you doing?
  4. Are you your brother’s or sister’s keeper? Have you helped someone recently in their faith walk? Have you needed help? Open, honest communication is essential. Satan attacks and silences believers, but our Father invites us to speak to Him and to each other.
  5. Reread Psalm 121. What is God saying to you by His Spirit?

Today’s post is Chapter 24 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

 

 

Whose Side Are You On?

29 Tuesday Jul 2025

Posted by in Psalm 124, Psalms

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
 the raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth (NIV). *

Lake Amima, Nipissing, ON

Reflection
We live in a highly competitive world, and I’m not just talking about sports. Businesses compete for customers; advertisers compete for eyeballs; corporations strive for a competitive advantage. Nations jockey for leadership and influence on the world stage.

Now here is a question for you. In all this does the LORD take sides? Is He rooting for my football team—my business—my city—my country? Is He a Blue Jays fan, a Patriots fan, or is He rooting for Real Madrid? Will He be tuned into the big game?

Let’s tackle the easy question first. Yes, the LORD will be tuned into the Super Bowl game, the World Cup final, and the World Series. But He will also be watching a cricket match in Mumbai and a pick-up hockey game at an outdoor rink in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Oh, and let’s not forget that newborn taking its first breath in a tin-roofed shack in Tanzania, or the grandma drawing her last breath in a hospital in Sweden. The LORD will watch it all.

Yes, but whose side will He be on? According to Psalm 124, that too is an easy answer. The LORD is on our side. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us… the raging waters would have swept us away (v. 1-5).

The LORD is always, always, always on our side. He is rooting for you. Three iron nails in a wooden cross drive home that point far better than words on a page or a screen. The real question is, and always has been, whose side are we on?  Are you on the LORD’s side? Are you His man or woman?

Response: LORD God, I am so thankful that you are on my side, on the side of your redeemed people. This is my confession: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you on the LORD’s side? How have you signaled that you are on God’s side?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

 

Pure by Your Word

27 Sunday Jul 2025

Posted by in Psalms, Psalms Alive!

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Psalm 119:9-11

Beth

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
Do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

I kept asking myself, “What could possibly be so interesting about that tattered old book? Why would this frail old woman get up every morning at 5:30 and read it? And when she finally finished reading through this massive volume, why did she go right back to the first page and start reading it all over again?”

These were some of the questions I was pondering when I was ten years old. The frail old woman was my paternal grandmother, who lived with us on our farm. And the tattered old book was an ancient German Bible, written in a gothic script that was completely indecipherable to me. There were no pictures in that old Bible. Yet, this mysterious book continually held my grandmother’s interest. What secrets did those pages contain?

One day I asked her, “Grandma, how many times have you read through that old Bible?”

The Word of God — photo by David Kitz

“Thirteen times,” she said with a smile, and then she added, “I’m onto the fourteenth time now. I hope to finish it again before I die.”

Grandma talked about dying quite often. She addressed the topic with an enthusiasm that I found quite disturbing. She looked forward to leaving this world for what she said was a far better place. I thought she was a bit selfish in this regard. She didn’t seem to care about how sad we would feel about her departure.

She was a curious old woman, or so I thought. But, she was always more than kind in everything she said and did, and I loved her dearly. Maybe that tattered old book had some influence on her personality and the warm affirmative life she lived before us all.

At age ten, it was pure curiosity that sent me on a grand quest to discover what was written in that ancient book. Without prompting from anyone, I began reading the Bible. Actually, it wasn’t grandma’s German Bible that I read, but rather, an enormous King James family Bible, which my parent’s had recently purchased.

Yes, there were some indecipherable parts, but I soon mastered the thee’s and thou’s. After a bit of mental gymnastics I was able to hath, doth and saith right along with the seventeenth century translators.

Though it was curiosity that brought me to the Bible, it was the Holy Spirit that brought the Bible to life. I quickly cruised through all four Gospels. I picked up speed as with wide-eyed interest I read the Book of Acts. Then, I tackled the Epistles and the Book of Revelation head on. In a relatively short time I read all of the New Testament. Instead of watching television I was devouring the Bible. After doing my family chores and homework, I would head straight for that huge family Bible. The Old Testament was next on my list, and one by one, the books of the Pentateuch went into my mental hopper. Next I churned through the Old Testament historical books. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, were a bit tough on the circuits in my literary processor, but I conquered them.  Finally I reached the major and minor prophets; I read them all.

At age ten, in the space of about three months, I read the entire Bible. It was a remarkable feat—one that I have repeated several times over the years—but never since then, have I done it in such a short time. There was a divine hunger inside me for God’s word. It was hunger stoked by curiosity, and fanned by the wind of the Holy Spirit.

“How can a young man keep his way pure?”

When I reached my teen years, this question rose up to haunt me. Suddenly a whole new set of temptations came slithering down the path of life. Many of those temptations were very attractive. The psalmist’s question came echoing across the ages. It’s a question that is as relevant now, as when it was penned almost three thousand years ago. Is it possible for a young man to live a pure life? The Psalmist’s question reminds me of Jeremiah’s question, “Can a leopard remove its spots?” (Jeremiah 13:23).

The simple, straightforward answer to both questions is, no. Leopards by their very nature are spotted. Young men by their very nature are sinful, sex obsessed and brim full of testosterone drenched bravado. Young men and purity do not easily fit in the same sentence. They clash like lions among lambs—like lacy pink frills on a boar in a mud wallow.

“How can a young man keep his way pure?” Why attempt the impossible? Why even set such a goal? Why try to reverse the course of human nature? The human soul is a sin spotted soul. Can this manly leopard remove his spots?

Why would a young man want to keep his way pure? Why not chase every pretty skirt in town? Why not have some fun? Why not eat, drink and be merry? We only pass through this life once. Why not live it up?

But if the God of the universe has called men into relationship with Him, then purity and holiness are at the very core of that relationship. If we are called to be with God—to dwell in harmony with Him—then we must embrace holiness. To embrace God is to embrace holiness. Those sin spots have got to go. If we are to walk with God, we must willingly walk away from soul-fouling sin.

Why would a young man want to keep his way pure? So he can walk with God. So he can hear His voice. So he can know the love of the Father. That’s some of the reason why. If we fix our eyes on the one who calls us to walk out of our sin spotted skin, then there is hope for the way. There is a reward for that take up the purity challenge. As my grandma knew so very well, the pure way—the way of holiness—has its rewards in both this life and the next.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews urges on the young faith runners with these words:

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Young men need to fix their eyes. Young men have wandering eyes. Purity requires fixed eyes—eyes that are fixed solely on Jesus.

In a world awash in pornography, we all need fixed eyes—eyes fixed on Jesus—eyes that see the cross—eyes that see the blood drenched cross. Purity comes at a price. It cost the heavenly Father the life of his very own Son.

He was pierced for our transgressions.

A young man named Jesus—in flesh like my own—in skin like my own—poured out his life’s blood to make me pure.

Fix your eyes on Him!

There is a spot remover. It’s called the blood of Christ. At the foot of the cross this manly leopard can remove his spots. Jesus can make me pure; he can make you pure.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.”

After this blood-based spot remover has been applied, there is still a life to live. Now with your sins forgiven, with your sin spots removed, live according to God’s word. Pray for God’s word to come alive and walk off the pages of your Bible. Make the following words your confession and your prayer:

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”

You may ask, “How do I go about seeking God with all my heart?”

You simply start by looking for God. Watch for Him. He is at work in your life. He will not abandon the one He has redeemed at the cost of His own dear Son. He’s not a deadbeat dad. This heavenly Father cares about the sons and daughters He has brought into this new life. Daily watch for His guiding hand. He is not far away. The LORD has given us His promise on that. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18).

God arranges your circumstances. Whatever your age, you are His man or woman now. Expect to meet Him around the next corner, and He will show up. When you need Him most, God is there. When you least expect Him, the LORD will take you by surprise. You are His son or daughter now, and His presence in your life is more certain than the next sunrise.

Manitoba sunrise — photo by David Kitz

Obedience to God’s commands does not always come easily. Our old nature rebels. Ask for the LORD’s help. Speak out your prayer, “Do not let me stray from your commands.”

If you seek after God, soon this will become your faith profession, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Now here is one of the deepest secrets to be found in my grandma’s tattered old book. Hiding God’s word is a rather curious metaphor. How do I hide God’s word in my heart? The answers may seem obvious. Hear it. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Apply it to life. Commit it to memory.

All of these methods will get God’s word into my heart. Right?

Wrong.

Simply hearing God’s word will not get it into your heart. Hell is filled with hearers of God’s word. Perhaps you don’t believe me? Let’s check in on Jesus’ teaching regarding this topic. Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar is a perfect illustration of this point. See Luke 16:19-31. The rich man and his brothers were regular hearers of the word of God, but it made no difference to the eternal destiny of their souls. The word of God lay lifeless on the surface of their hearts.

Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed sheds some real light on this metaphor of hiding God’s word in our heart. Hearing is a shallow experience. All too often, the heard word has no depth. To get depth we need understanding. Most often understanding springs out of application, not out of hearing. I can hear a particular truth a thousand times but it isn’t really mine until I apply it to my own life. Applied truth bears fruit. It yields results. The applied truth of God’s word is self-validating. It has the life of the Spirit within it. Only when we apply the word, are we living according to it.

But heard truth lies on the surface—a tasty morsel ready for the devil to snatch away. The heard word has all the potential of the applied word, but none of the yield, because it has not penetrated the heart.

We need to become pregnant with God’s word. Pregnancy is never achieved through the ear. Young men need a deeper experience. We all need hearts that are warmed by the love of God and wide open to His Holy Word—His seed—His eternal life producing Word.

Yes, hide God’s word in your heart. Hear God’s holy word. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Commit it to memory. And above all apply it to your life that you might not sin against Him! In that way the written word will be transformed into Spirit-born words that will live in your heart.

This is after all, all about Him. This is all about being close to Him! This is about loving “the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).

You have not come to a truth. You have come to the Truth, the Life and the Way. You have come to Christ the spotless One—the One whose way is pure. You have not come to just a tattered book. You have come to the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. This living Word “was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:2-4).

His life was the light of men—even young men—even ten-year-old boys.

Oh yes, and grandmas too.

Bringing Life to the Psalms

  1. What are you doing to hide God’s word in your heart? What routines have you established that bring you into daily contact with God’s word?
  2. Preaching is most often the focal point of any church service. It is a format that produces hearers of the word, but does it produce disciples? Jesus commanded us to make disciples not merely hearers of the word. What can you or your church do to help facilitate the heart changing application of God’s word?
  3. What special challenges do young men face as they try to live a pure life? Have you personally taken up the purity challenge? Jesus worked with young men whose faith grew as they lived with him in fellowship. These men changed the world. Are you part of a network of men who are in heart opening fellowship with Christ?
  4. Take a moment to read Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus as found in Luke 16:19-31. What application may this account have on how you hear God’s word?
  5. The applied truth of God’s word is self-validating. What does that statement mean? Have you experienced an instance when God’s word proved itself true when you applied it to your particular life circumstance?

Today’s post is Chapter 22 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

 

He Did Not Retaliate

22 Tuesday Jul 2025

Posted by in Psalm 119

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.


Reading: Psalm 119:169-176

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.

— — — —

“He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

 When they hurled their insults at him,
he did not retaliate;
when he suffered,
he made no threats.
Instead,
he entrusted himself
to him who judges justly.
“He himself bore our sins”
in his body on the cross,
so that we might die to sins
and live for righteousness;
“by his wounds you have been healed.”
For “you were like sheep going astray,”
but now you have returned
to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:22-25 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

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* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.