Firstfruits of the Spirit

 

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

—Romans 8:23

The firstfruits, that is the very first part of the harvest, symbolizes the best part that the grower has set apart for a special use. In the Old Testament, God asked His chosen people to set aside the firstfruits as an offering to Himself.

In the New Testament, we ones whom God has chosen to belong to Himself have become the firstfruits of the New Covenant. Notice what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:23:

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

God has given those He has chosen the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus, we become the firstfruits of the salvation that has come to us through God’s one and only Son, Jesus. We have a special place in God’s heart. He has given us the right to become the children of God.

As we begin a new day, whenever we fall prey to thinking that we have no value or worth, we need to remember that in God’s economy we are the firstfruits. We are special. We have inherent value and worth because God has made us in His image and has specifically chosen us to belong to Himself.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Waiting Expectantly

 

“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”

—Romans 8:19

There is so much talk about “climate change” today. Yes, of course, historically the earth experiences almost constant and gradual changes in normal temperatures, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wave heights, ocean depths, and so forth. The huge undecided question—and, contrary to the media, lack of scientific certainty—is whether or not human activity has any profoundly important impact on these changes in climatic conditions.

(As you may well know, I do not personally believe that human activity has contributed significantly to so-called climate change. I believe it is the height of arrogance for humans to think that they have such power over God’s creation. Thus, I am not a so-called “denier.” Rather, I am a “rejecter” of anthropogenic [human-caused] climate change.)

From a study of the account in Genesis of Adam’s sin and the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, we do recognize that the fall of humans into sin caused an effect on all of the earth and on all living things. Likewise, the coming of God’s one and only Son to earth as a human baby, so that He could grow up and eventually die on a cruel Roman cross of torture to pay the penalty for the sins of humankind, also has had a profound effect on all of the earth and on all living things.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this issue with these words, found in Romans 8:19:

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

When will the “sons of God” become revealed? At that time in the future when Jesus returns to earth again and the new heaven and the new earth appear. We Christians often refer to this time as “that Great Day” or “the Day of the Lord” or “the Second Coming.” This will be a time when the redemption of all those whom God has called to Himself becomes fully revealed.

As we begin a new day, we can look forward with hopeful expectation that Jesus will return in the next instant of time. We can also determine to live our lives as if His return will not happen for another thousand years. In this way, we remain faithful stewards of God and His ambassadors to a troubled world.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

In Our Midst

 

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

—Matthew 18:20

One of the greatest frustrations I must deal with in my life comes from the fact that very few of my fellow “Christ’s-ones” feel the same strong compulsion that I do to faithfully attend church services. I realize that my circumstances are somewhat unique: I have no children, I do not own a vacation home, I do not travel for business or pleasure, I have nothing else on Sundays that draws my attention away from church attendance, and I grew up in a household where my father insisted that we always, without fail, attended church on Sundays.

Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, prevented us from attending services whenever the doors of the church were open. This meant that we attended Sunday school, Sunday morning Worship, Sunday evening Worship, and Wednesday night Prayer Meeting. As a teenager, I also attended youth group meetings, as well as the early morning prayer time and Saturday rally of Youth for Christ International. I feel that the discipline of always attending church services was an important part of my spiritual journey.

Some would say that I am a royal nag about the matter of church attendance. They would say that just because I feel so strongly about this subject does not make me correct in my insistance that everyone attend his or her home church faithfully each Sunday.

And yet, I truly believe that one of the greatest joys for a person who follows the Lord Jesus Christ is that time when he or she gathers with fellow believers for worship, praise, prayer, thanksgiving, the teaching of God’s written Word, and the fellowship with like-minded individuals.

Part of the blessing of such times is the promise that Jesus gives us in Matthew 18:20:

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

When we believers gather together, Jesus is present with us. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in the hearts and minds of each believer, fills the space with God’s glory. Christ comes and fellowships with us, even as we fellowship with each other.

That’s the reason why spending time together becomes so important to followers of Jesus. We must not choose other activities that will take the place of the time we spend together.

When you next have such an opportunity to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, make the right choice. Consciously and purposefully choose to take the opportunity to meet with your fellow believers. You will reap an enormous reward if you do so.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Comforted by God's Presence

 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

—Psalm 23:4

When we walk along the road of life, there are times when we come to some dark place. We hesitate to enter. But, the circumstances of our lives push us forward. We take very hesitant and tentative steps.

Then, of a sudden, we remember that God has promised to go with us. As King David wrote of God in Psalm 23:4:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

As we begin a new day and find ourselves in a dark place, let’s remember that we are not alone. In fact, we are never alone. God has promised to go with us. He will provide illumination for our pathway and give us courage to push on through the darkness and out into the never-failing light.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Better Than Gold or Silver

 

“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”

—Proverbs 16:16

Have you noticed the increase in television ads for the purchase of gold and silver? Can you imagine have a large safe in your house or apartment that contains gold or silver bars or coins? Would you buy a German Shepherd dog to help guard your safe? Would you install a sophisticated alarm system? Or, would you move your gold and silver to a safety deposit box in the nearest bank?

I have so little money that I never will have to worry about any of these things. But, I know there are some things in this life worth far more than gold or silver. King Solomon agrees and wrote these words found in Proverbs 16:16:

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

As we begin another new day, let’s take time to ask God for wisdom and understanding. He will gladly grant our request. Nothing pleases Him more than when we turn to Him and ask for worthy gifts. Certainly, there are few gifts as worthy as wisdom and understanding. Just imagine how possessing these God-given gifts might change our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Deliberate Sinning

 

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!”

—Romans 6:15

If you wake up in the morning, begin the routine of your day, and intentionally plan to sin that day, please stop. That’s right. I said, “Stop!”

It doesn’t matter how much you enjoy a particular sin. It doesn’t matter if you think that sin really isn’t all that important. If you are one who follows Jesus, then deliberate sinning should not be a part of your life.

Will you ever be absolutely free from sin as long as you live in this current world? No. Why? Because we have inherited the sin nature from Adam, passed down to us through our parents. We will never be totally free from sin. But, we can control the degree to which we allow ourselves to sin on purpose.

Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:15:

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

We do not have a license to continue sinning just because Jesus died to forgive our sins. Yes, our sins are covered by His blood. But, that is no reason to set about to sin each day.

In fact, as we begin another day, we do well if we determine, as much as we can, to set aside the sins that so easily entrap us. The Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, will help us avoid deliberate sins, if only we would allow Him to do so.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Close Proximity

 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

—Joshua 1:9

We teach firefighters entering a burning building and wearing self-contained breathing apparatus to stay in close proximity to one another by keeping their hand on the shoulder of the firefighter walking ahead of them. They might also pull with them a rescue rope tied around the waist of each firefighter. Why do we take these steps? Because we know that close proximity is a key to safety when entering an unknown space. Often the smoke and hot gases in the building have made it nearly impossible to see clearly what dangers might exist ahead.

The truth is that every day we walk into unknown, potentially dangerous spaces. We call these spaces “another new day.” We never know what lies just around the next corner of our lives. We need to step forward boldly and courageously. To do so, we need to feel the proximity of the Holy Spirit. He holds the safety rope wrapped around our hearts.

Please note these words from God, as recorded in Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As we begin yet another new day, let us take these words of God, spoken to His servant, Joshua, and appropriate them for our own lives. For surely we know that God is the same today as He was in the days of Joshua. He will give us courage. He will give us strength. He will be with us wherever we go.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Part 2: A Word from the Apostle

 

“…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

—Titus 2:13-14

As I mentioned at the beginning of yesterday’s blog post, nearly everyone likes to receive letters, or emails, or Facebook posts, or Tweets, or Instagram posts, or whatever means one receives communications from his or her loved ones today. Certainly, the young minister, Titus, always looked forward to communications, just like we do today.

I also suggested yesterday that Titus particularly perked up when he received communication from his mentor, the Apostle Paul. In fact, the words that Paul wrote to Titus—along with the two letters we still have of Paul’s correspondence with Timothy—remain cherished today by God’s choice servants. We often refer to these three books in the New Testament as the “Pastoral Epistles.” Paul is teaching Titus and Timothy how to be the best possible pastors they can be.

Today’s blog post consists of the second part of a crucially important paragraph that Paul wrote to Titus. And, these are words that we should revere and welcome in our own lives this day. The passage is found in Titus 2:13-14:

…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

As Paul concludes this important paragraph in his letter to Titus, he points us to the ultimate victory that the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ have given to us: our hope of eternal life with Him. As followers of Jesus, we are, in fact, in the process of being sanctified—or, made holy. And, God has planted within us the desire and ability to do good works in His name and for the sake of His Kingdom. We do what we do, as “Christ’s-ones” because of what God has done in us through Jesus. All that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God.

As we begin a new day, let’s make certain we recognize how very fortunate we are that God has chosen to pour out His love on us and make us His dearly cherished children.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Part 1: A Word from the Apostle

 

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”

—Titus 2:11-12

Everyone likes to receive letters, or emails, or Facebook posts, or Tweets, or Instagram posts, or whatever means one receives communications from their loved ones today. Certainly, the young minister, Titus, always looked forward to communications, just like we do today.

Titus particularly perked up when he received communication from his mentor, the Apostle Paul. In fact, the words that Paul wrote to Titus—along with the two letters we still have of Paul’s correspondence with Timothy—remain cherished today by God’s choice servants. We often refer to these three books in the New Testament as the “Pastoral Epistles.” Paul is teaching Titus and Timothy how to be the best possible pastors they can be.

Today’s blog post consists of the first part of a crucially important paragraph that Paul wrote to Titus. And, these are words that we should revere and welcome in our own lives this day. The passage is found in Titus 2:11-12:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

Paul distills in these few words the very essence of the gospel—the good news—of the life transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we call ourselves “Christ’s-ones” or “Christians.” We do so because of this change that God has brought into our lives through His precious Son. Furthermore, God has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and minds and lead us along the pathway that God has laid out before us.

As we begin a new day, let’s celebrate the fact that God has given us the ability to bend our selfish human wills to His divine and perfect will. We can truly say “No!” to all ungodliness and choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Kick Sin Off the Throne

 

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”

—Romans&nb+sp;6:11-12

One of the great blessings of receiving God’s gift of salvation through His precious Son, Jesus, is the fact that the Holy Spirit comes to live in the depths of our being. The Spirit willingly grants us His guidance for all four of our human modalities: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical. We only need to bend our selfish and flawed natural human will to His divine, perfect, and loving will.

By consistently bending our will to God’s will, we place God on the throne of our lives. When he occupies this key place in our lives, there is no room for anything or anyone else to have that special place. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:11-12:

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

By yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit and obediently following God’s will for our lives, we can kick sin off the throne of our lives. We can live in such a way that we will consistently honor God’s love and His Presence in us, through us, with us, and around us.

As we begin another new day, we can rejoice that, with God’s help, we can significantly reduce the sin in our lives. Will we ever be perfectly free from sin while we remain alive on this earth? Sadly, no. But, we can consistently overcome besetting sins by allowing God to give us His strength, courage, and persistence. After all, our obedience to God’s written Word and His will are the one and only thing He asks of us to demonstrate our love for Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Straight Ahead

 

“The person of integrity walks securely, but the one who takes crooked paths will be found out.”

—Proverbs 10:9

No building in the United States has as complicated a pattern of corridors as does the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. If ever a person could become lost for hours, it would be when trying to navigate from one place in the Pentagon building to another.

According to that “fountain of knowledge,” Wikipedia:

The Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings, with about 6,500,000 sq ft, of which 3,700,000 sq ft are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. It has five sides, five floors above ground, two basement levels, and five ring corridors per floor with a total of 17.5 miles of corridors.

Of course, most people who work in this building get to know the general area within which they work. However, if they have to navigate to an unfamiliar portion of the building, they, too, find themselves stopping frequently to study diagrams in order to find their way.

Sometimes, life reminds me of the Pentagon building. It’s easy, oh so easy, to get lost along the pathway of life. It’s important to find the right pathway and, then, to keep moving forward straight ahead.

In that regard, King Solomon offered these wise words, as recorded in Proverbs 10:9:

The person of integrity walks securely, but the one who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Part of moving straight ahead involves the personal integrity to choose the straight path. Every day we face choices. Many times, the “right” choice is completely obvious. Other times, we need the help of the Holy Spirit to make certain we keep moving straight ahead.

As we begin another new day, let’s pray and ask God to give us clear direction for this day. He will surely help us, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to make exactly the proper choices for each new day. How grateful we feel, knowing that God’s love includes making certain we can make proper choices day after day after day.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A New Master

 

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

—Romans 6:14

Who’s your boss? Not in the sense of the person you report to at your place of business. But, I’m asking who rules your life? Who controls what you do, what you say, even what you think?

You may answer by saying, “Why, I do! I am in control of my life. I do what I want, say what I want, and think what I want.”

But, do you? Do you really?

If you are a man who sees an unusually pretty woman walk past you, when you look at her, what thoughts pop into your mind? Later, when you see her again from a distance, what does you mind recall about your first reaction to seeing her?

If you are a woman and you see another woman walk by in an outfit that really makes a fashion statement, when you turn to look at her, what thoughts immediately jump to the forefront of your thinking? How long do you stare at her, taking in every detail? Do you imagine what you might look like in that same outfit? Do you wonder what that outfit might cost? Do you wish you had seen it first and that you were the one parading around town looking so special?

In both of these examples, the power in control of our minds is sin. Yes, sin. Why?

In the first example, the sin of lust has prompted certain thoughts that most men will never acknowledge, but which are nearly always present. In fact, most men have learned to delight in those thoughts, cherish them, and even encourage them. Some men even believe that, if they did not have those thoughts, they wouldn’t be a normal man. The sin of lust is the all-pervasive and most commonly powerful sin in the life of a human male.

In the second example, the sin of covetousness has prompted certain thoughts that most women will never acknowledge, but which are nearly always present. In fact, most women have learned to delight in those thoughts, cherish them, and even encourage them. Many women believe that, if they did not have those thoughts, they wouldn’t be a normal woman. The sin of covetousness is the all-pervasive and most commonly powerful sin in the life of a human female.

In each example, sin is in control of our minds and hearts. We were born with a sin nature, inherited from our parents who inherited it all the way back to Adam and Eve. That sin nature seeks to control every aspect of our lives.

But, there is good news. The Apostle Paul wrote these words, found in Romans 6:14:

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

With the coming of Jesus, His suffering, death, and resurrection, He conquered sin, death, and Satan. Christ won the victory, paid the penalty for our sins, and set us free from sin’s control of our lives.

As we begin a new day, we can choose to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us away from sin. We can set aside these normally pervasive sins and embrace a totally new way of life—a life of freedom and victory. Thanks be to our God who has given us the victory through our precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Living and Active Word

 

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

—Hebrews 4:12

By now, most Christians should recognize the wisdom of taking time each day to read God’s written Word, the Bible, meditate on what is read, and also spend time speaking with God in prayer. These daily times of devotions can prepare us for whatever the day ahead may bring our way.

There is enormous power in God’s written Word. In the Old Testament, we find many times where someone discovered a scroll of Scripture, opened it, and ultimately gathered the people of Israel together to hear the reading of the written Word of God. Even today, in synagogues across the world, the time of reading from the Jewish Scriptures is a moment of great solemnity within the Sabbath worship.

So it is with many Evangelical Christian churches, too. In fact, some churches have the tradition of always standing when Scripture is read in a worship service. Yes, there is enormous power in God’s written Word.

Notice what the correspondent with the Hebrew Christians wrote, as recorded in Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

As we begin a new day, we should embrace the power of Scripture and do our best to apply it to our own lives. The Bible will make our pathway straight and well-lighted. We will never wonder where we should go. And, we will never falter when we have God’s truth on our side.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Goodness of God Revealed

 

“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

—Psalm 107:9

Psalm 107 is a song of praise to God for who He is. It is always a wise idea to recognize that the person of God, to the extent that He has revealed Himself to us, is worthy of praise simply because of who He is. In fact, you will find several Psalms that do just that—they offer praise to God because of who He is.

Yes, we most certainly should thank God for what He has done for us, what He is doing for us, and what He has promised that He will do for us. That kind of praise is most worthy, as well. But, there is just something very special about taking time to praise God for who He is.

Thus, Psalm 107 lists many reasons to praise God, including this one found in Psalm 107:9:

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

God is the provider of whatever it is we need to sustain us. In all four modalities of human life—emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical—God provides everything that we need. And, He does so out of His great love for us.

As we begin a new day, it is appropriate for us to read through all the verses of Psalm 107. As we do so, let’s give praise to God for each of the reasons listed that celebrate His goodness.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Insists That We Rest

 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

—Psalm 23:2-3

King David had experienced the power of God in his life from the time he was a relatively young teenager. He had experienced the overwhelming Presence of the Holy Spirit flood into his life at the time Samuel anointed him as the chosen King of Israel. While it would still be many years before David ascended the throne, in a way unique to the time in which he lived, David knew an intimacy with God that was almost unparalleled.

No wonder David penned these familiar words found in Psalm 23:2-3:

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God insisted that David find time in his life to rest and recharge. And, God provided that rest and recharging. That is good advice for us, even as we begin a new day.

God longs for us to rely on Him as a source of rest, restoration, and recharging in our terribly busy lives. If we will bend our selfish human wills to His perfect will, God will lead us beside still waters and make us lie down in green pastures. Having experienced His restorative touch on our lives, we will better be able to go out and continue to serve Him faithfully.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Brightly Shining

 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

—Psalm 119:105

Did you ever think of an Instruction Manual as a bright light? If you think about it, a set of instructions on how to do something is a very bright light that shines on the darkness of our lack of knowledge. When we go about doing something that we’ve never done before, the Instruction Manual tells us what we need to do, how to do it, and it may even warn us about mistakes we might make.

I have a dear friend who works for a company that provides sophisticated electronic equipment to television stations. Among his many tasks is the responsibility to write Instruction Manuals for new equipment that his employer has created. To do this, he must work with the new equipment until he learns as much about it as he can. Then, he sets down a set of clear instructions for others to follow. Because of the time he has invested in learning about the new features, the Instruction Manual he creates saves the customers who buy this equipment a great deal of time.

In our Christian lives, God has given us a brightly shining light in His written Word, the Bible. Notice what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

We have the written Word of God available to shine a light brightly on the pathway of our lives. If we follow the direction this precious written Word gives us, we will find our road a much more easily traveled one than if we just boldly took off on our own.

As we begin a new day, let’s allow God’s written Word to illuminate our pathway. And, let’s thank God for this gift He has given us to shine brightly on the path He has laid out before us.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Source of Gladness

 

“For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.”

—---Scripture Reference---

We have a wide range of words to express our emotions: happy, sad, disappointed, tearful, gloomy, joyful, glad, to name just a few. The word “glad” is a particularly interesting word. The dictionary offers these synonyms as definitions: pleased, delighted.

We may think of glad as a somewhat reduced sense of happiness. But actually, glad is the sense that all is well, we are secure, our hearts are uplifted.

Psalm 92 is a song written for the Sabbath Day. Speaking to God and about God, It contains many uplifting and joyful words, including these found in Psalm 92:4:

For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

When we look around us and see the hand of God at work in our lives, and in the lives of others, the very natural response we feel is gladness. So, as we begin a new day, let’s keep an eye out for the very things that show us God is at work. Then, we can make our response one of gladness. Certainly that will set our day on the right pathway.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Our Shepherd

 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

—Psalm 23:1

Nothing delights us more than to have someone care for us in a loving and compassionate way. When I was a small boy, probably six years old, I became very ill with what eventually became obvious was a severe stomach flu. At the height of my most severe distress, my mom happened to be uncharacteristically away at a women’s retreat. I was home alone with my dad.

I remember laying on the davenport in the living room all bundled up in a comforter. My stomach hurt badly. I was shaking with a fever. I was very sick. And, I was very scared.

My dad came into the room and sat down next to me. I looked up at him and, with tears flowing down my cheeks, I asked, “Daddy, am I going to die?”

Now my dad was never an outwardly affectionate man. He was a wonderful man, a devout Christian man, a hard-working provider for my mom and me. But, he was not given to much outward signs of affection.

In this instance, however, my dad lovingly took my hand in his and, in his most soothing voice, told me that God loved me and God would care for me. He reminded me that, as my dad, he would be right there with me.

In that moment, I remember feeling a strangely warm sensation of comfort wash over me. God loved me. My dad loved me. I was loved. I was protected. I was cared for in a wonderful way. I can still, all these many years later, remember that feeling of tender love that enfolded me and comforted me. That’s what shepherding is all about.

When King David penned these familiar words from Psalm 23:1, he knew first-hand what it meant to be a shepherd:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

As we begin a new day, we must remember that, this day and every day, God is our shepherd. His love invades every aspect of our lives. He holds us lovingly and with amazing compassion in the hollow of His mighty hand. We are shepherded by the greatest of all shepherds.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Least We Could Do

 

“I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

—Psalm 9:2

Have you ever thanked someone for doing something for you only to have them respond, “It was the least I could do.” Many times this is an attempt on the part of your benefactor to show humility.

But truthfully, we don’t really know how to actually be humble. It goes against many of the core tenets of our current society where a more common claim is, “Hey! Look at me! Look how wonderful I am!”

In fact, though, sometimes when we reach out to extend God’s love to others that act of kindness truly is the very least that we could do. After all, if God has done so much for us, how can we withhold our love and concern from others?

At the same time, in response to the overwhelming gifts that God has given us, the very least that we can do is obey Him and praise Him with our most sincere thanksgiving. As King David wrote in Psalm 9:2, speaking to God:

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Why did David want to praise God? Because David knew that all that he was and all that he had came to him as a precious gift from God. And, that is exactly the same place we are: all that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God.

As we begin a new day, let’s make certain we praise God for who He is and for what He has done. After all, it’s the very least that we could do. And, when we reach out to touch the lives of those who cross the pathway of our lives, let’s also remember that, based on what God has done for us, helping others and showing God-breathed love to them is truly the least that we could do.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Is My Fortress, My "Safe Space"

 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

—Psalm 91:1-2

We hear a lot about “safe spaces” today. Usually, these words are used to describe locations on college campuses where students can be protected against hearing things they don’t want to hear. Instead of teaching our children to listen carefully to everything that people may say and apply discernment in order to decide what speech is useful and helpful, we have raised children that don’t want to hear anything that goes against their own set of presuppositions. This creates a situation that is the very opposite of the concept of “free speech.”

Because free speech is one of the foundational building blocks of a free society, anything that stands in the way of people’s ability to express themselves without fear of suppression also offers a threat to our liberty and our way of life. Instead of needing protection that will shield us from what people may say, we need to develop the ability to receive information from everyone and then, using discernment, make a decision as to what we will believe as individuals.

As Christians, we sometimes need a “safe space” of an entirely different kind. We need a place of refuge from the darkness that surrounds us in our sin-infested world. Fortunately, God lovingly provides such a place. Notice what the Psalmist writes in Psalm 91:1-2:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

As we place ourselves in the shelter of God’s loving arms, we will find ourselves shielded from the darkness that surrounds us. There we will be able to rest and recharge so that we can go out from that place of refuge and, once again, enter the fray. As we begin another day, let’s rejoice that God has given us exactly the kind of “safe place” that we need.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Don't Envy a Violent Man

 

“Do not envy a violent man or choose any of is ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.”

—Proverbs 3:31-32

Did you ever see someone who seemed really tough and wish you could become more like that person? Maybe that kind of feeling is just a “boy thing.” Most young boys look up to real people, or comic book heroes, who are big, strong, and tough. Almost no one identifies with a powder-puff weakling. It’s always the superhero who gains the attention.

But, in life, the tough guys are also often the bad guys. Of course, there are exceptions. United States Marines are tough guys and not bad guys. So, are Navy Seals and Army Rangers. But, for the most part, the toughest guys are gangsters, or bullies, or otherwise bad dudes.

Women are not exempt either. There are tough women who also fit into the “bad person” category. Their toughness is usually magnified by deviousness and treachery. Naturally, some very strong women are kind and fair. But, for the most part, when we think of “tough” women, we think of violent ones, or nasty individuals who would just as soon stab someone as look at them.

In sharp contrast are those who follow Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with God-given strength. But, violence and toughness of the basest kind has no part among Kingdom warriors. Notice what King Solomon wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 3:31-32:

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

There is no room for violence in the Kingdom of God. “Wait a minute,” you say. “Didn’t God send the Israelites to destroy their enemies? Wasn’t that violent?” Yes, of course it was. But, it wasn’t violence for violence sake.

The God of justice was “rewarding” the sinfulness and godlessness of the people who had rejected His overtures of love, joy, and peace. Their rampant sinfulness caused Him to send His chosen people to destroy them. The just reward of those people whom God destroyed serves as a cautionary tale for all those who choose to reject God, His holiness, His righteousness, and His judgment. That God-directed punishment is something quite different from the kind of violence that springs forth for no good reason and wreaks havoc.

As we begin a new day, we need to guard our minds and hearts against violence of all kinds. We need to put off any prospect of physical violence. And, even more so, we need to put aside any form of mental, emotional, or intellectual violence, as well. Our words can hurt someone as deeply as the wound of a sword. Even in our zeal for what we believe in deeply, we need to make certain we are not using hurtful, sharp, condemning words.

God celebrates strength under control. That’s one of the many reasons He has given us His Holy Spirit. The Spirit will help us remain strong without any tendency toward violence in the things we do and the words we say. We do so much better when we lay aside every attempt of our enemy to drag us into violence.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Special Kind of Love

 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

—Mark 12:30-31

“Love makes the world go ’round,” the motivational speaker stated forcefully.

“No!” shouted someone in the back of the room. “Change makes the world go ’round. Love only keeps it populated.”

The 2,000 people in the audience roared with laughter.

No matter how you may feel about that exchange, love plays a very important role in the life of a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are Jesus’ own words, as recorded in Mark 12:30-31:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

God breathes His love into us. First, we must breathe that love back to God. And, we must do so with all four of our human modalities: emotional (heart), spiritual (soul), intellectual (mind), and physical (strength). Then, we must breathe that love out so that it touches the lives of the people who cross the pathway of our lives.

As we begin a new day, let’s ask God to fill us full with His God-breathed love. Then, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us breathe that love back out into a world that desperately needs God’s love.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Patient One

 

A Blessed and Happy New Year

 

“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”

—Proverbs 14:29

I am not a patient person. In fact, I am noted for my decided lack of patience. One of my dear friends interrupted someone who was proposing a somewhat convoluted solution to a fire protection engineering problem one day with these words, “If you plan to make that proposal to Dean, don’t bother. He would not have the patience. He does not suffer fools or their ideas.”

While that retort seemed humorous at the time, I now feel quite ashamed that for so many years that was the image that I projected. Instead of seeing me as someone who lovingly and patiently showed encouragement toward others, I was—and for many still am—viewed as someone who has very little patience.

However, as followers of Jesus, we do well to seek to have a patient spirit. Notice what King Solomon wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 14:29:

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Oops! A quick-tempered person displays folly! That’s not good—that’s not good at all. There is definitely a better way. And, it is the way of patience.

As we begin another new day, let’s ask God to gently and tenderly guide our spirits so that we learn how to wait patiently on Him and on others. We will do a much better job of representing God, whose patience seemingly knows no measure, if we learn how to manifest a patient spirit.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}